Sex-related adaptive responses of Populus cathayana to photoperiod transitions

Populus cathayana Rehd., a dioecious tree species, occupies a wide range of habitats in southwest China. Both males and females were grown under two regimes of photoperiod, from mid-length to short-day photoperiod (SD shift), or to long-day photoperiod (LD shift). SD shift triggered leaf senescence in both males and females by decreasing net photosynthesis rate ( A ), transpiration ( E ), and chlorophyll pigment ( Chl ), non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) and indoleacetic acid (IAA) contents, while increasing abscisic acid (ABA), malonaldehyde (MDA) and free proline (Pro) contents. The antioxidant enzyme (e.g. POD, CAT and SOD) activities and capability to maintain ultrastructural integrity also decreased under SD shift. Males exhibited faster leaf senescence than did females, as shown by greater decreases in A , E , Chl and IAA. However, males maintained a less senescent stage than did females, as indicated by higher values of A , Chl , NSC, IAA and antioxidant enzyme activities. Conversely, A , E , NSC and IAA contents and antioxidant enzyme activities were enhanced by lower O₂^•− in females, whereas reduced by higher O₂^•− in males under LD shift. Such sex-dependent responses of P. cathayana to photoperiod transitions showed that males and females possess different adaptabilities, which may relate to sex-specific leaf senescence speed under changing environments.     

铝胁迫对青杨雌雄幼苗生理生态特征的影响

以青杨雌雄幼苗为对象,研究铝胁迫(Al³⁺浓度为216 mg·kg^-1)下其生理生态特征及光合作用的差异.结果表明：铝胁迫下,青杨幼苗的丙二醛和可溶性蛋白含量显著增加(P<0.001),且雄株的丙二醛显著低于雌株,而可溶性蛋白显著高于雌株;雄株过氧化物酶活性显著增加、超氧化物歧化酶活性显著降低,而雌株无显著变化;雌雄幼苗的光合速率显著降低(P=0.001),雌株的蒸腾速率显著下降(P=0.007)、瞬时水分利用效率显著增加,而雄株均无显著变化;雌株幼苗的叶绿素a含量、总叶绿素含量和叶绿素a/b值显著降低,而雄株的叶绿素a/b值显著高于雌株;雌株的比叶面积显著降低、雄株的比叶面积显著增加,而叶和茎的干物质量无显著变化.与雌株相比,青杨雄株的可溶性蛋白含量、抗氧化酶活性、叶绿素含量和光合速率较高,其抗逆性更强.     

Effects of exogenous spermidine on antioxidant system of tomato seedlings exposed to high temperature stress

The effects of foliar spraying with spermidine (Spd) on antioxidant system in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedlings were investigated under high temperature stress. The high temperature stress significantly inhibited plant growth and reduced chlorophyll (Chl) content. Application of exogenous 1 mM Spd alleviated the inhibition of growth induced by the high temperature stress. Malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) content and superoxide anion (O₂) generation rate were significantly increased by the high temperature stress, but Spd significantly reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MDA content under the stress. The high temperature stress significantly decreased glutathione (GSH) content and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), but increased contents of dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), ascorbic acid (AsA), and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in tomato leaves. However, Spd significantly increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, levels of antioxidants and endogenous polyamines in tomato leaves under the high temperature stress. In addition, to varying degrees, Spd regulated expression of MnSOD, POD, APX2, APX6, GR, MDHAR, DHAR1, and DHAR2 genes in tomato leaves exposed to the high temperature stress. These results suggest that Spd could change endogenous polyamine levels and alleviate the damage by oxidative stress enhancing the non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant system and the related gene expression.     

Nitrogen nutrient status induces sexual differences in responses to cadmium in Populus yunnanensis

