镉在东南景天中的亚细胞分配

采用差速离心技术,比较研究了Cd在矿山生态型东南景天(Sedum alfredii Hance)根、茎、叶中的亚细胞分布.结果表明:矿山生态型东南景天对Cd具有很好的忍受耐和累积能力,非矿山生态型东南景天则不具有这种能力.Cd在矿山生态型东南景天根、茎、叶各部分的亚细胞分配满足F1(细胞壁部分)>F3(可溶部分)>F2(细胞器及膜)规律,且Cd在细胞壁部分的分配占绝对优势;同时矿山生态型东南景天地上部有很好的Cd累积能力.与众多超累积植物相似的Cd亚细胞分配规律和地上部的良好的Cd累积能力.对此植物的Cd亚细胞分布完全不同于非矿山生态型东南景天的情况作了比较分析,结果显示矿山生态型东南景天很可能是一种新的镉超累积种质资源.     

镉在东南景天中的亚细胞分配

采用差速离心技术,比较研究了Cd在矿山生态型东南景天(Sedum alfredii Hance)根、茎、叶中的亚细胞分布。结果表明:矿山生态型东南景天对Cd具有很好的忍受耐和累积能力,非矿山生态型东南景天则不具有这种能力。Cd在矿山生态型东南景天根、茎、叶各部分的亚细胞分配满足F1(细胞壁部分)>F3(可溶部分)>F2(细胞器及膜)规律,且Cd在细胞壁部分的分配占绝对优势;同时矿山生态型东南景天地上部有很好的Cd累积能力。与众多超累积植物相似的Cd亚细胞分配规律和地上部的良好的Cd累积能力。对此植物的Cd亚细胞分布完全不同于非矿山生态型东南景天的情况作了比较分析,结果显示矿山生态型东南景天很可能是一种新的镉超累积种质资源。     

镉在旱柳中亚细胞分布及存在的化学形态

以2个旱柳无性系幼苗为材料,通过营养液培养并结合差速离心与化学试剂提取法,分析了不同浓度Cd2+胁迫下旱柳叶和根中Cd的亚细胞分布及其存在的化学形态.结果显示,(1)随着培养介质Cd2+浓度升高,旱柳无性系幼苗叶和根中各亚细胞组分Cd含量随之增加.叶片的Cd主要富集于细胞壁、叶绿体和可溶性部分,它们的含量分别占65%～69%、14%～22%、6.8%～7.7%,仅少量Cd发现于膜部分;而根中Cd主要积累于细胞壁和可溶性部分,其中含量分别占59%～66%和14%～25%,Cd在根亚细胞组分中积累量依次为细胞壁>可溶性部分>质体>膜部分.(2)旱柳体内Cd以不同的化学形态存在,大部分为HCl(FHCl)、NaCl(FNaCl)、醋酸(HAC,FHAC)提取态,极少部分为乙醇(EtOH,FEtOH)和水提取态(Fwater),叶和根中5种Cd提取态含量依次为FHCl>FNaCl>FHAC>Fwater>FEtOH,而叶和根中HCl和NaCl提取态Cd占有比例大于30%以上.研究表明,旱柳无性系中Cd主要与蛋白质和有机酸螯合或以金属磷酸盐沉淀的形态存在,其根、叶的细胞壁和液泡在Cd忍耐与解毒中起到重要作用.     

Role of Organic Amendments to Mitigate Cd Toxicity and Its Assimilation in <i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.

