Effects of different selenium forms on selenium accumulation, plant growth, and physiological parameters of wild peach

Abstract In order to better understand the transformation and distribution of different Se forms in wild peach. Se2−, Se0, Se4+ and Se6+ (from selenomethionine, Se powder, sodium selenite, and sodium selenate, respectively) were added to 4.1-L plastic pots with 15-cm high wild peach seedlings, for a final soil Se concentration of 1.0 mg/kg soil. Growth parameters, Se transaction factors (TFS) and bioconcentration factor, as well as the leaf sugar content and antioxidant ability were determined. We found that all four forms of Se increased shoot length, stem diameter, and dry weight, whereby treatment with Se4+ and Se6+ especially promoted the dry weight. The wild peach seedlings showed different Se enrichment ability, whereby the Se bioconcentration factor (BCF) and total Se uptake per plant were in the same order of Se2– > Se6+> Se4+> Se0 > Control. However, the transaction factors (TFS) in the control and Se6+ treatment groups were significantly higher than in the groups treated with other Se forms. The control and the Se forms Se0, Se4+ and Se2− showed the same trend of Se distribution, with the largest Se concentration in the roots, followed by the leaves and stems. No significant differences were observed in leaf pigment concentration of the seedlings treated with all Se forms except for Se0. Treatment with different Se forms significantly reduced the leaf malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, obviously increased the reducing power, insignificantly increased the content of reducing sugars, and decreased the content of total sugars. Overall, different Se forms effected the growth and physiological parameters of wild peach seedlings to different extent, whereby Se6+ and Se2– led to the highest Se accumulation, which may be beneficial for the production of Se-enriched fruits.