Accumulation and Chemical Forms of Vanadium in Seedlings of Different Maize Varieties

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.