模拟氮沉降对杂草生长和氮吸收的影响

以杂草早熟禾、黑麦草、野燕麦、天蓝苜蓿、白车轴草、北美车前、婆婆纳、无芒稗、牛筋草和刺苋为试验材料,以4.0g·m^-2·yr^-1的N输入为模拟氮沉降浓度,研究了不同杂草功能类群对模拟氮沉降的响应.结果表明,模拟氮沉降处理下,杂草的生物量(总生物量、地上部分生物量、根生物量)呈增加趋势,但不同功能类群对氮增加的响应明显不同,C₄禾本科、C₃豆科及C₃禾本科植物的生物量受到氮沉降的显著促进,但C₃非禾本科和C₄非禾本科植物的生物量则受氮沉降的影响不显著;不同功能类群的根冠比、植株含氮及植株吸收氮的总量对模拟氮沉降的响应无明显规律,但物种间差异显著.氮沉降提高野燕麦和北美车前的生物量的根冠比,但对其他生物种类没有显著影响.没有发现氮沉降对植物体内的含氮量有显著的影响,但氮沉降却显著地提高了除刺苋、早熟禾及婆婆纳之外的所有杂草物种对N的摄收.由于物种对氮沉降的响应不同,未来氮沉降的增加将加速杂草群落组成的变化.     

玉米与番茄间作对土壤镉吸收的影响

为探究间作对作物吸收重金属镉(Cadmium,Cd)的影响,以Cd相对高积累番茄(中蔬4号)和相对低积累玉米(金珠蜜甜玉米)为试验材料,在Cd 3.70 mg/kg的污染水平下以单作、限制性间作、间作3种种植方式进行了盆栽试验,研究间作后作物各部位Cd积累差异及其形成原因。结果表明,番茄和玉米间作和限制性间作所产番茄根、茎、叶中Cd含量均有所提高(叶中Cd含量从13.52mg/kg分别升高至24.94mg/kg和27.30mg/kg);与未种植作物的对照组相比,非单作条件下番茄根围土壤的pH有所下降,酸性磷酸酶活性上升,而脲酶活性下降,且间作组变化幅度较大;间作还能改变作物根围微生物种群结构,提高对重金属吸收有促进作用的微生物种群的丰度,最终实现Cd高积累番茄对Cd的吸收能力提高。研究结果可为利用间作模式修复土壤重金属污染和保障食品安全提供参考。     

嫁接与施氮对甜瓜产量和氮素吸收、利用的影响

通过裂区设计田间试验,主区为2种栽培方式(嫁接栽培和自根栽培),副区为4个施氮水平(0、120、240、360 kg N·hm^-2),研究了栽培方式和施氮量对甜瓜产量和品质、氮素运移和分配,以及氮素利用率的影响.结果表明: 嫁接栽培的甜瓜商品瓜产量较自根甜瓜提高了7.3%,可溶性固形物含量降低了0.16%～3.28%;生长前期嫁接栽培甜瓜氮素累积量较自根栽培低,结果后嫁接栽培氮素累积量显著升高,收获时植株氮素累积量较自根栽培增加了5.2%,果实中的氮素累积量提高了10.3%;嫁接栽培植株氮素向果实的转移量较自根栽培提高了20.9%,嫁接栽培果实中的氮素分配率在80%以上,自根栽培的分配率在80%以下;在同一施氮水平下,嫁接栽培的甜瓜氮素吸收利用率较自根栽培提高了1.3%～4.2%,氮素农学效率提高了2.73～5.56 kg·kg^-1,氮素生理利用率提高了7.39～16.18 kg·kg^-1;从商品瓜产量、氮素吸收量和氮素利用率综合考虑,施氮量240 kg·hm^-2为本区域嫁接甜瓜较适宜的氮素用量.     

