Evaluation of the uptake capacities of heavy metals in Chinese cabbage

Abstract Heavy metal (HM) contamination in soil result in second pollution damage to Chinese cabbage, leading to deleterious health impacts. To elucidate the common transfer and accumulation characteristics of HMs in Chinese cabbage cultivar is important for safety breeding and consumption. In this case, concentrations and transfer capacities of HMs (Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb and As) in 35 common Chinese cabbage genotypes and their genotypic difference were investigated in this work. Results indicate that Chinese cabbage cultivar was more susceptible to Cd pollution, Hg was easily sifted from underground part to aerial part, Cr and Pb have similar enrichment and translocation characteristics, and Chinese cabbage cultivar had tolerance to As toxicity to some extent. Moreover, genotypic difference in HM accumulation in different parts of Chinese cabbage cultivar was also observed, and for edible part, followed by Hg>As>Cd>Pb>Cr. Referring to overall HM pollution level and biomass yield of edible part of 35 tested Chinese cabbages, B18, B6, B2 and B3 could be considered as the potential HMs pollution-safe Chinese cabbage cultivars. Information founded in this work may be used to provide referential strategies and methods to minimize the influx of HMs pollutants to human being through consumption and cultivation of Chinese cabbages.