In soil biota, higher and enduring concentration of heavy metals like cadmium (Cd) is hazardous and associated with great loss in growth, yield, and quality parameters of most of the crop plants. Recently, in-situ applications of eco-friendly stabilizing agents in the form of organic modifications have been utilized to mitigate the adverse effects of Cd-toxicity. This controlled experiment was laid down to appraise the imprints of various applied organic amendments namely poultry manure (PM), farmyard manure (FYM), and sugarcane press mud (PS) to immobilize Cd in polluted soil. Moreover, phytoavailability of Cd in wheat was also accessed under an alkaline environment. Results revealed that the addition of FYM (5–10 ton ha^-1 ) in Cd-contaminated soil significantly increased germination rate, leaf chlorophyll content, plant height, spike length, biological and grain yield amongst all applied organic amendments. Moreover, the addition of FYM (5–10 ton ha^-1 ) also reduced the phytoavailability of Cd by 73–85% in the roots, 57–83% in the shoots, and 81–90% in grains of wheat crop. Thus, it is affirmed that incorporation of FYM (5–10 ton ha^-1 ) performed better to enhance wheat growth and yield by remediating Cd. Thus, the application of FYM (5–10 ton ha^-1 ) reduced the toxicity induced by Cd to plants by declining its uptake and translocation as compared to all other applied organic amendments to immobilize Cd under sandy alkaline polluted soil.     

Subcellular distribution and chemical forms of cadmium in Morus alba L.

Morus alba L. (mulberry) is a perennial woody tree and a species with great potential for Cd phyremediation owing to its large biomass and extensive root system. The mechanisms involved in Cd detoxification were investigated by analyzing the subcellular distribution and chemical forms of Cd in mulberry in the present study. These results indicated that 53.27–70.17% of Cd mulberry accumulated was stored in the root and only about 10% were in the leaves. Lots of the Cd was located in the cell wall of the mulberry root and in soluble fraction of the mulberry leaf. Moreover, in roots, the largest amount of Cd was in the form of undissolved Cd-phosphate. While in mulberry leaves and stems, most of the Cd was extracted by 2% Acetic acid and 0.6 M HCl, representing Cd-phosphate and Cd-oxalate. It could be concluded that the Cd combination with peptides and organo-ligands in vacuole of leaf or complexed with proteins or cellulose in the cell wall of root might be contributed to the tolerance of mulberry to Cd stress. The mulberry could be used to remediate the Cd polluted farmland soils.     

Integrated Fertilization Regimes Boost Heavy Metals Accumulation and Biomass of <i>Sedum alfredii</i> Hance

The hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii Hance (S. alfredii) may be employed for zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd)-polluted soil remediation. However, the low phytoremediation efficiency, related to the low biomass production, limits its use with that purpose. In this experiment, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers, and organic manure were applied to investigate the phytoremediation ability of S. alfredii. Hydroponic and pot experiments were conducted using Zn-Cd polluted soil. The hydroponic experiment indicated that appropriate fertilizer application could increase (p < 0.05) the amount of accumulated Zn and Cd in S. alfredii. When N supply ranged from 0.5 to 2.5 mmol L⁻¹, it could improve growth and accumulation of Zn and Cd in whole plants of S. alfredii. The 1 mmol L^-1 N was an optimal N dosage for shoot biomass production and Cd accumulation in shoots, while the 2.5 mmol L^-1 was an optimal N dosage for Zn accumulation in shoots. Both low (<0.05 mmol L^-1) and high (>0.8 mmol L^-1) P supply decreased growth, and Zn/Cd accumulation in whole plants of the studied species. The 0.1 mmol L^-1 P was an optimal dosage for S. alfredii biomass production and Zn/Cd accumulation in shoots. The supply levels within the range from 0.3 to 1 mmol L^-1 K could significantly improve the biomass production of S. alfredii and its capability to accumulate Zn and Cd in the biomass. The 0.5 mmol L^-1 K was an optimal dosage for the whole biomass production and Zn accumulation in shoots, while the 1 mmol L^-1 was an optimal K dosage for Zn accumulation in shoots, which was 17.2% higher than the control. Moreover, the soil pot experiment showed that the combination of organic (fermented manure) and inorganic fertilizers made significant effects on the Zn and Cd-polluted soil remediation by S. alfredii. These effects varied, however, with the application of different proportions of N, P, K and organic matter. The Zn accumulation by S. alfredii reached the highest efficiency ability under the highest fertilizer mixing rate (N: 50 mg kg^-1, P: 40 mg kg^-1, K: 100 mg kg^-1, organic matter: 1%). Even more, S. alfredii showed the strongest ability to accumulate Cd with a lower fertilizer mixing rate (N: 25mg kg^-1, P: 20mg kg^-1, K: 50 mg kg^-1, organic matter: 0.5%).

