Selenium volatilization and assimilation by hybrid poplar (Populus tremula x alba)

The poplar hybrid Populus tremula x alba was shown to volatilize significant amounts of selenium. The volatilization rates were 230-fold higher from selenomethionine compared to selenite, and 1.5-fold higher from selenite than from selenate. X-ray absorption spectroscopy showed that selenate was metabolized slowly, but selenite was quickly converted to organic selenium.