Effect of maturation duration on desiccation tolerance in hybrid larch (Larix×leptoeuropaea dengler) somatic embryos

Summary Cotyledonary somatic embryos ofLarix × leptoeuropaea that developed after various maturation times on media containing abscisic acid showed different frequencies of conversion into plants. Drying of these somatic embryos under high relative humidity (RH) before germination improved plantlet recovery and eliminated differences in the performance of somatic embryos matured for different times. However, dehydration of somatic embryos under 98% RH to a water content below that of zygotic embryos excised from mature seeds (0.97 and 1.36 g H₂O/g dry weight, respectively) showed a strong positive correlation between longer maturation time and desiccation tolerance. Drying somatic embryos at 4° C under 59% RH for 1 wk resulted in desiccation to a water content of 0.30 g H₂O/g dry weight, which was the closest to the hydration state of zygotic embryos in dried, stored seeds (0.20 g H₂O/g dry weight). Under this condition, only somatic embryos matured for 5 wk germinated and produced plantlets at a relatively high frequency (73 and 41%, respectively).     

Sunflower seed deterioration as related to moisture content during ageing, energy metabolism and active oxygen species scavenging

The objectives of the present work were to investigate whether loss of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seed viability was affected by the embryo moisture content (MC) during seed pretreatment at 35°C, and was related to changes in energy metabolism and in the antioxidant defence system. Non‐dormant seeds were equilibrated at MC of the embryonic axis ranging from 0.037 to 0.605 g H₂O g^?1 dry matter (DM) for 1 day at 15°C, and they were then placed at 35°C for various durations up to 14 days before the germination assays at 15°C. As expected, the higher the MC, the faster was seed deterioration. There existed a negative linear relationship between the time taken for germination to drop to 50% (P₅₀) and the embryonic axis MC ranging from 0.108 and 0.438 g H₂O g^?1 DM. In dry seeds, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate represented 6.3, 14.8 and 70.9% of the adenylate pool, respectively, and the energy charge (EC) was very low (0.14). ATP and ADP levels and EC increased sharply during the first day of equilibrium of seeds at a MC above 0.158 g H₂O g^?1 DM. Subsequent controlled deterioration at 35°C resulted in a decrease in the adenylate pool, and consequently in ATP level. The higher the energy metabolism during ageing, the lower was seed viability. Loss of seed viability was associated with an accumulation of H₂O₂, and then of malondialdehyde (MDA) suggesting that lipid peroxidation was not the only cause of seed deterioration. When there was a sublinear relationship between H₂O₂ content in the embryonic axis and seed viability, MDA accumulation only occurred when 50% of the seed population died within 7 days, i.e. when MC was higher than 0.248 g H₂O g^?1 DM. Ageing was associated with a decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione reductase, the main enzymes involved in cell detoxification. The involvement of seed MC, as key factor of ageing is discussed with regards to energy metabolism and the regulation of active oxygen species accumulation.     

Water content effects on photosynthetic response of Sphagnum mosses from the foothills of the Philip Smith Mountains,Alaska

Summary In tussock tundra areas of the foothills north of the Brooks Range, Alaska, up to two-thirds of annual precipitation may occur during intermittent summer thunderstorms. The seasonal pattern in capitulum water content of Sphagnum spp. depends on the frequency and duration of these precipitation events, on the microtopography of the habitat including depth of thaw, and on morphological characteristics of the individual species. The response of net photosynthesis to varying water content in Sphagnum squarrosum and S. angustifolium growing under willow canopies in a tussock tundra area near the Dalton Highway on the North Slope of Alaska was examined in the field. After a period in June required to develop photosynthetic capability, capitula water content was essentially optimal for photosynthesis in the range from 6 to 10 g H₂O/g DW. Above this range, the rate of CO₂ uptake was reduced, presumably due to limitations on CO₂ diffusion to the photosynthetically active sites. At water contents below the optimum, net photosynthesis fell rapidly until reaching compensation at approximately 1 g H₂O/g DW. Dependent on changes in weather conditions, average water content of Sphagnum samples collected in the field occasionally fell below 5 g H₂O/g DW. During a particularly dry period, water content of individual Sphagnum hummocks fell below 1 g H₂O/g DW, indicating that water stress does limit Sphagnum photosynthetic production in this habitat.     