     

Subcellular Distribution and Chemical Forms of Cadmium in the Medicine Food Homology Plant <i>Platycodon grandiflorum</i> (Jacq.) A.DC.

Although Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A.DC. is a renowned medicine food homology plant, reports of excessive cadmium (Cd) levels are common, which affects its safety for clinical use and food consumption. To enable its Cd levels to be regulated or reduced, it is necessary to first elucidate the mechanism of Cd uptake and accumulation in the plant, in addition to its detoxification mechanisms. This present study used inductively couple plasma-mass-spectrometry to analyze the subcellular distribution and chemical forms of Cd in different tissues of P. grandiflorum. The experimental results showed that Cd was mainly accumulated in the roots [predominantly in the cell wall (50.96%–61.42%)], and it was found primarily in hypomobile and hypotoxic forms. The proportion of Cd in the soluble fraction increased after Cd exposure, and the proportion of insoluble phosphate Cd and oxalate Cd increased in roots and leaves, with a higher increase in oxalate Cd. Therefore, it is likely that root retention mechanisms, cell wall deposition, vacuole sequestration, and the formation of low mobility and low toxicity forms are tolerance strategies for Cd detoxification used by P. grandiflorum. The results of this study provide a theoretical grounding for the study of Cd accumulation and detoxification mechanisms in P. grandiflorum, and they can be used as a reference for developing Cd limits and standards for other medicine food homology plants.     

Adsorption,Bioavailability, and Toxicity of Cadmium to Soil Microorganisms

The influence of adsorption on cadmium toxicity to soil microorganisms in soils was quantified as a function of solution and sorbent characteristics. The influence of adsorption on cadmium toxicity to soil microorganisms was assessed indirectly through the relative change in microbial hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate (FDA) as a function of total Cd concentration and sorbent characteristics. The sequence of relative percentage of FDA hydrolysis was reference smectite (RS) > untreated Vertisol (UV) > dithionate-citrate-bicarbonate (DCB)-treated Vertisol (DV) > H₂O₂-treated Vertisol (HV) in suspensions containing the same total Cd concentrations. The correlation between the percentage of FDA hydrolysis and activity of Cd²⁺ _(aq) illustrates that RS has a higher capacity of Cd adsorption. The microbial activity of RS was higher and the toxicity was lower than that of other soil samples. The HV had lower capacity of Cd adsorption so that its FDA hydrolysis was low and the Cd toxicity was high.     

镉在水生植物中的富集与亚细胞分布及其化学形态特征

以7种水生植物(长苞香蒲、水生美人蕉、黑藻、粉绿狐尾藻、花叶芦竹、香根鸢尾、水葫芦)为研究材料,构建生物塘系统,通过差速离心法和五步提取法,提取植物各亚细胞组分和不同化学形态的镉,并用原子吸收分光光度法测定镉含量,分析镉在水生植物体中富集特征,揭示植物对镉的耐性机制。结果表明:(1)水生植物根中镉富集量大于茎和叶;3种类型水生植物富集镉能力表现为沉水植物(粉绿狐尾藻、黑藻)浮水植物(水葫芦)挺水植物(长苞香蒲、水生美人蕉、花叶芦竹、香根鸢尾)。(2)镉在黑藻、水葫芦和花叶芦竹中的亚细胞分布量均呈现为细胞壁可溶组分原生质体线粒体,所占比例分别为37.16%~50.86%、20.69%~31.21%、10.81%~23.83%、8.15%~19.83%。(3)赋存化学形态表现为以氯化钠提取态、醋酸提取态为主,所占比例分别为29.37%~56.27%和15.06%~36.19%。研究发现,粉绿狐尾藻、水葫芦、水生美人蕉和花叶芦竹4种植物为富集镉较好的植物,而黑藻、香根鸢尾和长苞香蒲3种植物的镉富集能力相对较弱;镉主要以果胶酸盐、蛋白质结合态或吸附态存在于植物根的细胞壁和液泡中,以减弱镉对根细胞器和植物地上部分的毒害。     

