Selenite Foliar Application Alleviates Arsenic Uptake, Accumulation, Migration and Increases Photosynthesis of Different Upland Rice Varieties

This study investigates how arsenic (As) uptake, accumulation, and migration responds to selenium (Se) foliar application (0–5.0 mg × kg(−1)). Rice varieties known to accumulate low (DOURADOAGULHA) and high (SINALOAA68) concentrations of arsenic were chosen to grow on soil with different As concentrations (20.1, 65.2, 83.9 mg × kg(−1)). The results showed that Se of 1.0 mg × L(−1) significantly alleviated As stress on upland rice grown on the As-contaminated soil. Under light (65.2 mg × kg(−1)) and moderate (83.9 mg × kg(−1)) As concentration treatments, the biomass of upland rice was increased by 23.15% and 36.46% for DOURADOAGULHA, and 46.3% and 54.9% for SINALOAA68. However, the high Se dose (5.0 mg × kg(−1)) had no significant effect on biomass and heights of upland rice compared to plants where no Se was added. Se significantly decreased As contents in stems and leaves and had different effects on As transfer coefficients for the two rice varieties: when grown on soil with low and moderate As concentrations, Se could reduce the transfer coefficient from stems to leaves, but when grown on the high As soils, this was not the case. The chlorophyll content in plants grown in soil with the moderate concentration of As could be improved by 27.4%–55.3% compared with no Se treatment. Under different As stress, the Se foliar application increased the net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate, which meant that Se could enhance the photosynthesis of rice. The intercellular CO(2) concentration variation implied that the stomatal or non-stomatal limitations could both occur for different rice varieties under different Se application doses. In conclusion, under moderate As stress, foliar application of Se (1.0 mg × L(−1)) is recommend to overcome plant damage and As accumulation.