不同生长期茶树对土壤中铅的吸收及体内运移特性研究

选取江苏省宜兴市阳羡茶场的新、老两个茶园进行实地试验,分析了幼年期和成年期茶树各部位中铅含量的差异,以及茶树各部位铅含量与土壤铅含量的相关性;同时通过向茶园土壤进行投加铅处理后,分析土壤Pb污染条件下茶树吸收铅的特性以及不同生长期茶树对土壤中铅的富集和运移规律。结果表明,铅在茶树各部位含量分布的一般趋势为：侧茎>老叶>主茎>侧根>主根>嫩叶,侧茎比茶树其余部位中的铅含量高出3倍以上;对于不同生长期的茶树而言,幼年期茶树嫩叶的铅含量较成年期茶树嫩叶的高。同时茶树各部位铅含量与土壤铅含量的相关性分析的结果表明,茶树根与土壤中的铅含量相关性最为显著,其次为叶,再次为茎。当土壤受到铅污染后,茶树各部位的铅含量均有所增加,其中侧根和主根中铅的增加量最为明显;随着土壤铅污染时间的延续,茶树各部位中的铅逐渐向侧茎集聚,使侧茎的含铅量在茶树各地上部分中居于最高水平。     

不同管理模式对茶树碳氮磷含量及其生态化学计量比的影响

植物不同器官的碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量及其生态化学计量特征能够反映植物内部的养分分配与平衡关系。该研究以福建安溪3种不同管理模式的铁观音茶园为研究对象, 设置了常规管理模式下的茶园(M1)、间作套种模式下的茶园(M2)和现代技术管理模式下的茶园(M3) 3种样地, 分析茶树根、茎、叶器官的C、N、P含量及其化学计量学特征, 养分的变异特征与异速生长关系。结果表明: M2和M3管理模式下茶树根、茎、叶N、P含量均显著高于M1管理模式, C含量差异不明显; 茶树根、茎、叶C:N、C:P、N:P均表现为M1 > M2 > M3。茶树不同器官C、N、P含量差异较大, 根据变异来源分析, 管理模式因素对C、N、P含量变异的影响均达到显著水平。根茎叶N-P的异速生长关系表明茶树不同器官的养分需求存在相似性; 土壤pH和容重是影响C:N、C:P、N:P的重要因素, 而土壤含水量和盐度对茶树根和叶C含量的影响较大。总体来讲, 间作套种以及现代化滴灌、水肥等管理模式可以改善茶树对养分的吸收效率, 对解决土壤养分不均衡问题具有正面效应。     

茶树根际土壤磷的解吸特性

为了探明茶树根际土壤磷的释放过程与供应机制,采用外源磷吸附培养方法,研究了不同母质、不同种植年限茶树根际土壤磷的解吸过程与特性,并用最小二乘法进行最优函数拟合.结果表明:茶树根际土壤与非根际土壤磷的解吸过程有明显的差异.茶树根际土壤的磷解吸能力极显著高于非根际土壤;与非根际土壤相比,根际土壤的平均有效磷含量、平均解吸率和平均β值(单位吸附量中的解吸量)分别高出5.49 mg.kg-1、1.7%和24.4%.不同成土母质发育的茶树根际土壤磷解吸能力为花岗岩风化物>第四纪红色粘土>板页岩风化物.随着种植年限的延长,3种母质茶树根际土壤的有效磷与磷解吸能力均有不同程度地提高.     

