Arsenic uptake and accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) irrigated with contaminated water

Long-term use of arsenic contaminated groundwater to irrigate crops, especially paddy rice (Oryza sativaL.) has resulted in elevated soil arsenic levels in Bangladesh. There is, therefore, concern regarding accumulation of arsenic in rice grown on these soils. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of arsenic-contaminated irrigation water on the growth and uptake of arsenic into rice grain, husk, straw and root. There were altogether 10 treatments which were a combination of five arsenate irrigation water concentrations (0–8 mg As l^–1) and two soil phosphate amendments. Use of arsenate containing irrigation water reduced plant height, decreased rice yield and affected development of root growth. Arsenic concentrations in all plant parts increased with increasing arsenate concentration in irrigation water. However, arsenic concentration in rice grain did not exceed the maximum permissible limit of 1.0 mg As kg^–1. Arsenic accumulation in rice straw at very high levels indicates that feeding cattle with such contaminated straw could be a direct threat for their health and also, indirectly, to human health via presumably contaminated bovine meat and milk. Phosphate application neither showed any significant difference in plant growth and development, nor in As concentrations in plant parts.     

Arsenic accumulation and speciation in rice are affected by root aeration and variation of genotypes

Root aeration, arsenic (As) accumulation, and speciation in rice of 20 different genotypes with regular irrigation of water containing 0.4 mg As l(-1) were investigated. Different genotypes had different root anatomy demonstrated by entire root porosity (ranging from 12.43% to 33.21%), which was significantly correlated with radial oxygen loss (ROL) (R=0.64, P<0.01). Arsenic accumulation differed between genotypes, but there were no significant differences between Indica and Japonica subspecies, as well as paddy and upland rice. Total ROL from entire roots was correlated with metal tolerance (expressed as percentage mean of control straw biomass, R=0.69, P<0.01) among the 20 genotypes; total As concentration (R=-0.67, P<0.01) and inorganic As concentration (R=-0.47, P<0.05) in rice grains of different genotypes were negatively correlated with ROL. There were also significant genotype effects in percentage inorganic As (F=15.8, P<0.001) and percentage cacodylic acid (F=22.1, P<0.001), respectively. Root aeration of different genotypes and variation of genotypes on As accumulation and speciation would be useful for selecting genotypes to grow in areas contaminated by As.     

不同渗氧能力水稻品种对砷的耐性和积累

水稻是目前世界上(尤其是东南亚)最主要的粮食作物之一,也是砷(As)通过食物链进入人体的主要途径。日益加剧的土壤砷污染,严重影响了稻米的产量和品质,进而威胁着人体健康。通过温室实验,研究CNT 87059-3、玉香油占和巴西陆稻3种不同渗氧能力的水稻品种在不同砷浓度处理下的生长情况和砷积累特征,结果表明:(1)渗氧能力强的玉香油占砷耐性指数最高,砷处理浓度为2 mg/L时耐性指数高达0.71,而CNT 87059-3的耐性指数为0.55,巴西陆稻仅有0.17;(2)随着砷处理浓度的升高,3种水稻品种的生物量呈现下降趋势,但渗氧能力强的玉香油占较其它两品种生物量的下降幅度小;(3)在不同砷浓度处理下水稻地下部分的砷含量有显著性差异(P0.001),且同种砷浓度处理下不同水稻品种的地下部分砷含量也存在显著性差异(P0.01),渗氧能力较强的水稻品种与渗氧能力较弱的品种相比能显著降低砷在根部(地下部分)的积累。水稻渗氧能力与其砷耐性和砷积累有显著相关性,渗氧能力越强,水稻的砷耐性越强,砷的积累量越少。因此,通过筛选渗氧能力强的水稻品种,有望降低污染农田水稻的砷含量和健康风险。     

Water management,rice varieties and mycorrhizal inoculation influence arsenic concentration and speciation in rice grains

A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of water management and mycorrhizal inoculation on arsenic (As) uptake by two rice varieties, the As-resistant BRRI dhan 47 (B47) and As-sensitive BRRI dhan 29 (B29). Grain As concentration of B47 plants was significantly lower than that of B29, and grain As concentration of B47 was higher under flooding conditions than that under aerobic conditions. In general, mycorrhizal inoculation (Rhizophagus irregularis) had no significant effect on grain As concentrations, but decreased the proportion of inorganic arsenic (iAs) in grains of B47. The proportion of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) in the total grain As was dramatically higher under flooding conditions. Results demonstrate that rice variety selection and appropriate water management along with mycorrhizal inoculation could be practical countermeasures to As accumulation and toxicity in rice grains, thus reducing health risks of As exposure in rice diets.     

