Antimony Accumulation in Wheat Seedlings Grown in Soil and Water

Abstract

The purposes of the research were (1) to estimate the ability of wheat Triticum aestivum L. to uptake antimony (Sb) from contaminated soil and water, (2) to study effects of Sb bioaccumulation on the plant development and distribution of macro- and trace elements in the plants, and (3) to compare uptake of Sb and some other elements by wheat seedlings grown in solid (soil) and liquid (water) media. Both soil-grown and water-grown plants were capable of accumulating large amounts of Sb. In roots, concentration of Sb was always greater than in leaves, suggesting that roots can prevent transfer of the trace element to upper plant parts. Uptake of Sb by the plants grown in water was significantly greater compared to Sb uptake by the plants grown in soil. Antimony bioaccumulation resulted in variations in concentrations of some nutrients in different plant parts and decrease of the seedling biomass.