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Selenium tolerance, accumulation, localization and speciation in a Cardamine hyperaccumulator and a
Eszter Borbála Both1, Gavin C Stonehouse2, Leonardo Warzea Lima2
1Department of Applied Chemistry, Szent István University, Villányi út 29-43., 1118 Budapest, Hungary; Department of Biology, Colorado State University, 251 West Pitkin Street, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
Cardamine violifolia, a unique selenium hyperaccumulator, differs significantly from Cardamine pratensis and other hyperaccumulators in selenium uptake and metabolism, lacking growth stimulation and showing distinct organic selenium formation.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Environmental Science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cardamine violifolia is the first selenium hyperaccumulator identified in the Cardamine genus.
- It exhibits unique selenium accumulation properties, including high selenolanthionine levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively compare selenium accumulation and physiological responses between the hyperaccumulator Cardamine violifolia and the non-hyperaccumulator Cardamine pratensis.
- To elucidate the unique selenium metabolic pathways in C. violifolia.
Main Methods:
- Elemental analysis using synchrotron-based X-Ray Fluorescence (μXRF) and ICP-OES.
- Selenium speciation analysis via selenium K-edge micro X-ray absorption near-edge structure (μXANES) and strong cation exchange (SCX)-ICP-MS.
- Assessment of growth characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence.
Main Results:
- Neither Cardamine species showed selenium-induced growth stimulation or phosphate inhibition of selenite uptake.
- Sulfate inhibited selenate uptake similarly in both species.
- μXRF revealed distinct spatial selenium/sulfur distribution, while μXANES indicated organic selenium ('C-Se-C') in C. violifolia seedlings and mature plants, and a mix in mature C. pratensis.
- SCX-ICP-MS confirmed the absence of selenocystine in both species.
Conclusions:
- Cardamine violifolia exhibits unique selenium-related physiological and biochemical characteristics compared to Cardamine pratensis and other known selenium hyperaccumulators.
- The study highlights novel aspects of selenium metabolism in hyperaccumulating plants.
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