铜、镉对三种豆科植物生长及氮磷钾含量的影响

为了解豆科植物在Cu、Cd单一污染土壤中的生长状况及对土壤养分的吸收利用特点,采用盆栽实验研究了Cu~(2+)、Cd~(2+)单一污染下紫花苜蓿、红三叶、沙打旺3种豆科植物的株高、根长、生物量和叶、茎部N、P、K、Cu和Cd含量的变化情况.Cu~(2+)、Cd~(2+)处理浓度分别为:0、400、800、1200 mg·kg~(-1)和0、1、10、20 mg·kg~(-1).结果表明,3种豆科植物对Cu和Cd均有较强的吸收能力,除红三叶叶片中Cu含量外,3种豆科植物根、茎、叶中Cd和Cu的含量均与土壤中重金属添加量呈显著正相关.3种豆科植物在严重Cd~(2+)污染的土壤中均能正常生长.在Cu~(2+)添加量≤1200 mg·kg~(-1)时,红三叶能正常生长,而紫花苜蓿的生长则受到显著抑制作用,沙打旺在Cu~(2+)添加量≥800 mg·kg~(-1)时生长受到抑制.土壤Cu~(2+)添加量≤1200 mg·kg~(-1)时,能促进紫花苜蓿对N、P、K的吸收;Cu~(2+)添加量≤800 mg·kg~(-1)时,对红三叶N、P、K含量没有明显影响;Cu~(2+)添加量≤400 mg·kg~(-1)时,可提高沙打旺中N、P、K含量,但当Cu~(2+)添加量≥800 mg·kg~(-1)时则显著降低.土壤Cd~(2+)添加量≤20 mg·kg~(-1)时,对紫花苜蓿和红三叶茎叶以及沙打旺茎部的N、P、K含量有促进作用,但对沙打旺叶片的N、P、K含量起抑制作用.总体来看,3种豆科植物对Cu~(2+)和Cd~(2+)均有一定的耐性,红三叶对Cu~(2+)的耐性较好,紫花苜蓿对Cd~(2+)的耐性较好.

Abstract：

Aimed to understand the growth status and nutrient uptake of leguminous plants under soil copper-or cadmium contamination, a pot experiment with Medicago sativa, Trifolium pre-tense, and Astragalus adsurgens was conducted, with their plant height, root length, plant bio-mass, and N, P, K, Cu and Cd contents in leaf and stem measured. The application amounts of Cu~(2+) and Cd~(2+) were 0,400, 800, and 1200 mg·kg~(-1), and 0, 1, 10, and 20 mg·kg~(-1), re-spectively. All the test three leguminous plants had strong capability of absorbing Cu and Cd.The Cu and Cd contents in their roots, stems, and leaves, except the Cu content in T. Pratease leaf, were significantly positively correlated with the application amounts of Cu~(2+) and Cd~(2+). Un-der the application of Cd~(2+), all the three leguminous plants grew normally. When the application amount of Cu~(2+) was≤1200 mg·kgM-1, T. Pratense grew normally, while the growth of M. Sativa was significantly inhibited. The growth of A. Adsurgens was inhibited when the application amount of Cu~(2+) was≥800 mg·kg~(-1). An apphcation amount of≤1200 mg·kg~(-1) of Cu~(2+) pro-moted the N, P and K absorption of M. Sativa, but applying≤800 mg·kg~(-1) of Cu~(2+) had little effects on the N, P and K absorption of T. Pretense. The N, P and K contents of A. Adsurgens in-creased when the application amount of Cu~(2+) was ≤400 mg·kg~(-1), but decreased significantly when the Cu~(2+) application amount was≥800 mg·kg~(-1). When the application amount of Cd~(2+)was≤20 mg·kg~(-1) , the N, P and K contents in M. Sativa and T. Pratense stems and leaves and in A. Adsurgens stem increased, while those in A. Adsurgens leaf decreased. As a whole, the three leguminous plants all had certain tolerance to Cu~(2+) and Cd~(2+) stresses, especially T. Prat-ease to Cu~(2+) and M. Sativa to Cd~(2+).     

