Bioaccumulation of mercury,arsenic, cadmium,and lead in plants grown on coal mine soil

Mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) are the major toxic metals released by coal mining activities in the surrounding environment. These metals get accumulated in the soils. The plants grown on the contaminated soil uptake these toxic metals in their roots and aerial parts. This study monitored the bioaccumulation of Hg and other three toxic metals in coal mine soil. The pot study of Hg accumulation in Brassica juncea showed that the extent of Hg uptake by roots and shoots of the plants grown on was high in the mature plant and Hg content in root was higher than the shoot. In the soil of unreclaimed overburden (OB) dump, the toxic metal content was higher than that of reclaimed OB dump which posed high ecological risk in the soil of unreclaimed OB dump. Bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC) value showed that Hg was not accumulated in the leaves of Dalbergia sissoo L., Gmelina arborea, Peltaphorum inerme L., Cassia seamea L, and Acacia mangium L grown on coal mine soil.     

Effects of low-level combined static and weak low-frequency alternating magnetic fields on cytokine production and tumor development in mice

We investigated the effects of weak combined magnetic fields (MFs) produced by superimposing a constant MF (in the range 30 - 150 µT) and an alternating MF (100 or 200 nT) on cytokine production in healthy Balb/C male mice exposed 2 h daily for 14 days. The alternating magnetic field was a sum of several frequencies (ranging from 2.5 - 17.5 Hz). The frequencies of the alternating magnetic field were calculated formally based on the cyclotron resonance of ions of free amino acids (glutamic and aspartic acids, arginine, lysine, histidine, and tyrosine). The selection of different intensity and frequency combinations of constant and alternating magnetic fields was performed to find the optimal characteristics for cytokine production stimulation in immune cells. MF with a constant component of 60 μT and an alternating component of 100 nT, which was a sum of six frequencies (from 5 to 7 Hz), was found to stimulate the production of tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-gamma, interleukin-2, and interleukin-3 in healthy mouse cells and induce cytokine accumulation in blood plasma. Then, we studied the effect of this MF on tumor-bearing mice with solid tumors induced by Ehrlich ascite carcinoma cells by observing tumor development processes, including tumor size, mouse survival rate, and average lifespan. Tumor-bearing mice exposed to a combined constant magnetic field of 60 μT and an alternating magnetic field of 100 nT containing six frequencies showed a strong suppression of tumor growth with an increase in survival rate and enhancement of average lifespan.     

Identification of amino acid residues critical for the B cell growth-promoting activity of HIV-1 matrix protein p17 variants

Background

HIV-1 matrix protein p17 variants (vp17s) detected in HIV-1-infected patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (HIV-NHL) display, differently from the wild-type protein (refp17), B cell growth-promoting activity. Biophysical analysis revealed that vp17s are destabilized as compared to refp17, motivating us to explore structure-function relationships.

Multiple simultaneous treatments change plant response from adaptive parental effects to within‐generation plasticity,in Arabidopsis thaliana

In general, studies on plant phenotypic plasticity concentrate on plant responses to different levels of a single environmental factor. Under natural conditions, however, multiple environmental factors often vary simultaneously. I studied the consequences for lifetime fitness caused by single treatments or treatment combinations by investigating patterns of phenotypic plasticity within and between generations. The parental plants (three genotypes of the annual plant Arabidopsis thaliana) received zero, one or two stress treatments at an early life‐stage. The treatments included wounding, shading, chilling, and their pairwise combinations. In the second generation, offspring of treated plants received either the parental or no treatment. Offspring of non‐treated plants were reared under all treatment conditions. Plants responded strongly to the treatments, especially through delayed reproduction, which positively affected lifetime fitness. Notably, treatment combinations triggered stronger plastic responses on average. Because the delay in reproduction was offset by a delay in senescence, the treatments resulted in a fitness gain instead of a loss. However, under adverse environmental conditions, this delay represents a potential fitness cost, especially when the time for reproduction is limited. The treatments ‘wounding’ and ‘shading’ triggered parental effects that increased fitness only in plants that themselves received the treatment. Untreated offspring of wounded or shaded parents performed like control plants. Also, these parental effects were not accompanied by potential fitness costs, such as delayed reproduction. Chilling triggered genotype‐specific parental effects that increased or reduced fitness. Of the treatment combinations only ‘wounding’ and ‘shading’ resulted in genotype‐specific parental effects that increased or reduced fitness independently of offspring treatment. These results suggest that the response of annual plants to treatment combinations triggers predominantly within‐generation plastic responses that include potential fitness costs, which cannot be inferred from studies that manipulate environmental factors individually. Therefore, single treatment studies likely underestimate the costs of plasticity in natural environments.     

