Effect of synthethic waster on young Kandelia candel plants growing under greenhouse conditions

A greenhouse experiment wad performed to evaluate the effects of synthethic wastewater in three different strengths, NW, MW and CW, on the growth of the one-year old Kandelia candel (L.) Druce plants. NW had the characteristics and strength similar to natural municipal wastewater while MW and CW contained five and ten times of the nutrients and heavy metals in NW, respectively. Artificial seawater was used as the control. During one year wastewater treatment experiment, Kandelia were found to withstand wastewater of high strength and toxic symptoms were not detected in all plants. Synthethic wastewater with strength similar to the natural municipal sewage (NW) stimulated plant growth. The plants treated with NW had significantly higher aerial and root biomass, taller stem than those found in the CW, MW and the control. Maximum growth, in terms of both stem height and total biomass, of all plants occured in summer months, from June to September. With respect to the physiological and biochemical activities, CW and MW treated plants had significantly lower levels of chlorophyll a, total chlorophyl and catalase activity than those found in NW and control groups. In contrast, the proline content of plants treated with wastewater was similar to that of the control. These result suggest that normal wastewater (NW), attributed to its nutrients and trace elements, enhanced plant growth. The medium (MW) and concentrated wastewater (CW) supported similar amount of plant growth as the control but the physiological and biochemical parametes indicate that these treated plants might have been exposed to some kind of stress, probably due to the heavy metals present in MW and CW.     

Inoculation of willows (Salix spp.) with ectomycorrhizal fungi on mined boreal peatland

Inoculation with ectomycorrhizal fungi was explored as a means to improve productivity of experimental short-rotation plantations of the willowsSalix viminalis andSalix dasyclados for biomass production on surface-mined peatlands in northern Finland. Both willow species formed ectomycorrhizas withAmanita spp.,Cortinarius purpurascens, Entoloma nidorosum, otherEntoloma spp.,Hebeloma crustuliniforme, H. pusillum, Laccaria bicolor, andPaxillus involutus in greenhouse experiments.Field trials on a mined peatland site revealed (after one growing season) statistically significant growth stimulation after inoculation due to mycorrhiza formation in both willow species: plants inoculated withEntoloma were sometimes twice as large as control plants. However, such effects were observed only in plots receiving normal phosphate fertilization as opposed to low phosphate application, and were not consistent from season to season. With the inoculum of other species (Cortinarius, Hebeloma andPaxillus) some evidence of growth enhancement was found in the field, but these results were sometimes attributable to non-symbiotic effects of inoculation.     

A comparison of the effect of combined nitrogen on nodulation in non-legumes and legumes

Summary 1. The effect of the presence of combined (ammonium) nitrogen in the rooting medium on nodule development has been investigated inAlnus glutinosa andMyrica gale, the plants being grown by a water culture technique with provision for the control of the level of combined nitrogen and of pH. For purposes of comparison a similar experiment with a legume (Ulex europaeus) has been included.2. In some instances the differential treatment with combined nitrogen was commenced and inoculation effected at an early stage in plant development, while in others the plants were grown on to a larger size before these treatments were applied.3. In the two non-legumes the presence of combined nitrogen led to an increase in the weight of nodulus formed per plant, at least at the lower levels of nitrogen. Relative to the enhanced growth of the plant as a whole, nodule development was continuously depressed as the level of combined nitrogen was increased.4. InUlex when the nitrogen status of the plants at the time of inoculation was similar to that in the corresponding non-legume experiment, the above responses were also shown by the legume. It is concluded thatAlnus andMyrica resemble legumes closely in their responses to combined nitrogen.5. The data show that inAlnus the effect of a given level of combined nitrogen on nodulation depends on the nitrogen status of the plant at the time of inoculation, the adverse effect tending to be stronger if the plant is initially relatively high in nitrogen. This suggests that as in legumes the effect of the combined nitrogen is exerted internally in the plant tissues.     

