Characteristics of Time-Dependent Selenium Biofortification of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The application of selenite to soil has increasingly been used to produce Se-enriched food. This study investigated the biofortification characteristics of Se in rice after application of selenite to soil at different growth stages. The results showed that the application of Se during booting stage resulted in the highest concentration of Se in brown rice due to the highest upward translocation of Se. More than 90% of Se in the brown rice was organic species, with selenomethionine predominated. The proportion of selenomethionine in the brown rice decreased with the delay in application time. The rice grown in the acidic soil had higher Se concentrations than in the neutral soil. With increasing soil Cd level, Se accumulation and the proportion of Se-methylselenocysteine in the brown rice were reduced. This study provides a theoretical basis for the production of Se-enriched rice in clean soil or slightly to moderately Cd-contaminated soil.