Effects of selenium and sulfur on antioxidants and physiological parameters of garlic plants during senescence

A hydroponic study was conducted to determine the effects of selenium（Se： 0, 3, 6 μmol L^-1） on senescence-related oxidative stress in garlic plants grown under two sulfur（S） levels. We evaluated the yields of plants harvested at 160 and 200 days after sowing. Plants grown under a low Se dose（0.3 μmol L^-1） at low S level showed higher yields（12.0% increase in fresh weight yield, 13.7% increase in dry weight yield） than the controls, despite a decrease in chlorophyll concentration. Compared with control plants, the Se-treated plants showed lower levels of lipid peroxidation. The Se-treated plants also showed higher activities of glut athione peroxidase and catalase, but lower superoxide dismutase activities. Changes in Fv/Fm values and proline contents were affected more strongly by S than by Se. On the basis of our results, we can conclude that Se plays a key role in the antioxidant systems in garlic seedlings. It delays senescence by alleviating the peroxide stress, but it can be toxic at high levels. A high S level may increase tolerance to high Se concentrations through reducing Se accumulation in plants.

Selenium-oxidizing Agrobacterium sp.T3F4 decreases arsenic uptake by Brassica rapa L.under a native polluted soil

Toxic arsenic(As)and trace element selenium(Se)are transformed by microorganisms but their complex interactions in soil-plant systems have not been fully understood.An Asand Se-oxidizing bacterium,Agrobacterium sp.T3F4,was applied to a native seleniferous As-polluted soil to investigate As/Se uptake by the vegetable Brassica rapa L.and As-Se interaction as mediated by strain T3F4.The Se content in the aboveground plants was significantly enhanced by 34.1%,but the As content was significantly decreased by 20.5% in the T3F4-inoculated pot culture compared to the control(P<0.05).Similar result was shown in treatment with additional 5 mg/kg of Se(IV)in soil.In addition,the As contents in roots were significantly decreased by more than 35% under T3F4 or Se(IV)treatments(P<0.05).Analysis of As-Se-bacterium interaction in a soil simulation experiment showed that the bioavailability of Se significantly increased and As was immobilized with the addition of the T3F4strain(P<0.05).Furthermore,an As/Se co-exposure hydroponic experiment demonstrated that As uptake and accumulation in plants was reduced by increasing Se(IV)concentrations.The 50% growth inhibition concentration(IC50)values for As in plants were increased about one-fold and two-fold under co-exposure with 5 and 10μmol/L Se(IV),respectively.In conclusion,strain T3F4 improves Se uptake but decreases As uptake by plants via oxidation of As and Se,resulting in decrease of soil As bioavailability and As/Se competitive absorption by plants.This provides a potential bioremediation strategy for Se biofortification and As immobilization in As-polluted soil.

Synthesis and structure of a new 1D infinite neutral chain based on organotin and selenious acid monoethyl ester

A new 1D infinite neutral chain （Ph3SnO2SeOCH2CH3）n （1） based on organotin and selenious acid monoethyl ester has been synthesized successfully and characterized by IR, elemental analysis, and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. In the compound 1, the Sn atom exists in slightly distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry and the Se center is tri-coordinated with a distorted pyramidal arrangement. It is noted that the synthesis is facile and selenium oxide is directly introduced into synthesis route replacing organoseleninic acid under room temperature.