Irrigating okra with secondary treated municipal wastewater: Observations regarding plant growth and soil characteristics

The present study was carried out to probe the agronomic response of hybrid cultivar of okra (Hibiscus esculentus L. var. JK 7315) grown in secondary treated municipal wastewater irrigated soil with field investigations. The concentrations of the municipal wastewater viz., 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% along with the control (groundwater) were used for the irrigation of the H. esculentus. The study revealed that the concentrations of the municipal wastewater showed significant (p < 0.05/p < 0.01) effect on the soil parameters after wastewater fertigation in comparison to groundwater in both the seasons. The maximum agronomic performance of the H. esculentus was recorded with 60% concentration of the municipal wastewater in both the seasons. The contamination factor of heavy metals varied in the H. esculentus plants and soils. In the H. esculentus plants, following fertigation with municipal wastewater, the contamination factor of manganese was the highest, while that of chromium was the lowest. Intermediate contamination factor were observed for zinc, copper, and cadmium. Therefore, secondary treated municipal wastewater can be used as an agro-fertigant after appropriate dilution (up to 60%) to achieve the maximum yield of the H. esculentus.     

Resource availability and growth responses to defoliation in seedlings of three early-successional,tropical, woody species

A growth experiment was conducted using seedlings of three early-successional, tropical, woody species:Dillenia suffruticosa (Dilleniaceae),Macaranga heynei (Euphorbiaceae) andTrema tomentosa (Ulmaceae). These species are characteristic of different positions along a soil fertility gradient in Singapore, withD. suffruticosa being the least andT. tomentosa the most demanding of high nutrient availability. The seedlings were grown in vermiculite at either low or high nutrient availabilities supplied by watering with different concentrations of a commercial plant food. Half the seedlings were subjected to a 50% defoliation at the start of the experiment by cutting off the distal half of each leaf. After 9 weeks the plants were harvested.Macaranga heynei andT. tomentosa seedlings showed no significant difference in parameters of growth such as total dry weight and total leaf area between the defoliated and control seedlings. The seedlings compensated completely for the loss of leaf area.Dillenia suffruticosa did show significant reductions in growth in some parameters due to defoliation, and these were more pronounced under the high nutrient treatment. These findings support the hypothesis that plants characteristic of resource-rich sites can readily recover from herbivory through fast growth, probably associated with a rapid turnover of leaves, whereas species of resource-poor habitats cannot easily replace losses due to herbivory and are adversely effected by defoliation.     

Effect of foliar spray of hormones on the rhizosphere mycoflora of leguminous weeds

Summary The effect of the foliar spray of two hormonesviz indole acetic acid and gibberellic acid on the rhizosphere mycoflora ofCassia tora L. andCrotalaria medicaginea Lamk., two leguminous weeds, has been studied at different stages of growth of the plants. Three sprays of the aqueous solutions of the hormones were made from the seedling stage onwards and, in all, five samplings of the rhizospheres were made. Estimation of the mycoflora was made by the dilution plate method as described in the text, using dextrose-peptone-agar-rose bengal medium. Statistically significant increase in the total number of fungi was observed in the rhizosphere of sprayed plants. With regard to the total number of species, there was no significant difference between the treated and control plants. It has been concluded that the stimulation of the rhizosphere mycoflora on foliar application of hormones might be due to the enhanced sporulation of fungi in the rhizosphere effected by the exudation of stimulatory factors from the roots.Part of doctoral thesis, Banaras Hindu University (1966).     

A comparison of the requirements for various carbon and nitrogen sources and vitamins in some Frankia isolates

Summary It was established that anAlnus glutinosa isolate (LDAgp 1) is able to utilize mono- and disaccharides and shows a limited growth ability on arabinose and starch. This contrasts with an isolate fromAlnus viridis (AvcI 1) andComptonia peregrina (CpI1), which apparently lack glycolytic pathway activity. These latter isolates can utilize some tricarboxylic acids in contrast to LDAgp1. Volatile fatty acids or their salts, such as propionic acid and acetate, were utilized by all three isolates. Besides a general ability to utilize inorganic nitrogen sources, some amino acids and urea, selected isolates showed a limitedability to utilize adenine and uracil. A simple, synthetic medium based on propionic acid as the energy source was developed. On this medium some isolates showed growth stimulation in the presence of biotin. The metabolic aspects of the utilization of carbon and nitrogen sources, as well as some ecological consequences are discussed.     

Mitigation of growth retardation effect of plant defense activator,acibenzolar-<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-methyl,in amaranthus plants by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria

Four rhizobacterial strains and acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), a chemical activator, which suppressed foliar blight of amaranthus (Amaranthus tricolor L.) caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn were evaluated for their effect on plant growth. The experiments were performed both under sterile and non-sterile soil conditions, in the presence or absence of the pathogen. In all cases, plants treated with ASM showed significant reduction in growth, as determined by shoot length, and shoot and root dry weight when compared to other treatments. The growth retardation effect of ASM was more profound with respect to shoot length. Reduction in shoot length was least when plants were treated with a combination of the chemical activator and Pseudomonas putida 89B61 under non-sterile soil conditions in the absence of the pathogen. Both under sterile and non-sterile soil conditions, in the presence of the pathogen, reduction in shoot length due to application of ASM was diminished significantly when plants were treated with rhizobacterial strain Pseudomonas fluorescens PN026R. Combined use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and ASM was found to be beneficial as the growth retardation effect of the plant defense activator was reduced by the growth-promoting ability of the rhizobacteria.     

