Journal of Soil and Plant Interactions

Antimony (Sb) pollution has increased in recent years because of human activities and extensive usage of antimony compounds. To date, only a few researches have been conducted in this field in Iran. The purpose of this research is to determine fresh and dry weight, root permeability percentage and root concentration of Sb, Fe and Zn in the corn. This greenhouse research was performed in hydroponics. A factorial experiment (3 × 2 × 3) with three Sb concentrations (0, 6, 18 mgL-1), with and without P (0, 3 mgL-1), and three concentrations of NaCl (0, 60, 120 mM) in three replications was conducted. After 40 days, plants were harvested and the roots and shoots were separated. Increasing Sb concentrations, significantly reduced shoot weight. In the presence of Sb, shoot wet and dry matter increased with phosphorous addition because of the positive effect of phosphorous. Increasing Sb concentration with the same level of phosphorous produced plants with less fresh matter. Roots with lower phosphorous level had higher permeability, and increasing phosphorous concentration had a significant effect on root permeability. The highest and lowest root permeability was related to blank Sb level and 6 mg L-1 level of Sb, respectively. Increasing Sb concentration in nutrient solution first reduced and then significantly increased the root permeability. Root permeability also increased significantly by increasing salinity level in nutrient solution. Root Fe concentration of blank phosphorous level was about 13 percent higher than 3 mg L-1 of phosphorous but there was no significant difference in root Fe concentration between species in nutrient solutions with different levels of Sb and NaCl concentrations. The addition of Sb decreased root Zn concentration.

Keywords: Antimony, Phosphorous, Salinity, Oxidative stress.

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