Relationship between Thermal Transitions and Freezing Injury in Pea and Soybean Seeds

In an attempt to correlate freezable water with freezing injury, the thermal behavior of pea (Pisum sativum L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) seed parts at different moisture contents were compared with survival of the seeds when exposed to low temperatures. Thermal transitions between −150 and 10°C were studied using differential scanning calorimetry. In pea, reduction of germinability, after exposure of seeds to temperatures between − 18 and − 180°C, occurred at a constant moisture content (about 0.33 gram H₂O/gram dry weight) regardless of the temperature; this moisture level was above that at which freezable water was first detectable by differential scanning calorimetry (0.26 gram H₂O/gram dry weight). In contrast, damage to soybean seeds was observed at progressively lower moisture contents (from 0.33 to 0.20 gram H₂O/gram dry weight) when the temperature was decreased from −18°C to −50°C. At −18 and −30°C, moisture contents at which damage to soybean seeds was evident were above that at which freezable water was first detectable (0.23 gram H₂O/gram dry weight). However, at −50, −80, and −180°C, damage was evident even when freezable water was not detectable. The data suggest that, while the quantity of water is important in the expression of freezing injury, the presence of freezable water does not account for the damage.     

Accumulation of soluble sugars, heat-stable proteins and dehydrins in cryopreservation of protocorm-like bodies ofDendrobium candidumby the air-drying method

Protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) of Dendrobium candidum were successfully cryopreserved by the air-drying method. The optimal water content before freezing seemed to be at the range of 0.1 g H₂O/g DW (11 % on fresh weight basis) to 0.5 g H₂O/g DW (33 % on fresh weight basis). Changes in soluble sugars, heat-stable proteins and dehydrins during desiccation of PLBs were analyzed. Extensive accumulation of soluble sugars was observed at water content of about 7.2 g H₂O/g DW (after 24 h desiccation), and the sugars content did not increase further during the following desiccation. The amount of heat-stable protein increased significantly when water content decreased to 1.0 g H₂O/g DW (after approximately 66 h desiccation). Results from immunological detection showed that two bands of the heat-stable proteins with respective molecular masses of 28.7 and 34.3 kDa were dehydrins which appeared when water content dropped to 1.0 g H₂O/g DW. Therefore, it seemed that accumulation of dehydrins happened later than that of soluble sugars. Interestingly, exogenous ABA treatment of PLBs before desiccation could also induce the accumulation of soluble sugars, heat-stable proteins and dehydrins. The possible roles of these substances in the acquisition of dehydration and freezing tolerance were discussed.     

Changes in extreme high-temperature tolerance and activities of antioxidant enzymes of sacred lotus seeds

Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. ‘Tielian’) seed is long-lived and extremely tolerant of high temperature. Water content of lotus and maize seeds was 0.103 and 0.129 g H₂O [g DW] ⁻¹, respectively. Water content, germination percentage and fresh weight of seedlings produced by surviving seeds gradually decreased with increasing treatment time at 100°C. Germination percentage of maize (Zea mays L. ‘Huangbaogu’) seeds was zero after they were treated at 100°Cfor 15 min and that of lotus seeds was 13.5% following the treatment at 100°C for 24 h. The time in which 50% of lotus and maize seeds were killed by 100°C was about 14.5 h and 6 min, respectively. With increasing treatment time at 100°C, relative electrolyte leakage of lotus axes increased significantly, and total chlorophyll content of lotus axes markedly decreased. When treatment time at 100°C was less than 12 h, subcellular structure of lotus hypocotyls remained fully intact. When treatment time at 100°C was more than 12 h, plasmolysis gradually occurred, endoplasmic reticulum became unclear, nuclei and nucleoli broke down, most of mitochondria swelled, lipid granules accumulated at the cell periphery, and organelles and plasmolemma collapsed. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content of lotus axes and cotyledons decreased during 0 −12 h of the treatment at 100°C and then increased. By contrast, the MDA content of maize embryos and endosperms increased during 5–10 min of the treatment at 100°C and then decreased slightly. For lotus seeds: (1) activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR) of axes and cotyledons and of catalase (CAT) of axes increased during the early phase of treatment at 100°C and then decreased; and (2) activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) of axes and cotyledons and of CAT of cotyledons gradually decreased with increasing treatment time at 100°C. For maize seeds: (1) activities of SOD and DHAR of embryos and endosperms and of GR of embryos increased during the early phase of the treatment at 100°C and then decreased; and (2) activities of APX and CAT of embryos and endosperms and of GR of endosperms rapidly decreased with increasing treatment time at 100°C. With decrease in seed germination, activities of SOD, APX, CAT, GR and DHAR of axes and cotyledons of lotus seeds decreased slowly, and those of embryos and endosperms of maize seeds decreased rapidly.     

Feeding by Scolytus bark beetles to test for differently susceptible elm varieties

Dutch elm disease (DED), caused by the fungi Ophiostoma ulmi and O. novo‐ulmi, has reduced elm populations severely in Europe and North America. Breeding programmes are in action to find less susceptible elm varieties suitable for re‐establishing elm stands. Bark beetles, mainly Scolytus spp., are the only known natural vectors of DED. During twig feeding, beetles transfer Ophiostoma spores to healthy elms. Thus, less palatable elms should run a lower risk of DED infections. In feeding preference bioassays, we offered twigs from elms exhibiting different degree of susceptibility to O. novo‐ulmi, together with non‐host trees to Scolytus beetles. Scolytus multistriatus preferred wych elm, Ulmus glabra, to 100% in two‐choice tests, whereas S. laevis did not discriminate between a tolerant and a susceptible variety of field elm, U. minor. We suggest that the feeding assay is useful as a low‐tech method in breeding programmes for evaluating the suitability of promising elm genotypes to vector insects.     

Oxidative stress induces alkaloid production in Uncaria tomentosa root and cell cultures in bioreactors

The effect of oxidative stress on indole alkaloids accumulation by cell suspensions and root cultures of Uncaria tomentosa in bioreactors was investigated. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂, 200 μM) added to U. tomentosa cell suspension cultures in shaken flasks induced the production of monoterpenoid oxindole alkaloids (MOA) up to 40.0 μg/L. In a stirred tank bioreactor, MOA were enhanced by exogenous H₂O₂ (200 μM) from no detection up to 59.3 μg/L. Root cultures grew linearly in shaken flasks with a μ=0.045 days^?1 and maximum biomass of 12.08±1.24 g DW/L (at day 30). Roots accumulated 3α‐dihydrocadambine (DHC) 2354.3±244.8 μg/g DW (at day 40) and MOA 348.2±32.1 μg/g DW (at day 18). Exogenous addition of H₂O₂ had a differential effect on DHC and MOA production in shaken flasks. At 200 μM H₂O₂, MOA were enhanced by 56% and DHC by 30%; while addition of 800 and 1000 μM H₂O₂, reduced by 30–40% DHC accumulation without change in MOA. Root cultures in the airlift reactor produced extracellular H₂O₂ with a characteristic biphasic profile after changing aeration. Maximum MOA was 9.06 mg/L at day 60 while at this time roots reached ca. 1 mg/L of DHC. Intracellular H₂O₂ in root cultures growing in the bioreactor was 0.87 μmol/g DW compared to 0.26 μmol/g DW of shaken flasks cultures. These results were in agreement with a higher activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and peroxidase by 6‐ and 2‐times, respectively. U. tomentosa roots growing in the airlift bioreactor were exposed to an oxidative stress and their antioxidant system was active allowing them to produce oxindole alkaloids.     

