Assessment of soil degradation in regions of nuclear power explosions at Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site

Degree of the soil cover degradation at the "Balapan" and "Experimental field" test sites was assessed based on Allium-test of soil toxicity results and international guidelines on radioactive restriction of solid materials (IAEA, 2004) and environment (Smith, 2005). Soil cover degradation maps of large-scale (1 : 25000) were made. The main part of the area mapped belongs to high-contaminated toxic degraded soil. A relationship between the soil toxicity and the total radionuclide activity concentrations was found to be described by power functions. When the calculated value (equal to 413-415 Bq/kg of air dry soil) increases, the soil becomes toxic for plants. This value is 7.8 times higher than the maximal value for background territories (53 Bq/kg) surrounding SNTS. Russian sanitary and hygienic guidelines (Radiation safety norms, 2009; Sanitary regulations of radioactive waste management, 2003) underestimate the degree of soil radioactive contamination for plants.     

Preliminary study of Lead (Pb) immobilization by meat and bone meal combustion residues (MBMCR) in soil: Assessment of Pb toxicity (phytotoxicity and genotoxicity) using the tobacco model (Nicotiana tabacum var. xanthi Dulieu)

Lead (Pb) is a major chemical pollutant in the environment. The present investigation evaluates the possible use of Meat and Bone Meal Combustion Residues (MBMCR), to sequester Pb from the soil compartment using the heterozygous tobacco model (Nicotiana tabacum var. xanthi Dulieu) characterized by the a1+ /a1 a2+ /a2 system. The toxic potential of Pb-contaminations (50, 100, 1,000, 2,000 and 10,000 mg Pb kg(-1)) as Pb(NO3) in standard soil was investigated in lab conditions according to three endpoints: (i) acute toxicity of plants (mortality, height and surface area parameters), (ii) Pb-accumulation in roots, stems and leaves, and (iii) genetic effects as the expression of reversion in the leaf of plants. Moreover, chemical investigations of Pb interactions with soil were realized to complete the toxicity evaluation. The results demonstrated that: (i) MBMCR were not acutely toxic or genotoxic to tobacco plants, (ii) Pb is acutely toxic to tobacco plants at 10,000 mg Pb kg(-1) of soil, (ii) but is not genotoxic, and (iii) Pb-bioaccumulation is significant in leaves, stems and roots (from 1,000, 2,000, and 50 mg Pb kg(-1) of soil, respectively). In contrast, in the presence of MBMCR, the toxic impacts of Pb were inhibited and Pb-accumulation in tobacco plants was reduced. In complement, chemical analyses highlighted the high capacity of the standard soil to immobilize Pb. The results suggest that even if Pb is bioavailable from soils to plants, complex mechanisms could occur in plants protecting them from the toxic impact of Pb.     

Concentration of Radiocesium in the Wild Japanese Monkey (Macaca fuscata) over the First 15 Months after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster

Following the massive earthquake that struck eastern Japan on March 11, 2011, a nuclear reactor core meltdown occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company, and was followed by the release of large amounts of radioactive materials. The objective of this study was to measure the concentration of radiocesium ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs in the muscle of Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) inhabiting the forest area of Fukushima City and to determine the change in concentration over time as well as the relationship with the level of soil contamination. Cesium concentrations in the muscle of monkeys captured at locations with 100,000–300,000 Bq/m² were 6,000–25,000 Bq/kg in April 2011 and decreased over 3 months to around 1,000 Bq/kg. However, the concentration increased again to 2,000–3,000 Bq/kg in some animals during and after December 2011 before returning to 1,000 Bq/kg in April 2012, after which it remained relatively constant. This pattern of change in muscle radiocesium concentration was similar to that of the change in radiocesium concentration in atmospheric fallout. Moreover, the monkeys feed on winter buds and the cambium layer of tree bark potentially containing higher concentrations of radiocesium than that in the diet during the rest of the year. The muscle radiocesium concentration in the monkeys related significantly with the level of soil contamination at the capture locations.     

