The accumulation and assimilation of dimethylselenide by four plant species

Plants of Agrostis tenuis Sibth., Hordeum vulgare L., Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. and Raphanus sativus L. were grown hydroponically in sealed systems and fumigated with 8 μg m(-3) [(75)Se]-dimethylselenide. The accumulation of (75)Se was measured and the shoot tissues were extracted to examine the products of the (75)Se assimilation. Characteristic differences were observed between species in the accumulation of (75)Se and the transport from shoots to roots. High-voltage electrophoresis and chromatography of extracts made with 80% aqueous ethanol revealed the presence of inorganic selenite as an assimilation product as well as the selenium analogues of glutathione and methionine. Extensive incorporation of (75)Se into protein-bound selenomethionine was observed in all plant species.