Spatial Metallomics Reveals Preferable Accumulation of Methylated Selenium in a Single Seed of the Hyperaccumulator Cardamine violifolia†

Abstract

Cardamine violifolia is a Se hyperaccumulator found in Enshi, China. In this study, spatial metallomics was applied to visualize the distribution and speciation of Se in a single seed of C. violifolia. It was found that Se reached 1729.89 ± 28.14 mg/kg and the main Se species were SeCys and SeMet in bulk seeds. Further in situ study on a single seed found that the methylated Se species located mostly in the episperm. This is the first visualized evidence of the in situ distribution of methylated Se species in the seeds of C. violifolia. In all, spatial metallomics finds a preferable accumulation of methylated Se species in the seed coat, which deepens the understanding of the tolerance of Se by C. violifolia. The protocol applied in this study may also be used for the understanding of the tolerance of heavy metals/metalloids in other hyperaccumulators.