[Effects of applying selenium on selenium allocation, grain yield, and grain quality of two maize cultivars]

A pot experiment with conventional maize cultivar ZD958 and glutinous maize cultivar JN218 was conducted to study the effects of applying different concentrations (0, 10, 25 and 50 mg x kg(-1)) of selenium (Se) on the Se allocation in plant organs, grain yield, and its quality. At low concentrations (< or = 10 mg x kg(-1)), Se stimulated maize growth, and increased biomass accumulation and grain yield significantly. At high concentrations (> 25 mg x kg(-1)), Se inhibited maize growth, and decreased dry mass accumulation, grain yield, and its quality. The Se concentration in plant organs was in the order of root > leaf > stalk > sheath. The Se concentrations in plant organs had a positive correlation with the Se concentration in soil. Comparing with ZD958, JN218 could accumulate more Se in natural low-Se environment, but enrich lesser Se in the environment with 10 mg x kg(-1) of Se. Taking the Se accumulation amount in grain and aboveground vegetative organs as the standard for evaluation, JN218 was more available planted on natural low-Se (0.25 mg x kg(-1)) soil or high-Se (25 mg x kg(-1)) soil, while ZD958 was appropriate planted on Se-rich (10 mg x kg(-1)) soil or Se-polluted (50 mg x kg(-1)) soil.