Effects of nitrogen uptake on rice yield in northern Australia

Summary The yield responses to nitrogen uptake are described for water-sown IR8 rice grown in the wet season in northern Australia. Various patterns of nitrogen uptake were achieved by different times and amounts of nitrogen application in the range 0 to 300 kg per ha. Grain yields increased with nitrogen uptake at flowering stage up to approximately 120 kg per ha but decreased when uptake exceeded this level. The grain yield increase was associated mainly with increased panicle production, while grain yield decrease was associated with a reduction in the weight of ripened grain per panicle. Nitrogen concentration in grain over all experiments increased linearly with nitrogen uptake at flowering, but grain yield was reduced when grain nitrogen exceeded approximately 1.5 per cent. High nitrogen uptake at flowering was presumed to lead to depletion of carbohydrate reserves during the critical grain-ripening phase.     

镉对满江红（Azolla imbricata）-鱼腥藻（Anabaena azollae）共生体氮代谢的影响

在实验室条件下,研究了不同浓度(0、0.01、0.05、0.1、0.5mg/L)的Cd对满江红-鱼腥藻共生体异型胞频率,固氮酶、谷氨酰氨合成酶活性以及铵态氮、游离氨基酸、可溶性蛋白、总氮含量的影响.结果表明,在整个实验期间,0.01mg/L Cd处理对上述指标均没产生显著影响,说明满江红-鱼腥藻共生体对Cd具有较强的耐性.当培养液中Cd浓度≥0.05mg/L时,随溶液中Cd浓度的增加和处理时间的推移,异型胞频率、固氮酶活性、谷氨酰氨合成酶活性、可溶性蛋白含量和总氮含量逐渐下降,而铵态氮含量在处理初期显著降低,随后迅速增加,游离氨基酸含量则逐渐增加.研究结果表明高浓度的Cd处理导致满江红-鱼腥藻共生体氮代谢的紊乱,最终造成氮素积累量的下降.     

水分亏缺和施氮对冬小麦生长及氮素吸收的影响

利用管栽试验研究了不同生育期,水分亏缺和施氮对冬小麦生长及氮素吸收的影响.结果表明：任何生育期水分亏缺都会影响冬小麦的株高、叶面积、干物质累积及对氮素的吸收.冬小麦对水分亏缺的敏感期为拔节期,其次为开花期、灌浆期和苗期.苗期干旱后复水对后期生长有显著的补偿效应,开花期适度干旱后复水对生物量形成和氮素吸收有一定的补偿作用,拔节期干旱对小麦的生长影响明显.相同氮肥处理下, 与不亏水处理比较, 苗期水分亏缺、拔节期水分亏缺、开花期水分亏缺、灌浆期水分亏缺的根系氮素积累量分别平均降低25.82%、55.68%、46.14%和16.34%,地上部氮素积累量分别平均降低33.37%、51.71%、27.01%和2.60%.在相同水分处理下冬小麦含氮量、累积吸收氮量都表现为高氮处理（0.3 g N·kg^-1FM）>中氮处理（0.2 g N·kg^-1FM）>低氮处理（0.1 g N·kg^-1FM）.水分逆境条件下施用氮肥对冬小麦植株生长和干物质累积及氮吸收具有明显的调节效应.     

The uptake and partitioning of cadmium in two cultivars of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

The uptake and distribution of Cd in potatoes over the course of a growing season was investigated in two cultivars of potatoes that differed in tuber Cd concentration. Plants were grown in soil with supplemental Cd. The concentrations of Cd in different tissues varied greatly in the order roots>shoots> tubers. After the initiation of tuber bulking, shoot growth ceased and the increase in total plant Cd was mostly due to accumulation in the tubers. The constancy of the Cd concentration in shoots suggested that import of Cd via the xylem must be matched by export in the phloem, which implied that Cd must have significant phloem mobility. It was found that the differences in tuber Cd between cultivars Wilwash and Kennebec were not due to differences in total uptake or growth, but to differences in Cd partitioning within the plant. This partitioning was specific to Cd and was not observed for a range of nutrient elements. Most of the differences in tuber Cd concentration between the cultivars could be accounted for by a 3-fold higher retention of Cd in the roots of cv. Wilwash. The involvement of root sequestration, and xylem and phloem pathways in the loading of Cd into tubers is considered.     

