Joint effects of cadmium and lead on seedlings of four Chinese cabbage cultivars in northeastern China

In northeastern China, large area of vegetable land has been simultaneously polluted by cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). Joint effects of Cd and Pb on Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis L.) were investigated using the seed germination and sand culture method. Four Chinese cabbage cultivars including Kangbingjinchun (KB), Dongyangchunxia (DY), Qinglvwang (QL) and Qiangshi (QS) from Shenyang in northeastern China were adopted in this study. The results showed that there were positive linear relationships between the inhibitory rate of biomass, root and shoot elongation and the concentrations of Cd and Pb. In particular, root elongation was more sensitive to joint stress of Cd and Pb. The activity of superoxide dismutase and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), soluble protein (SP) and proline (PRO) changed significantly with increasing exposure concentration of Cd and Pb. The decrement in the activity of antioxidative enzymes, the content of SP and accumulation of MDA were relatively low in KB and QS. PRO played an important role in resisting Cd and Pb stress.