Assessment of arsenite tolerance in different soybean cultivars

High arsenic (As) concentrations are found in agricultural areas of Argentina, being arsenite (AsIII) the species that most inhibit the growth and development of soybean (Glycine max L.). The aim of the present study was to compare the response to AsIII in ten soybean cultivars adapted to the central region of the country: FAINTA580, ACA360, NA3289, DM3815, DM4014, DM4200, DM4600, DM4670, A5503 and A5766. Substantial differences were found among cultivars exposed to 25µM of AsIII during germination and early growth. The findings revealed that DM4014 is one of the most sensitive cultivars while A5503 showed the best performance under exposure to AsIII. In this regard, the germination percentage, shoot and root weight and length, as well as the photosynthetic pigments remained unaltered in A5503 under AsIII-treatment. This study demonstrates the existence of genotypic variations and contrasting responses among cultivars that could guide future studies to elucidate the underlying mechanisms in response to AsIII stress.