Can phosphate compounds be used to reduce the plant uptake of Pb and resist the Pb stress in Pb-contaminated soils?

Abstract

The effects of different phosphate-amendments on lead (Pb) uptake, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.) in contaminated soils with 2500, or 5000 mg P20s/kg soil of hydroxyapatite (HA), phosphate rock (PR), single-superphosphate (SSP) and the mix of HA/SSP (HASSP) were evaluated in pot experiments. Results showed that the Pb concentrations in shoots and roots decreased by 18.3%-51.6% and 16.8%-57.3% among the treatments respectively compared to the control samples. The efficiency order of these phosphate-amendments in reducing Pb uptake was as follows: HASSP approximately equal HA > SSP approximately equal PR. With the addition of SSP, HA and the mix of HA/SSP, the SOD activity in shoot was reduced markedly (P < 0.05) compared with that in the control group. For example, the SOD activities in shoot by the treatments of HASSP, SSP, and HA in 5000 mg P2O5/kg were found to be only 51.3%, 56.2%, and 56.7%, respectively. Similar effects were also observed on the level of MDA in the shoots with a decrease in 24.5%-56.3%. The results verified the inference that phosphate compounds could be used to reduce the plant uptake of Pb and resist the Pb stress in the plant vegetated in Pb-contaminated soils.