Arsenic shoot-grain relationships in field grown rice cultivars

Gareth J. Norton, M. Rafiqul Islam, Guilan Duan, Ming Lei, Yongguan Zhu, Claire M. Deacon, Annette C. Moran, Shofiqul Islam, Fang Jie Zhao, Jacqueline L. Stroud, Steve P. McGrath, Joerg Feldmann, Adam H. Price, Andrew A. Meharg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Arsenic (As) accumulation in rice grains is a risk to human health. The mechanism of transfer of As from the shoot into the grain during grain filling is unknown at present. In this study As speciation in the shoot and grains at maturity were examined, and the relationships between phosphorus (P) and As, and silicon (Si) and As were established in a wide range of cultivars grown in As contaminated field trials in Bangladesh and China. No correlations were observed between shoot and grain speciation, with the inorganic form comprising 93.0-97.0% of As in the shoot and 63.0-83.7% in the grains. The percentage of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) was between 1.4 and 6.6% in the shoot and 14.6 and 37.0% in the grains; however, the concentrations were comparable, ranging from 0.07 to 0.26 mg kg-1 in the shoots and 0.03 to 0.25 mg kg -1 in the grains. Apositive correlation was observed between shoot As and shoot Si, however, no correlation was observed between shoot Si and grain As. A significant negative correlation was observed between shoot P and grain As concentrations. These results suggest that the translocation of As into the grain from the shoots is potentially using P rather than Si transport mechanisms. The findings also indicate that inorganic As and DMA translocation to the grain differ considerably.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1471-1477
Number of pages7
JournalEnvironmental Science and Technology
Volume44
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPrint publication - 2010
Externally publishedYes

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