Peach rootstocks as affected by selenate addition to soil.

Selenium is known to be non essential for plant growth, but it may have beneficial biological functions in some species, known as ‘accumulators’, which required Se for their normal growth. Selenate and selenite are the major forms readily absorbed by plants and converted to organic Se. Both anions may be toxic at higher concentrations, reducing the plant yield, but can stimulate plant growth at low concentrations. Some soils contain Se above the normal levels and it may produce toxicity in plants. Little is known about the physiological response of fruit-tree species to selenium. The present study aimed at investigating the ability of two peach rootstocks to absorb selenium and the physiological responses to the Se accumulated in plant tissue.