INFLUENCE OF SELENIUM ON UPTAKE AND TOXICITY OF COPPER AND CADMIUM INPEA (PISUM-SATIVUM) AND WHEAT (TRITICUM-AESTIVUM)

The detoxifying effect of selenium on animals toxicated with heavy met als is well known. In this study we examine if there is a similar effe ct in plants. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Sunny) and pea (Pisum sa tivum L. cv. Fenomen) were grown for 21 days on a nutrient solution ba sed on the nutrient proportions in healthy plants. Nutrients along wit h cadmium, copper, selenite, selenate or selenite and selenate in comb inations with copper or cadmium were supplied in small amounts with a daily incremental increase of 0.12 (wheat) and 0.20 (pea). The metal a nd selenium uptake and distribution in the plants as well as the effec ts on growth were investigated. The results show that selenium does no t reduce the toxicity of heavy metals to plants. Instead, selenium enh ances metal uptake and toxicity, especially in peas grown in the prese nce of metal and selenate. Selenite increased cadmium concentrations o f pea roots up to 300% and selenate that of wheat shoots up to 50%.