Selenium uptake and distribution in chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) grown in an aeroponic system

Cultivated plants generally are a poor source of dietary selenium (< 0.1 mg/kg wet weight). In this work the influence of sodium selenate on selenium distribution in the chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) cultivars ‘Anivip’ and ‘Monivip’ was studied in an aeroponic system in a greenhouse. The plants roots were moistened every fifteen minutes with a Resh nutrient solution with added selenium (10 mg L-1) in the form of sodium selenate. The content of total selenium in chicory roots and leaves was studied after different periods of time and different temperatures of exposure to the selenium enriched nutrient solution. In two separate experiments chicory was treated with selenium enriched nutrient solution for 40 days at 10 °C in the slow growing phase, and for 5, 7 and 10 days at 20 °C in the developmental phase at the beginning of formation of the flower stem. The concentration in leaves increased with time during plant growth, and in Se treated groups was 370 and 139 mg kg-1 in ‘Anivip’ and 460 and 205 mg kg-1 in ‘Monivip’ leaves after 40 and 10 days of exposure, respectively. A smaller increase in selenium content was obtained in roots, namely to 73 and 46 mg kg-1 in ‘Anivip’ roots and to 87 and 46 mg kg-1 in ‘Monivip’ roots after 40 and 10 days of exposure, respectively. All results are expressed on a lyophilised matter basis. In long and short term treatment, the selenium content in ‘Monivip’ cultivar was higher than in ‘Anivip’. No visible toxic effects on the chicory plants were observed.