Fertile somatic hybrids between transgenicNicotiana tabacum and transgenicN. debneyi selected by dual-antibiotic resistance

Summary A simple, yet effective selection system was used to produce fertile somatic hybrids betweenNicotiana tabacum andN. debneyi. This approach utilized transgenic antibiotic-resistantN. tabacum andN. Debneyi as donor plants for mesophyll protoplast fusions. Thirteen somatic hybrid plants were regenerated from calli capable of growth on medium containing both antibiotics. The majority of the hybrids displayed a range of leaf and floral morphologies and growth habits that were intermediate to those of the parental species, and had chromosome numbers varying from amphidiploid (2n = 96) to hypoaneuploid (2n = 60). Isoenzyme and RFLP analysis demonstrated the presence and expression of nuclear genes from both parents in all of the hybrids. Most plants are fully fertile. Thus, these plants differ from the malesterile tobacco cybrids and alloplasmic lines produced by transferring theN. debneyi cytoplasm to tobacco. A nonrandom pattern of cytoplasmic segregation in the fusion products occurred with a bias towards the presence ofN. debneyi cp and mtDNA. Evidence for the presence of rearranged or recombinant cp and mtDNA in some of the hybrids was obtained. The somatic hybrids were successfully backcrossed to theN. tabacum parent and are now being tested for immunity to black root rot, a trait specific toN. debneyi, but not existent in theN. tabacum parental line.     

Biostimulants Derived from Moroccan Seaweeds: Seed Germination Metabolomics and Growth Promotion of Tomato Plant

Polysaccharides extracted from seaweeds can function as plant biostimulants. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Polysaccharide Enriched Extracts (PEEs) obtained from 17 Moroccan seaweeds, on tomato seed germination and plant growth. Three concentrations (0.02, 0.05 and 0.1 mg mL⁻¹) of PEEs were applied to tomato seeds to evaluate their effect on 3 germination parameters: germination percentage (GP), germination speed (GS) and mean germination time (MGT). Metabolomic analysis by GC–MS was subsequently performed on seedlings. In the second experiment, four PEEs concentrations (0.02, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg mL⁻¹) were used as foliar spray or as soil application to tomato plants. Their growth parameters (number of leaves, shoot length, fresh and dry weight of stem and roots) and biochemical parameters (chlorophyll a and b) were measured. Results indicated a significant increase of GP and GS associated with a significant reduction of MGT of tomato seeds treated with 0.02 mg mL⁻¹ of PEEs obtained from Gigartina sp., Gigartina pistillata, Chondracanthus acicularis, Gelidium crinale, Schizymenia dubyi, Cystoseira. foeniculacea and Fucus spiralis. Similar results were also obtained by application of higher PEEs concentration (0.1 mg mL⁻¹) extracted from Ulva rigida, Codium tomentosum, Codium decorticatum and Bifurcaria bifurcata. Metabolomic analysis on seedlings detected the presence of some metabolites which could possibly be involved in seed germination enhancement or inhibition. The results of the second experiment showed that the same PEEs cited above at the same concentrations enhanced plant dry weight and chlorophyll a content except Gigartina sp., C. foeniculacea and C. decorticatum. Furthermore, soil application of PEEs was more effective in improving plant growth parameters than foliar application. The study shows the potential of PEEs from Moroccan seaweed to be used as biostimulants for a sustainable agriculture.

     

Effect of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and ofagrobacterium radiobacter on maize growth

An influence of dual inoculation with the rhizosphere bacteriumAgrobacterium radiobacter, and the VAM fungi,Glomus mosseae andGlomus sp., on maize growth and mycorrhizal infection was observed. Separate inoculations of bacteria or fungi showed significant positive effects on the shoot biomass production of pot-cultured plants only at the last of three consecutive harvests. Plant biomass production was enhanced substantially after a dual inoculation with bacteria and fungi. Synergistic interaction of fungal and bacterial inoculation and growth stimulation was evident at all three harvests compared to uninoculated plants and also compared to plants inoculated with fungi or bacteria only. The dual inoculation increased the shoot biomass of plants by approximately 30% as compared with control. No significant differences were found in mycorrhizal infection between plants uninoculated and inoculated with bacteria.Agrobacterium radiobacter seems to be compatible with mycorrhizal symbiosis and can act a synergistic partner of some VAM fungi.     