茶园土壤类型对铁观音茶叶稀土元素分布和组成的影响

为探明铁观音茶的质量安全状况,追溯隐患来源,对福建安溪县不同土壤茶园的铁观音茶叶进行稀土元素的分布、组成、迁移和富集能力进行研究。结果表明,安溪县红壤、黄红壤、黄壤茶园稀土组成均以镧、铈、钕、钇为主,但具体组成特征各异。3种类型土壤茶园铁观音茶叶片、叶柄稀土元素组成均以钇、镧、铈、钕4种元素为主,且含量均以第3叶第2叶第1叶叶柄。同种土壤类型茶园铁观音茶树不同部位叶片的稀土元素组成特征类似,但叶与叶柄对稀土元素的吸收能力不同。土壤类型对茶叶稀土元素的累积有显著影响,黄红壤茶园的茶叶稀土元素含量要显著低于红壤、黄壤茶园的(P0.05)。土壤与茶叶中稀土元素组成的相关系数为0.886～0.985,P 0.001,表明二者稀土元素组成密切相关。因此,铁观音茶叶中稀土元素累积、分布与茶园土壤类型有显著相关性。     

采收期松茸菌塘土壤理化特性及对细菌多样性的影响

【目的】探讨四川松茸菌塘土壤理化因素对细菌多样性的影响。【方法】应用DGGE(Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis,DGGE)技术分析和比较四川省小金、雅江、木里、盐源及盐边县松茸主产区的松茸菌塘土壤与对照土壤在松茸采收期的细菌多样性,并结合不同样品土壤理化因子的差异,采用主成分分析(PCA)和多元回归树分析(MRT)方法研究土壤理化因子对细菌多样性的影响。【结果】不同样品土壤理化性质之间差异明显,菌塘土壤的总体肥力水平明显高于非菌塘土壤;不同县域之间土壤微生物多样性指数有着明显差异,且同一地区内的对照土壤微生物多样性指数与菌塘土壤之间并没有相关性;MRT结果表明,当有效铜含量为0.296 7 mg/kg≤Cu0.651 7 mg/kg时,有机质在此限量内(136.5 g/kg≤OM≤257.1 g/kg)含量越大、速效氮在该范围内(151.2 mg/kg≤AN≤277.0 mg/kg)含量越高,松茸菌塘土壤细菌多样性越大;而当Cu≥0.651 7 mg/kg时,p H在该范围内(4.800p H6.028)越小、有效铜在此限量内(0.651 7 mg/kg≤Cu2.040 0 mg/kg)含量越小、交换性钙在该限量内(9.697 cmol/kg≤Ca23.300 cmol/kg)含量越大、速效钾在该限量内(243.0 mg/kg≤AK296.7 mg/kg)含量越大,松茸菌塘土壤细菌多样性越大。【结论】有效铜、有机质、p H、速效氮、交换性钙及速效钾6个因子对菌塘土壤细菌多样性影响最大。     

长期种植蔬菜后土壤中氮、磷有效养分和重金属含量变化

利用区域采样调查的方法,研究了长沙市郊3类不同种植年限菜地土壤有效态氮、磷和重金属的累积差异,并对其累积风险和可能来源作了初步分析.结果表明:随着种植年限的增加,长沙市郊菜地土壤硝态氮(NO3--N)、有效磷(Olsen-P)和重金属累积量均显著增加,蔬菜种植1～2年(宁乡县)、10～15年(长沙县)和30年(开福区)后土壤NO3 - -N平均含量分别达21.1、42.0和49.5 mg·kg-1;Olsen-P平均含量分别达31.9、146.9和219.9 mg·kg-1;重金属以Cd累积最明显,平均含量分别达0.33、0.52和1.40 mg·kg-1.重金属按累积指数排序为:Cd＞＞Cu＞Pb＞Ni＞Zn.主成分分析和聚类分析表明,速效钾、pH、有机质、铵态氮等主要由自然因素决定,而Olsen-P和NO3-N等与重金属具有相似的累积特征,主要受人为施肥影响.长沙市郊菜地土壤环境和健康质量不容乐观,种植年限越长,氮、磷和重金属累积量越高,菜地土壤重金属与氮、磷来源相似,可能与菜地长期施肥活动有关.     