水稻砷的吸收机理及阻控对策

水稻积累砷的能力较其他农作物强,稻米是我国人群从食品中摄入无机砷的主要来源,降低稻米砷含量对增进农产品质量安全有重要意义。本文阐述了稻田砷的生物地球化学转化特征及水稻对不同形态砷的吸收、运输与储存机理,提出阻控稻米砷积累的对策,并讨论了需要进一步研究的问题。     

Arsenic affects mineral nutrients in grains of various Indian rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes grown on arsenic-contaminated soils of West Bengal

The exposure of paddy fields to arsenic (As) through groundwater irrigation is a serious concern that may not only lead to As accumulation to unacceptable levels but also interfere with mineral nutrients in rice grains. In the present field study, profiling of the mineral nutrients (iron (Fe), phosphorous, zinc, and selenium (Se)) was done in various rice genotypes with respect to As accumulation. A significant genotypic variation was observed in elemental retention on root Fe plaque and their accumulation in various plant parts including grains, specific As uptake (29–167 mg kg^?1 dw), as well as As transfer factor (4–45%). Grains retained the least level of As (0.7–3%) with inorganic As species being the dominant forms, while organic As species, viz., dimethylarsinic acid and monomethylarsonic acid, were non-detectable. In all tested varieties, the level of Se was low (0.05–0.12 mg kg^?1 dw), whereas that of As was high (0.4–1.68 mg kg^?1 dw), considering their safe/recommended daily intake limits, which may not warrant their human consumption. Hence, their utilization may increase the risk of arsenicosis, when grown in As-contaminated areas.     

Phloem transport of arsenic species from flag leaf to grain during grain filling

? Strategies to reduce arsenic (As) in rice grain, below concentrations that represent a serious human health concern, require that the mechanisms of As accumulation within grain be established. Therefore, retranslocation of As species from flag leaves into filling rice grain was investigated. ? Arsenic species were delivered through cut flag leaves during grain fill. Spatial unloading within grains was investigated using synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (SXRF) microtomography. Additionally, the effect of germanic acid (a silicic acid analog) on grain As accumulation in arsenite-treated panicles was examined. ? Dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) were extremely efficiently retranslocated from flag leaves to rice grain; arsenate was poorly retranslocated, and was rapidly reduced to arsenite within flag leaves; arsenite displayed no retranslocation. Within grains, DMA rapidly dispersed while MMA and inorganic As remained close to the entry point. Germanic acid addition did not affect grain As in arsenite-treated panicles. Three-dimensional SXRF microtomography gave further information on arsenite localization in the ovular vascular trace (OVT) of rice grains. ? These results demonstrate that inorganic As is poorly remobilized, while organic species are readily remobilized, from leaves to grain. Stem translocation of inorganic As may not rely solely on silicic acid transporters.     

Soil microalgae modulate grain arsenic accumulation by reducing dimethylarsinic acid and enhancing nutrient uptake in rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.)

Background and aims

Microalgae are ubiquitous in paddy soils. However, their roles in arsenic (As) accumulation and transport in rice plants remains unknown.

Methods

Two green algae and five cyanobacteria were used in pot experiments under continuously flooded conditions to ascertain whether a microalgal inoculation could influence rice growth and rice grain As accumulation in plants grown in As-contaminated soils.

Results

The microalgal inoculation greatly enhanced nutrient uptake and rice growth. The presence of representative microalga Anabaena azotica did not significantly differ the grain inorganic As concentrations but remarkably decreased the rice root and grain DMA concentrations. The translocation of As from roots to grains was also markedly decreased by rice inoculated with A. azotica. This subsequently led to a decrease in the total As concentration in rice grains.

Conclusions

The results of the study indicate that the microalgal inoculation had a strong influence on soil pH, soil As speciation, and soil nutrient bioavailability, which significantly affected the rice growth, nutrient uptake, and As accumulation and translocation in rice plants. The results suggest that algae inoculation can be an effective strategy for improving nutrient uptake and reducing As translocation from roots to grains by rice grown in As-contaminated paddy soils.

