Low-Cd tomato cultivars (Solanum lycopersicum L.) screened in non-saline soils also accumulated low Cd, Zn, and Cu in heavy metal-polluted saline soils.

Many reclaimed tidal flat soils feature high salinity and heavy metal (HM) accumulation. Consumption of vegetables cultivated in this type of cropland may cause health risks. Low-Cd tomato cultivars (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were identified in non-saline soil in our previous studies (Tan et al. 2014). However, further research should determine whether these low-Cd cultivars will maintain in the repeatability and stability in saline soil and whether they have low accumulation abilities for accompanying metals (such as Zn and Cu). A soil-pot trial was implemented to measure Cd, Zn, and Cu concentrations in low- and high-Cd cultivars of both common and cherry-type tomatoes grown on HM-polluted reclaimed tidal flat saline soil. Then, cultivar differences in dissolution of Cd, Zn, and Cu in soil and their uptake and redistribution in plants were analyzed. Results showed that the cherry type accumulated more Cd, Zn, and Cu than the common type. Low-Cd cultivars of both types in saline soil accumulated low concentrations of Cd, Zn, and Cu in fruits. Low HM accumulation in fruits is partly attributed to a low root/shoot (R/S) biomass ratio. Low amounts of soil HMs were dissolved because of the low level of rhizosphere organic compounds, which possibly decreased HM uptake by the roots. Low-Cd cultivars of both tomato types had a higher ability to retain HMs in the roots than their high-Cd cultivars. These findings may provide a scientific guidance for the safe cultivation of HM-polluted saline soils.