Abstract:

Pot experiments were carried out to simulate cesium (Cs) pollution in soil (varying doses of Cs were set to 0, 25,
50 and 100 mg/kg) and to explore the characteristics of Cs accumulation and the pollution situation in the edible portion of
three crops (Vicia faba L., Brassica napus L., and Brassica juncea L.) within different growth stages. Results showed that
all three crops were able to uptake Cs efficiently, and their Cs accumulation capacity displayed the following sequence:
Brassica juncea L. > Brassica napus L. > Vicia faba L.. In the seedling stage, the pollution index (PI) of Cs in different
organs (root, stem, and leaf) were all greater than 3 when Cs+ was more than 50 mg/kg, indicating that these organs had been
heavily polluted by Cs. In the squaring stage, Cs accumulation in different organs of three crops increased significantly with
the increase in Cs concentration (P < 0.05), reaching a level higher than that at the seedling stage. The pollution index (PI)
of Cs in most organs investigated were greater than 3 when Cs+ was more than 25 mg/kg, indicating serious Cs pollution in
these organs. In the maturity stage, 9.62%?10.93% of Cs was found to be accumulated in the seeds of the three crops. When
Cs+ was more than 25 mg/kg, these seeds were at moderate and above pollution levels.

Key words: cesium, accumulation, pollution index, Vicia faba L., Brassica napus L., Brassica juncea L.