Effect of nitrogen form and root-zone pH on growth and nitrogen uptake of tea (Camellia sinensis) plants

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Tea (Camellia sinensis) is considered to be acid tolerant and prefers ammonium nutrition, but the interaction between root zone acidity and N form is not properly understood. The present study was performed to characterize their interaction with respect to growth and mineral nutrition. METHODS: Tea plants were hydroponically cultured with NH4+, NO3- and NH(4+) + NO3-, at pH 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0, which were maintained by pH stat systems. KEY RESULTS: Plants supplied with NO3- showed yellowish leaves resembling nitrogen deficiency and grew much slower than those receiving NH4+ or NH(4+) + NO3- irrespective of root-zone pH. Absorption of NH4+ was 2- to 3.4-fold faster than NO3- when supplied separately, and 6- to 16-fold faster when supplied simultaneously. Nitrate-grown plants had significantly reduced glutamine synthetase activity, and lower concentrations of total N, free amino acids and glucose in the roots, but higher concentrations of cations and carboxylates (mainly oxalate) than those grown with NH4+ or NH(4+) + NO3-. Biomass production was largest at pH 5.0 regardless of N form, and was drastically reduced by a combination of high root-zone pH and NO3-. Low root-zone pH reduced root growth only in NO(3-)-fed plants. Absorption of N followed a similar pattern as root-zone pH changed, showing highest uptake rates at pH 5.0. The concentrations of total N, free amino acids, sugars and the activity of GS were generally not influenced by pH, whereas the concentrations of cations and carboxylates were generally increased with increasing root-zone pH. CONCLUSIONS: Tea plants are well-adapted to NH(4+)-rich environments by exhibiting a high capacity for NH4+ assimilation in their roots, reflected in strongly increased key enzyme activities and improved carbohydrate status. The poor plant growth with NO3- was largely associated with inefficient absorption of this N source. Decreased growth caused by inappropriate external pH corresponded well with the declining absorption of nitrogen.     

间作对马铃薯种植土壤硝化作用和硝态氮供应的影响

土壤硝态氮供应对满足作物氮素需求至关重要,但间作如何影响土壤硝态氮供应及其作用机制尚不清楚。本研究基于4个氮水平(N₀, 0 kg·hm^-2; N₁, 62.5 kg·hm^-2; N₂, 125 kg·hm^-2; N₃, 187.5 kg·hm^-2)的马铃薯单作、马铃薯与玉米间作小区试验,分析土壤硝态氮含量与强度、硝化势和氨氧化功能基因丰度的差异,探讨间作影响土壤硝态氮供应和氮调控的机理。结果表明: 土壤硝态氮含量和强度随施氮量增加而升高,但同一施氮水平下间作均低于单作。施氮提高了土壤硝化势,且单作的响应高于间作。土壤中氨氧化细菌(AOB)的amoA基因丰度大于氨氧化古菌(AOA),二者在间作时均随施氮量增加呈现先增加后降低的趋势;相同施氮量下,间作的AOA和AOB基因丰度(除N₂外)均低于单作。相关分析、回归分析和主成分分析显示,马铃薯间作后,土壤AOB、AOA的amoA基因丰度下降,硝化势减弱,导致土壤硝态氮含量和强度降低。因此,间作导致土壤硝态氮供应降低与土壤氮转化的微生物过程有关,间作条件下的马铃薯种植应注意保障土壤氮素供应。     