湖南会同不同年龄杉木人工林土壤磷素特征

对湖南会同不同年龄(7年生、17年生、25年生)杉木人工林土壤全磷、有效磷、无机磷组分和有机磷进行了研究,结果表明:3种不同林龄杉木林土壤全磷和有效磷的含量分别在317.06—398.56 mg/kg和0.82—1.38 mg/kg之间,土壤全磷和速效磷含量均属低水平;杉木林土壤全磷含量从7年生幼龄林到25a近熟林出现先升高后降低的规律,并且17年生和25年生林分比7年生林分分别增加了19.68%、15.75%,土壤有效磷含量17年生和25年生林分比7年生林分提高了45.55%左右;土壤磷素活化系数均小于2.0%,这表明本研究区土壤全磷向速效磷转化较难,土壤中磷素的有效性较低,但该值随着林分年龄的增加而出现增大的现象;无机磷含量分别为:7年生169.50 mg/kg、17年生182.03 mg/kg、25年生175.94 mg/kg,从幼龄林到中龄林增高,中龄林以后降低;土壤中无机磷组分以O-P含量最高,其次是Fe-P,Ca-P,Al-P最少;杉木不同生长发育阶段对无机磷形态的吸收是有选择性的,幼龄林到中龄林阶段林木以吸收Al-P为主,近熟林阶段林木以吸收Fe-P和Ca-P为主;有机磷含量在全磷所占比例随林龄的变化来看,杉木生长过程中有部分的有机磷矿化为无机磷。土壤不同形态磷的相关性分析结果显示,土壤有效磷与有机磷相关系数为0.667,呈极显著相关性,是研究区杉木人工林土壤有效磷的主要来源。     

辽西半干旱区典型城市土壤质量评价

为了探究城市不同土壤分类对城市土壤质量的影响,选取辽宁省阜新市8种不同类别的土壤,分别为公园绿地重塑土(Ⅰ)、校园林下重塑土(Ⅱ)、居住区绿地重塑土(Ⅲ)、河道水域冲刷土(Ⅳ)、近郊农地重塑土(Ⅴ)、工业用地重塑土(Ⅵ)、郊区林下原生土(Ⅶ)、交通绿化带重塑土(Ⅷ)为研究对象,对其0-30 cm土层进行土壤质量综合评价。结果表明:(1)阜新市土壤容重在1.23-1.44g·cm–3之间,公园绿地重塑土的土壤容重最小;土壤毛管孔隙度表现为Ⅰ(42.39%)>Ⅷ(42.05%)>Ⅲ(41.32%)>Ⅱ(39.04%)>Ⅵ(37.93%)>Ⅴ(37.15%)>Ⅳ(37.05%)>Ⅶ(33.77%);土壤含水率在9.20%-17.28%之间。(2)不同类型城市土壤有机质含量为:Ⅰ>Ⅱ>Ⅲ>Ⅳ>Ⅷ>Ⅶ>Ⅴ>Ⅵ。全氮含量在3.73-11.23 g·kg–1之间;有效磷含量在0.29-2.24 mg·kg–1之间;速效钾含量在2.41-15.88mg·kg–1之间。(3)筛选10个指标评价辽西半干旱区典型城市土壤质量...     

墨兰幼叶和成熟叶不同部位叶绿体超微结构和光合作用

墨兰试管苗植株成熟叶片叶绿体基粒较发达,类囊本膜垛叠较紧密。幼叶叶绿体中少有亲锇颗粒,成熟叶的叶绿体中往往既有亲锇颗粒又有淀粉粒。幼叶中基粒数目比成熟叶的少,叶绿体也比成熟叶的小。幼叶的光合放氧速率比成熟叶的低。幼叶中叶尖部叶绿体最大而叶基部最小,但叶尖部的光合放氧速率比叶基部小。成熟叶中叶绿体大小及光合放氧速率区别不明显。通过对各部位叶绿素含量的测定发现,叶绿素含量与光合放氧速率之间没有正相关性     

