Theoretical and practical approaches to the genetic specificity of mineral nutrition of plants

Summary Mineral nutrition of plants is one of the most important factors controlling biomass production. However, the efficiency of utilizing certain elements of mineral nutrition in biomass production is highly related to the genetic specificity of plants. The present paper deals with problems and former results regarding plant mineral nutrition presented from the genetic aspects. Particular attention has been devoted to the increased efficiency of using both the natural fertility of soils and mineral fertilizers by creating and utilizing suitable cultivars and hybrids, increased efficiency of using mineral nutrients under certain ecological conditions, plant-specific role of microorganisms in enriching soil with nitrogen and soluble forms of other elements, role of genetic specificity of mineral nutrition in plants in solving the problems of environmental pollution, principles of evaluating the genetic specificity of mineral nutrition in plants, genotype features influencing uptake of mineral nutrients, criteria for evaluating the genetic specificity of mineral nutrition of plants, and also to the methods for selecting genotypes for specific soil types, and mineral nutrition.     

微生物在矿物表面吸附的研究进展

微生物在矿物表面的吸附是微生物与矿物表面深度作用的前提, 也是生物药剂在选矿中的应用的基础研究。本文综述了影响微生物在矿物表面吸附的环境因素, 微生物细胞与矿物表面之间的相互作用, 微生物细胞表面基团、表面成分及其胞外聚合物对吸附过程的影响, 并提出了今后的研究方向。     

矿物微尘对人体肠道菌群单一代表性菌株的体外作用研究

研究了矿物微尘对人体肠道菌群主要代表性菌株大肠埃希菌和嗜酸乳杆菌的体外作用。矿物微尘对大肠埃希菌生长起抑制作用,微尘浓度达3%时即对大肠埃希菌生长显著抑制,微尘浓度达20%时大肠埃希菌生长即受完全抑制,微尘浓度从3%到20%,大肠埃希菌虽受抑制但能生长,表明大肠埃希菌矿物微尘耐受能力较强。矿物微尘对嗜酸乳杆菌生长影响复杂,低浓度时起促进作用,较高浓度时起抑制作用,微尘浓度达5%时嗜酸乳杆菌生长即受完全抑制,嗜酸乳杆菌矿物微尘耐受能力较弱,远小于大肠埃希菌。确立矿物微尘对人体肠道代表性细菌的抑制浓度及致死浓度为环保监测和城市空气质量监控提供了科学依据。     

nC22矿物油及其与吡虫啉混用对柑橘木虱的室内毒力评价

【目的】室内评价nC22矿物油单独使用,以及与吡虫啉混用对柑橘木虱Diaphorina citri的毒力,并筛选nC22矿物油对吡虫啉防治柑橘木虱具有增效作用的混配比例,为矿物油防治柑橘木虱的应用提供科学依据。【方法】使用nC22矿物油以及阳性对照nC23和nC28矿物油,采用浸渍法和喷雾法分别检测矿物油对柑橘木虱卵和低龄若虫、高龄若虫、成虫的致死作用,以处理后第7天(卵)和第1天(若虫和成虫)的LC 50值评估毒力。将nC22矿物油与吡虫啉以不同配比混配,测定混配液对低龄若虫的毒力,使用交互测定法、共毒因子(co-toxicity factor,CTF)法和共毒系数(co-toxicity coefficient,CTC)法评价矿物油对吡虫啉的增效作用。【结果】单独使用时,nC22矿物油对卵的LC 50值低于nC23和nC28矿物油;对低龄若虫和高龄若虫的LC 50值与nC23矿物油相当,都低于nC28矿物油;对成虫的LC 50值与nC28矿物油相当,都低于nC23矿物油。与吡虫啉混用时,nC22矿物油与吡虫啉混配比例为3∶7,4∶6和7∶3时,矿物油对吡虫啉有增效作用:交互测定法中柑橘木虱低龄若虫的实际死亡率位于等效线的上方,CTF值分别为34.807,22.655和40.798,CTC值分别为187.410,183.876和222.936。3种混配液中7∶3的混配比例对吡虫啉的增效作用最强。【结论】nC22矿物油对柑橘木虱的毒力高于进口nC23矿物油及传统nC28矿物油,且以适当混配比例混用时nC22矿物油对吡虫啉具有显著增效作用,理论上可大幅减少化学杀虫剂的使用量,可进一步通过田间试验进行验证。     

