Selenium Accumulation in a Rapid-cycling Brassica Oleracea Population Responds to Increasing Sodium Seienate Concentrations

Because of their short life cycle, rapid-cycling base populations (RCBP) of Brassica can act as model systems for investigating selenium (Se) metabolism in high sulfur (S) accumulating plants. To establish treatment responses for a B. oleracea RCBP, plants were grown in nutrient solutions containing 0, 3, 6, and 9 mg sodium seienate (Na₂SeO₄) L^-1. Depletion of Se from nutrient solutions increased linearly with in-creasing Na₂SeO₄ concentrations. Selenium accumulation ranged from 551 to 1,916 μg Se g^-1 dry weight for leaf tissue, 267 to 1,165 μg Se g^-1 dry weight for stem tissue, and 338 to 1,636 μg Se g^-1 dry weight for root tissue. Selenium additions also resulted in linear increases in S accumulation in leaves and stems. Selenium supplementation has been shown to improve the health of individuals with low Se status. Because Brassica species are important vegetable and forage crops, their enrichment with Se maybe a good delivery system for mammalian diets.