Populus yunnanensis was employed as a model species to detect sexual differences in growth, physiological, biochemical, and ultrastructural responses to cadmium (Cd) stress, nitrogen (N) deposition, and their combination. Compared with the control conditions, Cd decreased plant biomass, damaged the photosynthetic apparatus, visible as a decreased maximum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII; F(v)/F(m)) and effective quantum yield of PSII (Yield), depressed gas exchange capacity, and induced oxidative stress, visible as the disruption of antioxidative enzymes and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), in both sexes. On the other hand, Cd toxicity was mitigated by the recovery of gas exchange capacity, a decrease in ROS, and improvement of the redox imbalance in both sexes when N deposition was applied. However, males showed a higher gas exchange capacity, lower enzyme inhibition and ROS accumulation, stronger abilities to maintain cellular redox homeostasis, and a better maintenance of chloroplast ultrastructure than did females when exposed to Cd stress alone. Although males exhibited a higher Cd content in leaves than did females, males also accumulated higher levels of non-protein thiols (NP-SHs) and free amino acids (FAAs) for detoxification than did females. Sexual differences induced by Cd, visible, for example, in F(v)/F(m), Yield, net photosynthesis rate (A), and stomatal conductance (g(s)), decreased under N deposition, as no significant differences between the sexes existed in these parameters under the combined treatment. The results indicated that females are more sensitive to Cd stress and suffer more injuries than do males. Moreover, N deposition can mitigate Cd toxicity and decrease sexual differences in Cd sensitivity.     

Salicylic acid and calcium-induced protection of wheat against salinity

Soil salinity is one of the important environmental factors that produce serious agricultural problems. The objective of the present study was to determine the interactive effect of salicylic acid (SA) and calcium (Ca) on plant growth, photosynthetic pigments, proline (Pro) concentration, carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity and activities of antioxidant enzymes of Triticum aestivum L. (cv. Samma) under salt stress. Application of 90 mM of NaCl reduced plant growth (plant height, fresh weight (FW) and dry weight (DW), chlorophyll (Chl) a, Chl b, CA activity) and enhanced malondialdehyde (MDA) and Pro concentration. However, the application of SA or Ca alone as well as in combination markedly improved plant growth, photosynthetic pigments, Pro concentration, CA activity and activities of antioxidant enzymes peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) under salt stress. It was, therefore, concluded that application of SA and Ca alone as well as in combination ameliorated the adverse effect of salinity, while combined application proved more effective to reduce the oxidative stress generated by NaCl through reduced MDA accumulation, Chl a/b ratio and Chls degradation and enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes.     

Fine and coarse regulation of reactive oxygen species in the salt tolerant mutants of barnyard grass and their wild-type parents under salt stress

The growth of the wild-type and three salt tolerant mutants of barnyard grass ( Echinochloa crusgalli L.) under salt stress was investigated in relation to oxidative stress and activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD: EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT: EC 1.11.1.6), phenol peroxidase (POD: EC 1.11.1.7), glutathione reductase (GR: EC 1.8.1.7) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX: EC 1.11.1.1). The three mutants ( fows B17, B19 and B21) grew significantly better than the wild-type under salt stress (200 m M NaCl) but some salt sensitive individuals were still detectable in the populations of the mutants though in smaller numbers compared with the wild-type. The salt sensitive plants had slower growth rates, higher rates of lipid peroxidation and higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in their leaves compared with the more tolerant plants from the same genotype. These sensitivity responses were maximized when the plants were grown under high light intensity suggesting that the chloroplast could be a main source of ROS under salt stress. However, the salt sensitivity did not correlate with reduced K ⁺/Na ⁺ ratios or enhanced Na ⁺ uptake indicating that the sensitivity responses may be mainly because of accumulation of ROS rather than ion toxicity. SOD activities did not correlate to salt tolerance. Salt stress resulted in up to 10-fold increase in CAT activity in the sensitive plants but lower activities were found in the tolerant ones. In contrast, the activities of POD, APX and GR were down regulated in the sensitive plants compared with the tolerant ones. A correlation between plant growth, accumulation of ROS and differential modulation of antioxidant enzymes is discussed. We conclude that loss of activities of POD, APX and GR causes loss of fine regulation of ROS levels and hence the plants experience oxidative stress although they have high CAT activities.     

高温对水稻开花期剑叶抗氧化酶活性及基因表达的影响

以杂交水稻‘Ⅱ优838’为研究材料,检测了高温胁迫下‘Ⅱ优838’开花期剑叶中叶绿素含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性及SOD、CAT、POD基因的表达水平。结果显示,高温胁迫使‘Ⅱ优838’剑叶中叶绿素含量及叶绿素a和叶绿素b含量的比值(Chl a/Chl b)降低且下降幅度显著低于‘冈优725’(对照);SOD和POD活性增高且增幅显著大于‘冈优725’,但CAT活性降低且降幅显著小于‘冈优725’;热胁迫使‘Ⅱ优838’剑叶中SOD、CAT和POD基因的表达量显著增加。说明‘Ⅱ优838’在开花期遭遇高温胁迫后能保持较高的光合效率,并通过提高抗氧化保护酶的基因表达水平以维持较高的活性来应答高温胁迫,这为深入剖析水稻高温胁迫下的生理反应和适应机理提供了参考。     

Salt stress induced sex-related spatial heterogeneity of gas exchange rates over the leaf surface in Populus cathayana Rehd.