Cesium and cobalt transfer from soil to vegetation on permanent pastures

Summary The Cs transfer from soil into pasture vegetation was investigated by using a variation of experimental conditions: (I) 67 pots with 7 kg soil from 3 marshy and 1 sandy site in the lower Weser region in Northwest Germany are used in a greenhouse with¹³⁴CS under 8 different experimental procedures for 2 harvests; (II) 3 undisturbed 50 kg lysimeters were observed for¹³⁷Cs and⁶⁰Co transfer under outdoor conditions for 4 harvests, depth profiles of the activity were determined afterwards; (III) the transfer of the atmospheric fallout¹³⁷Cs directly to the vegetation and from soil to vegetation after preventing its direct uptake by plastic covers was determined at 4 locations in the open pasture.The experiments resulted in higher Cs transfer in the case of podzolic soil and/or direct injection of Cs solution into the rooting zone of old permanent pasture vegetation while the Cs transfer was about 2–4 fold lower when the radioactive solution was applied to newly sown grass. Transfer often decreases with increasing age of Cs in the soil. In addition, statistical analysis of the widely scattered data did not show significant results for the influence of type of marsh, experimental procedure, soil factors with pH of (4.5–6.1), organic carbon, amount of added Cs (microquantity), exchangeable, K, and total Ca.Some figures are given for⁶⁰Co. The observed transfer factors, combined from all experiments appear lognormally distributed with median values 0.22 on podzolic and 0.09 on marshy soils (Bq/kg fresh plant per Bq/kg air dried soil).Research performed under contract with the Bundesminister des Innern (Federal Minister of Interior), Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany     

Fate of radiocesium in freshwater aquatic plants and algae in the vicinity of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant

The behavior of radiocesium (¹³⁷Cs) in aquatic plants (five species) and algae (three genera) grown in either a river (one sampling point) or pond (four sampling points) in the vicinity of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was investigated. The ¹³⁷Cs concentration of <0.45-μm fractions of water taken from the river and ponds was between 5.01 × 10^?1 and 2.98 Bq/L, while that of sediment was between 4.85 × 10³ and 5.72 × 10⁴ Bq/kg dry weight. The ratio of ¹³⁷Cs concentration of sediment/water in ponds was ~10⁴. The sediment-to-plant transfer factor (TF) [(¹³⁷Cs concentration Bq/kg dry weight_plant) × (¹³⁷Cs concentration Bq/kg dry weight_sediment)^?1] was also measured. For aquatic plants, the highest value was 5.55 for Potamogeton crispus from the river, while the lowest was 3.34 × 10^?2 for P. distinctus from a pond. There were significant differences in values between aquatic plants belonging to the same genus. The water-to-plant TF [(¹³⁷Cs concentration Bq/kg dry weight_plant) × (¹³⁷Cs concentration Bq/L_water)^?1] of filamentous algae (Spirogyra sp.) and cyanobacteria (coexisting Anabaena sp. and Microcystis sp.) were 2.39 × 10³ and 1.26 × 10³, respectively. The ¹³⁷Cs concentration of cyanobacteria in pond water was 4.87 × 10^?1 Bq/L, which was the same order of magnitude as the ¹³⁷Cs concentration of pond water. Enrichment of ¹³⁷Cs in cyanobacteria was not observed.     

Genetic variability in Scotch pine populations of the Bryansk Region radioactively contaminated in the Chernobyl accident

The method of isozyme analysis of megagametophytes is used to estimate the genetic variability in Scotch pine populations (Pinus sylvestris L.) of the Bryansk Region sites with contrasting levels of radioactive contamination (soil ¹³⁷Cs, 60 to 17 800 Bq/kg) resulting from the Chernobyl accident. All indices of genetic variability (heterozygosity, frequency of polymorphic loci, Zhivotovskii index) and frequencies of loss-of-function enzyme mutations increase with the dose absorbed by plant generative organs. The data show that high mutability is intrinsic for seeds of these pine trees, and genetic diversity in the populations is essentially conditioned by radiation exposure.     