杨树枝条不同施用方式对沙化土壤养分及植物生长的影响

学者们利用林木枝条改良土壤方面已做了大量研究,但林木枝条不同施用方式对土壤养分特别是微量元素的影响鲜见报道。以宁夏银川腹部沙地土壤为研究对象,以当地杨树(Populus alba)枝条为土壤改良材料,设置了土表覆盖粉碎的杨树枝条(CM)、土表覆盖未粉碎的杨树枝条(BM)、土壤中添加质量分数为5%的粉碎杨树枝条同时土表覆盖未粉碎杨树枝条(CI+BM)及土壤中分别添加质量分数为2%、5%、8%和11%的粉碎杨树枝条,以无任何添加或覆盖枝条的土壤为对照(CK)。试验采用嵌入土壤中的PVC管模拟土壤自然环境且种植了春小麦,在春小麦抽穗期测定了土壤养分及植物生长状况。研究结果显示,与对照相比,所有施用林木枝条处理均显著降低了土壤碱解氮含量(p <0.05),而且所有施用林木枝条处理亦均具有降低土壤有效铜含量的趋势。其他元素变化不同于土壤碱解氮和有效铜,即所有添加处理具有增加土壤有效磷、速效钾、有效锰、有效铁和有效锌含量的趋势,而所有覆盖处理却具有降低这些元素含量的趋势。此外,杨树枝条覆盖及添加总体上对春小麦的生长均具有促进作用,以CM和CI+BM效果最为显著(p <0.05),但春小...     

Effectiveness of assessment of vigour and productivity in young vs old bushes and mature clones of tea (Camellia sinensis)

The effectiveness and validity of assessment of bush vigour as expressed by bush area, shoot number and yield in selecting for high yielding clones in tea was tested by comparing the field performance of 50 source bushes when they were 4 yr old in 1977/78 with that of the same bushes when they were 13 yr old in 1986/87 and also with that of the 8 yr old vegetatively propagated plants (clones) derived from them and transplanted to the field in December 1979. Apparently vigorous bushes produced the highest yield. The three characters measured in mature source bushes and, to a lesser extent, clonal derivatives were positively correlated with measurements in young source bushes. Seven of the best yielding source bushes and five of the best clones in 1986/87 were present in the 10 highest yielding source bushes identified in the 1977/78 season. Assessment of bush area and shoot number was confirmed as an effective and valid method of identifying a small, highest yielding group of source bushes from a large population of seedling tea which should go for rooting assessment and further more thorough screening of yield.     

A preliminary study of aluminium and the tea bush

Summary The phenomenon of uptake of aluminium by the tea bush has been examined in relation to its constancy as a characteristic feature, age of leaf and tree, genetic constitution, resistance to certain diseases, distribution within the plant, interactions with manganese and phosphorus, soil, essentiality and finally in relation to other aluminium-plants.Strong aluminium absorption appears to be a constant feature for all healthy bushes of any age, the element is stored in the oldest leaves but it does not impart any resistance to blister blight but it occurs to a greater extent than normal in flushes with tea yellows; it is gene-controlled, there being three distinct levels of accumulation corresponding with the three major divisions of the species. The presence of abundant available aluminium in the soil will not prevent excessive uptake of managanese accompanied by severe leaf scorch and spotting in bright light. Aluminium tends to diminish leaf phosphorus while manganese tends to increase it. Large amounts of available soil manganese may induce greater uptake of aluminium andvice versa. Small quantities of aluminium within tea leaves are associated with degree of greenness, but the large accumulations probably do not serve any useful purpose. Exchangeable soil aluminium may stimulate roots, particularly tap-roots or root-stocks. The tea bush may be a relict plant like so many of other aluminium accumulators.     

