The uptake and distribution of selenium in three aquatic plants grown in Se(IV) solution

The uptake of Se(IV) by Myriophyllum spicatum, Ceratophyllum demersum and Potamogeton perfoliatus, and the effects of Se(IV) on their physiological and biochemical characteristics were studied. Plants were cultivated outdoors under semi-controlled conditions in water solution containing Na selenite (20 μg Se L−1 and 10 mg Se L−1). The higher concentration of Se lowered the photochemical efficiency of PSII in all species studied, while the lower concentration had no effect on any species. The higher concentration of Se lowered respiratory potential in M. spicatum. The response of M. spicatum and C. demersum to Se(IV) regarding chlorophylls was variable, however in the majority of cases, there was a trend of increasing the amount of chlorophylls, while in P. perfoliatus the amount of chlorophyll a decreased. The concentration of Se in plants cultured in 10 mg Se(IV) L−1 ranged from 436 to 839 μg Se g−1 DM in M. spicatum, 319 to 988 μg Se g−1 DM in C. demersum and 310 to 661 μg Se g−1 DM in P. perfoliatus. The amount of soluble Se compounds in enzyme extracts of high Se treatment was 27% in M. spicatum, 41% in C. demersum and 35% in P. perfoliatus. Se compounds were determined using HPLC–ICP-MS. It was observed that the applied Se(IV) was mainly transformed to insoluble Se.

► All three species are capable to absorb significant amount of Se (310–988 μg g−1).
► The effect of Se was observed on physiological and biochemical parameters.
► The applied Se(IV) mainly transformed to insoluble Se.
► Among soluble Se species, SeMet and SeMeSeCys prevailed.
► Identification of SeMeSeCys shows to the same Se pathway as in accumulator plants.