The sex-related spatial heterogeneity of gas exchange rates over the leaf surface under salt stress was investigated in the dioecious species, Populus cathayana Rehd. Cuttings were subjected to two salt regimes: 0 and 75 mM NaCl added to the Hoagland solution, the control and the treatment group, respectively. Measurements of gas exchange parameters were taken from over 40 sites on the surfaces of representative ‘non-stressed’ and ‘salt-treated’ leaves which had the same insertion point for two sexual cuttings. Compared to the control group, the treatment group showed a significant decrease in the mean values of the following: water use efficiency (WUE), Chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration, chlorophyll b (Chl b) concentration, concentration of carotenoids (Caro), total chlorophyll concentration (TC) in two sexes, and net photosynthesis rate (P _n), stomatal conductance (g _s), and stomatal length/width ratio (SR) in females. Also, in the treatment group, females exhibited lower WUE, P _n, g _s, E, Chl a, Chl b, TC, and SR than males. Comparison of contour maps showed that the net photosynthesis rate decreased gradually from apical to basal zones over the leaf surface occurred in the two sexes under natural conditions, but under salt stress, the opposite trend was found in females only. The results suggest that the heterogeneity pattern of the gas exchange parameters in response to salt stress between the two sexes is quite different due to different strategies employed by males and females to maintain the photosynthesis rate under salt stress. This heterogeneity phenomenon under salt stress may mainly be attributed to the chlorophyll pigments in males and the stomatal apertures in females.     

Transgenic overproduction of glutathione reductase does not protect cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (Malvaceae), from photoinhibition during growth under chilling conditions

In some studies, tissues from plants that have been genetically transformed to overproduce antioxidant enzymes sustain less damage when abruptly exposed to short-term chilling in the laboratory. However, few studies have examined the performance of transgenic plants during longer-term growth under chilling conditions. We compared growth of transgenic cotton that overproduces glutathione reductase (GR+; ～40-fold overproduction) to growth of the wild type in a controlled environment chamber as leaf temperature was lowered from 28° to 14°C over 9 d and for a subsequent 9-d period at 14°C. In wild-type and GR+ cotton, chilling temperatures resulted in decreased dark-adapted F(v)/F(m) (the ratio of variable to maximal fluorescence; a measure of maximum photosystem II quantum yield) and mid-light period photosystem II quantum yield, coupled with increased 1 - q(P) (a nonlinear estimate of the reduction state of the primary quinone acceptor of photosystem II). The capacity for photosynthetic oxygen evolution decreased during the first portion of the chilling exposure, but recovered slightly during the second half. At no point during the chilling exposure did the performance of GR+ plants differ significantly from that of wild-type plants in any of the above parameters. The absence of an effect of GR overproduction under longer-term chilling may be explained, in part, by the fact that wild-type cotton acclimated to chilling by upregulating native GR activity.     

铬(Cr6+)对水花生愈伤组织的毒害效应

研究了不同浓度的Cr6+(0、0.1、0.2、0.5、1.5 mmolL-1)对水花生愈伤组织内几种代表性生理生化指标的胁迫效应,并对其进行电镜观察.结果表明:(1)随着Cr6+浓度的增加,总叶绿素、叶绿素a/b和可溶性蛋白含量,均呈先升后降趋势.(2)超氧阴离子(O 2)和过氧化氢(H2O2)含量在0.1 mmo...     