Effects of ectomycorrhizal and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on drought tolerance of four leguminous woody seedlings

Seedlings ofAcacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex. Benth.,Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth.,Gliricidia sepium (Jac.) Walp andLeucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. were inoculated with an ectomycorrhizal (Boletus suillus (l. ex. Fr.) or indigenous vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi in a low P soil. The plants were subjected to unstressed (well-watered) and drought-stressed (water-stressed) conditions. InGliricidia andLeucaena, both mycorrhizal inoculations stimulated greater plant growth, P and N uptake compared to their non-mycorrhizal (NM) plants under both watering regimes. However, inAcacia andAlbizia, these parameters were only stimulated by either ectomycorrhiza (Acacia) or VA mycorrhiza (Albizia). Growth reduction occurred as a result of inoculation with the other type of mycorrhiza. This was attributed to competition for carbon betweenAcacia and VA mycorrhizas and parasitic association betweenAlbizia and ectomycorrhiza. Drought-stressed mycorrhizal and NMLeucaena, and drought-stressed mycorrhizalAcacia tolerated lower xylem pressure potentials and larger water losses than the drought-stressed mycorrhizal and NMAlbizia andGliricidia. These latter plants avoided drought by maintaining higher xylem pressure potentials and leaf relative water content (RWC). All the four leguminous plants were mycorrhizal dependent. The higher the mycorrhizal dependency (MD), the lower the drought tolerance expressed in terms of drought response index (DRI). The DRI may be a useful determinant of MD, as they are inversely related.     

Effect of sand culture and sodium chloride on growth physical structure and organic acid metabolism inBryophyllum pinnatum

Summary Bryophyllum pinnatum, a classical example of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism, was grown in sand and soils as well as in increasing concentrations of chloride and sulphate ions to test the effect of rooting medium and salts on growth, physical structure of leaves and on organic acids. Plants grown in sand medium show fewer and smaller stomata, a shorter and profusely branched root system and also a decrease in organic acid metabolism, as compared with plants grown in garden soil. This indicates that the subtratum plays an important role in controlling growth, physical structure of leaves and Crassulacean Acid Metabolism. The presence of chlorides tends to produce thicker leaves which have more organic matter and less moisture. Increase in NaCl-concentration retards growth and also affects CAM. In plants treated with 0.04M NaCl there is a stimulation in organic acid synthesis which results in higher TAN values. Another interesting observation is that the development of a succulent habit is due to effect of chlorides and not by sulphate or sodium ions.     

Effects of substrate nitrate concentration on symbiotic nodule formation in actinorhizal plants

The response ofAlnus glutinosa, Casuarina cunninghamiana, Elaeagnus angustifolia andMyrica cerifera to a range of substrate nitrogen levels in solution, in relation to plant growth, infection, nodulation and root fine structure was studied. Nine concentrations of potassium nitrate ranging from 0.05 to 3.0 mM, were tested on each of the species. Plants were inoculated withFrankia pure cultures after a two week exposure to one of the nine levels of added nitrate. After six more weeks with constant exposure to nitrate, plants were harvested and assayed. With the exception of Myrica, regression analyses of whole plant dry weights as a function of added nitrate were highly significant. There was a tendency for nodulated plants grown at intermediate levels of added nitrate to exhibit higher relative growth rates, probably due to the additive effect of substrate nitrogen and fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. The mean numbers of nodules per plant were, with the exception of Alnus, significantly higher at intermediate levels of added nitrate, as were mean nodule dry weights. A highly significant inverse relationship between nodule weight as a percentage of whole plant weight was found in Elaeagnus and Myrica. The observed response of Elaeagnus to added nitrate compared to other actinorhizal plants appears to demonstrate that root hair infected plants are much more sensitive to the inhibitory effects of added nitrate than plants infected by intercellular penetration. A sharp reduction in the presence of root hairs at high concentrations of nitrate was observed. This indicates that the inhibition of nodulation in some actinorhizal plant species results from nitrate induced root hair suppression.     