Cd、Zn及其交互作用对互花米草中重金属的积累、亚细胞分布及化学形态的影响

通过盆栽试验,研究了Cd、Zn及其交互作用下互花米草中Cd、Zn的含量及积累量,并分析了Cd、Zn在互花米草中的亚细胞分布及化学形态。结果表明：Cd-Zn处理组互花米草地上部及根部Cd含量显著高于Cd处理组;Cd-Zn处理组根部Zn含量显著低于Zn处理组,但地上部差异不显著,说明Zn促进Cd的吸收,Cd抑制Zn的吸收。Cd-Zn处理组互花米草地上部Cd积累量显著高于Cd处理组,但是根部Cd积累量却显著低于Cd处理组;Zn处理组地上部及根部Zn积累量均显著高于对照组及Cd-Zn处理组。Cd单因素胁迫下,Cd主要分布在细胞壁,Cd-Zn交互作用下,Cd在胞液中的分配比例高于其他细胞组分;Zn单因素及Cd-Zn交互作用下,Zn在胞液中的分配比例均较高,总的分配比例呈现以下趋势：胞液>细胞壁>细胞器,说明Zn的添加影响了Cd的亚细胞分布,Cd的出现对Zn在互花米草细胞中的分布影响不明显。Cd和Zn在互花米草叶中主要以氯化钠提取态存在,表明互花米草中Cd和Zn多以果胶酸盐结合态或蛋白质结合态存在。     

Inhibitory Effect of <i>N</i>, <i>N</i>-Dimethylhexadecylamine on the Growth of White-Rot Fungus <i>Trametes versicolor</i> (L.) in Wood

Wood is an organic material that is a source of carbon of organisms called Wood-decay fungi, and to preserve the wood, various toxic compounds to man and the environment have been used. To analyze the effect of N,N-Dimethylhexadecylamine (DMHDA) on wood attacked by the rotting fungus Trametes versicolor L. We used an in vitro system to expose the fungus T. versicolor to different concentrations of the DMHDA (50, 150 and 450 μM). We quantified the diameter of mycelial growth and laccase activity, also, under these experimental conditions we studied morphological details of the organisms using different scanning equipment including scanning electron microscopy. The growth of T. versicolor exposed to DMHDA for 60 days, showed a concentration-dependent dose behavior, also, the electron microscopy analysis revealed that the morphology and mycelial density was affected by the DMHDA, showing a formation of atypical morphological and thickener folds. Finally, the pieces of wood treated with DMHDA and exposed to the fungus had a lower mass loss, after a period of 60 days of exposure, the values obtained were 0.7, 1.0 and 0.5 g of mass lost for the control, LoC and LoDMHDA treatments respectively. Wood-rot fungi have represented economic losses worldwide, the strategies used have been supported by toxic compounds for the environment. The DMHDA both in the Petri dish system and as a wood preservative was shown to significantly inhibit the growth of T. versicolor.     

The Application of Fertilizer and AMF Promotes Growth and Reduces the Cadmium and Lead Contents of Ryegrass (<i>Lolium multiflorum</i> L.) in a Copper Mining Area