     

Phytoremediation of an arsenic-contaminated site using Pteris vittata L.: a two-year study

A field study was conducted to determine the efficiency of Chinese brake fern (Pteris vittata L.), an arsenic hyperaccumulator, on removal of arsenic from soil at an arsenic-contaminated site. Chinese brake ferns were planted on a site previously used to treat wood with chromated copper arsenate (CCA). Arsenic concentrations in surface and profile soil samples were determined for 2000, 2001, and 2002. In both 2001 and 2002, senesced and senescing fronds only, as well as all fronds, were harvested. Frond arsenic concentrations were not significantly different between the three harvests. Compared to senesced fronds, live fronds resulted in the greatest amount of arsenic removal. There were no significant differences in soil arsenic concentrations between 2000, 2001, and 2002, primarily due to the extreme variability in soil arsenic concentrations. However, the mean surface soil arsenic was reduced from 190 to 140 mg kg(-1). Approximately 19.3 g of arsenic were removed from the soil by Chinese brake fern. Therefore, this fern is capable of accumulating arsenic from the CCA -contaminated site and may be competitive, in terms of cost, to conventional remediation systems. However, better agronomic practices are needed to enhance plant growth and arsenic uptake to obtain maximum soil arsenic removal and to minimize remediation time.     

Organic anion transporting polypeptide-C mediates arsenic uptake in HEK-293 cells

Summary Arsenic is an established human carcinogen. The role of aquaglyroporins (AQPs) in arsenic disposition was recently identified. In order to examine whether organic anion transporting polypeptide-C (OATP-C) also plays a role in arsenic transport, OATP-C cDNA was transfected into cells of a human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK-293). Transfection increased uptake of the model OATP-C substrate, estradiol-17β-D-glucuronide, by 10-fold. In addition, we measured uptake and cytotoxicity of arsenate, arsenite, monomethylarsonate(MMA^V), and dimethylarsinate (DMA^V). Transfection of OATP-C increased uptake and cytotoxicity of arsenate and arsenite, but not of MMA^V or DMA^V. Rifampin and taurocholic acid (a substrate of OATP-C) reversed the increased toxicity of arsenate and arsenite seen in OATP-C-transfected cells. The increase in uptake of inorganic arsenic was not as great as that of estradiol-17β-D-glucuronide. Our results suggest that OATP-C can transport inorganic arsenic in a (GSH)-dependent manner. However, this may not be the major pathway for arsenic transport.     

蜈蚣草中砷超富集的分子机制研究进展

砷是一种毒性很强的类金属元素,土壤砷污染可引发一系列食品安全问题,进而威胁人类健康。蜈蚣草具有极强的富集砷的能力,在砷污染土壤的植物修复中具有重要的应用价值。深入阐释蜈蚣草超富集砷的分子机制是植物修复技术的核心理论基础。文中综述了蜈蚣草超富集砷的组学研究进展,以及目前鉴定到的砷富集过程中的重要分子元件,并对未来的研究方向和趋势进行了展望。     

Evaluation of amino acid profile in contrasting arsenic accumulating rice genotypes under arsenic stress

Amino acids (AAs) play significant roles in metal binding, antioxidant defense, and signaling in plants during heavy metal stress. In the present study, the essential amino acids (EAAs), non-essential amino acids (NEAAs), as well as the enzymes of proline and cysteine biosynthetic pathways were studied in contrasting arsenic accumulating rice genotypes grown in hydroponic solutions with addition of arsenate (As^V) or arsenite (As^III). Under a mild As stress, the total AAs content significantly increased in both the rice genotypes with a greater increase in a low As accumulating rice genotype (LAARG; IET-19226) than in a high As accumulating rice genotype (HAARG; BRG-12). At the equimolar concentration (10 μM), As^III had a greater effect on EAAs than As^V. Conversely, As^V was more effective in inducing a proline accumulation than As^III. Among NEAAs, As significantly induced the accumulation of histidine, aspartic acid, and serine. In contrast, a higher As concentration (50 μM) reduced the content of most AAs, the effect being more prominent during As^III exposure. The inhibition of glutamate kinase activity was noticed in HAARG, conversely, serine acetyltransferase and cysteine synthase activities were increased which was positively correlated with the cysteine synthesis.     