种植密度和施氮水平对小麦吸收利用土壤氮素的影响

2011-2013小麦季,在大田条件下设置2个氮肥水平(180和240kgN· hm-2)和3个种植密度(135、270和405万·hm-2),并将15N-尿素分别标记在20、60和100 cm土层处,研究种植密度-施氮互作对小麦吸收、利用土壤氮素及硝态氮残留量的影响.结果表明:种植密度从135万·hm-2增加至405万·hm-2,小麦在20、60和100 cm土层的15N吸收量分别增加1.86、2.28和2.51 kg·hm-2,地上部氮素积累量和吸收效率分别提高12.6％和12.6％,氮素利用效率降低5.4％;施氮量由240 kg N·hm-2降至180 kg N·hm-2,小麦在20、60 cm土层的15N吸收量分别降低4.11和1.21 kg·hm-2,在100 cm土层的15N吸收量增加1.02 kg·hm-2,地上部氮素积累量平均降低13.5％,氮素吸收效率和利用效率分别提高9.4％和12.2％.施氮180kg N·hm-2+种植密度为405万·hm-2处理与施氮240 kg N·hm-2+种植密度为270或405万·hm-2处理相比,其籽粒产量无显著差异,深层土壤氮素的吸收量显著提高,氮素吸收效率和利用效率分别提高13.4％和11.9％,O～ 200 cm土层的硝态氮积累量及100～ 200 cm土层硝态氮分布比例降低.在适当降低氮肥用量条件下,通过增加种植密度可以促进小麦吸收深层土壤氮素,减少土壤氮素残留,并保持较高的产量水平.     

Cyclic variations in nitrogen uptake rate of soybean plants: effects of pH and mixed nitrogen sources.

To determine if the daily pattern of NO3- and NH4+ uptake is affected by acidity or NO3- : NH4+ ratio of the nutrient solution, non-nodulated soybean plants (Glycine max) were exposed for 21 days to replenished, complete nutrient solutions at pH 6.0, 5.5, 5.0, and 4.5 which contained either 1.0 mM NH4+, 1.0 mM NO3- [correction of NO3+], 0.67 mM NH4+ plus 0.33 mM NO3- (2:1 NH4+ : NO3-) [correction of (2:1 NH3+ : NO4-)], or 0.33 mM NH4+ plus 0.67 mM NO3- (1:2 NH4+ : NO3-). Net uptake rates of NH4+ and NO3- were measured daily by ion chromatography as depletion from the replenished solutions. When NH4+ and NO3- were supplied together, cumulative uptake of total nitrogen was not affected by pH or solution NH4+ : NO3- ratio. The cumulative proportion of nitrogen absorbed as NH4+ decreased with increasing acidity; however, the proportional uptake of NH4+ and NO3- was not constant, but varied day-to-day. This day-to-day variation in relative proportions of NH4+ and NO3- absorbed when NH4+ : NO3- ratio and pH of solution were constant indicates that the regulatory mechanism is not directly competitive. Regardless of the effect of pH on cumulative uptake of NH4+, the specific nitrogen uptake rates from mixed and from individual NH4+ and NO3- sources oscillated between maxima and minima at each pH with average periodicities similar to the expected interval of leaf emergence.     

Effects of perennial neighbors and nitrogen pulses on growth and nitrogen uptake by Bromus tectorum

An experiment was conducted to determine if growth and biomass responsesof the annual grass Bromus tectorum are affected by themagnitude and timing of nitrogen (N) pulses and if these responses areinfluenced by different perennial neighbor species. Nitrogen(NH₄:NO₃) was applied in three pulse treatments of varyinginterpulse length (3-d, 9-d, or 21-d between N additions). The total amount of Nadded was the same among treatments; hence, both the frequency and magnitude ofN pulses varied (i.e., the longer the interpulse period,the greater the amount of N added for a single pulse).Bromus showed little response to the different N-pulsetreatments. The only characteristic that varied among pulse treatments wasspecific leaf area (SLA), which was significantly greater whenBromus was grown under the 21-d N pulse than when grownunder the 3-d or 9-d N pulses. Bromus height, leaf andtiller numbers, leaf area and aboveground biomass were not affected by theN-pulse treatments nor were tissue-N contents and concentrations. However,Bromus production and tissue-N were significantly differentwhen Bromus was grown with different perennial neighborspecies. Tiller production, aboveground biomass, and seed numbers ofBromus were lowest when the perennial neighbor was thetussock grass Agropyron desertorum, intermediate when theneighbor was the evergreen shrub Artemisia tridentata, andgreatest when the neighbor was the deciduous shrub Chrysothamnusnauseosus. N contents of Bromus leaves were alsolowest when the neighbor was Agropyron. In contrast, root Nuptake capacities were greatest for Agropyron-Bromus rootmixes and lowest for Chrysothamnus-Bromus root mixes. Theseresults suggest that perennial neighbors affect growth, seed production, and Nuptake of Bromus to a greater extent than the timing andmagnitude of N pulses.     

