Selenium alleviated chromium stress in Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. Pekinensis) by regulating root morphology and metal element uptake

Abstract Excessive chromium (Cr) causes toxicity to plants, while the beneficial effects of selenium (Se) have been verified in plants under various adverse conditions. Under Cr stress, the impacts of exogenous Se on root morphology and metal element uptake were investigated in root of Chinese cabbage by cellular and biochemical approaches. Exogenous Se alleviated Cr-induced irreversible damage to root morphology, plasma membrane integrity and ultrastructure of root tip cells. Compared with Cr treatment alone, exogenous Se reduced root Cr content by 17%. Se supply changed the subcellular distribution of Cr in root, and the concentration of Cr was reduced in the fractions of plastids and mitochondria, while increased in soluble fraction. Besides, exogenous Se counteracted the nutrient elements (Na, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) loss induced by Cr. For plant with Se pretreatment, the increase rate of Cr influx was lower than that of plant without Se pretreatment, particularly in solution containing high concentration (100–400 μmol L −1 ) of Cr. In addition, higher K m value was observed in plant with Se pretreatment, which indicated a lower Cr affinity than that of plant without Se pretreatment. The results suggest that Se modified root morphology and regulated nutrient elements uptake by root, which might play a combined role in reducing Cr uptake by root, consequently alleviating Cr stress and maintaining plant growth.