Genes involved in arsenic transformation and resistance associated with different levels of arsenic-contaminated soils

Background  

Arsenic is known as a toxic metalloid, which primarily exists in inorganic form [As(III) and As(V)] and can be transformed by microbial redox processes in the natural environment. As(III) is much more toxic and mobile than As(V), hence microbial arsenic redox transformation has a major impact on arsenic toxiCity and mobility which can greatly influence the human health. Our main purpose was to investigate the distribution and diversity of microbial arsenite-resistant species in three different arsenic-contaminated soils, and further study the As(III) resistance levels and related functional genes of these species.     

Estimation of Dietary Intake of Inorganic Arsenic in U.S. Children

Arsenic is a natural component of the environment and is ubiquitous in soils, water, and the diet. Because dietary intake can be a significant source of background exposure to inorganic arsenic (the most toxicologically significant form), accurate intake estimates are needed to provide a context for risk management of arsenic exposure. Intake of inorganic arsenic by adults is fairly well characterized, but previous estimates of childhood intake were based on inorganic arsenic analyses in a limited number of foods (13 food types). This article estimates dietary intake for U.S. children (1 to 6 years of age) based on reported inorganic arsenic concentrations in 38 foods and in water used in cooking those foods (inorganic arsenic concentration of 0.8 μg/L), and U.S. Department of Agriculture food consumption data. This information is combined using a probabilistic software model to extract food consumption patterns and compute exposure distributions. The mean childhood dietary intake estimate for inorganic arsenic was 3.2 μg/day with a range of 1.6 to 6.2 μg/day for the 10th and 95th percentiles, respectively. For both the mean and 95th percentile inorganic arsenic intake rates, intake was predominantly contributed by grain and grain products, fruits and fruit juices, rice and rice products, and milk.     

水稻不同品种对铅吸收、分配的差异及机理

为探究水稻不同品种对Pb吸收积累的差异及机理,以20个不同基因型水稻品种(系)为材料,采用盆栽方法,研究了Pb在水稻植株各器官中的分配及在籽粒中的分布．结果表明,不同品种间,Pb积累量存在显著差异,但品种间的这种差异与品种类型关系不明显;不同器官、不同生育时期,Pb积累量和积累速率不同;各器官Pb浓度按根、茎、叶、穗、籽粒的顺序大幅度下降,分配到籽粒中的Pb比例很低;根与茎,茎与叶片、穗(抽穗期)、籽粒Pb含量呈极显著负相关;根与叶、穗(抽穗期)、籽粒,叶与穗(抽穗期)、籽粒的Pb含量呈正相关,相关性大多达极显著或显著水平;不同品种抽穗期叶片与成熟期籽粒间的Pb含量达显著正相关;Pb在稻米加工各产物中的分布很不均匀,稻谷经脱壳及精加工1次(2min)后,精米Pb含量仅为籽粒总含Pb量的32．88％．     

Uptake kinetics of arsenic species in rice plants

Arsenic (As) finds its way into soils used for rice (Oryza sativa) cultivation through polluted irrigation water, and through historic contamination with As-based pesticides. As is known to be present as a number of chemical species in such soils, so we wished to investigate how these species were accumulated by rice. As species found in soil solution from a greenhouse experiment where rice was irrigated with arsenate contaminated water were arsenite, arsenate, dimethylarsinic acid, and monomethylarsonic acid. The short-term uptake kinetics for these four As species were determined in 7-d-old excised rice roots. High-affinity uptake (0-0.0532 mM) for arsenite and arsenate with eight rice varieties, covering two growing seasons, rice var. Boro (dry season) and rice var. Aman (wet season), showed that uptake of both arsenite and arsenate by Boro varieties was less than that of Aman varieties. Arsenite uptake was active, and was taken up at approximately the same rate as arsenate. Greater uptake of arsenite, compared with arsenate, was found at higher substrate concentration (low-affinity uptake system). Competitive inhibition of uptake with phosphate showed that arsenite and arsenate were taken up by different uptake systems because arsenate uptake was strongly suppressed in the presence of phosphate, whereas arsenite transport was not affected by phosphate. At a slow rate, there was a hyperbolic uptake of monomethylarsonic acid, and limited uptake of dimethylarsinic acid.     