Water Content during Abscisic Acid Induced Freezing Tolerance in Bromegrass Cells

Changes in water content and dry weight were determined in control cells and those induced to cold harden in response to abscisic acid (ABA) treatment (7.5 × 10⁻⁵ molar). Bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss cv Manchar) cells grown in suspension culture at room temperature (23°C) for 7 days acclimated to −28°C (LT₅₀) when treated with ABA, or to −5°C when untreated. ABA significantly reduced cell growth rates at 5 and 7 days after treatment. Growth reduction was due to a decrease in cell number rather than cell size. When the cell water content was expressed as percent water (percent H₂O) or as grams water per gram dry weight (gram H₂O/gram dry weight [g DW]), the water content of hardy, ABA-treated cells decreased from 85% to 77% or from 6.4 to 3.3 g H₂O/g DW in 7 days. Control cell water content remained static at approximately 87% and 7.5 g H₂O/g DW. However, cell water content, expressed as milligrams water per million cells (milligram H₂O/10⁶ cells), did not differ in ABA-treated or control cells. The dry matter content of ABA-treated cells, expressed as milligram DW/10⁶ cells increased to 3.3 milligram/10⁶ cells in 7 days, whereas the dry weight of the control cells remained between 1.4 to 2.1 milligrams/10⁶ cells. The osmotic potential of ABA-treated cells decreased by the fifth day while that of control cells increased significantly and then decreased by day 7. Elevated osmotic potentials were not associated with increased ion uptake. In contrast to much published literature, these results suggest that cell water content does not decrease in ABA-treated cells during the induction of freezing tolerance, rather the dry matter mass per cell increased. Cell water content may be more accurately expressed as a function of cell number when accompanying changes to dry cell matter occur.     

Effects of cooling rate on seeds exposed to liquid nitrogen temperatures

The effect of cooling rate on seeds was studied by hydrating pea (Pisum sativum), soybean (Glycine max), and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds to different levels and then cooling them to − 190°C at rates ranging from 1°C/minute to 700°C/minute. When seeds were moist enough to have freezable water (> 0.25 gram H₂O/gram dry weight), rapid cooling rates were optimal for maintaining seed vigor. If the seeds were cooled while at intermediate moisture levels (0.12 to 0.20 gram H₂O per gram dry weight), there appeared to be no effect of cooling rate on seedling vigor. When seeds were very dry (< 0.08 gram H₂O per gram dry weight), cooling rate had no effect on pea, but rapid cooling rates had a marked detrimental effect on soybean and sunflower germination. Glass transitions, detected by differential scanning calorimetry, were observed at all moisture contents in sunflower and soybean cotyledons that were cooled rapidly. In pea, glasses were detectable when cotyledons with high moisture levels were cooled rapidly. The nature of the glasses changed with moisture content. It is suggested that, at high moisture contents, glasses were formed in the aqueous phase, as well as the lipid phase if tissues had high oil contents, and this had beneficial effects on the survival of seeds at low temperatures. At low moisture contents, glasses were observed to form in the lipid phase, and this was associated with detrimental effects on seed viability.     

