Nova Biotechnol Chim (2017) 16(2): 99-104 DOI: 10.1515/nbec-2017-0014  Corresponding author: bardacova.monika@gmail.com  Nova Biotechnologica et Chimica Variable dynamics of cadmium uptake and allocation in four soybean cultivars Monika Bardáčová 1, , Yevheniia Konotop 2 , Zuzana Gregorová 3 , Miroslav Horník 1 , Jana Moravčíková 3 , Ján Kraic 4 and Ildikó Matušíková 1 1 Department of Ecochemistry and Radioecology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Nám. J. Herdu 2, Trnava, SK-917 01, Slovak Republic 2 Department of Plant Biology, Educational and Scientific Center “Institute of Biology and Medicine”, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Volodymyrska 64, Kyiv, 016 01, Ukraine 3 Institute of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology, Centre of Biology and Biodiversity Slovak Academy of Sciences, Akademická 2, P.O. Box 39A, Nitra, SK-950 07, Slovak Republic 4 Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Nám. J. Herdu 2, Trnava, SK-917 01, Slovak Republic Article info Article history: Received: 12 th October 2017 Accepted: 16 th December 2017 Keywords: Cadmium Distribution in tissue Glycine max Metal intake Radiotracers Abstract Cadmium is a serious environmental pollutant and its uptake by plant represents a serious health risk. Uptake, accumulation as well as sensitivity of soybean plants to metals have been shown to vary with genotype, while the dynamics of this uptake has rarely been studied. Here we studied the uptake and accumulation of Cd 2+ ions in different parts of soybean plants of four cultivars Moravians, Gallec, Kent and Cardiff. The plants at early developmental stage were immersed in Hoagland nutrient solution in the presence or absence of 50 mg.L -1 and the isotope of 109 Cd 2+ to monitor its accumulation continuously at 24 h intervals for 10 days. Our results showed that the uptake rate varied among the cultivars, being the highest in roots of the cv. Moravians and the lowest in the cv. Gallec. We also observed a non-even distribution of radioactivity within the entire plants of individual cultivars. The most of Cd 2+ isotope was translocated into primary leaves and leaves in the cvs. Kent and Moravians; on the contrary, relatively less in the cvs. Cardiff and Gallec. The results were fitted with genetic potential, growth as well as defense parameters such as proline accumulation. Combining uptake dynamics and biochemical data are indicative for different tolerance strategies of soybeans.  University of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Trnav Introduction Contamination of soils represents a serious concern of sustainable environment but also food production. Heavy metals, released to the environment from natural sources (e.g. volcanic activity, weathering of rocks) but in great manner also due to various anthropogenic activities (mining, industry etc.), endanger plants but also animals including humans. Therefore, metal contamination of farmland has widely been discussed due to its potential risk for food safety (Zhao et al. 2017). Cadmium toxicity represents one of the most severely discussed safety issue in many European countries. For example in Slovakia, an average Unauthenticated Download Date | 7/2/18 7:22 PM