Zinc isotope fractionation during grain filling of wheat and a comparison of zinc and cadmium isotope ratios in identical soil–plant systems

What is it about?

It is important for food quality that grains contain sufficient Zinc and little Cadmium. To study pathways and processes that determine the Zinc and Cadmium content in grains, we measured stable isotope ratios in wheat. We showed that, unlike Cadmium, light Zinc isotopes are transported into grains. This opposing isotopic pattern shows that stable isotope ratios can be used to better understand how plants discriminate Zinc and Cadmium.

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