Molecular regulation of milk trace mineral homeostasis

The regulation of milk trace mineral homeostasis requires the temporal integration of three main processes, (A) mineral uptake into the secretory mammary epithelial cell (MEC); followed by (B) mineral secretion from MEC into the alveoli lumen of the mammary gland for sequestration in milk; and then (C) milk release in response to suckling. Trace mineral requirements of term infants are generally met by exclusive breast-feeding through about the first 6 months of life and although milk zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu) concentrations are relatively refractory to maternal trace mineral status, they normally decline throughout lactation. Recently, Zn-, Fe- and Cu-specific transporters have been identified that regulate trace element uptake and efflux in various cell types; however, there is currently little information available regarding the processes through which the mammary gland regulates milk trace mineral transport. The homology of trace mineral transporters between species permits the utilization of rodent models to examine the regulation of mammary gland mineral transport. Therefore, we have used the lactating rat to determine changes in mammary gland Zn, Fe and Cu transporter expression and localization that occur throughout lactation and in response to maternal trace mineral deficiency in hope of elucidating some of the changes which occur during mammary gland trace element homeostasis and also may be occurring in lactating women.     

新疆绿洲农田土壤-棉花系统9种矿质元素生物循环特征

在新疆绿洲区,对不同连作棉田土壤中9种矿质元素含量、棉花植株的吸收和富集特性以及棉田养分收支量等进行分析,研究了农田土壤-棉花系统矿质元素的生物循环特征。结果表明:棉田土壤中微量元素和大量元素均有一定程度的贫化趋势,以Mo的耗竭最为严重。棉株不同器官累积矿质元素的能力有明显差异,叶片中Ca、Mg和Mn的含量较高,根、茎中K、Na、Fe、Mo含量较高,棉籽中Zn和Cu含量最高;不同产品器官对矿质元素的吸收和富集能力不同,秸秆为:MoKMgCaCuZnNaMnFe,纤维:MoKMgZnCuCaNaMnFe,棉籽:MoZnKMgCuCaMnNaFe。棉花对Mo的吸收能力最强,长期连作导致土壤中Mo耗竭较为严重;随籽棉的收获,从棉田移出Zn、Cu的比例和数量较高,大量元素中移出Mg、K较多;棉花对Mn、Fe、Ca、Na的吸收量虽然较多,然而大部分富集在秸秆中,随着棉花秸秆的还田作用,将归还于耕作层并有大量富集,消耗量不大。新疆棉花长期单一种植,应重点补充Mo、Zn和Cu微量元素肥料,酌情补充Mg、K等大量元素肥料。棉田Ca、Na含量较新疆土壤背景低,预示着棉田土壤在向着脱盐碱方向发展,然而两元素在秸秆中的比例较高,因此棉花长期连作农田,应注意防止耕作层土壤向次生盐碱化方向发展。     

Light and electron microscopic investigations of the reactions of various genotypes to nutritional disorders

Summary A review is given on light and electron microscopic investigations about the reactions of various genotypes to nutritional disorders such as mineral deficiency and mineral toxicity. Microscopic investigations have been carried out to find initial symptoms of nutritional disorders in plant tissue in order to improve diagnosis and to gain information about disturbed metabolism. Recent investigations have been focussed on changes of cell structure which indicate adaptive mechanisms towards mineral stress in order to explain tolerance and efficiency mechanisms. The influence of mineral deficiency or excess of minerals on the cell structure of different genotypes will be described. Special attention will be drawn to cytological changes in connection with the adaptation of plant genotypes towards mineral stress.     