Calorimetric studies of the state of water in seed tissues

To understand the physical state of water in hydrating biological tissues, thermodynamic properties of water in cotyledons of pea and soybean with moisture contents ranging from 0.01 g H₂O/g dw to 1.0 g H₂O/g dw were studied using differential scanning calorimetry. The heat capacity of the tissues increased abruptly at moisture contents above 0.08 and 0.12 g H₂O/g dw for soybean and pea cotyledons, respectively. Melting transitions of water were observed at moisture contents >0.23 and 0.26 g H₂O/g dw for soybean and pea. However, freezing of water was not observed unless moisture contents exceeded 0.33-0.35 g H₂O/g dw. In both seed tissues, the temperatures of the freezing and melting varied with moisture content and showed hysterisis. The energy of the transition also varied with moisture content and was similar to the heats of fusion and crystallization of pure water only at moisture contents >0.54 and 0.58 gH₂O/g dw for soybean and pea seeds, respectively. The thermal properties of water change distinctly as seed moisture content changes: at least five states or water can be identified.     

Dormancy in somatic embryos and seeds ofVitis: changes in endogenous abscisic acid during embryogeny and germination

Abscisic acid (ABA) in extracts of somatic embryos and seeds of Gloryvine (Vitis vinifera L.xV. rupestris Scheele) was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring using deuterated ABA, (±)-[C-3Me-²H₃]ABA, ([²H₃]ABA) as internal standard. The ABA content increased rapidly during embryogeny (0.035 ng/embryo at the globular stage to 0.22 ng/embryo at the mature stage). The level of ABA in the tissues of somatic embryos, expressed in ng/mg dry weight, decreased from the globular stage (0.76 ng/mg) to the mature stage (0.25 ng/mg). Chilling (4° C) induced normal germination of seeds and mature somatic embryos and precocious germination of globular, heart-shaped and torpedoshaped somatic embryos. In all cases chilling led to a marked reduction in endogenous ABA. Exogenous (±)-ABA inhibited the germination of chilled somatic embryos.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - [²H₃]ABA (±)-[C-3Me-²H₃]-abscisic acid - BHT 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenol - GC-MS gas chromatography-mass spectrometry - Me-ABA and Me-[²H₃]ABA methyl esters of ABA and [²H₃]ABA, respectively - SIM selected ion monitoring     

Seed dormancy of Cardiospermum halicacabum (Sapindaceae) from three precipitation zones in Sri Lanka

• This study investigated seed germination of Cardiospermum halicacabum, a medicinally important invasive species.
• We compared mass, moisture content (MC), dormancy and dormancy‐breaking treatments and imbibition and germination of scarified and non‐scarified seeds of C. halicacabum from a low‐elevation dry zone (DZ), low‐elevation wet zone (WZ1) and mid‐elevation wet zone (WZ2) in Sri Lanka to test the hypothesis that the percentage of seeds with water‐impermeable seed coats (physical dormancy, PY) decreases with increased precipitation.
• Seed mass was higher in WZ2 than in DZ and WZ1, while seed MC did not vary among the zones. All scarified DZ, WZ1 and WZ2 and non‐scarified DZ and WZ1 seeds imbibed water, but only a few non‐scarified WZ2 seeds did so. When DZ and WZ1 seeds were desiccated, MC and percentage imbibition decreased, showing that these seeds have the ability to develop PY. GA₃ promoted germination of embryos excised from fresh DZ and WZ1 seeds and of scarified WZ2 seeds.
• At maturity, seeds from DZ and WZ1 had only physiological dormancy (PD), while those from WZ2 had combinational dormancy (PY+PD). Thus, our hypothesis was not supported. Since a high percentage of excised embryos developed into normal seedlings; this is a low‐cost method to produce C. halicacabum plants for medicinal and ornamental purposes.

     

Inducing salt tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.) through seed priming with chloride salts: Growth and ion transport at early growth stages