施用鸡粪对土壤与小白菜中Cu和Zn累积的影响

我国鸡饲养量已占世界总量的24%,鸡饲料添加剂中高含量的Cu和Zn随鸡粪排出体外,鸡粪作为优良的有机肥大量施用于菜园土壤,会导致土壤和蔬菜中重金属Cu和Zn的含量过高,进而通过食物链影响动物和人类健康。研究含高Cu和高Zn的鸡粪施入土壤后典型蔬菜对Cu和Zn的富集和转运,对于阐明鸡粪中Cu和Zn的土壤环境行为和蔬菜的健康风险评价具有重要的科学价值,同时可为蔬菜安全生产提供参考。本研究以Cu和Zn浓度分别为1137.3 mg/kg和1503.4 mg/kg的鸡粪堆肥作为实验材料,设置5个鸡粪施用处理,即11、22、44、89 g/kg和222 g/kg,相当于25、50、100、200 t/hm2和500 t/hm2,以不施鸡粪处理为对照。通过小白菜盆栽实验,研究了施用鸡粪对土壤与小白菜中Cu和Zn的影响。结果表明：土壤全Cu和全Zn含量范围分别为58.6—203.4 mg/kg和78.1—431.6 mg/kg;EDTA-Cu为12.7—119.8 mg/kg,EDTA-Zn为15.6—215.1 mg/kg。鸡粪施用量大于50 t/hm2时,土壤中Cu和Zn全量均较对照显著提高。小白菜地上、地下部以及整株Cu和Zn的含量都随鸡粪施用量的增加而提高,且地下部Cu、Zn的含量均高于地上部,同时小白菜各部分Zn的含量都高于Cu。鸡粪施用量大于100 t/hm2处理的小白菜地上部Cu含量显著高于对照处理,但是各处理小白菜中地上部的Zn含量与对照相比,均无显著性差异。施鸡粪量为大于50 t/hm2时,地下部分Cu含量较对照显著增加,而施鸡粪量大于100 t/hm2时,地下部分Zn含量显著增加。土壤有效态的Cu（EDTA-Cu）与植物各部分吸收Cu的相关性较好,但土壤有效态的Zn（EDTA-Zn）与植物各部分吸收Zn的相关性较差。随着鸡粪施用量的增加,小白菜对土壤中Cu的富集系数由11%增加到15%,对Zn富集系数却由47%下降到19%,小白菜对Cu和Zn的转运系数分别下降36%和51%。小白菜地上、地下部及整株的Zn/Cu都随鸡粪施用量的增加而减小,说明小白菜对Cu、Zn吸收转运能力的差异随着鸡粪施用量的增加而下降。     

Monitoring Copper Bioaccumulation in Cocoa from Copper-Based Pesticide–Treated Cocoa Farms Using Fuzzy Similarity Method

Cocoa production has been hindered by pests, leading to application of pesticides. These pesticide applications have raised health concerns. This study is therefore aimed at developing accumulation classifications for copper (Cu) in cocoa from plantations where Cu-based pesticides have been applied using fuzzy similarity method (FSM). Cocoa pods, seeds, leaves, and soil samples were collected from five different plantations from three states in Nigeria. The plant samples were digested using standard methods, whereas the Cu in soil samples was extracted with 1 M ammonium acetate. The products were analyzed for Cu using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The Cu concentrations obtained were used to model the accumulation degree using FSM. The Cu concentrations were higher in the leaves than the seeds and the pods. The persistency of Cu was displayed by high concentrations (11.5–375 mg/kg) and enrichment factor in CRIN sites where this pesticide application has been stopped for over a decade. The leaves from Ondo sites had the highest Cu concentration, which indicates impact of recent applications. The FSM membership function and algorithm indicated that the plant parts had low degrees of accumulation for fresh leaves, pods, and seeds, the valued part applied in beverages, but for the dry leaves, the accumulation degree is high. It may be concluded that the applied Cu-based pesticide had more impact and accumulation on the leaves than the commercial valued seeds, but the Cu concentration in the seeds is above the recommended value.     

