ABSTRACT
Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most harmful and widespread heavy metals in agricultural soils. Cadmium in soil is easily taken up by crop roots and rapidly transported to the edible parts. Long-term Cd intake can cause chronic toxicity diseases in livestock and humans (Templeton & Liu 2010). Thus, it is imperative to find effective and low-cost strategies to reduce Cd toxicity for the health of humans. Selenium (Se), as a necessary beneficial element for humans and animals, is involved in the synthesis of various proteins and enzymes in mammals and plays an important role in anti-oxidation, anti-mutation, anti-cancer and other aspects (Brown & Arthur 2001). Moreover, many studies have demonstrated that Se may promote antioxidant capacity and enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stresses, such as heavy metal exposure and UV-induced oxidation. Ding et al. (2014) reported that Se significantly reduced the Cd content in rice grown hydroponically. Using the antagonistic effects of Se on Cd in an effective way, Se may reduce the amount of Cd entering the human body through the food chain. Therefore, the present research used a pot experiment to determine if the application of exogenous Se can alleviate cadmium-induced plant growth inhibition, Cd uptake, and Cd distribution and translocation.
