Comparison of transfers for natural radionuclides (238U, 234Th, 226Ra, 210Pb & 210Po) from five different soils to four different barley genotypes

Transfer Factors (Fv) of 238 U, 226 Ra, 234 Th, 210 Po and 210 Pb from five different agricultural soils in semi-arid region (Syria) to four different barley genotypes were studied in an agricultural potted experiment. The geometric mean of the Fv values were (0.08) for 210 Pb, and (0.02) for 210 Po, while it ranged from 0.18 to 0.42 ,from 0.08 to 0.15 and from 0.22 to 0.4 for 238 U, 234 Th and 226 Ra, respectevily. The Fv values of 238 U and 226 Ra were within the recommended global medians, while the Fv values of 234 Th, 210 Pb and 210 Po were higher. There is no clear relationship between the soil properties and Fv of all studied radionuclides to barley genotypes. Moreover, the expression of glutathione (GSH) gene, which is belived to be involoved in heavy metal removal was generally low in all studied varieties grown in all soil types.