Comparative effects of selenite and selenate on growth and selenium accumulation in lettuce plants under hydroponic conditions
Barbara Hawrylak-Nowak
Plant Growth Regulation
Abstract
The effects of different concentrations of selenite (2–30 μM) and selenate (2–60 μM) on biomass production, leaf area, and concentrations of photosynthetic pigments in lettuce plants were investigated. On the basis of the obtained results, the threshold of toxicity for the selenite and selenate has been designated. The toxicity thresholds for selenite and selenate were determined at concentrations of 15 and 20 μM, respectively. Next, four selenium (Se) concentrations (2, 4, 6 or 15 μM), below or near the toxicity boundary, have been selected for the lettuce biofortification experiment. In the biofortified plants, the oxidant status (levels of lipid peroxidation and H2O2 concentrations), as well as Se and sulphur (S) accumulation were analysed. In the edible parts of the lettuce, the Se concentration was higher for selenate presence compared to selenite; however, this difference was not as obvious as it was noted in the case of the roots, where selenite application caused the high accumulation of Se. An application of 15 μM Se as selenite caused a decline in the biomass and an intensification of prooxidative processes in the plant’s tissues and as toxic should be excluded from further biofortification experiments. These results indicate that an application of either selenate or selenite to the nutrient solution at concentrations below 15 μM can be used for biofortification of lettuce with Se, evoking better plant growth and not inducing significant changes in the oxidant status, the concentration of assimilation pigments and S accumulation.
Extracted Claims
5 claims extracted from this paper into the knowledge graph
selenate resulted in higher Se concentration in the edible parts of the lettuce compared to selenite lettuce plants
“In the edible parts of the lettuce, the Se concentration was higher for selenate presence compared to selenite; however, this difference was not as obvious as it was noted in the case of the roots, wh...”
selenite caused high accumulation of Se in the roots lettuce plants
“In the edible parts of the lettuce, the Se concentration was higher for selenate presence compared to selenite; however, this difference was not as obvious as it was noted in the case of the roots, wh...”
selenite and selenate can be used for biofortification of lettuce with Se at concentrations below 15 μM lettuce plants
“These results indicate that an application of either selenate or selenite to the nutrient solution at concentrations below 15 μM can be used for biofortification of lettuce with Se, evoking better pla...”