Transfer bioaccumulation and dietary risk of arsenic in lentil genotypes grown on contaminated floodplain soils

Transfer bioaccumulation and dietary risk of arsenic in lentil genotypes grown on contaminated floodplain soils | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Transfer bioaccumulation and dietary risk of arsenic in lentil genotypes grown on contaminated floodplain soils NU Mahmud, Md Saiful Islam, Md Khairul Alam, GKM Mustafizur Rahman This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8543418/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Arsenic (As) contamination in agricultural soils poses a critical threat to food safety and public health, particularly in South Asia. Lentils ( Lens culinaris Medik. ), an essential source of dietary protein, are widely cultivated in As-affected regions but little is known about genotypic variability in As uptake, translocation and bioaccumulation. This study evaluated eleven lentil genotypes under high soil As conditions (38.2 mg kg⁻¹) to assess As transport from soil to grain via roots and shoots and to identify cultivars suitable for sustainable production. Results revealed significant varietal differences in As accumulation, biomass and yield. While overall grain yields were below the national average, BARI Masur-8 and BARI Masur-3 achieved the highest productivity (1161 and 1132 kg ha⁻¹, respectively), with BARI Masur-8 also recording the lowest grain As concentration (322 µg kg⁻¹). In contrast, BARI Masur-5, BINA Masur-5 and BARI Masur-2 exhibited the highest As accumulation in lentil grain. Relatively lower bioaccumulation and translocation factors were observed in BARI Masur-8, BARI Masur-7, BARI Masur-3 and BARI Masur-1 compared to other genotypes. All of these genotypes/varieties of lentil had lower root concentration ratios as well. Arsenic concentration followed a consistent distribution trend of root > shoot > grain across all genotypes. These findings highlight the potential of selective lentil breeding for As exclusion to mitigate dietary exposure and support safer lentil production in As-contaminated floodplain soils. Arsenic contamination Soil–plant transfer Lentil Bioaccumulation factor Floodplain soils Food safety Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 09 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 22 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 11 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 09 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 22 Jan, 2026 Editor invited by journal 19 Jan, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 16 Jan, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 14 Jan, 2026 First submitted to journal 14 Jan, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8543418","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":579904821,"identity":"2fd7e468-5f23-44a1-a971-e4ced071296c","order_by":0,"name":"NU Mahmud","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"NU","middleName":"","lastName":"Mahmud","suffix":""},{"id":579904822,"identity":"2e5178f7-d23d-4ca5-b7dd-51d78a4ec872","order_by":1,"name":"Md Saiful Islam","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Patuakhali Science and Technology University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Md","middleName":"Saiful","lastName":"Islam","suffix":""},{"id":579904823,"identity":"de7a8e8e-4b72-442f-af4a-cfb3a6648a1d","order_by":2,"name":"Md Khairul Alam","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA60lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACCQkGhgMMDBYMDOxA3gcGBh5itQBJZgYGxhnEamGAaWEmrB4IJGc3Pzxc2SbBwN/M/HSzTU2djHl7A+NnfHqlZY4ZHDwL1CJxmM3sds6xwzwyZw4wS+PTIieRYHCwEaiF4TCD2e3chgM8EhIJDAS0pH8Aa5E/zP7ttmVDHUgL82+8DpPIgdhicJjH7DZjAzNICxteWyRn5BQcbDgnwWN4mKfsZg/QLxI8B9ss5+DRInEjffPHhjIbObnj7dtu/Kips5dgbz584w0eLTCA7BLGBiI0jIJRMApGwSjABwBK5USZSmLbyAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Md","middleName":"Khairul","lastName":"Alam","suffix":""},{"id":579904824,"identity":"719780fb-b79f-4a34-9b2b-89aecfc36cd4","order_by":3,"name":"GKM Mustafizur Rahman","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"GKM","middleName":"Mustafizur","lastName":"Rahman","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-01-07 15:53:27","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8543418/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8543418/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":101297421,"identity":"2219562b-367d-4a55-8975-a000c2c5a6cb","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-28 09:27:06","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":679195,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"RevisedDiscoverSoilAsinLentil.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8543418/v1_covered_000a1d6d-0c18-4473-8c44-d02cca2d7bb3.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Transfer bioaccumulation and dietary risk of arsenic in lentil genotypes grown on contaminated floodplain soils","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-soil","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Soil](https://link.springer.com/journal/44378)","snPcode":"44378","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/44378/3","title":"Discover Soil","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Arsenic contamination, Soil–plant transfer, Lentil, Bioaccumulation factor, Floodplain soils, Food safety","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8543418/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8543418/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eArsenic (As) contamination in agricultural soils poses a critical threat to food safety and public health, particularly in South Asia. Lentils (\u003cem\u003eLens culinaris Medik.\u003c/em\u003e), an essential source of dietary protein, are widely cultivated in As-affected regions but little is known about genotypic variability in As uptake, translocation and bioaccumulation. This study evaluated eleven lentil genotypes under high soil As conditions (38.2 mg kg⁻\u0026sup1;) to assess As transport from soil to grain via roots and shoots and to identify cultivars suitable for sustainable production. Results revealed significant varietal differences in As accumulation, biomass and yield. While overall grain yields were below the national average, BARI Masur-8 and BARI Masur-3 achieved the highest productivity (1161 and 1132 kg ha⁻\u0026sup1;, respectively), with BARI Masur-8 also recording the lowest grain As concentration (322 \u0026micro;g kg⁻\u0026sup1;). In contrast, BARI Masur-5, BINA Masur-5 and BARI Masur-2 exhibited the highest As accumulation in lentil grain. Relatively lower bioaccumulation and translocation factors were observed in BARI Masur-8, BARI Masur-7, BARI Masur-3 and BARI Masur-1 compared to other genotypes. All of these genotypes/varieties of lentil had lower root concentration ratios as well. Arsenic concentration followed a consistent distribution trend of root\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;shoot\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;grain across all genotypes. These findings highlight the potential of selective lentil breeding for As exclusion to mitigate dietary exposure and support safer lentil production in As-contaminated floodplain soils.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Transfer bioaccumulation and dietary risk of arsenic in lentil genotypes grown on contaminated floodplain soils","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-01-27 13:05:01","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8543418/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-09T14:05:24+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-03-22T14:48:23+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"50734992392262882070080981399560919148","date":"2026-03-11T10:47:46+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"132972703864724360714521495860629041822","date":"2026-03-09T12:09:18+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-01-22T13:07:49+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2026-01-20T04:01:55+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-01-16T06:07:31+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-01-14T06:59:08+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Discover Soil","date":"2026-01-14T06:51:25+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-soil","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Soil](https://link.springer.com/journal/44378)","snPcode":"44378","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/44378/3","title":"Discover Soil","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"8ed254b3-9735-43c7-b614-8e85a27c107d","owner":[],"postedDate":"January 27th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-01-27T13:05:02+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-01-27 13:05:01","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8543418","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8543418","identity":"rs-8543418","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}