Effects of integrated use of organic and inorganic nutrient sources with effective microorganisms (EM) on seed cotton yield in Pakistan

A field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of integrated use of organic and inorganic nutrient sources with effective microorganisms on growth and yield of cotton. Treatments included: control; organic materials (OM); effective microorganisms (EM); OM+EM; mineral NPK (170:85:60 kg); 1/2 mineral NPK+EM; 1/2 mineral NPK+OM+EM and mineral NPK+OM+EM. OM and EM alone did not increase the yield and yield attributing components significantly but integrated use of both resulted in a 44% increase over control. Application of NPK in combination with OM and EM resulted in the highest seed cotton yield (2470 kg ha-1). Integrated use of OM+EM with 1/2 mineral NPK yielded 2091 kg ha-1, similar to the yield (2165 kg ha-1) obtained from full recommended NPK, indicating that this combination can substitute for 85 kg N ha-1. Combination of both N sources with EM also increased the concentrations of NPK in plants. Economic analysis suggested the use of 1/2 mineral NPK with EM+OM saves the mineral N fertilizer by almost 50% compared to a system with only mineral NPK application. This study indicated that application of EM increased the efficiency of both organic and mineral nutrient sources but alone was ineffective in increasing yield.     

Biofortification of crops with seven mineral elements often lacking in human diets – iron, zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium, selenium and iodine

The diets of over two-thirds of the world's population lack one or more essential mineral elements. This can be remedied through dietary diversification, mineral supplementation, food fortification, or increasing the concentrations and/or bioavailability of mineral elements in produce (biofortification). This article reviews aspects of soil science, plant physiology and genetics underpinning crop biofortification strategies, as well as agronomic and genetic approaches currently taken to biofortify food crops with the mineral elements most commonly lacking in human diets: iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iodine (I) and selenium (Se). Two complementary approaches have been successfully adopted to increase the concentrations of bioavailable mineral elements in food crops. First, agronomic approaches optimizing the application of mineral fertilizers and/or improving the solubilization and mobilization of mineral elements in the soil have been implemented. Secondly, crops have been developed with: increased abilities to acquire mineral elements and accumulate them in edible tissues; increased concentrations of 'promoter' substances, such as ascorbate, β-carotene and cysteine-rich polypeptides which stimulate the absorption of essential mineral elements by the gut; and reduced concentrations of 'antinutrients', such as oxalate, polyphenolics or phytate, which interfere with their absorption. These approaches are addressing mineral malnutrition in humans globally.     

Organic fertilization changes the response of mycelium of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and their sporulation to mineral NPK supply

The synergetic effect of organic (cow manure) and mineral fertilization on the development arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi was demonstateded. The length of AM mycelium and sporulation were used as sensitive markers of the physiological state of soil AM fungal population. In manured treatments, both parameters increased in proportion with increasing mineral fertilization. In unmanured soil, the opposite trend was observed for the length of AM hyphae, which decreased with increasing mineral fertilization. Correlation analysis showed the dependence of length of AM hyphae and sporulation on soil available phosphorus. The correlation was negative in soil with no mineral fertilization and positive in soil supplied with luxury doses of mineral fertilizer.     

矿质元素对毛头鬼伞菌丝体生长的影响

研究了4种矿质元素对栽培食用菌毛头鬼伞菌丝体生长的影响。4种矿质单元素添加试验结果表明,能使毛头鬼伞菌丝体旺盛生长的最佳浓度分别是CaCl20.1 mmol/L、MgSO48 mmol/L、KCl 1.22 mmol/L、NaH2PO413 mmol/L。4种元素协同作用试验结果表明,单元素浓度的最佳生长量与混合施用时的最佳生长量一致。以毛头鬼伞的主要栽培料之一的棉子壳估算,原料中的4种矿质元素浓度均偏低,必须补充矿质元素才能满足毛头鬼伞菌丝体的旺盛生长。     

Long-term effects of induced mineral accretion on growth, survival and corallite properties of Porites cylindrica Dana