Heavy metal impact on bacterial biomass based on DNA analyses and uptake by wild plants in the abandoned copper mine soils

The metals contamination in surface soils and their accumulation in wild plants from the abandoned Burra and Kapunda copper mines located in South Australia were assessed, and the predominant bacterial diversity in the contaminated surface soils from these two abandoned copper mine sites were evaluated through polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analysis. The results showed the average concentration of Cu in soils was 3821.59 mg/kg while wild plants accumulated up to 173.44 mg/kg. The concentration of Cu in shoots of spear grass (Stipa uitida) and berry saltbush (Afriplex semibaccata) was higher than that of roots. The concentration of total and extractable As, Cd, Cu and Pb in soils slightly correlated with of these elements in the corresponding wild plants. The toxicity of Cu in heavily contaminated soils impacted on the quantities of specific microbial populations and no significant change in the microbial diversity of highly contaminated soils.     

云南不同土壤铅背景值下大叶茶种群对铅的吸收积累特征及其遗传分化

在具有不同土壤铅(Pb)背景值的云南大叶茶主产区,分析了11个大叶茶种群（简写为P1, P2, …… P11）所在地的土壤Pb含量,相应各种群的老、嫩叶Pb含量和富集系数,并利用ISSR分子标记研究了这些种群的遗传特征,以期认识不同大叶茶种群在不同Pb背景值下对Pb的吸收积累特征及其遗传分化状况。结果表明：（1）在本研究区域内,大叶茶种群间土壤Pb含量、老叶和嫩叶Pb含量、富集系数差异显著,土壤有效Pb、嫩叶Pb含量分别在0.78—15.20mg/kg和2.03—7.02 mg/kg之间,嫩叶Pb富集系数变化范围为0.001—0.24;种群内差异小,例如P6种群内嫩叶Pb含量在2.82—2.84 mg/kg之间,嫩叶Pb富集系数变幅为0.09—0.10。（2）筛选的10个ISSR引物扩增出81条带,平均多态位点百分率（PPB）为75.25%;Shannon’s指数（I）估算出种群间的变异为34.28%,利用POPGENE软件计算出种群间遗传分化系数GST为0.3116,分子方差分析（AMOVA）也显示种群间变异占35.37%（P<0.001）,表明不同种群的大叶茶出现了遗传分化。（3）UPGMA聚类分析发现,11个种群可分为5个类群,对Pb吸收累积能力高的与能力低的种群在聚类分析中存在明显分异;相关性分析表明,土壤有效Pb含量与PPB、I、Nei’s基因多样性指数（H）的 Pearson相关系数r分别为-0.633,-0.786,-0.581（P<0.05）,土壤有效Pb含量与大叶茶种群遗传多样性水平程度不同呈负相关。讨论分析认为,在土壤Pb高背景值条件下,部分大叶茶种群遗传多样性水平降低,不同种群对Pb的吸收累积能力存在明显差异,种群间出现了显著的遗传分化。对低铅富集的遗传分化现象的深入研究将可能为遴选拒吸收污染物的洁净种质、在污染条件下进行无公害生产提供新途径。     

冶炼厂污灌区土壤铜和锌污染与土壤酶活性

通过对冶炼厂污灌区土壤和水稻中Cu、Zn含量分析以及土壤酶活性的测定,研究了距冶炼厂不同距离土壤Cu、Zn含量状况、水稻对它们的吸收和分配以及土壤酶活性的变化.结果表明,冶炼厂造成了周围农田土壤的Cu、Zn污染,其中Cu污染较严重,距离冶炼厂100 m处的全量和提取态Cu分别为182.4和81.91 mg·kg^-1,是对照的10.3和3倍.污灌区水稻各器官Cu、Zn的分布规律是,Cu:根＞茎叶＞米;Zn:茎叶＞根＞米.Zn在水稻体内的移动能力大于Cu,Cu主要累积在水稻根部,根可作为一种屏障阻碍Cu向地上部分迁移,使地上部分免受其害.水稻茎叶Cu含量和土壤中Cu的浓度密切相关.对蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶和脲酶活性测定表明,脲酶活性变化最显著,其活性与土壤中Cu的浓度显著相关,建议用脲酶活性作为污灌区Cu污染指标.     

