Abstract: A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of high soil arsenic pollution on the growth, biomass accumulation and productivity in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rape (Brassica napus) . The accumulation pattern of phosphorus and arsenic in different parts of plant was also studied in the two species. The results indicated that arsenic significantly inhibited wheat height, root biomass, shoot biomass and yield compared with the control, with reductions of 17%, 52.2%, 60.6% and 46.8%, respectively. However, arsenic did not affect the growth and biomass in rape, and the yield was only decreased by 15.4% compared with the control. Arsenic concentration in different parts of wheat and rape showed the same pattern: roots>shoots>husk (legumen)>seeds. Arsenic in roots of wheat and rape were 74.86 mg·kg-1 and 57.76 mg·kg-1, respectively when soil arsenic concentration was 200 mg·kg-1. However, there was no difference of arsenic content in the shoot between wheat and rape. Seeds of winter wheat contained more arsenic than rape seed, however, arsenic contents of both seeds did not exceed the maximum levels of contaminants in foods (0.7 mg·kg-1 total arsenic). Arsenic did not significantly affect P concentration of roots and shoots in both wheat and rape, but significantly decreased P concentration of husk or pod peel. Therefore, winter wheat was more sensitive to arsenic compared with rape and it is more suitable for rape growth in arsenic contaminated soil in winter．

Key words: arsenic pollution, winter wheat, rape