[Accumulation and Translocation of Cd in Brassica rapa Under the Influence of Selenium]

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal. Brassica rapa (pak choi) is a vastly common vegetable, which readily accumulates Cd. Given the current conditions of Cd contamination in domestic soil, it is important to reduce Cd accumulation in the edible part of pak choi. Research has shown that selenium (Se) can regulate Cd uptake by plants. Cd accumulation (three cultivars) and Cd uptake kinetics in pak choi were investigated under hydroponic conditions. Results showed that the three levels of selenite significantly reduced Cd content in the Hangzhouyoudonger shoot by 50%, while the levels in Suzhouqinggen and Shanghaiqing shoots were not significantly decreased with elevated levels of selenite. Selenite reduces the Cd translocation factors, and higher levels had more obvious effects; 50 μmol·L^-1 of selenite significantly decreased the factors by 50% in Hangzhouyoudonger and Suzhouqinggen shoots. Selenite also increased iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) contents in pak choi, especially in the Hangzhouyoudonger shoot, where 50 μmol·L^-1 increased the Fe content by approximately 50%. In the uptake kinetics of Cd, both selenite and selenate significantly increased Cd uptake rates and V_max by over 100%. Therefore, Se could reduce Cd accumulation in pak choi. This also depended on the tested cultivar. Therefore, reduction effects of Se on the Cd content mainly stemmed from the alteration of Cd translocation in pak choi instead of the uptake competition between Cd and Se.

Keywords: cadmium; pak choi; selenium; translocation; uptake kinetics.