CORRELATION OF ELEMENTS ACCUMULATION IN ROOTS AND FRUIT OF BLACK PEPPER (Piper nigrum L.) UNDER ARSENIC SPECIES STRESS

Abstract

Arsenic species contamination in agricultural soils threatens crop growth and food safety, yet its impact on nutrient accumulation in plants remains unclear. This study examines the accumulation, translocation, and correlation of essential elements in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) roots and fruits under stress from arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic acid, and dimethylarsinic acid. After ten months, roots and fruits were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Statistical analyses, including variance analysis, linear mixed models, and Pearson correlation, assessed arsenic-induced nutrient changes. Results showed significant effects on Zn, Cd, K, Ca, and Cu uptake and translocation, with roots retaining 2.5 to 7.3 times higher concentrations than fruits. The Fe/Mn ratio in roots (143.87) was significantly higher than in fruits (2.06, p < 0.001), while K was preferentially translocated to fruits (root-to-fruit ratio = 0.45). A strong correlation between Mg and P (r = 0.78, p < 0.05) was observed in roots, while Mg and Cu remained stable in fruits across treatments (r = 0.64, p < 0.05). These findings highlight arsenic species’s role in nutrient balance through selective ion retention and translocation, providing insights for risk assessment and mitigation in contaminated environments.