Hexacyanoferrate (III) stimulation of elongation in coleoptile segments fromZea mays L.

Summary The influence of exogenous potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) (HCF III) on elongation of maize (Zea mays L.) coleoptile segments was investigated. Addition of HCF III led to a strong stimulation of growth both in the presence and absence of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The magnitude of growth stimulation was dependent on the presence of IAA, HCF III concentration, incubation time, and phase growth. The reduced form, potassium hexacyanoferrate (II), was without effect on growth. In the presence of HCF III, elongation was suppressed when coleoptile segments were treated with N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, cycloheximide or atebrine (quinacrine). The addition of HCF III stimulated the IAA-induced proton extrusion, and the e^–/H⁺ ratio decreased with incubation time. HCF III also strongly stimulated elongation ofAvena saliva L. coleoptile segments andGlycine max L. hypocotyl segments. These results suggested that a plasma membrane redox system (NADH oxidase type I) may be involved in the regulation of growth through the activity of the plasma membrane-bound ATPase.Abbreviations CH cycloheximide - DCCD N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide - HCF III potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) (potassium ferricyanide) - HCF II potassium hexacyanoferrate (II) (potassium ferrocyanide) - IAA indole-3-acetic acid     

Response of Aegiceras corniculatum to synthetic sewage under simulated tidal conditions

Young plants of Aegiceras corniculatum, a dominant mangrove species, were collected from Futian Mangrove Swamp in Shenzhen, The People's Republic of China, and grown in simulated tide tanks containing mangrove sediments. After acclimatisation in the greenhouse for 6 months, the plants were irrigated with either synthetic sewage of various strengths (NW,FW and TW) or artificial seawater (as control). NW had the characteristics and strength equivalent to municipal wastewater, while FW and TW contained 5 and10 times the nutrient and heavy metal concentrations of the NW, respectively. Results showed that the young plants of A. corniculatum were able to tolerate the wastewater (TW) with highest concentration of nutrients and heavy metals after one year treatment. The growth of TW treated plants,measured in terms of stem height, basal diameter and biomass, was comparable to that found in the control. The plants treated with NW and FW had significantly greater growth than the control, indicating that the nutrients contained in sewage are beneficial to mangrove plants. Physiological parameters such as chlorophyll content, the ratio of chlorophyll a and b, proline concentration and root activity did not show any significant changes among plants treated with wastewater of various strengths and the control, suggesting that sewage addition did not cause any apparent physiological impact on growth of A. corniculatum. Nevertheless, the plants which received sewage with highest levels of heavy metals (TW treatment) appeared to have lower content of free water but higher amount of bound water than FW, NW and the control. Higher electric conductance was also found in plants treated with TW. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effetti Morfologici,Anatomici Ed Ultrastrutturali Indotti Dai Ritardanti Di Crescita Su Plantule Di Pisum Sativum L. Var. « Gloria Di Quimper » Cultivate in Soluzione Nutritizia

Abstract

The effect of the growth retardants on the structure of Pea seedlings coltured in nutritive solution. – The addition of CCC (2-Chloro-ethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride) and AMO 1618 (4-Hydroxyl-5-isopropyl-2 methyl-phenyl-trimethylammonium chloride. 1-piperidine carboxylate) to Pea seedlings (Pisum sativum L. var. Gloria di Quimper) promotes the usual modifications induced by growth retardants on higher plants. CCC appears less effective than AMO 1618; CCC inhibits growth only at 10²-M. concentration, on the contrary 5×10-⁵M. AMO 1618 inhibits strongly the growth of the seedlings both in the light and in darkness. CCC and AMO 1618 operate similarly as far as the inhibition of expansion growth, the increase of the stem diameter, and the decrease of the apical dominance are concerned. 10-²M. CCC stimulates both the growth of roots and the secondary roots formation, on the contrary 2,5×10-⁴M. AMO 1618 inhibits strongly the growth of the roots. AMO 1618 affects more strongly than CCC the expantion growth of the leaves. Leaves of the AMO 1618 treated plants are greener than the control plants. Plants treated with CCC and AMO 1618 are smaller because these chemicals inhibit the expantion growth of the cells. The increase of the stem diameter induced by CCC and AMO 1618 is due to the stimulation of the mitotic activity of the cambium. AMO and CCC induce a decrease of the size of the vessels and the sieve tubes. In the sieve tubes of the treated plants and slime plugs appear near to the sieve plates many slime bodies. AMO and CCC did not affect the mitotic activity of the apical meristems; in fact the plants grown in the presence of the growth retardants, show a normal primary body. AMO and CCC delay the lignification process. Chloroplasts of this Pisum sativum variety show prolamellary bodies associated to a good lamellar system. Starch granules are always present. Starch was never found in the chloroplasts of the treated plants. The general picture of the effects induced by growth retardants in Pea seedlings show so many modifications that it is very difficult to believe, like some Authors suggest, that all the effects produced by growth retardants are due to the inhibition of gibberellin biosynthesis.     

