Response of duckweed to various concentrations of selenite

The uptake of Se(IV) and its effects on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of duckweed (Lemna minor L.) have been studied. Duckweed plants were cultivated in controlled conditions for 7 weeks in different concentrations of Na selenite: 0.5, 1, 2, 5 (exposed 42 days) and 10 mg Se L-1 (survived 7-21 days). The addition of 1 mg Se L-1 did not negatively affect photochemical efficiency whilst respiratory potential increased in weeks 2-4 compared to control. The addition of 1 mg Se(IV) L-1 increased the amount of chlorophyll a in weeks 3 and 4 and the amount of carotenoids in weeks 1, 3 and 5. Concentrations of 2 and 5 mg Se L-1 negatively affected photochemical efficiency in weeks 3 and 4, and increased respiratory potential in comparison to the control in weeks 1-4, whilst beyond week 4, the respiratory potential decreased. Plants exposed to the highest concentration of Se(IV) had to be replaced twice during the experiment because they were dying. That was reflected in photochemical efficiency as well as in respiratory potential, which decreased in time. The content of Se in duckweed increased with the increasing concentration of Se: plants growing in 0.5 mg Se L-1 contained 0.9 mg Se g(-1) DM and plants exposed to 5 mg Se L-1 contained 5.8 mg Se g(-1) DM. The group of plants exposed to 10 mg Se L-1 for 21 days contained 19.5 mg Se g(-1) DM. Our study revealed that duckweed absorbed high amount of Se(IV) from the water.