Assessment of Lead Bioaccumulation in Soybean at Different Growth Stages.

Gupta, Siddhi; Meena, Manoj Kumar

In this research, Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is treated with different concentration of lead ranging from 0 to 1000mg/kg of soil to understand how lead moves from soil different parts of the soybean plant, particularly during pre-flowering, peak-flowering, and post-flowering stages. It is crucial for assessing the risk of lead entering the food chain. Results indicated a direct correlation between soil lead concentration and plant lead accumulation, with the highest levels found at 1000 mg/kg. Specifically, at the post-flowering stage, lead concentrations were highest in roots (6.1443 mg/gm), followed by leaves (3.6115 mg/gm), shoots (2.6813 mg/gm), and seeds (0.4231 mg/gm). We analyzed Translocation Factors (TFs) and the bioconcentration factor for lead to understand the dynamics of lead translocation within the plant. TF and BCF value obtained were < 1. Our analysis revealed a distinct accumulation hierarchy, with roots accumulating the highest levels of lead, followed by leaves, stems, and seeds. Importantly, our study uncovered that lead levels in soybean seeds exceeded the permissible thresholds set by the World Health Organization (WHO) across all concentration levels. This highlights a significant potential risk associated with consuming soybean crops directly, emphasizing the need for urgent considerations regarding food safety.

LEAD; PLANT translocation; FOOD safety; LEAD in soils; FOOD chains

Journal of Plant Science Research, 2024, Vol 40, Issue 3, p411

0970-2539

Academic Journal

10.32381/JPSR.2024.40.03.7