硝基苯酚胁迫下外源褪黑素对水稻幼苗生长及生理特性的影响

采用液体培养实验方法,研究硝基苯酚胁迫对水稻(Oryza sativa L.)幼苗生长、抗氧化特性、光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)光合特性的影响,以及添加外源褪黑素对缓解硝基苯酚胁迫的作用。结果显示,随着硝基苯酚胁迫浓度的升高,水稻幼苗株高、根长、地下部干重、地上部干重、全株干重和叶片PSⅡ实际光化学效率[Y(Ⅱ)]、光化学淬灭系数(q P)、PSⅡ电子传递速率(ETR)、叶绿素含量均有所下降,而叶片非光化学淬灭系数(qN、NPQ)上升;同时,根系活性氧[过氧化氢(H_2O_2)和超氧阴离子(O·-2)]积累量、抗氧化酶[超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)]活性,以及渗透调节物质(可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖)含量呈先升高后降低的趋势。在非硝基苯酚胁迫下,与对照组相比,添加外源褪黑素显著提高了幼苗地下部干重、根系可溶性糖含量和SOD活性、叶片PSⅡ光化学效率和叶绿素含量。与单独添加硝基苯酚处理相比,硝基苯酚+褪黑素复合处理显著缓解了硝基苯酚胁迫对幼苗生长、叶片PSⅡ光化学效率和叶绿素合成的抑制作用;降低了根系活性氧水平、抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质含量。研究结果表明添加外源褪黑素能够显著缓解硝基苯酚胁迫对水稻幼苗生长、根系活性氧水平、抗氧化酶活性、叶片PSⅡ光化学效率及叶绿素合成的不良影响,提高水稻幼苗对硝基苯酚胁迫的适应性。     

Sex-specific responses of Populus cathayana to drought and elevated temperatures

Dioecious plant species represent an important component of terrestrial ecosystems. Yet, little is known about sex-specific responses to drought and elevated temperatures. Populus cathayana Rehd, which is a dioecious, deciduous tree species, widely distributed in the northern, central and southwestern regions of China, was employed as a model species in our study. In closed-top chamber experiments, sex-specific morphological, physiological and biochemical responses of P. cathayana to drought and different elevated temperatures were investigated. Compared with the controls, drought significantly decreased the growth and the net photosynthesis rate (A), and increased the intrinsic water use efficiency (WUE(i)), carbon isotope composition (delta13C), and the malondialdehyde (MDA) and abscisic acid (ABA) contents in droughted plants. In contrast, elevated temperatures significantly promoted the growth and the A, but decreased the WUE(i), delta13C, MDA and ABA contents in well-watered individuals. When compared with males, elevated temperatures induced well-watered females to express a greater increase in the height growth (HG), basal diameter (BD), leaf area (LA), total number of leaves (TNL), dry matter accumulation (DMA) and specific leaf area (SLA), and a lower decrease in the A value, transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (g(s)), MDA and ABA contents, while elevated temperatures induced drought-stressed females to exhibit lower values of HG, BD, LA, TNL, DMA, A, E, g(s) and the intercellular CO2 concentration (C(i)), and higher levels of SLA, WUE(i), delta13C, MDA and ABA contents. Our results indicated that the female individuals of P. cathayana are more responsive and suffer from greater negative effects than do males when grown under environments with increased drought stress and elevated temperature.     

Chloroplast ultrastructure, chlorophyll fluorescence, and pigment composition in chilling-stressed soybeans

Shoots of 16-day-old soybeans (Glycine max L. Merr. cv Ransom) were chilled to 10°C for 7 days and monitored for visible signs of damage, ultrastructural changes, perturbations in fluorescence of chlorophyll (Chl), and quantitative changes in Chl a and b and associated pigments. Precautions were taken to prevent the confounding effects of water stress. A technique for the separation of lutein and zeaxanthin was developed utilizing a step gradient with the high performance liquid chromatograph. Visible losses in Chl were detectable within the first day of chilling, and regreening did not occur until the shoots were returned to 25°C. Ultrastructurally, unstacking of chloroplast grana occurred, and the envelope membranes developed protrusions. Furthermore, the lipids were altered to the point that the membranes were poorly stabilized by a glutaraldehyde/osmium double-fixation procedure. Chl fluorescence rates were greatly reduced within 2 hours after chilling began and returned to normal only after rewarming. The rapid loss of Chl that occurred during chilling was accompanied by the appearance of zeaxanthin and a decline in violaxanthin. Apparently a zeaxanthin-violaxanthin epoxidation/de-epoxidation cycle was operating. When only the roots were chilled, no substantial changes were detected in ultrastructure, fluorescence rates, or pigment levels.     