Effects of low and high levels of magnesium on the response of sunflower plants grown with ammonium and nitrate

The effect of the nitrogen source (ammonium and nitrate) and its interaction with magnesium on various physiological processes was studied in sunflower plants (Helianthus annuusL.). Plants were grown in hydroponic culture with nitrate (5 mM) or ammonium (5 mM) and four concentrations of magnesium (0.1, 0.8, 5 and 10 mM). After 2 weeks, growth, gas exchange and fluorescence parameters, soluble carbohydrates, free amino acids, soluble protein and mineral elements were determined. Ammonium nutrition resulted in a reduction of dry matter accumulation, as well as in a decrease in the CO₂ assimilation. Moreover, ammonium-fed plants showed a greater content of free amino acids, soluble protein, Rubisco and anions, and a lower cation content, mostly Mg²⁺. The presence of high levels of Mg²⁺ in the nutrient solution containing NH₄ ⁺ resulted in a stimulation of growth and CO₂ assimilation to the levels observed in nitrate-fed plants. The lower photosynthetic rate of ammonium-fed plants grown with low level of magnesium does not seem to be due to a lower photosynthetic pigment content, or a deficiency in Photosystem II activity, or to lower Rubisco content. Hence, Rubisco activity or other enzymes involved in CO₂ fixation could have been affected in ammonium-fed plants. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

ORGANIC CARBON SUPPLEMENTATION OF STERILIZED MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER IS ESSENTIAL FOR HETEROTROPHIC GROWTH AND REMOVING AMMONIUM BY THE MICROALGA CHLORELLA VULGARIS1

Heterotrophic growth of the microalga Chlorella vulgaris Beij. in synthetic as well as sterilized municipal wastewater of a nonindustrialized city was measured. The city wastewater contained high levels of ammonium and nitrate, medium levels of phosphate, and low levels of nitrite and organic molecules and could not support heterotrophic growth of C. vulgaris. Evaluation of 11 known carbon sources for this microalga that were added to standard synthetic wastewater containing the same levels of nitrogen and phosphorus as the municipal wastewater revealed that the best carbon sources for heterotrophic growth were Na‐acetate and d ‐glucose. These provided the highest growth rates and the largest removal of ammonium. Growth increased with concentration of the supplement to an optimum at 0.12 M Na‐acetate. This carbon source was consumed completely within 10 d of incubation. Higher concentrations inhibited the growth of C. vulgaris. The microalgal populations under heterotrophic growth conditions were one level of magnitude higher than that under autotrophic growth conditions that served as a comparison. No growth occurred in the dark in the absence of a carbon source. Na‐acetate was superior to d ‐glucose. In municipal wastewater, when Na‐acetate or d ‐glucose was added, C. vulgaris significantly enhanced ammonium removal under heterotrophic conditions, and its capacity was equal to ammonium removal under autotrophic growth conditions. This study showed that sterilized wastewater can be treated by C. vulgaris under heterotrophic conditions if supplemented with the appropriate organic carbon source for the microalgae.     

Metal and antibiotic resistance traits in Bradyrhizobium sp. (cajanus) isolated from soil receiving oil refinery wastewater

Forty isolates of Bradyrhizobium sp. (cajanus) were isolated from the nodules of pigeon pea plants grown in fields receiving petrochemical industrial wastewater for the past 12 years and characterized using standard methods. The heavy metal analysis of field soil and treated wastewater showed their presence in varying concentrations. All isolates showed resistance to one or more metals at concentrations >200 g/ml. Multiple metal resistance was a common phenomenon in these isolates. There was no correlation between extractable soil metal concentration and the ability of the isolates to tolerate metal salts in their growth medium as evidenced from their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). However, high incidence of metal resistance and the multiple nature of resistance might have been the result of continuous exposure of these strains to heavy metals in the treated wastewater of Mathura Oil Refinery. These strains were also found to be resistant to one or more of the 13 antibacterial drugs tested.