Abstract: The accumulation and chemical forms of vanadium (V) in the seedlings of two sweet maize (Zea mays) cultivars under V stress were investigated by pot experiment. The results show that the distribution of V content in two sweet maize cultivars was much higher in roots than in shoots, more V enriched by the roots of maize seedlings. The V content of the roots of Meitiannuo No.8 accounted for 83.91%-89.09% of the total, and Yitian 608 was for 84.59%-92.33%. Among the stems and leaves of different maize varieties, the chemical form of V is mainly ethanol extracted (F_E), but V speciation were mainly in the chemical forms of HCl extractable (F_HCl) and residue state (F_R) in roots, respectively. It indicates that V in the roots of Meitiannuo 8 maize was mostly less active organic acid salt, pectin acid salt and protein binding state, while V in Yitian 608 maize was deposited at the root with heavy metal phosphate or oxalate, which is hardly soluble in water, avoiding the ability of excessive V to transfer from the roots to the shoots, reducing the toxicity of V to maize seedlings. Yitian 608 is more resistant to V. The results provide a theoretical basis for exploring the absorption and tolerance mechanism of sweet maize seedlings to V.

Key words: maize (Zea mays), vanadium, accumulation, chemical form