Heavy metal-polluted soil was collected from the Pulang copper mine in Shangri-La City, Yunnan Province, Southwest China. The effects of fertilizer (organic and inorganic) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) growth, root morphology, mineral nutrition and cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) contents were investigated by pot experiments. The results showed that both fertilizer and AMF significantly ameliorated the root morphology and mineral nutrition, reduced the Cd and Pb contents, and promoted the growth of ryegrass. Among all treatments, the combined application of organic–inorganic compound fertilizer with AMF had the highest effect, resulting in increases in root length, surface area and branch number by 2.3, 1.1, and 3.9 times, respectively; an 88% increase in plant biomass; a nitrogen content increase of 2.3 and 1.2 times, and phosphorus content increase of 62% and 68% in shoots and roots, respectively was also recorded as well as decreases in Cd content by 34% and 62% and Pb content by 47% and 34% in shoots and roots, respectively. Two-factor analysis showed that both fertilizer and AMF significantly promoted ryegrass growth (plant height, biomass, chlorophyll content, root length, nitrogen and phosphorus content) and reduced the Cd and Pb contents in roots, and there was a synergistic effect between them. Moreover, the nitrogen and phosphorus contents were very significantly positively correlated with the shoot and root biomasses but very significantly negatively correlated with the Cd and Pb contents of ryegrass. Thus, the application of fertilizer and AMF synergistically improved ryegrass growth on polluted soils in the copper mining area.     

Colonization Characteristics and Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in the Rhizosphere of <i>Iris lactea</i> in Songnen Saline-alkaline Grassland

To understand arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi resources and develop AM fungal species in ornamental plants with saline-alkaline tolerances, Iris lactea, which grows in the Songnen saline-alkaline grassland with a high ornamental value, was selected as the experimental material, and the colonization characteristics of its roots and the AM fungal diversity in its rhizosphere were explored. The results of the observations and calculations of mycorrhizae from ten different samples showed that AM fungi colonized the roots of I. lactea and formed Arum-type mycorrhizal structures. There was a significant correlation between soil spore density and pH value, while the colonization rate showed a fluctuating trend with increasing pH values. The observed colonization intensities were of Levels II (1%–10%) or III (11%–50%), and the vesicle abundances were of grades A₂ or A₃ among different sites. AM fungi produced a large number of mycelia and vesicles in the roots of I. lactea after colonization. Thirty-seven species belonging to 15 genera of AM fungi were isolated from the rhizosphere of I. lactea and identified by morphological identification. Funneliformis and Glomus were the dominant genera, accounting for 21.79% and 20.85% of the total number, respectively. F. mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices were isolated in all samples with importance values of 58.62 and 51.19, respectively. These results are expected to provide a theoretical basis for the analysis of the salt tolerance mechanism of I. lactea and for the discovery, exploration and further screening of AM fungal resources with salinity tolerances in saline-alkaline soils.     

Species Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in the Rhizosphere of <i>Hevea brasiliensis</i> in Hainan Island,China

Hevea brasiliensis is one of the important economic trees with a great economic value for natural rubber production. Symbiosis between roots of H. brasiliensis and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is widely recognized, and can provide a range of benefits for both of them. Hainan Island harbors is one of the largest plantations of H. brasiliensis in China, whereas the information regarding the diversity of AMF in the rhizosphere of H. brasiliensis on this island is scarce. The diversity of AMF species in the rhizosphere of rubber tree plantations in Hainan was investigated in this study. A total of 72 soil samples from the rhizosphere of H. brasiliensis RY7-33-97 were collected. These included 48 samples from plantations in 11 cities or counties that had been planted for 15–25 years, and 24 samples from a demonstrating plantation site of the China National Rubber Tree Germplasm Repository representing plantations with tree plantation ages from one to 40 year-old. Collectively, a total of 68 morphotypes of AMF, belonging to the genera of Archaeospora (1), Glomus (43), Acaulospora (18), Entrophospora (3), Scutellospora (2), and Gigaspora (1) were isolated and identified, as per morphological characteristics of spores presented in the collected soil samples. Glomus (Frequency, F = 100%) and Acaulospora (F = 100%) were the predominant genera, and A. mellea (F = 63.9%) and A. scrobiculata (F = 63.9%) were the predominant species. AMF species differed significantly among collected sites in spore density (SD, 290.7–2,186.7 spores per 100 g dry soil), species richness (SR, 4.3–12.3), and Shannon-Weiner index of diversity (H, 1.24–2.24). SD was negatively correlated with available phosphorus level in the soil; SR was positively correlated with soil total phosphorus content; and H was positively correlated with levels of soil organic matter and total phosphorus. Similarly, SD, SR, and H were also correlated with H. brasiliensis plantation age, and an increasing trend was observed up to 40 years. These results suggest that the AMF community was complex and ubiquitous in the island plantation ecosystems of H. brasiliensis, with high species abundance and diversity. Soil factors and plantation age dramatically affected AMF diversity at species level.     

