Impact of molybdenum on Chinese cabbage response to selenium in solution culture

Abstract

Molybdenum (Mo) and selenium (Se) are both essential micronutrients for animals and humans. Increasing Mo and Se contents in food crops offers an effective approach to reduce Mo and Se deficiency problems. A hydroponic trial was conducted to investigate the interactions of Mo and Se on uptake, transfer factors (TFshoot) as well as distribution coefficients (DC) of Mo and Se on Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. Pekinensis). In Experiment 1 three concentrations of Mo (0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg L-1) and four concentrations of Se (0, 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg L-1) were arranged with a randomized block design. In Experiment 2, there were three treatments, 0.1 mg L-1 Mo, 0.1 mg L-1 Se and a combination of 0.1 mg L-1 Mo + 0.1 mg L-1 Se. Experiment 1 showed that Se decreased Mo concentrations in shoots and roots. The impact of Mo on Chinese cabbage response to uptake of Se varied, depending on whether the root Se concentration was saturated or not; Experiment 2 showed that there is a strong antagonism between Mo and Se on nutrition uptake when Mo and Se deficiencies persist for long periods; Mo and Se were easily translocated from solution to plants and from roots to shoots. The results will also be of help in cultivating Mo-enriched and Se-enriched crops. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.