ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Variations in Cd and Pb Accumulations
of Hot Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Cultivars
for Screening Pollution- and Nitrate-Safe
Cultivars
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1
College of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, China
2
State Defense Key Laboratory of Nuclear Waste and Environmental Security, Southwest University
of Science and Technology, Mianyang, China
Submission date: 2019-08-21
Final revision date: 2019-10-09
Acceptance date: 2019-10-15
Online publication date: 2020-02-28
Publication date: 2020-04-21
Corresponding author
Dan Wang
Southwest University of Science and Technology, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(4):2597-2607
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ABSTRACT
Screening pollution-safe cultivars has become one of the most direct and cost-effective methods
for reducing metals entering the food chain. The aims of this study were to screen low Cd and Pb
hot pepper cultivars and clarify the mechanisms of low Cd and Pb accumulation in fruits. In this
study, we found that fruit Cd and Pb concentrations were significantly different (p<0.05) among
cultivars and were also significantly (p<0.05) affected by Cd and Pb levels. Meanwhile, fruit Cd and
Pb concentrations are significantly positively correlated with both the shoot Cd and Pb concentrations
and the translocation factors. Nevertheless, there were no significant (p<0.05) correlations between the
fruit Cd and Pb concentrations and the root Cd and Pb concentrations. Two hot pepper cultivars, Nos.
8 (Youma) and 11 (Xianglaerjintiao), were identified as low Cd and Pb cultivars. The nitrate content
of No. 11 (Xianglaerjintiao) exceeded 440 mg·kg-1 FW in T2 treatment, thus the No. 8 (Youma) can
be grown to increase agricultural food safety compared to the No. 11 (Xianglaerjintiao). Therefore,
the No. 8 (Youma) is suitable to be planted in low Cd- and Pb-contaminated soils for screening
pollution-safe cultivars.