Phytosulfokine-α Promotes Root Growth by Repressing Expression of <i>Pectin Methylesterase Inhibitor</i> (<i>PMEI</i>) Genes in <i>Medicago truncatula</i>

Phytosulfokine-α (PSK-α), a sulfated pentapeptide with the sequence YIYTQ, is encoded by a small precursor gene family in Arabidopsis. PSK-α regulates multiple growth and developmental processes as a novel peptide hormone. Despite its importance, functions of PSK-α in M. truncatula growth remains unknown. In this study, we identified five genes to encode PSK-α precursors in M. truncatula. All of these precursors possess conserved PSK-α signature motif. Expression pattern analysis of these MtPSK genes revealed that each gene was expressed in a tissue-specific or ubiquitous pattern and three of them were remarkably expressed in root. Treatment of M. truncatula seedlings with synthetic PSK- α peptide significantly promoted root elongation. In addition, expression analysis of downstream genes by RNA-seq and qRT-PCR assays suggested that PSK-α signaling might regulate cell wall structure via PMEI-PME module to promote root cell growth. Taken together, our results shed light on the mechanism by which PSK-α promotes root growth in M. truncatula, providing a new resource for improvement of root growth in agriculture.     

Organic Materials Could Improve the Phytoremediation Efficiency of Soil Potentially Hazardous Metal by <i>Sedum alfredii</i> Hance

Soil potentially hazardous metal (PHM) is continually attracting public attention worldwide, due to its highly toxic properties and potentially huge damage to human being through food chain. Phytoremediation is an effective and eco-friendly way in remediation technology. A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different organic materials (biogas residue (BR), mushroom residue (MR), and bamboo-shoot shell (BS)) application on phytoremediation of two PHM-contaminated soils (Fuyang soil as ‘heavily-polluted soil’ and Wenzhou soil as ‘moderately-polluted soil’, respectively) by Sedum alfrecdii Hance. The results indicated: 1) for moderately-polluted soil, the 5% BR treatment had the strongest activation to Cu and Zn, for heavily-polluted soil, 1% BS treatment had the highest activation effect for Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd. 2) the above-ground biomass of Sedum alfredii Hance increased with the addition rate of organic materials. 3) for Cd uptake of Sedum alfredii Hance in moderately-polluted soil, only 1% BS treatment had a better accumulation effect, compared to the control, for Zn element, MR treatments were weaker than the control, while other treatments were better than the control, of which 5% BR, 1% BS and 5% BS accumulated more Zn element by 39.6%, 32.6% and 23.8%, respectively; in heavily-polluted soil, the treatments of 5% BS, 1% BR and 5% BR accumulated more Cd than the control by 12.9%, 12.8% and 6.2%, respectively, the treatments with organic materials addition promoted Zn accumulation in shoots of Sedum alfredii Hance, and the best treatment was 5% BS. Therefore, an appropriate application rate of BS and BR could improve the remediation efficiency for Zn/Cd contaminated soils by Sedum alfredii Hance.     

Analysis of Subcellular Localization and Pathogenicity of <i>Plum Bark Necrosis Stem-Pitting Associated Virus</i> Protein P6