水稻镉积累特性的生理和分子机制研究概述

我国的稻米镉超标对国民身体健康造成严重威胁, 而选育低镉积累的水稻(Oryza sativa)品种是降低稻米镉含量行之有效的策略, 因此有必要了解水稻对镉的积累特性及其生理过程和相关功能基因。该文概述了镉在水稻根部的吸收、木质部中的装载与运输、茎节中的分配、叶片中再分配以及籽粒镉积累等过程的生理和分子机制研究进展, 以期为低镉水稻的选育和安全生产提供理论参考。     

Unmasking Novel Loci for Internal Phosphorus Utilization Efficiency in Rice Germplasm through Genome-Wide Association Analysis

Depletion of non-renewable rock phosphate reserves and phosphorus (P) fertilizer price increases has renewed interest in breeding P-efficient varieties. Internal P utilization efficiency (PUE) is of prime interest because there has been no progress to date in breeding for high PUE. We characterized the genotypic variation for PUE present within the rice gene pool by using a hydroponic system that assured equal plant P uptake, followed by mapping of loci controlling PUE via Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). Loci associated with PUE were mapped on chromosomes 1, 4, 11 and 12. The highest PUE was associated with a minor indica-specific haplotype on chromosome 1 and a rare aus-specific haplotype on chromosome 11. Comparative variant and expression analysis for genes contained within the chromosome 1 haplotype identified high priority candidate genes. Differences in coding regions and expression patterns between genotypes of contrasting haplotypes, suggested functional alterations for two predicted nucleic acid-interacting proteins that are likely causative for the observed differences in PUE. The loci reported here are the first identified for PUE in any crop that is not confounded by differential P uptake among genotypes. Importantly, modern rice varieties lacked haplotypes associated with superior PUE, and would thus benefit from targeted introgressions of these loci from traditional donors to improve plant growth in phosphorus-limited cropping systems.     

Arsenic in Seafood: Speciation Issues for Human Health Risk Assessment

Major sources of arsenic exposure for humans are foods, particularly aquatic organisms, which are called seafood in this report. Although seafood contains a variety of arsenicals, including inorganic arsenic, which is toxic and carcinogenic, and arsenobetaine, which is considered nontoxic, the arsenic content of seafood commonly is reported only as total arsenic. A goal of this literature survey is to determine if generalizable values can be derived for the percentage of total arsenic in seafood that is inorganic arsenic. Generalizable values for percent inorganic arsenic are needed for use as default values in U.S. human health risk assessments of seafood from arsenic-contaminated sites. Data from the worldwide literature indicate the percent of inorganic arsenic in marine/estuarine finfish does not exceed 7.3% and in shellfish can reach 25% in organisms from presumably uncontaminated areas, with few data available for freshwater organisms. However, percentages can be much higher in organisms from contaminated areas and in seaweed. U.S. site-specific data for marine/estuarine finfish and shellfish are similar to the worldwide data, and for freshwater finfish indicate that the average percent inorganic arsenic is generally < 10%, but ranges up to nearly 30%. Derivation of nationwide defaults for percent inorganic arsenic in fish, shellfish, and seaweed collected from arsenic-contaminated areas in the United States is not supported by the surveyed literature.     

NRT1.1B improves selenium concentrations in rice grains by facilitating selenomethinone translocation

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for humans and other animals, yet approximately one billion people worldwide suffer from Se deficiency. Rice is a staple food for over half of the world's population that is a major dietary source of Se. In paddy soils, rice roots mainly take up selenite. Se speciation analysis indicated that most of the selenite absorbed by rice is predominantly transformed into selenomethinone (SeMet) and retained in roots. However, the mechanism by which SeMet is transported in plants remains largely unknown. In this study, SeMet uptake was found to be an energy‐dependent symport process involving H⁺ transport, with neutral amino acids strongly inhibiting SeMet uptake. We further revealed that NRT1.1B, a member of rice peptide transporter (PTR) family which plays an important role in nitrate uptake and transport in rice, displays SeMet transport activity in yeast and Xenopus oocyte. The uptake rate of SeMet in the roots and its accumulation rate in the shoots of nrt1.1b mutant were significantly repressed. Conversely, the overexpression of NRT1.1B in rice significantly promoted SeMet translocation from roots to shoots, resulting in increased Se concentrations in shoots and rice grains. With vascular‐specific expression of NRT1.1B, the grain Se concentration was 1.83‐fold higher than that of wild type. These results strongly demonstrate that NRT1.1B holds great potential for the improvement of Se concentrations in grains by facilitating SeMet translocation, and the findings provide novel insight into breeding of Se‐enriched rice varieties.