Effects of high arsenic and fluoride soil concentrations on soybean plants.

BUSTINGORRI C; BALESTRASSE, K; RAÚL LAVADO

PHYTON - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY BA ARGENTINA

FUNDACION ROMULO RAGGIO

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2015 vol. 84 p. 407 - 415

0031-9457

Abstract. Arsenic (As) and Fluoride (F) are present in manysoils, affecting crops and posing risks in the food chain. We performedpot experiments on spiked soils enriched in these elementseither individually or simultaneously, over a wide range of concentrations.Soybean biomass production, grain yield, As and F accumulationand distribution within the plant, and the antioxidant responseto these stresses were analyzed. Arsenic was more toxic than F. At Aslevels >35 mg/kg and F levels >375 mg/kg, yield loss reached 60%and 30%, respectively. At the highest dose of As plants died within2 weeks, whereas F showed no lethality. When they were appliedsimultaneously, detrimental effects were more important. As and Fin plants increased in all soybean organs although grains presentedthe lowest concentrations. Antioxidant enzymes were enhanced inplants but this increase was not high enough to cope with the oxidativedamage.