The study was conducted to determine whether salt tolerance could be induced in maize at germination stage by soaking of seeds for 8 h in distilled water or in 200 meq·L⁻¹ of NaCl, KCl, CaCl₂·2H₂O. Both primed and un-primed seeds were subjected for 14 days to 0, 100 or 200 mol·m⁻³ NaCl under controlled conditions. Although all priming agents were effective in alleviating adverse effects of salt stress on maize at germination stage, CaCl₂·2H₂O proved to be more effective since the seeds primed with this salt had significantly higher final germination, rate of germination and fresh and dry weights of plumules and radicles than those treated with other salts or distilled water. Concentration of Na⁺, K⁺ and Ca²⁺ increased significantly in all parts of germinating seeds of maize seeds primed with NaCl, KCl, or CaCl₂·2H₂O, respectively. In addition, seeds primed with CaCl₂·2H₂O were the highest in Cl⁻ accumulation in all parts of the germinating seeds, followed by seeds treated with NaCl and KCl. Most of the Ca²⁺ was retained in seeds and mesocotyl, because of which, transport of this ion to plumules and radicles was low.     

Isolation,identification and characterization of a novel Rhodococcus sp. strain in biodegradation of tetrahydrofuran and its medium optimization using sequential statistics-based experimental designs

Statistics-based experimental designs were applied to optimize the culture conditions for tetrahydrofuran (THF) degradation by a newly isolated Rhodococcus sp. YYL that tolerates high THF concentrations. Single factor experiments were undertaken for determining the optimum range of each of four factors (initial pH and concentrations of K₂HPO₄ · 3H₂O, NH₄Cl and yeast extract) and these factors were subsequently optimized using the response surface methodology. The Plackett–Burman design was used to identify three trace elements (Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺and Fe²⁺) that significantly increased the THF degradation rate. The optimum conditions were found to be: 1.80 g/L NH₄Cl, 0.81 g/L K₂HPO₄ · 3H₂O, 0.06 g/L yeast extract, 0.40 g/L MgSO₄ · 7H₂O, 0.006 g/L ZnSO₄ · 7H₂O, 0.024 g/L FeSO₄ · 7H₂O, and an initial pH of 8.26. Under these optimized conditions, the maximum THF degradation rate increased to 137.60 mg THF h⁻¹ g dry weight in Rhodococcus sp. YYL, which was nearly five times of that by the previously described THF degrading Rhodococcus strain.     

Survival of alginate-entrapped cells of Azospirillum lipoferum during dehydration and storage in relation to water properties

Survival of alginate-entrapped cells of Azospirillum lipoferum was studied during dehydration using a dry air stream and during prolonged storage at various constant water activity values (a_w). During the drying operation, the viability loss remained almost constant from the initial water content to 0.35 g water/g dry weight (DW) corresponding to a 98.5% water removal, strongly increased until a water content of 0.25 g/g DW and then stopped until the end of the drying operational (final a_w 0.18). A water content of 0.25 g/g DW (a_w=0.55) corresponded to the critical point of the moisture sorption isotherm curve from which water became restricted to the dry material. A high drying rate (5 g/g DW per hour) was shown to be more detrimental for cell viability than a low drying rate (1.18 g/g DW per hour). When the product was stored in a closed chamber with a regulated a_w (0.23), the number of living cells decreased during a short period (less than 15 days) corresponding to the product a_w stabilization, and then remained constant for more than 150 days. In addition, cell survival during storage was not affected by a_w values in the range 0–0.55. Above a_w=0.55, the higher the a_w and the storage duration, the lower the residual survival percentage. The influence of the drying and storage conditions on the cell death rate are discussed with regard to both the mechanisms generally involved in viability loss and the hydration properties of water. Correspondence to: A. Pareilleux     

玉米胚发育过程中脱水耐性的变化

对离体玉米胚脱水耐性的变化以及不同脱水速率对其脱水耐性的影响进行了研究。授粉后16d的玉米胚能耐轻微脱水,含水量从1.45降低到0.28gH2Og-1DW时胚的萌发率为100%,但含水量低于0.1gH2Og-1DW时胚死亡。胚的脱水耐性随着发育逐渐加强,表现为电解质渗漏速率逐渐降低,萌发率和幼苗干重逐渐增加。授粉后20d胚内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性较高,过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性较低;授粉后24d,这些酶的活性与授粉后20d的正好相反。脂质过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)在种子发育过程中呈下降趋势。不同脱水速率明显地影响胚的脱水耐性:在慢速脱水到含水量0.1~0.18gH2Og-1DW时,胚的萌发率和幼苗干重比快速脱水高,电解质渗漏速率比快速脱水低;在快速脱水条件下胚中的SOD、APX活性和MDA含量也比慢速脱水高;CAT活性的变化不明显。     

