Search

It is known that selenium (Se) enhances plant growth and arsenic (As) accumulation in As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata, but the associated mechanisms are unclear. In this study, P. vittata was exposed to 50 μM arsenate (AsV) under hydroponics plus 25 or 50 μM foliar selenate. After 3-weeks of growth, the plant biomass, As and Se contents, As speciation, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH and GSSG) levels, and important genes related to As-metabolism in P. vittata were determined. Foliar-Se increased plant biomass by 17 − 30 %, possibly due to 9.1 − 19 % reduction in MDA content compared to the As control. Further, foliar-Se enhanced the As contents by 1.9–3.5 folds and increased arsenite (AsIII) contents by 64 − 136 % in the fronds. The increased AsV reduction to AsIII was attributed to 60 − 131 % increase in glutathione peroxidase activity, which mediates GSH oxidation to GSSG (8.8 −29 % increase) in the fronds. Further, foliar-Se increased the expression of AsIII antiporters PvACR3;1–3;3 by 1.6 − 2.1 folds but had no impact on phosphate transporters PvPht1 or arsenate reductases PvHAC1/2. Our results indicate that foliar-Se effectively enhances plant growth and arsenic accumulation by promoting the GSH-GSSG cycle and upregulating gene expression of AsIII antiporters, which are responsible for AsIII translocation from the roots to fronds and AsIII sequestration into the fronds. The data indicate that foliar-Se can effectively improve phytoremediation efficiency of P. vittata in As-contaminated soils. [Display omitted] • Foliar-Se promoted plant growth by 17 − 30 % via decreasing MDA in the fronds. • Foliar-Se enhanced the As accumulation by 1.9–3.5 folds in the fronds. • Foliar-Se increased the glutathione oxidation from GSH to GSSG in the fronds. • Foliar-Se upregulated PvACR3;1-3;3 by 2-fold for As translocation & sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata exhibits remarkable absorption ability for chromium (Cr) while beneficial element selenium (Se) helps to reduce Cr-induced stress in plants. However, the effects of Se on the Cr uptake and the associated mechanisms in P. vittata are unclear, which were investigated in this study. P. vittata plants were grown for 14 days in 0.2-strength Hoagland solution containing 10 (Cr 10) or 100 μM (Cr 100) chromate (CrVI) and 1 μM selenate (Se 1). The plant biomass, malondialdehyde contents, total Cr and Se contents, Cr speciation, expression of genes associated with Cr uptake, and Cr subcellular distribution in P. vittata were determined. P. vittata effectively accumulated Cr by concentrating 96–99% in the roots under Cr 100 treatment. Further, Se substantially increased its Cr contents by 98% to 11,596 mg kg−1 in the roots, which may result from Se's role in reducing its oxidative stress as supported by 27–62% reduction in the malondialdehyde contents. Though supplied with CrVI, up to 98% of the Cr in the roots was reduced to insoluble chromite (CrIII), with 83–89% being distributed on root cell walls. Neither Cr nor Se upregulated the expression of sulfate transporters PvSultr1;1 − 1;2 or phosphate transporter PvPht1;4 , indicating their limited role in Cr uptake. P. vittata effectively accumulates Cr in the roots mainly as CrIII on cell walls and Se effectively enhances its Cr uptake by reducing its oxidative stress. Our study suggests that Se can be used to enhance P. vittata Cr uptake and reduce its oxidative stress, which may have application in phytostabilization of Cr-contaminated soils. [Display omitted] • P. vittata effectively accumulates Cr by concentrating 96–99 % in the roots at 100 μM CrVI. • Selenate promotes Cr uptake by 98% to 11,596 mg kg-1 in the roots at 100 μM CrVI. • Selenate reduces its oxidative stress as evidenced by 27–62% decrease in its MDA. • 94–99% CrVI is reduced to CrIII in the roots, with 83–89% on cell walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]