Study of mercury-selenium (HgSe) interactions and their impact on Hg uptake by the radish (Raphanus sativus) plant

Pot culture experiments were conducted to study the effects of selenite and selenate treatment (0.5–6.0 μg/ml) on the uptake and translocation of root-absorbed mercury (Hg) in radish plants irrigated with 2 and 5 μg/ml Hg in sand and soil culture. Statistically significant reductions in mercury uptake with increasing concentrations of selenium (Se) were observed. Both forms of selenium (selenite and selenate) were equally effective in reducing the mercury burden of the plant. The observed reduction in plant uptake of mercury is explained by the formation of an HgSe insoluble complex in the soil-root environment. No significant difference (P > 0.05) in dry matter yields with the various selenium treatments was found, suggesting that no selenium toxicity or salt injury occurred in the plants.