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Hydroponics: A Versatile System to Study Nutrient Allocation and Plant Responses to Nutrient Availability and Exposure to Toxic Elements
Published on: July 13, 2016
Antimony uptake by Zea mays (L.) and Helianthus annuus (L.) from nutrient solution
Martin Tschan1, Brett Robinson, Rainer Schulin
1Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Soil Protection, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Universitaetstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland. martin.tschan@env.ethz.ch
Abstract:
We investigated the extent of Sb uptake by maize (Zea mays) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) from nutrient solutions containing concentrations from 3 to 24 mg/L of potassium antimonate, with the aim of determining the potential of Sb to enter the food chain. The maximum shoot Sb concentrations in Z. mays and H. annuus were 41 mg/kg and 77 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. There was no significant difference in Sb uptake between species. The average bioaccumulation coefficients (the plant/solution concentration quotients) were 1.02 and 1.93 for Z. mays and H. annuus, respectively. Phosphate addition did not affect plant growth or Sb uptake. Antimony uptake by both Z. mays and H. annuus is unlikely to pose a health risk to animals and humans.
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