EFFECTS OF CULTIVATION MODES ON ARTEMISIA SELENGENSIS: COPPER AND LEAD ACCUMULATION, HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT, AND NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION

Artemisia selengensis is an important vegetable in Jiangsu, China.It is cultivated using three main methods: open-field cultivation (OFS), plastic shed cultivation (PSS), and semi-plastic shed cultivation (SPSS).The different survival conditions in different cultivation modes result in varying uptake of heavy metals by plants, leading to different health risks for humans.These different cultivation modes make it difficult for the public to choose the most suitable option.Therefore, this study analyzed the concentrations of copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) in both soil and A. selengensis under the three cultivation modes and evaluated the associated health risks.The results showed that the greatest variations in both Cu and Pb levels occurred in OFS soil.OFS soil had the highest average Pb content (45.3 mg/kg), while PSS soil had a slightly higher average Cu content (36.4 mg/kg).The cultivation mode had little effect on the accumulation and transport of Cu and Pb in A. selengensis, except for the translocation factor (TF) of Pb under SPSS.Notably, both the target hazard quotient (THQ) and total THQ (TTHQ) for Cu in A. selengensis grown under all three modes were greater than 1 for children, indicating that children should limit their consumption.In contrast, Cu and Pb posed no health risks to adults.The study also assessed the nutritional quality of A. selengensis.When focusing on the edible parts, the soluble protein content of stems under SPSS reached 39.84 mg/g, significantly higher than that under PSS.The edible stems from OFS had the best quality in terms of soluble sugar and crude fiber, while the stems grown under PSS had significantly higher moisture content than those from OFS.These findings can help consumers choose the most appropriate form of A. selengensis based on their health concerns and nutritional preferences.