Abstract Background and aims Antimony (Sb) is an emerging ecosystem pollutant due to increasing industrial activity, traffic, and ongoing military activity in various regions of the world. Very little is known about the intraspecific variation of crop responses to this hazardous metalloid; therefore, we compare the response of two maize hybrids to elevated Sb. Methods Two maize ( Zea mays L.) hybrids (Luciana and Tweetor), differing in their resistance to other abiotic stressors, were exposed to various doses of Sb (0, 25, and 50 mg L −1 Sb) in hydroponics. Plant production parameters and Sb uptake have been investigated. Stress markers and metabolites, along with the changes in root tissue development, were analysed. Additionally, root cell viability, ROS accumulation, and activity of selected antioxidants have been investigated. Results Both hybrids exhibited dose-dependent adverse effects of Sb exposure, including changes in root growth, anatomy, and biochemical parameters. The hybrid Tweetor showed higher Sb accumulation in roots and lower root biomass than the hybrid Luciana. Root-to-shoot Sb translocation differed between the hybrids and was in correlation with the development of root apoplasmic barriers. Furthermore, differences among maize hybrids were observed in free radical production and antioxidant defense system activity. Conclusion Our experiments revealed novel findings indicating that intraspecific variability in Sb uptake plays a crucial role in hybrid-specific tolerance mechanisms to antimony stress. Moreover, the results of this study highlight and underscore the practical importance of proper hybrid selection for the cultivation of crops in soils contaminated by toxic metalloids, such as Sb, which is of great concern for the future.
Vaculíková et al. (Sat,) studied this question.