氮素形态对树木养分吸收和生长的影响

由于NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N形态的差异,二者对树木养分吸收和生长发育的影响不同,树木常表现出对NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N的选择性吸收,树种对NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N吸收的偏好特性可能与生长地的土壤pH有关,来自于酸性土壤的树种通常具有喜NHON的特性,而来自于中性或碱性土壤的树种常表现出喜NO₃^--N的趋势,由于NH₄⁺-N和NO3^--N所带电荷的差异,通常NH₄⁺-N有利于阴离子的吸收,而NO3^--N则促进阳离子的吸收,在有些情况下,NH₄⁺-N会抑制NO₃^--N的吸收,但抑制的机制目前还不清楚,树木吸收NH₄⁺-N时,引起根际pH下降,相反吸收NO₃^--N时根际pH升高,根际pH变化可以改变土壤养分的有效性,并影响树木对养分的吸收利用,树木对NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N的生长反应不同,有些喜NH₄⁺-N的针叶树在供应NH₄⁺-N时生长较好,多数植物在同时供应NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N时生长量最大,有些树种在同时供应NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N时也表现出最高的生长,但对于树木类似的研究还少,这一现象对于树木是否具有普遍性还需要大量试验证明。     

施钾对甘薯氮素转移分配及氮代谢酶活性的影响

利用¹⁵N示踪技术,研究了施钾对甘薯发根结薯期、薯块膨大期地上和地下部氮素转移分配、光合特性及氮代谢酶活性的影响.结果表明: 在发根结薯期,施钾显著提高¹⁵N向地上部的转移分配,其中K₃(K₂O, 300 mg·kg^-1)处理与对照相比¹⁵N向叶片转移速率提高了76.2%,¹⁵N积累量提高了92.1%.在薯块膨大期,随施钾量增加地上部叶片¹⁵N总分配率由33.7%降低至24.4%,块根¹⁵N分配率由5.8%升高至17%,其中K₃处理块根¹⁵N积累量是对照的3倍.两个关键生长期硝酸还原酶、谷氨酸脱氢酶、谷氨酰胺合酶、谷氨酸合酶和净光合速率(P_n)均随施钾量的增加而提高.逐步回归分析表明,氮代谢酶活性和P_n是影响甘薯¹⁵N转移和分配的主要因素(R分别为0.965和0.942),通径分析表明,在发根结薯期主要通过促进硝酸还原酶和谷氨酸脱氢酶介导的氮素催化能力促进氮素向地上部分配;在薯块膨大期主要通过提高谷氨酰胺合酶/谷氨酸合酶循环介导的氮素同化能力促进氮素向地下部分配.     

Effects of cadmium on the co-ordination of nitrogen and carbon metabolism in bean seedlings

The effect of cadmium (Cd) was investigated on the in vitro activities of leaf and root enzymes involved in carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) metabolism of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Morgane). Cd induced a high increase in maximal extractable activity of glutamate dehydrogenase (NADH-GDH, EC 1.4.1.2). Cd promoted ammonium accumulation in leaves and roots, and a tight correlation was observed between ammonium amount and GDH activity. Changes in GDH activity appear to be mediated by the increase in ammonium levels by Cd treatment. Cd stress also enhanced the activities of phosphoenolypyruvate carboxylase (PEPC, EC 4.1.1.31) and NADP(+)-isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP(+)-ICDH, EC 1.1.1.42) in leaves while they were inhibited in roots. Immuno-titration, the PEPC sensitivity to malate and PEPC response to pH indicated that the increase in PEPC activity by Cd was due to de novo synthesis of the enzyme polypeptide and also modification of the phosphorylation state of the enzyme. Cd may have modified, via a modulation of PEPC activity, the C flow towards the amino acid biosynthesis. In leaves, Cd treatments markedly modified specific amino acid contents. Glutamate and proline significantly accumulated compared to those of the control plants. This study suggests that Cd stress is a part of the syndrome of metal toxicity, and that a readjustment of the co-ordination between N and C metabolism via the modulation of GDH, PEPC and ICDH activities avoided the accumulation of toxic levels of ammonium.     

