Differences in Pb Accumulation Between Wheat Varieties

A field trial was conducted in a piece of farmland mildly contaminated with heavy metals, to study differences in Pb uptake between 20 different wheat varieties, and to explore rules of Pb transfer and accumulation in wheat, in the hope of screening out low-Pb-accumulating wheat cultivars. Cluster analysis based on Pb content in grains shows that Huapei 8, Pingan 8, Zhoumai 20, Yunong 201 and Tongzhoumai 916 were low in Pb accumulation, and Pb contents in grains of these five wheat cultivars complied with the criteria of Hygiene Standard for Grains (GB 2715-2005). Their mean transfer factor of Pb from roots to grains was 0.0011 and Pb enrichment factor 0.0374, both below 1. Moreover, these cultivars of wheat were quite high in yield. It is, therefore, tentatively held that Huapei 8 and Zhoumai 20 are two potential cultivars featuring low Pb-accumulation. Before being extrapolated for cultivation in farmlands mildly polluted with Pb, further studies should be done to verify their low Pb accumulating traits.