China Geological Survey Chinese Academy of Geological SciencesHost
Advanced Search
Previous Article Next Article
2025 Vol. 8, No. 3
Article Contents
Article navigation > China Geology > 2025 > 8(3): 573-585
Next Article Previous Article

Su-rong Zhang, Jun-quan Yang, Da-ming Wang, Xue-sheng Gao, Ji-hong Liu, Jing Zhang, Xiao-long Duan, Jian-hua Wang, Ling-zhi Yang, 2025. Mechanisms behind zinc transport in a calcareous soil-wheat system and their impacts on human health, China Geology, 8, 573-585. doi: 10.31035/cg2024150
Citation: Su-rong Zhang, Jun-quan Yang, Da-ming Wang, Xue-sheng Gao, Ji-hong Liu, Jing Zhang, Xiao-long Duan, Jian-hua Wang, Ling-zhi Yang, 2025. Mechanisms behind zinc transport in a calcareous soil-wheat system and their impacts on human health, China Geology, 8, 573-585. doi: 10.31035/cg2024150
shu

Mechanisms behind zinc transport in a calcareous soil-wheat system and their impacts on human health

  • a.

    Tianjin Centre (North China Center for Geoscience Innovation), China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin 300170, China

  • b.

    Tianjin Key Laboratory of Coast Geological Processes and Environmental Safety, Tianjin 300170, China

  • c.

    Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

  • d.

    Hebei Provincial Research Center for Geoanalysis, Baoding 071000, China

More Information
Received Date:  18 September 2024
Revised Date:  13 January 2025
Accepted Date:  19 March 2025
Available Online:  14 April 2025
Publish Date:  15 July 2025
    Abstract

  • Zinc is recognized as a vital biological element for animals and plants. Both zinc deficiency and excess will cause damage to cells, and zinc deficiency in the human body may lead to severe health problems. Zinc deficiency has been identified as a global nutritional issue. Wheat, one of the most significant food crops for humans, is primarily planted in potentially zinc-deficient, calcareous soils in China. It proves to be a major global challenge to increase the zinc concentration in wheat crops to boost crop yields and improve human health. This study investigated the growth process of wheat in calcareous soils with various zinc concentrations using outdoor pot experiments and systematically explored the characteristics and mechanism of zinc transport in the soil-wheat system. The results indicate that the zinc concentrations in various wheat organs decreased in the order of roots, stems, and leaves in the jointing stage and in the order of seeds, roots, and stems in the mature stage. Overall, the zinc enrichment in various wheat organs decreased in the order of seeds, roots, stems, and leaves. In the case of zinc deficiency in soils, wheat roots exhibited elevated zinc availability in the rhizosphere by secreting phytosiderophores. This enhances the zinc uptake capacity of wheat roots. In the case of sufficient zinc supply from soils, chelated zinc formed with citric acid as the chelating ligand occurred stably in soils, contributing to enhanced utilization and uptake rates of zinc, along with elevated transport and enrichment capacities of zinc inside the plants. The results indicate that the zinc concentration in wheat seeds can be somewhat enhanced by regulating the background value of bioavailable zinc concentration in soils. A moderate zinc concentration gradient of 1.0 mg/kg is unfavorable for zinc accumulation in wheat seeds, while a high zinc concentration gradient of 6.0 mg/kg corresponds to the highest degree of zinc enrichment in wheat seeds. This study holds critical scientific significance for enhancing the zinc supply capacity of soils, increasing the zinc concentrations in wheat seeds, and, accordingly, addressing zinc deficiency in the human body. Additionally, this study offers a mechanistic reference and basis for research on the interplay between soils, plants, and human health.

    • FullText(HTML)
  • 加载中
    • References
  • Brinch-Pedersen H, Hatzack F, Sørensen LD, Holm PB. 2003. Concerted action of endogenous and heterologous phytase on phytic acid degradation in seed of transgenic wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Transgenic Research, 12(6), 649–659. doi: 10.1023/B:TRAG.0000005113.38002.e1.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Cakmak I, Torun A, Millet E, Feldman M, Fahima T, Korol A, Nevo E, Braun HJ, Özkan H. 2004. Triticum dicoccoides: An important genetic resource for increasing zinc and iron concentration in modern cultivated wheat. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 50(7), 1047–1054. doi: 10.1080/00380768.2004.10408573.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Cakmak I. 2008. Enrichment of cereal grains with zinc: Agronomic or genetic biofortification? Plant and Soil, 302(1), 1–17. doi: 10.1007/s11104-007-9466-3.