干旱与条锈病复合胁迫对小麦的生理影响

以抗旱性和抗病性不同的小麦为材料,以正常生长为对照,观察了病原菌和水分复合胁迫对小麦叶片相对含水量、活性氧代谢以及对抗氰呼吸的发生、运行的影响。讨论了在干旱与病原菌侵染复合胁迫下,抗氰呼吸在植物抗逆机制中所扮演的角色。复合胁迫下,抗病小麦显然具备更强的水分调控能力,而感病品种不能有效控制病叶水分散失。水分胁迫能引起抗氰呼吸的下降,但不能抵消因病原菌侵染引起的抗氰呼吸的增强,条锈菌侵染对小麦抗氰呼吸的影响远远大于水分胁迫。病原菌侵染和水分复合胁迫下,活性氧产生的速率表现出累加效应,而抗氰呼吸表现出和基质抗氧化酶的活性互补。植物交替氧化酶在干旱与病原菌侵染复合胁迫中具有重要的抗氧化功能,并可能调节着逆境下物质与能量需求间的矛盾。     

Differential responses to feeding by the tomato/potato psyllid between two tomato cultivars and their implications in establishment of injury levels and potential of damaged plant recovery

An invasive new biotype of the tomato/potato psyllid （Bactericera [Paratrioza] cockerelli [Sulc.]） （Homoptera： Psyllidae） recently has caused losses exceeding 50% on fresh market tomatoes in western North America. Despite these extensive losses, little is known regarding the threshold levels at which populations must be suppressed in order to prevent economic losses. A series of experiments were therefore designed using combinations of two common tomato cultivars （QualiT 21 and Yellow Pear）, five pest-densities （0, 20, 30, 40 and 50 nymphs/plant）, and three feeding-duration （5 days, 10 days, and lifetime） treatments to test the relative importance of pest density, feeding period, and cumulative psyllid-days to establish economic threshold levels for psyllids. The cultivars differed considerably in their response to the toxin injected by the psyllid nymphs. ‘Yellow Pear＇ plants could recover from feeding by up to 40 nymphs for as long as 10 d, whereas ‘QualiT 21＇ plants were irreparably damaged by densities of 20 nymphs feeding for only 5 days. On ‘Yellow Pear＇, all plant measurements such as the number of yellow leaves and plant height were significantly better correlated with cumulative psyUid-days than with either pest density or feeding duration. On ‘QualiT 21 ＇, all plant measurements other than the number of yellow leaflets and leaves were significantly better correlated with pest density than with feeding duration or cumulative psyUid-days, and pest density was a better predictor of psyUid damage. Potential reasons for the variable responses between cultivars and the implications for psyllid sampling and integrated pest management are discussed.     

Zn(II)对好氧反硝化菌Acinetobacter sp. JR-142的代谢活性影响

【目的】研究不同Zn(Ⅱ)浓度对好氧反硝化菌Acinetobacter sp.JR-142生理活性,尤其是反硝化代谢特性的影响。【方法】筛选一株好氧反硝化菌,优化了最佳活性条件;分析了不同Zn(Ⅱ)浓度对生长曲线和反硝化效率的影响以及对细胞形态的影响;明晰了不同Zn(Ⅱ)浓度条件下,细胞特征活性酶-硝酸盐还原酶和亚硝酸盐还原酶的活性变化情况,分析了不同活性同关键酶的编码基因napA和nirS的相对表达量之间的规律。【结果】获得一株具有好氧反硝化功能的菌株,命名为JR-142,经鉴定为不动杆菌Acinetobacter sp.。在以琥珀酸钠为碳源,C/N为6,pH为7.0,温度30℃,转速为180 r/min的条件下,好氧反硝化活性最高。结果表明当Zn(Ⅱ)浓度为3.25 mg/L时,对菌株的生长及好氧反硝化速率有促进作用;当Zn(Ⅱ)浓度为52 mg/L以上浓度时,菌株的生长及反硝化速率均受到抑制。酶活及关键基因napA、nirS的定量分析结果显示,对照组及JR+0.05处理组的硝酸盐还原酶NR、亚硝酸盐还原酶NiR活性均高于JR+0.8处理组,在24 h时,JR+0.05 Zn(Ⅱ)处理组中,细胞的关键好氧反硝化基因napA及nirS的相对表达量显著高于对照组,这进一步说明3.25 mg/L Zn(Ⅱ)可以促进好氧反硝化过程,而在24 h及32 h时对照组及JR+0.05处理组的基因相对表达量远高于JR+0.8处理组,也说明52 mg/L Zn(Ⅱ)则会对反应产生抑制。【结论】探究并系统分析了不同Zn(Ⅱ)浓度对不动杆菌Acinetobacter sp.JR-142生长繁殖以及和在重金属锌离子存在的情况下影响好氧反硝化生理活性的影响,为后续硝酸盐-重金属复合污染废水的生物处理技术提供了数据指导。     

丛枝菌根真菌防治尖孢镰孢枯萎病的效应、机制及其应用研究进展

尖孢镰孢(Fusarium oxysporum)所引起的植物枯萎病是农业生产中广泛存在且难以防治的一种土传病害,严重影响作物的产量和品质。丛枝菌根(arbuscular mycorrhiza,AM)真菌能够与大部分陆生植物形成互惠共生关系,在促进植物生长、增强宿主植物抗病性等方面具有重要作用。本文收集整理了2001-2021年期间发表的相关文献,评述了AM真菌防治尖孢镰孢枯萎病的研究进展,并分析了AM真菌菌剂组成及应用方式对病害发生情况和尖孢镰孢丰度的影响。根据AM真菌在土壤-植物连续体的空间位置及其影响范围,从土壤、根系、植株等作用层面对AM真菌增强植物抵抗尖孢镰孢的直接和间接作用机制进行总结,包括影响土壤微环境、调节植物根际微生物群落结构、与病原菌竞争生态位、强化根系机械保护屏障、促进宿主植物养分吸收和生长、诱导植物系统性抗性等。此外,综合讨论了AM真菌与其他手段联合应用防治尖孢镰孢枯萎病的应用研究进展。本文可为推进AM真菌生物防治病害相关基础与应用研究的发展提供借鉴和参考。