Infection of plum bark necrosis stem pitting associated virus (PBNSPaV) has been reported in many Prunus species in several countries, causing significant economic losses. The very small proteins encoded by plant viruses are often overlooked due to their short sequences and uncertain significance. However, numerous studies have indicated that they might play important roles in the pathogenesis of virus infection. The role of small hydrophobic protein P6, encoded by the open reading frame 2 of PBNSPaV, has not been well explored. In this study, we amplified the P6 fragment from a PBNSPaV isolate by RT-PCR using specific primers and found that it is 174 bp long and encodes a protein of approximately 6.3 kD with a transmembrane domain. Subcellular localization analysis of P6 proteins in tobacco leaves showed that P6 localizes to the cytomembrane and nuclear membrane. To further clarify the pathogenicity of P6 proteins, we constructed a PVX-P6 expression vector by inserting the p6 fragment into a potato virus X (PVX)-based vector and transformed it into Agrobacterium tumefaciens GV3101. Infiltration of Nicotiana benthamiana (N. benthamiana) with the PVX vector-transformed A. tumefaciens led to slight mosaic symptoms at 14 days of post-inoculation. Meanwhile, infiltration with the PVX-P6 vector-transformed A. tumefaciens resulted in no significant symptoms. These results demonstrated that heterologous expression of P6 in N. benthamiana could not enhance the pathogenicity of PVX. Our study indicates that P6 may not be a potential pathogenic factor associate with the causing of symptoms, and the mode of action of PBNSPaV-P6 protein remains to be further studied.     

Ameliorative Role of Pre-Sowing Proline Treatment in <i>Coriandrum sativum</i> L. Seedlings under Mercury Toxicity

Heavy metal toxicity is one of the major ecosystem concerns globally in present time and is also responsible for significant threat to agronomic crops. The current work was conducted to investigate the possible ameliorative role of proline in Coriandrum sativum L. seedlings treated with mercury (Hg). The seedlings were exposed to different concentrations of Hg (0, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mM) for 20 days. The effects of pre-sowing treatment with proline were studied on C. sativum seedlings in terms of pigment (chlorophylls, carotenoids and anthocyanins), malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant compound (glutathione, total phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid) and osmolytes (proline, glycine betaine). Additionally, activities of antioxidant enzymes, namely catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) were also studied. A strong decline of photosynthetic pigment concentrations was observed in leaves of C. sativum under Hg toxicity. Treatment of seeds with proline reduced the loss of photosynthetic pigments, counteract Hg-triggered oxidative stress, likely preserving the functionality of antioxidant apparatus under Hg stress. The increment of total polyphenols and glycine betaine also contributed in ameliorating Hg toxicity, suggesting the use of exogenous proline as a potential method to enhance the plant tolerance against heavy metal stress.     

Differential Effects of Ammonium and Nitrate on Growth Performance of <i>Glechoma longituba</i> under Heterogeneous Cd Stress

Water, minerals, nutrients, etc., can be shared by physiological integration among inter-connected ramets of clonal plants. Nitrogen plays an important role in alleviating cadmium (Cd) stress for clonal plants. But how different forms of nitrogen affect growth performance of clonal plants subjected to heterogeneous Cd stress still remains poorly understood. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the differential effects of ammonium and nitrate on growth performance of Glechoma longituba under heterogeneous Cd stress. In the experiment, parent ramets of Glechoma longituba clonal fragments were respectively supplied with modified Hoagland solution containing 7.5 mM ammonium, 7.5 mM nitrate or the same volume of nutrient solution without nitrogen. Cd solution with different concentrations (0, 0.1 or 2.0 mM) was applied to offspring ramets of the clonal fragments. Compared with control (N-free), nitrogen addition to parent ramets, especially ammonium, significantly improved antioxidant capacity [glutathione (GSH), proline (Pro), peroxidase (POD,) superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)], PSII activity [maximum quantum yield of PSII (F_v/F_m) and effective quantum yield of PSII (ΦPSII)], chlorophyll content and biomass accumulation of the offspring ramets suffering from Cd stress. In addition, negative effects of nitrate on growth performance of whole clonal fragments were observed under Cd stress with high concentration (2.0 mM). Transportation or sharing of nitrogen, especially ammonium, can improve growth performance of clonal plants under heterogeneous Cd stress. The experiment provides insight into transmission mechanism of nitrogen among ramets of clonal plants suffering from heterogeneous nutrient supply. Physiological integration might be an important ecological strategy for clonal plants adapting to heterogeneous environment stress conditions.