    Google Scholar

    Cakmak I. 2009. Enrichment of fertilizers with zinc: An excellent investment for humanity and crop production in India. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 23(4), 281–289. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2009.05.002.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Chu HX, Mu WY, Dang HY, Wang T, Sun RQ, Hou SB, Huang TM, Huang QN, Shi M, Wang ZH. 2022. Evaluation on concentration and nutrition of micro-elements in wheat grains in major wheat production regions of China. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 48(11), 2853–2865 (in Chinese with English abstract). doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1006.2022.11099.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Clarke AL, Graham ER. 1968. Zinc diffusion and distribution coefficients in soil as affected by soil texture, zinc concentration and pH. Soil Science, 105(6), 409–418. doi: 10.1097/00010694-196806000-00006.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Dang HK, Li RQ, Sun YH, Zhang XW, Li YM. 2010. Absorption, accumulation and distribution of zinc in high-yielding winter wheat. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 43(09), 1791–1799 (in Chinese with English abstract). doi: 10.1016/S1671-2927(09)60178-4.

    Google Scholar

    Fan YJ, Wei LM, Liang Z, Gu JW, Qiu SB, Wang TJ. 2024. A green synthetic route to fischer-tropsch catalysts by complexing and dissolving iron powder with citric acid. Renewable Energy Resources, 42(4), 448–454 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar

    Gashu D, Nalivata PC, Amede T, Ander EL, Bailey EH, Botoman L, Chagumaira C, Gameda S, Haefele SM, Hailu K, Joy EJM, Kalimbira AA, Kumssa DB, Lark RM, Ligowe IS, McGrath SP, Milne AE, Mossa AW, Munthali M, Towett EK, Walsh MG, Wilson L, Young SD, Broadley MR. 2021. The nutritional quality of cereals varies geospatially in Ethiopia and Malawi. Nature, 594(7861), 71–76. doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03559-3.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Gibson RS. 2006. Zinc: The missing link in combating micronutrient malnutrition in developing countries. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 65(1), 51–60. doi: 10.1079/pns2005474.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Hart JJ, Welch RM, Norvell WA, Kochian LV. 2006. Characterization of cadmium uptake, translocation and storage in near-isogenic lines of durum wheat that differ in grain cadmium concentration. New Phytologist, 172(2), 261–271. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2006.01832.x.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Haydon MJ, Cobbett CS. 2007. A novel major facilitator superfamily protein at the tonoplast influences zinc tolerance and accumulation in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology, 143(4), 1705–1719. doi: 10.1104/pp.106.092015.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Hodgson JF, Lindsay WL, Kemper WD. 1967. Contributions of fixed charge and mobile complexing agents to the diffusion of zinc. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 31(3), 410–413. doi: 10.2136/sssaj1967.03615995003100030033x.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Hotz C. Brown KH. 2004. Assessment of the risk of zinc deficiency in populations and options for its control. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 25, S91–S202. doi: 10.1177/15648265040251S201.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Hu XY, Li XY, Xie ZC. 2002. Differences of Zn uptake in various pakchoi cultivars and relationship between Zn uptake and root exudates. Plant Natrition and Fertilizen Science, 8(2), 234–238 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar

    Jalali M, Khanlari ZV. 2008. Effect of aging process on the fractionation of heavy metals in some calcareous soils of Iran. Geoderma, 143(1-2), 26–40. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2007.10.002.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Jiang WJ, Meng LS, Liu FT, Sheng YZ, Chen SM, Yang JL, Mao HR, Zhang J, Zhang Z, Ning H. 2023. Distribution, source investigation, and risk assessment of topsoil heavy metals in areas with intensive anthropogenic activities using the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model coupled with self-organizing map (SOM). Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 45(8), 6353–6370. doi: 10.1007/s10653-023-01587-8.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Karak T, Singh UK, Das S, Das DK, Kuzyakov Y. 2005. Comparative efficacy of ZnSO4 and Zn-EDTA application for fertilization of rice (Oryza sativaL. ). Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 51(3), 253–264. doi: 10.1080/03650340400026701.

    Google Scholar

    Karami M, Afyuni M, Khoshgoftarmanesh AH, Papritz A, Schulin R. 2009. Grain zinc, iron, and copper concentrations of wheat grown in central Iran and their relationships with soil and climate variables. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 57(22), 10876–10882. doi: 10.1021/jf902074f.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Kaur H, Srivastava S, Goyal N, Walia S. 2024. Behavior of zinc in soils and recent advances on strategies for ameliorating zinc phyto-toxicity. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 220, 105676. doi: 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2024.105676.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Li GX. 2020. Studies on mechanisms of zinc uptake and accumulation in different wheat cultivars. Zhengzhou: Henan Agricultural University (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar

    Liu DY, Liu YM, Zhang W, Chen XP, Zou CQ. 2017. Agronomic approach of zinc biofortification can increase zinc bioavailability in wheat flour and thereby reduce zinc deficiency in humans. Nutrients, 9(5), 465. doi: 10.3390/nu9050465.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Liu YJ, Cao LM, Li ZL, Wang HN, Chu TQ, Zhang JR. 1984. Element Geochemistry. Beijing: Science Press, 86–88 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar

    Liu Z. 1994. Distribution law of zinc content in soil in China. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 27(1), 30–37 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar

    Liu ZJ, Zhang X, Dong YH, Qing CS, Cheng X, Zhao WF, Li XH, Sang L, Hai L. 2023. Geochemical characteristics of Zinc in soil and prediction of Zn-rich wheat cultivating areas in Weining Plain, Northwest China. Geology in China. (in Chinese with English abstract). doi: 10.12029/gc20220705002.

    Google Scholar

    Ma GS, Jin Y, Li YP, Zhai FY, Kok FJ, Jacobsen E, Yang XG. 2008. Iron and zinc deficiencies in China: What is a feasible and cost-effective strategy? Public Health Nutrition, 11(6), 632–638. doi: 10.1017/s1368980007001085.

    Google Scholar

    Ma XD, Yu T, Yang ZF, Zhang HS, Wu ZL, Wang J, Li MH, Lei FH. 2022. Geochemical characteristics of zinc in soil and prediction of zinc content in maize and rice grains in Linshui County, Sichuan Province. Geology in China, 49(1), 324–335 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar

    Ma YB, Uren NC. 1997. The fate and transformations of zinc added to soils. Soil Research, 35(4), 727–738. doi: 10.1071/s96102.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Ma YP, Shi L, He Y. 2020. Trace elements iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper, molybdenum and human health. Fertilizer & Health, 47(5), 12–17 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar

    Marschner H. 1995. Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants (2nd Ed). London: Academic Press, 553–559.

    Google Scholar

    Melton JR, Mahtab SK, Swoboda AR. 1973. Diffusion of zinc in soils as a function of applied zinc, phosphorus, and soil pH. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 37(3), 379–381. doi: 10.2136/sssaj1973.03615995003700030020x.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Metwally AI, Mashhady AS, Modaihsh AS, Reda M. 1991. Zinc diffusion and self-diffusion coefficient in alkaline soils as affected by soil properties and zinc carrier. Zeitschrift Für Pflanzenernä hrung und Bodenkunde, 154(5), 355–359. doi: 10.1002/jpln.19911540508.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Modaihsh AS. 1990. Zinc diffusion and extractability as affected by zinc carrier and soil chemical properties. Fertilizer Research, 25(2), 85–91. doi: 10.1007/BF01095087.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Murphy KM, Reeves PG, Jones SS. 2008. Relationship between yield and mineral nutrient concentrations in historical and modern spring wheat cultivars. Euphytica, 163(3), 381–390. doi: 10.1007/s10681-008-9681-x.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Oliveria EMM, Ruiz HA, Alvarez V VH, Ferreira PA, Costa FO, Almeida ICC. 2010. Nutrient supply by mass flow and diffusion to maize plants in response to soil aggregate size and water potential. Revista Brasileira de Ciência Do Solo, 34(2), 317–328. doi: 10.1590/s0100-06832010000200005.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Oury FX, Leenhardt F, Rémésy C, Chanliaud E, Duperrier B, Balfourier F, Charmet G. 2006. Genetic variability and stability of grain magnesium, zinc and iron concentrations in bread wheat. European Journal of Agronomy, 25(2), 177–185. doi: 10.1016/j.eja.2006.04.011.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Palmgren MG, Clemens S, Williams LE, Krämer U, Borg S, Schjørring JK, Sanders D. 2008. Zinc biofortification of cereals: Problems and solutions. Trends in Plant Science, 13(9), 464–473. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2008.06.005.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Pan YH, Wang HB, Gu GP, Xiong GH, Yi F. 2010. Accumulation and translocation of heavy metals by macrophytes. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 30(23), 6430–6441 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar

    Prasad B, Sinha MK, Randhawa NS. 1976. Effect of mobile chelating agents on diffusion of zinc in soils. Soil Science, 122(5), 260–266. doi: 10.1097/00010694-197611000-00003.