Effects of silicon nutrition on cadmium uptake, growth and photosynthesis of rice plants exposed to low-level cadmium

The effect of silicon (Si) nutrition on low-level cadmium (Cd) toxicity symptoms was investigated in hydroponically-grown rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.). Silicon (0.0, 0.2, or 0.6 mM) was added when seedlings were 6 or 20 days old representing early (Si^E) or late (Si^L) Si treatment, respectively. Cadmium (0.0 or 2.5 μM) was added when seedlings were 6 days old. Measurements included generation of CO₂ and light response curves; chlorophyll fluorescence analysis; growth; and tissue-element content analysis. Our results showed that low-level Cd treatment generally inhibited growth and photosynthesis. However, the addition of 0.2 or 0.6 mM Si^E or Si^L significantly reduced root- and leaf-Cd content. Consequently, the addition of 0.6 mM Si^L significantly alleviated low-level Cd-induced inhibition of growth. Furthermore, 0.2 mM Si treatment significantly reduced g _s compared to 0.0 or 0.6 mM Si without inhibiting A, especially in +Cd plants, suggesting an increase in instantaneous water-use-efficiency (IWUE). Additionally, in +Cd plants, the addition of 0.6 mM Si^E significantly reduced F _o but increased F _v/F _m, while treatment with 0.2 mM Si^L significantly increased q_P, suggesting an increase in light-use-efficiency. We thus, propose that 0.6 mM Si^L treatment is required for the alleviation of low-level Cd-mediated growth inhibition. Furthermore, we suggest that 0.2 mM Si concentration might be close to the optimum requirement for maximum Si-induced increase in IWUE in rice plants, especially when under low-level Cd-stress. Our results also suggest that Si alleviates low-level Cd toxicity by improving light-use-efficiency.     

Characterization of cadmium uptake in Lactobacillus plantarum and isolation of cadmium and manganese uptake mutants.

Two different Cd(2+) uptake systems were identified in Lactobacillus plantarum. One is a high-affinity, high-velocity Mn(2+) uptake system which also takes up Cd(2+) and is induced by Mn(2+) starvation. The calculated K(m) and V(max) are 0.26 microM and 3.6 micromol g of dry cell(-1) min(-1), respectively. Unlike Mn(2+) uptake, which is facilitated by citrate and related tricarboxylic acids, Cd(2+) uptake is weakly inhibited by citrate. Cd(2+) and Mn(2+) are competitive inhibitors of each other, and the affinity of the system for Cd(2+) is higher than that for Mn(2+). The other Cd(2+) uptake system is expressed in Mn(2+)-sufficient cells, and no K(m) can be calculated for it because uptake is nonsaturable. Mn(2+) does not compete for transport through this system, nor does any other tested cation, i.e., Zn(2+), Cu(2+), Co(2+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Fe(2+), or Ni(2+). Both systems require energy, since uncouplers completely inhibit their activities. Two Mn(2+)-dependent L. plantarum mutants were isolated by chemical mutagenesis and ampicillin enrichment. They required more than 5,000 times as much Mn(2+) for growth as the parental strain. Mn(2+) starvation-induced Cd(2+) uptake in both mutants was less than 5% the wild-type rate. The low level of long-term Mn(2+) or Cd(2+) accumulation by the mutant strains also shows that the mutations eliminate the high-affinity Mn(2+) and Cd(2+) uptake system.