Cross-Talk between Cadmium and Selenium at Elevated Cadmium Stress Determines the Fate of Selenium Uptake in Rice
Muhammad Umer Farooq,
Zhichen Tang,
Tengda Zheng,
Muhammad Ahsan Asghar,
Rui Zeng,
Yang Su,
Hla Hla Ei,
Yuanke Liang,
Yujie Zhang,
Xiaoying Ye,
Xiaomei Jia,
Jianqing Zhu
Affiliations
Muhammad Umer Farooq
Demonstration Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation of Sichuan Province, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Zhichen Tang
Demonstration Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation of Sichuan Province, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Tengda Zheng
Demonstration Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation of Sichuan Province, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Muhammad Ahsan Asghar
College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Rui Zeng
Demonstration Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation of Sichuan Province, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Yang Su
Demonstration Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation of Sichuan Province, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Hla Hla Ei
Demonstration Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation of Sichuan Province, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Yuanke Liang
Demonstration Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation of Sichuan Province, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Yujie Zhang
Demonstration Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation of Sichuan Province, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Xiaoying Ye
Demonstration Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation of Sichuan Province, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Xiaomei Jia
Demonstration Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation of Sichuan Province, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Jianqing Zhu
Demonstration Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation of Sichuan Province, Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Cadmium (Cd) is a well-known metal imposing threats to human health, and it can be accumulated in polished rice over the permitted range of 0.2 mg kg−1 (GB 2762-2017). It has been reported that selenium (Se) application decreases Cd uptake. Se-rich diets have gained attention recently, but the potential of Se-rich rice in mitigating Cd stress needs further investigation. In this study, a pot experiment in the field was conducted to assess the influence of environmental factors and exogenous split application of Se on the nutritional status of rice under Cd stress. The results indicated that the increased fertilizer treatment in soil bulk linearly increased the metal content in rice grains. Approximately 50−70% of metal was recovered in rice tissues, while 5−20% of the metal that was applied leached down into the soil. A Se concentration of 0.4 mg kg−1 could significantly improve the total Se content in grain and mitigate Cd toxicity (1 mg kg−1) below the permitted range. Panicles and roots were more active for total Se accumulation in Se-rich and non-Se-rich rice, respectively. Polishing and milling operations can significantly reduce the Cd content, as rice bran in rice tissues accumulated most of the metal’s residues. The late matured rice cultivars consumed more heat units, and more metal contents were found in them. Collectively, it was found that Se can mitigate Cd toxicity, but the rice cultivation at T2 (high Cd; 2 mg kg−1 and Se; 1 mg kg−1) increased the metal uptake capability and health-risk index in polished rice, with its Se content heightened over permitted range of 0.04 to 0.30 mg kg−1 (GB/T 22499-2008). However, further molecular studies are required, in order to completely access the inverted Se accumulation behavior in rice tissues at high Cd soil stress.