    Google Scholar

    Rengel Z, Römheld V, Marschner H. 1998. Uptake of zinc and iron by wheat genotypes differing in tolerance to zinc deficiency. Journal of Plant Physiology, 152(4–5), 433–438. doi: 10.1016/s0176-1617(98)80260-5.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Stephan CH, Courchesne F, Hendershot WH, McGrath SP, Chaudri AM, Sappin-Didier V, Sauvé S. 2008. Speciation of zinc in contaminated soils. Environmental Pollution, 155(2), 208–216. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2007.12.006.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Sun X, Guo PC, Tao QN, Wang FW, Zhang YD, Li XB. 1988. Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers. Beijing: Agricultural Press, 154–155 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar

    The National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China and State Food and Drug Administration. 2016. GB5009.268–2016 National Food Safety Standards-Determination of Multiple Elements in Food. Beijing (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar

    Walter A, Römheld V, Marschner H, Mori S. 1994. Is the release of phytosiderophores in zinc-deficient wheat plants a response to impaired iron utilization? Physiologia Plantarum, 92(3), 493–500. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1994.tb08841.x.

    Google Scholar

    Wang CY, Zhang SR, Liu JH, Xing Y, Yang JQ. 2019. Evaluation of the characteristic land resources with Zn, Se and their ecological effects in Raoyang County of Hebei Province. Geological Survey and Research, 42(1), 49–56 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar

    Wang Z, Wang LJ, Li MX. 2023. Study on soil water and salt movement and its effect on wheat production under saline water irrigation in North China Plain. North China Geology, 46(3), 76–81 (in Chinese with English abstract). doi: 10.19948/j.12-1471/P.2023.03.10.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Wendy R, Fudi W, David J, Mark V. 2004. Drosophila fear of intimacy Encodes a Zrt/IRT-like Protein (ZIP) family zinc transporter functionally related to mammalian ZIP proteins. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 280(1), 787–795 doi: 10.1074/jbc.M411308200.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Xu WH. 2005. Effects of Zn stress on rhizospheric mechanism and Zn accumulation in different species and varieties of plant. Wuhan: Wuhan University (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar

    Yan L, Li LS, Ni XL, Li CX, Li J. 2016. Accumulation of soil heavy metals in five species of wetland plants. Acta Botanica Boreali-Occidentalia Sinica, 36(10), 2078–2085 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar

    Yang XE, Chen WR, Feng Y. 2007. Improving human micronutrient nutrition through biofortification in the soil–plant system: China as a case study. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 29(5), 413–428. doi: 10.1007/s10653-007-9086-0.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Yang ZF, Tang QF, Cheng HX, Liu X, Yang Q, Liu JC, Wang J. 2019. Chemical elements intertwined with love and hate. Beijing: Geological Press, 157–161 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar

    Zhang JJ. 2019. Study on monitoring the change of heavy metal content in soil crop system of farmland by hyperspectral remote sensing. Nanjing: Nanjing University (in Chinese with English abstract). doi: 10.27235/d.cnki.gnjiu.2019.000875.

    Google Scholar

    Zhang SR, Wang DM, Yang JQ, Zhang J, Wang JH, Zhang DH, Tong YX, Jin ZB, Chen DL. 2024. Quantitative remote sensing inversion of elements in soils: Advances in research and future prospects. Geology in China, 51(5), 1664–1675 (in Chinese with English abstract). doi: https://doi.org/10.12029/gc20231011002.

    Google Scholar

    Zhang SR, Yang JQ, Wang DM, Liu JH, Wang JH, Duan XL, Yang LZ. 2024. Mechanism of iron transport in the Triticum aestivum L. –soil system: Perception from a pot experiment. Applied Sciences, 14, 6059. doi: 10.3390/app14146059.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Zhang Y, Song QC, Yan J, Tang JW, Zhao RR, Zhang YQ, He ZH, Zou CQ, Ortiz-Monasterio I. 2010. Mineral element concentrations in grains of Chinese wheat cultivars. Euphytica, 174(3), 303–313. doi: 10.1007/s10681-009-0082-6.

    CrossRef Google Scholar

    Zhao AQ. 2015. Effects of Zinc fertilizer application on Zn diffusion-transformation-uptake of wheat plants on potentially Zn deficient calcareous soil. Xianyang: Northwest A&F University (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar

    Zhu PP, Ma YP, Zhou ZX, Shi L. 2021. Trace element zinc, plant nutrition and human health. Fertilizer & Health, 48(5), 16–18,23 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar

    • Relative Articles
  • Cited by
  • Supplements
    • Proportional views
  • 加载中
通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com
  • 1. 

    沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院 沈阳 110142

  1. 本站搜索
  2. 百度学术搜索
  3. 万方数据库搜索
  4. CNKI搜索

Figures(5)

Tables(8)

Export Citation
PDF
XML

Article Metrics

Article views(28) PDF downloads(0) Cited by(0)

Access History

Other Articles By Authors

Catalog

    /

    DownLoad:  Full-Size Img  PowerPoint
    Return
    版权所有：中国地质调查局发展研究中心 copyright @2020