ABSTRACT
Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for humans and other animals, and it plays an important role in antioxidant function, thyroid hormone metabolism, male fertility, and immune responses. Human Se is mainly acquired from plant foods in the diet. However, the average daily Se intake is insufficient in China to meet the requirements of human health because of the low Se concentrations in plant foods. Selenium levels are low in most parts of China, and it is difficult to reach high levels of Se in seeds when sunflower grows in low Se soils unless agronomic Se fortification is utilized. Concentration-dependent kinetic experiment of selenate absorption in the leaf blades was investigated. Results showed that selenate absorption rate increased in proportion to the exogenous selenate levels. Selenate absorption was studied using sunflower. The sunflower seedlings were cultured in the full-strength Hoagland solution, which was renewed every 3 d.
