Effect of fluoride and cadmium stress on the uptake and translocation of fluoride and cadmium and other mineral nutrition elements in radish in single element or co-taminated sierozem

The radish plants are cold- and drought-tolerant crops. They have been widely planted in semi-arid or arid areas of northwest China. With high biomass production, the radish plants have been proved to be a potential phytoaccumulator of several metals (Cu, Pb, Zn). A pot experiment with single element-contaminated or co-contaminated soils was conducted to study fluoride (F) and cadmium (Cd) accumulation in radish plants and the effect of their interaction on radish growth. After four months growing in sierozem, F and Cd with different concentration levels were added to the soil. The dry biomass and the concentrations of F and Cd in the roots and leaves of radish plants were measured, and the bioconcentration and translocation factors of F and Cd were calculated. We also identified the contents of Cu, Zn and Mn in radish plants. The combined contamination of F and Cd showed synergistic effect (negative) on the growth of radish plants. It was found that F or Cd was mainly accumulated in the leaves of radish plants which were able to transport to tops of radish plants. The addition of F-Cd inhibited Cu uptake by the roots, while the addition of F or Cd or F-Cd all promoted Zn absorption by radish plants. Results also showed that the synergistic interaction (positive) between F and Cd played a role in the absorption of Mn by the roots of radish plants.