28-homobrassinolide improves growth and photosynthesis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis sativus</Emphasis> L. through an enhanced antioxidant system in the presence of chilling stress

The ameliorative role of 28-homobrassinolide under chilling stress in various growth, photosynthesis, enzymes and biochemical parameters of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) were investigated. Cucumber seedlings were sprayed with 0 (control), 10⁻⁸, or 10⁻⁶ M of 28-homobrassinolide at the 30-day stage. 48 h after treatment plants were exposed for 18 h to chilling temperature (10/8°C, 5/3°C). The most evident effect of chilling stress was the marked reduction in plant growth, chlorophyll (Chl) content, and net photosynthetic rate, efficiency of photosystem II and activities of nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase. Moreover, the activities of antioxidant enzymes; catalase (E.C. 1.11.1.6), peroxidase (E.C.1.11.1.7), superoxide dismutase (E.C. 1.15.1.1) along with the proline content in leaves of the cucumber seedlings increased in proportion to chilling temperature. The stressed seedlings of cucumber pretreated with 28-homobrassinolide maintained a higher value of antioxidant enzymes and proline content over the control suggesting the protective mechanism against the ill-effect caused by chilling stress might be operative through an improved antioxidant system. Furthermore, the protective role of 28-homobrassinolide was reflected in improved growth, water relations, photosynthesis and maximum quantum yield of photosystem II both in the presence and absence of chilling stress.     

Sex‐specific responses and tolerances of Populus cathayana to salinity

Responses of males and females to salinity were studied in order to reveal sex‐specific adaptation and evolution in Populus cathayana Rehd cuttings. This dioecious tree species plays an important role in maintaining ecological stability and providing commercial raw material in southwest China. Female and male cuttings of P. cathayana were treated for about 1 month with 0, 75 and 150 mM NaCl. Plant growth traits, gas exchange parameters, chlorophyll pigments, intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi), membrane system injuries, ion transport and ultrastructural morphology were assessed and compared between sexes. Salt stress caused less negative effects on the dry matter accumulation, growth rate of height, growth rate of stem base diameter, total number of leaves and photosynthetic abilities in males than in females. Relative electrolyte leakage increased more in females than in males under salinity stress. Soil salinity reduced the amounts of leaf chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll, and the chlorophyll a/b ratio more in females than in males. WUEi decreased in both sexes under salinity. Regarding the ultrastructural morphology, thylakoid swelling in chloroplasts and degrading structures in mitochondria were more frequent in females than in males. Moreover, females exhibited significantly higher Na⁺ and Cl^? concentrations in leaves and stems, but lower concentrations in roots than did males under salinity. In all, female cuttings of P. cathayana are more sensitive to salinity stress than males, which could be partially due to males having a better ability to restrain Na⁺ transport from roots to shoots than do females.     

Sexually differential tolerance to water deficiency of Salix paraplesia—A female‐biased alpine willow

Salicaceae plants are dioecious woody plants. Previous studies have shown that male individuals are more tolerant to water deficiency than females for male‐biased poplars. However, Salix paraplesia is a female‐biased species in nature. It is still unknown whether female willows are more tolerant to drought stress than males. To better understand the sexually different tolerance to water deficiency in willows, a greenhouse experiment combined with a field investigation was conducted, and physiological traits were tested in male and female S. paraplesia under a drought‐stressed condition (50% of soil water capacity). Our field investigation showed that S. paraplesia was a species with female‐biased sex ratio along altitude gradients (2,400 m, 2,600 m and 2,800 m) in their natural habitats. Our results showed that the height growth, biomass accumulation, total chlorophyll pigment content (TChl), and the net photosynthetic rate were higher in female willows than in males at the low and middle altitudes (2,400 m and 2,600 m) rather than at a high altitude (2,800 m) under well‐watered conditions. Under drought‐stressed conditions, the growth, biomass, and photosynthesis were greatly inhibited in both sexes, while females showed higher biomass and TChl content and suffered less negative effects than did males. Particularly, females that originated from a high altitude showed lower leaf relative electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde content, and less disorder of chloroplast ultrastructures but a higher peroxidase activity (POD) than that of males. Therefore, S. paraplesia females exhibited a better drought tolerance and self‐protective ability than males from high altitude. There is a reason to speculate that the population structure of S. paraplesia at a high altitude would be likely to further female biases with the increased drought intensity in the alpine regions.     