The mineral accretion technology involves the accumulation of dissolved mineral ions within the vicinity of underwater electrodes and their deposition via electrochemical processes onto the positive electrode forming a natural substrate. Branches of Porites cylindrica were reared under the presence of mineral accretion (treated nubbins), without mineral accretion (untreated), and under undisturbed (control) conditions for 6 months (mineral accretion phase). The electricity for the treated nubbins was cut off after the sixth month, and all remaining nubbins were allowed to grow for another 6 months (post mineral accretion phase). The longitudinal growth rate of the treated nubbins was relatively high during the mineral accretion phase then dropped during the post mineral accretion phase. Statistical analysis revealed longitudinal growth to be significant over time, but the significant differences between treatments lay only between the first until the second bi-monthly period (from January to May 2000) and the rest of the observation period (June to January 2001). This indicates that growth enhancement occurred only during the early stages of the mineral accretion phase. There were also significant differences in girth growth between phases and between treatments as well as a significant phase by treatment interaction again indicating that significant differences between treatments occurred only during a certain phase. In terms of overall survival, the treated nubbins fared better than the untreated nubbins. The corals in all treatments showed the same trend in corallite size and density after 1 year. Corallite sizes increased from the tip towards the base of the transplant. The reverse trend occurred with corallite density which decreased from the tip towards the base. Phenotypic alteration of the corallites (decrease in size and increase in density from the middle region of the nubbin towards the base) had occurred in the treated nubbins while they were exposed to mineral accretion. This effect disappeared, however, after 6 months. It appears, therefore, that enhancement of growth took place only during active mineral accretion, though there were positive, longer-term effects on survival.     

Changes in phospholipid extractability and composition accompany mineralization of chicken growth plate cartilage matrix vesicles.

Matrix vesicles are lipid bilayer-enclosed structures that initiate extracellular mineral formation. Little attention has been given to how newly formed mineral interacts with the lipid constituents and then emerges from the lumen. To explore whether specific lipids bind to the incipient mineral and if breakdown of the membrane is involved, we analyzed changes in lipid composition and extractability during vesicle-induced calcification. Isolated matrix vesicles were incubated in synthetic cartilage lymph to induce mineral formation. At various times, samples of the lipids were taken for analysis, extracted both before and after demineralization to remove deposited mineral. Phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol both rapidly disappeared from extracts made before decalcification, indicating rapid degradation. However, extracts made after demineralization revealed that phosphatidylserine had become complexed with newly forming mineral. Concomitantly, its levels actually increased, apparently by base-exchange with phosphatidylethanolamine. Though partially complexed with the mineral, phosphatidylinositol was nevertheless rapidly broken down. Sphingomyelin and phosphatidylethanolamine also underwent rapid breakdown, but phosphatidylcholine was degraded more slowly, all accompanied by a buildup of free fatty acids. The data indicate that phosphatidylserine forms complexes that accompany mineral formation, while degradation of other membrane phospholipids apparently enables egress of crystalline mineral from the vesicle lumen.     

Kinetic analysis of mineral formation during in vitro modeling of matrix vesicle mineralization: effect of annexin A5, phosphatidylserine, and type II collagen

Matrix vesicles (MVs) are involved in de novo mineral formation by nearly all vertebrate tissues. The driving force for MV mineralization is a nucleational core composed of three principal constituents: (i) amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), complexed in part with phosphatidylserine (PS) to form (ii) calcium-phosphate-lipid complexes (CPLX), and (iii) annexin A5 (AnxA5), the principal lipid-dependent Ca(2+)-binding protein in MVs. We describe methods for reconstituting the nucleational core using a biomimetic approach and for analyzing the kinetics of its induction of mineral formation. The method is based on light scattering by the nascent crystallites at 340 nm and monitors mineral formation at regular intervals without disturbing the system using an automated plate reader. It yields precise replicate values that typically agree within less than 5%. As with MVs, mineral formation by the synthetic complex follows a sigmoidal pattern; following a quiescent induction period, rapid formation ensues for a limited time, followed by a distinct decline in rate that continues to slow, ultimately reaching a maximal asymptotic value. Key to quantization of mineral formation is the use of first-derivative analysis, which defines the induction time, the rate and the amount of initial mineral formation. Furthermore, using a five-parameter logistic curve-fitting algorithm, the maximal amount of mineral formation can be predicted accurately. Using these methods, we document the dramatic finding that AnxA5 synergistically activates PS-CPLX, transforming it from a very weak nucleator of mineral formation to a potent one. The methods presented should enable systematic study of the effects of numerous other factors thought to contribute to mineral formation.     