鼎湖山南亚热带常绿阔叶林植物和土壤微量元素含量

报道了鼎湖山南亚热带常绿阔叶林各层次植物和表层土壤(0～20 cm)四个微量元素(Cu、Fe、Mn和 Zn)的含量和分配格局。结果表明:(1)土壤有效Cu、Fe、Mn和Zn含量(mg／kg)平均值依次为0．72、140．85、 1．42和1．92;(2)所有植物叶片Cu、Fe、Mn和Zn元素含量(mg／kg)分别介于6．1～100．6、6．5～1027．5、46．3 ～1196．7和27．0～338．6,其中乔木层植物叶片微量元素含量(mg／kg)平均值表现为Mn(305．3)>Fe (259．3)>Zn(109．9)>Cu(19．3),而其它植物表现为Fe(586．4)>Mn(336．9)>Zn(141．4)>Cu(36．6);(3) 植物微量元素在各器官的分配格局随元素和植物所在的层次不同而异:乔木层植物Cu含量高低排序为干> 根>枝>叶>皮,Fe为根>皮>叶>枝>干;Mn为叶>皮>枝>根>干;Zn为叶>根>枝>皮>干;(4)在 群落垂直结构上,Fe元素含量表现为自上而下递增的趋势,而Cu、Mn和Zn含量规律不明显;(5)植物和土壤 的微量元素与微量元素间相关性均较差;(6)与亚热带其它森林相比,鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林土壤Cu、Mn和 Zn含量较低,但乔木层植物因具有很强的吸收或富集能力而含量较高。     

Salt tolerance in the halophyte Suaeda maritima (L.) Dum. The influence of the salinity of the culture solution on leaf starch and phosphate content

Abstract. The starch concentration in mature leaves of the halophyte Suaeda maritima increased from 4.7 to 7.3 mg mg⁻¹ chlorophyll when sodium chloride (680 mol M⁻³) was added to the solution in which the plants were grown. This effect of salinity on the starch: chlorophyll ratio was greater in young than in old leaves. Electron micrographs showed the starch to be in the chloroplasts and this was confirmed by measurements on isolated chloroplasts. Total phosphorus concentration (mg mg⁻¹ chlorophyll) in leaves of all ages from plants of S. maritima decreased on salinization of the growth medium suggesting an inverse relationship between phosphorus and starch concentrations. However, although leaf starch concentration varied with leaf age, phosphorus concentration did not. The cause of starch accumulation in chloroplasts at salinities which are optimal for growth (340 mol m⁻³) remains unclear.     

Co phytoavailability for tomato in amended calcareous soils

A plot study was conducted to assess changes in Co phytoavailability for a tomato cultivar grown on an agricultural soil (a Calcic Petrocalcid) amended with sewage sludge, under controlled conditions in South-eastern Spain. The experiment consisted of three main treatment blocks: (A) without organic fertilisation, (B) with addition of 60 tha(-1) and (C) 120 tha(-1) of sewage sludge. For each block (A, B, and C), four levels of Co (0, 50, 100 and 200 mgkg(-1)) were added, as CoCl2. Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, DTPA (0.005 M plus triethanolamine), ammonium acetate (1 N at pH 7), and water extractable fractions of the soils were analysed for all the plots. The time dependent Co accumulation in different parts (roots, stems, leaves, and fruits) of the tomato plants was studied. Soil Co seemed to be mainly in non-available forms, according to the low concentrations found in the water and ammonium acetate extracts, compared to DTPA. The gradient of Co accumulation in tomato plants was root > leaf > stem + branches > fruit, with a concentration in the edible parts ranging between 4 and 25 mg kg(-1). The organic amendment enhanced the plant extraction of Co, this effect being more significant with time. Plant extraction efficiency decreased with increasing Co concentration in the soils. Co in fruit showed the best correlation with all the Co extraction pools in the soil.