淹水胁迫对青杨雌雄幼苗生理特性和生长的影响

为揭示青杨(Populus cathayana)雌雄幼苗对淹水胁迫的适应性, 在实验地内通过土培盆栽淹水方式从植株生理生态和生长发育方面探讨淹水胁迫对青杨扦插苗的影响。试验分为对照和淹水2个处理, 处理时间为40天。结果显示: (1)淹水胁迫导致青杨幼苗叶片中的丙二醛(MDA)含量和茎部淹水区的不定根数显著升高, 植株的净光合速率(P_n)、叶绿素含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、株高、基径、总叶面积、比叶面积(SLA)、根生物量、叶生物量、茎生物量、总生物量干重和根冠比(R/S)显著降低。(2)与雄株相比, 淹水胁迫显著增加了雌株幼苗的MDA含量, 降低了SOD活性、P_n、类胡萝卜素(Caro)含量、叶绿素a/b、SLA、根生物量和R/S, 并导致雄株在淹水胁迫下具有比雌株更高的气孔导度(G_s)、胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、不定根数和株高。可见, 淹水胁迫对青杨雌雄幼苗的形态生长和生理过程均有严重的抑制作用, 但表现出显著的性别间差异。雄株可以通过维持更高的光合作用能力和增加不定根数量来维持植株的生长, 从而表现出比雌株更强的抗逆性。     

Characteristics of chlorophyll fluorescence and antioxidative system in super-hybrid rice and its parental cultivars under chilling stress

Characteristics of chlorophyll fluorescence and antioxidative system were investigated in rice (Oryza sativa L.) super-hybrid Liangyoupeijiu (LYPJ), maternal cultivar Peiai64s, and paternal cultivar indica rice 9311 under chilling stress. During 6-d chilling treatment, chlorophyll content of all three genotypes was gradually declined. However, the decrease in photosystem 2 (PS 2) maximum photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m) and quantum yield of PS 2 (Φ_PS2) was less expressive in LYPJ than in parental cultivars The electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content in all cultivars increased after chilling treatment, but LYPJ exhibited the least increasing tendency. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) were higher in LYPJ than in parental cultivars. The results demonstrated that tolerance to chilling stress in LYPJ might be adopted mostly from its maternal cultivar.     

Cu2+对菱叶片生理指标及超微结构的毒理学效应分析

研究了不同Cu²⁺处理浓度(0、0.002、0.004、0.006、0.008 mmol.L^-1)对菱叶片叶绿素含量和叶绿素荧光参数、膜脂过氧化和抗氧化系统等的影响,并用透射电镜观察了其叶细胞超微结构的变化。试验结果表明:随着Cu²⁺浓度的增加:(1)叶绿素含量、Fv/Fo和Fv/Fm显著下降,Fo显著上升;(2)活性氧(AOS)产生速率、丙二醛(MDA)含量、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性逐渐升高;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、游离脯氨酸(Pro)和可溶性糖含量显著下降;抗坏血酸(AsA)、还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)含量呈先升后降趋势,且始终高于对照;(3)电镜观察发现,Cu²⁺对叶片细胞器的超微结构特别是叶绿体、线粒体和细胞核造成严重损伤。以上结果表明,本试验过量Cu²⁺的胁迫破坏了菱正常生理生化活动,并造成功能紊乱,最终导致菱的死亡。     

不同性别桑树幼苗对镉与酸雨复合处理的生长响应及镉积累差异

为研究不同性别桑树在镉(Cd)与酸雨(AR)复合处理条件下的生长与镉积累差异,本试验以‘强桑1号’(雌株)和‘农桑14号’(雄株)两种不同性别桑树为材料,研究重金属镉(100 mg·kg^-1干土)和模拟酸雨(pH 3.0)处理下,两者生物量积累和分配、最大净光合速率(A_max)和叶绿素荧光参数,以及Cd积累与分配的差异.试验共设置无Cd和AR(对照)、单独Cd、单独AR、Cd+AR复合4个处理.结果表明:单独Cd处理虽然显著增加了雌株和雄株根茎叶中Cd含量,而且雌株各部分Cd含量显著高于雄株,但是只有雄株根、茎和总生物量、最大净光合速率显著下降,而雌株除了A_max显著下降外,各部分生物量积累下降均不显著,且两者的最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)、光化学淬灭系数(q_P)和非光化学淬灭系数(q_N)均未发生显著变化.复合处理下,雄株和雌株的总生物量、A_max均显著降低,与单独镉处理相比,雌株根和叶中的Cd含量显著升高,但雄株没有明显变化,两者的F_v/F_m、q_P没有显著变化,但q_N均显著降低.短时间处理下桑树雌株对单独镉胁迫的耐受性高于雄株,但是酸雨的加入会降低雌株对镉的耐受性,可能是因为酸雨促进雌株根系对镉的吸收,并导致叶片积累了更多的镉.