Nutrition or detoxification: why bats visit mineral licks of the Amazonian rainforest

Many animals in the tropics of Africa, Asia and South America regularly visit so-called salt or mineral licks to consume clay or drink clay-saturated water. Whether this behavior is used to supplement diets with locally limited nutrients or to buffer the effects of toxic secondary plant compounds remains unclear. In the Amazonian rainforest, pregnant and lactating bats are frequently observed and captured at mineral licks. We measured the nitrogen isotope ratio in wing tissue of omnivorous short-tailed fruit bats, Carollia perspicillata, and in an obligate fruit-eating bat, Artibeus obscurus, captured at mineral licks and at control sites in the rainforest. Carollia perspicillata with a plant-dominated diet were more often captured at mineral licks than individuals with an insect-dominated diet, although insects were more mineral depleted than fruits. In contrast, nitrogen isotope ratios of A. obscurus did not differ between individuals captured at mineral lick versus control sites. We conclude that pregnant and lactating fruit-eating bats do not visit mineral licks principally for minerals, but instead to buffer the effects of secondary plant compounds that they ingest in large quantities during periods of high energy demand. These findings have potential implications for the role of mineral licks for mammals in general, including humans.     

Effect of mineral nitrogen on nitrogen nutrition and biomass partitioning between the shoot and roots of pea (Pisum sativum L.).

The effect of mineral N availability on nitrogen nutrition and biomass partitioning between shoot and roots of pea (Pisum sativum L., cv Baccara) was investigated under adequately watered conditions in the field, using five levels of fertiliser N application at sowing (0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 kg N ha^–1). Although the presence of mineral N in the soil stimulated vegetative growth, resulting in a higher biomass accumulation in shoots in the fertilised treatments, neither seed yield nor seed nitrogen concentration was affected by soil mineral N availability. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation was inhibited by mineral N in the soil but it was replaced by root mineral N absorption, which resulted in optimum nitrogen nutrition for all treatments. However, the excessive nitrogen and biomass accumulation in the shoot of the 400 kg N ha^–1 treatment caused crop lodging and slightly depressed seed yield and seed nitrogen content. Thus, the presumed higher carbon costs of symbiotic nitrogen fixation, as compared to root mineral N absorption, affected neither seed yield nor the nitrogen nutrition level. However, biomass partitioning within the nodulated roots was changed. The more symbiotic nitrogen fixation was inhibited, the more root growth was enhanced. Root biomass was greater when soil mineral N availability was increased: root growth was greater and began earlier for plants that received mineral N at sowing. Rooting density was also promoted by increased mineral N availability, leading to more numerous but finer roots for the fertilised treatments. However, the maximum rooting depth and the distribution of roots with depth were unchanged. This suggested an additional direct promoting effect of mineral N on root proliferation.     

Internal Porosity of Mineral Coating Supports Microbial Activity in Rapid Sand Filters for Groundwater Treatment