Theoretical Basis of Protocols for Seed Storage III. Optimum Moisture Contents for Pea Seeds Stored at Different Temperatures

In previous work, we demonstrated that there was an optimummoisture level for seed storage at a given temperature (Vertucciand Roos, 1990), and suggested, using thermodynamic considerations,that the optimum moisture content increased as the storage temperaturedecreased (Vertucci and Roos, 1993b). In this paper, we presentdata from a two year study of aging rates in pea (Pisum sativum)seeds supporting the hypothesis that the optimum moisture contentfor storage varies with temperature. Seed viability and vigourwere monitored during storage under dark or lighted conditionsat relative humidities between 1 and 90%, and temperatures between-5 and 65°C. The optimum moisture content varied from 0·015g H₂O g^-1 d.wt at 65°C to 0·101 g H₂O g^-1 d.wt at15°C under dark conditions and from 0·057 at 35°Cto 0·092 g H₂O g^-1 d.wt at -5°C under lighted conditions.Our results suggest that optimum moisture contents cannot beconsidered independently of temperature. This conclusion hasimportant implications for 'ultra-dry' and cryopreservationtechnologies.Copyright 1994, 1999 Academic Press Seed storage, seed aging, seed longevity, water content, temperature, glass, desiccation damage, ultradry, Pisum sativum L., pea, cryopreservation     

Effects of Cadmium,Copper, Lead,and Zinc Contamination on Metal Accumulation by Safflower and Wheat

Accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in cultivated soils is a continuing environmental problem in many parts of the world. An increase in HM concentration can enhance uptake of toxic metals by crops and enter the human food chain. In this study, the uptake behavior of wheat and safflower was evaluated in a calcareous soil by using 12 undisturbed columns in which half were artificially contaminated. Heavy metals in the form of CdCl₂ (15 mg Cd kg^{? 1}), CuSO₄ (585 mg Cu kg^{? 1}), Pb(NO₃)₂ (117 mg Pb kg^{? 1}), and ZnCl₂ (1094 mg Zn kg^{? 1}) were sprayed on the soil surface and completely mixed in the top 10 cm. The background total concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were 1.6, 29.5, 17.5 and 61.2 mg kg^{? 1}, respectively. After metal application, half of the columns (3 contaminated and 3 uncontaminated) were sown with wheat (Triticum aestivum) and the other half with safflower (Carthamus tinctorious) and grown for 74 days until maturity. After harvesting, soil columns were cut into 10-cm sections and analyzed for HNO₃- and DTPA-extractable metal concentrations. Metal concentrations were also measured in different plant tissues. The results showed that artificial contamination of topsoil decreased the transpiration rate of wheat by 12% and that of safflower by 6%. In contaminated columns, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn accumulation in wheat shoot was greater by 8.0-, 1.9-, 3.0-, and 2.1-fold than the control, respectively. Accordingly, these numbers were 46.0-, 1.3-, 1.7-, and 1.6-fold in safflower shoot. Soil contamination with HMs resulted in a 55% decrease in shoot dry matter yield of wheat while it had no significant effect on shoot dry matter of safflower. The normalized water consumption for safflower was therefore not affected by metal contamination (≈ 13 mm H₂O g^{? 1} of dry weight for all safflower and uncontaminated wheat treatments), while contaminated wheat was much less water efficient at about 27 mm H₂O g^{? 1} dry weight. It was concluded that although artificial contamination had a negative effect on wheat growth, it did not affect safflower's normal growth and water efficiency.