A mineral coating develops on the filter grain surface when groundwater is treated via rapid sand filtration in drinking water production. The coating changes the physical and chemical properties of the filter material, but little is known about its effect on the activity, colonization, diversity, and abundance of microbiota. This study reveals that a mineral coating can positively affect the colonization and activity of microbial communities in rapid sand filters. To understand this effect, we investigated the abundance, spatial distribution, colonization, and diversity of all and of nitrifying prokaryotes in filter material with various degrees of mineral coating. We also examined the physical and chemical characteristics of the mineral coating. The amount of mineral coating correlated positively with the internal porosity, the packed bulk density, and the biologically available surface area of the filter material. The volumetric NH₄⁺ removal rate also increased with the degree of mineral coating. Consistently, bacterial 16S rRNA and amoA abundances positively correlated with increased mineral coating levels. Microbial colonization could be visualized mainly within the outer periphery (60.6 ± 35.6 μm) of the mineral coating, which had a thickness of up to 600 ± 51 μm. Environmental scanning electron microscopic (E-SEM) observations suggested an extracellular polymeric substance-rich matrix and submicron-sized bacterial cells. Nitrifier diversity profiles were similar irrespective of the degree of mineral coating, as indicated by pyrosequencing analysis. Overall, our results demonstrate that mineral coating positively affects microbial colonization and activity in rapid sand filters, most likely due to increased volumetric cell abundances facilitated by the large surface area of internal mineral porosity accessible for microbial colonization.     

基于GIS的山西省矿产资源规划环境影响评价

基于目前我国矿产资源规划编制过程中的环境评价,提出了一种基于GIS(Geographic Information System)技术,实现矿产资源规划环境影响定量评价方法。在对规划区环境现状进行大尺度综合评价的基础上,利用GIS的空间分析功能,有针对性的实现规划区敏感环境保护目标的筛选、环境影响范围的确定和矿产资源开发对环境保护目标影响程度的定量表达。结合山西省矿产资源规划方案,根据山西省各区域资源开发对敏感保护目标的影响特征,在定量计算各区域环境现状综合评价分级的基础上,分别对其生态环境、水环境、地质环境等方面的影响进行评价和预测,结果显示:山西省矿产资源规划空间布局总体合理,不会对敏感环境保护目标造成严重破坏,但部分矿产资源开采区距离保护目标较近,需要在矿产资源规划实施中加以保护。提出的评价方法较好地兼顾矿产资源开发与区域环境保护,可以有效地提高矿产资源规划环境评价结果的准确性和科学性;该方法可以综合地、定量地评价矿产资源规划对不同环境保护目标的影响程度和范围,为矿产资源规划方案的修订提供有价值的参考。     

Morphological aspects of the mineral phase of the bone

By means of light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy structure of the mineral phase of human compact bone have been studied. Mechanical properties of deorganified bone samples have been determined. High compressive strength may be in connection with interactions of plate-like mineral particles at the level of hydrate shell of the bone mineral crystallites.     

On the role of bone damage in calcium homeostasis

Bone serves as the reservoir of some minerals including calcium. If calcium is needed anywhere in the body, it can be removed from the bone matrix by resorption and put back into the blood flow. During bone remodelling the resorbed tissue is replaced by osteoid which gets mineralized very slowly. Then, calcium homeostasis is controlled by bone remodelling, among other processes: the more intense is the remodelling activity, the lower is the mineral content of bone matrix. Bone remodelling is initiated by the presence of microstructural damage. Some experimental evidences show that the fatigue properties of bone are degraded and more microdamage is accumulated due to the external load as the mineral content increases. That damage initiates bone remodelling and the mineral content is so reduced. Therefore, this process prevents the mineral content of bone matrix to reach very high (non-physiological) values. A bone remodelling model has been used to simulate this regulatory process. In this model, damage is an initiation factor for bone remodelling and is estimated through a fatigue algorithm, depending on the macroscopic strain level. Mineral content depends on bone remodelling and mineralization rate. Finally, the bone fatigue properties are defined as dependent on the mineral content, closing the interconnection between damage and mineral content. The remodelling model was applied to a simplified example consisting of a bar under tension with an initially heterogeneous mineral distribution. Considering the fatigue properties as dependent on the mineral content, the mineral distribution tends to be homogeneous with an ash fraction within the physiological range. If such dependance is not considered and fatigue properties are assumed constant, the homogenization is not always achieved and the mineral content may rise up to high non-physiological values. Thus, the interconnection between mineral content and fatigue properties is essential for the maintenance of bone's structural integrity as well as for the calcium homeostasis.