The dependence of accumulation of 137Cs and 90Sr radionuclides in the forages cultivation degree of sod-podzolic soils

For prognosis of accumulation of 137Cs and 90Sr in forages harvested in radionuclide contaminated sod-podzolic soils, it is suggested to use transfer factors (TF9a) (Bq/kg)/(kBq/m2)) established not only by the content of mobile potassium (137Cs, r = -0.53) and the value of exchange acidity (90Sr, r = -0.73), but also by the index of agrochemical soil cultivation I(cd) (137Cs, r = -0.69; 90Sr, r = -0.64). The possibility of obtaining forages conforming to the state standards on the haymaking and pasture areas with high density of radioactive contamination of soils was shown by the example of "Sudkovo" collective farm. The approach is based on achievement of a high degree of cultivation (l(cd) - 0.81-1.0) due to a complex of protective measures, which resulted in a 10-fold decrease in the specific activity of 137Cs and a 4-fold decrease in the activity of 90Sr, compared to the soils with a low degree of cultivation (I(cd) - 0.41-0.60).     

The Role of Mycorrhizae Associated with Vetiver Grown in Pb-/Zn-Contaminated Soils: Greenhouse Study

The effects of mycorrhizae on growth and uptake of N, P, Zn, and Pb by plants were investigated in a greenhouse trial using vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) as host. Inoculation of the host plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Glomus mosseae and G. intraradices spores, significantly increased the growth and P uptake. Mycorrhizal colonization increased Pb and Zn uptake by plants under low soil metal concentrations (at 0 and 10 mg/kg of Pb or Zn), whereas under higher concentrations (at 100 and 1,000 mg/kg of Pb or Zn), it decreased Pb and Zn uptake. P concentration in soil was negatively correlated with mycorrhizal colonization as well as Zn or Pb concentrations. The results showed that inoculation of the host plants with AMF protects them from the potential toxicity caused by increased uptake of Pb and Zn, but the degree of protection varied according to the fungus and host plant combination. The potential of arbuscular mycorrhizae in phytoremediation of the Zn‐ or the Pb‐contaminated soils is discussed in this article.     

Mycorrhiza and soil bacteria influence extractable iron and manganese in soil and uptake by soybean

Excess manganese (Mn) in soil is toxic to crops, but in some situations arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) alleviate the toxic effects of Mn. Besides the increased phosphorus (P) uptake, mycorrhiza may affect the balance between Mn-reducing and Mn-oxidizing microorganisms in the mycorrhizosphere and affect the level of extractable Mn in soil. The aim of this work was to compare mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants that received extra P in relation to alleviation of Mn toxicity and the balance between Mn-oxidizing and Mn-reducing bacteria in the mycorrhizosphere. A clayey soil containing 508 mg kg⁻¹ of extractable Mn was fertilized with 30 mg kg⁻¹ (P1) or 45 mg kg⁻¹ (P2) of soluble P. Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill, cv. IAC 8-2) plants at P1 level were non-inoculated (CP1) or inoculated with either Glomus etunicatum (GeP1) or G. macrocarpum (GmP1), while plants at P2 level were left non-inoculated (CP2). Plants were grown in a greenhouse and harvested after 80 days. In the mycorrhizosphere of the GmP1 and GeP1 plants a shift from Mn-oxidizing to Mn-reducing bacteria coincided with higher soil extractability of Mn and Fe. However, the occurrence of Mn-oxidizing/reducing bacteria in the (mycor)rhizosphere was unrelated to Mn toxicity in plants. Using 16S rDNA sequence homologies, the Mn-reducing isolates were consistent with the genus Streptomyces. The Mn-oxidizers were homologous with the genera Arthrobacter, Variovorax and Ralstonia. While CP1 plants showed Mn toxicity throughout the whole growth period, CP2 plants never did, in spite of having Fe and Mn shoot concentrations as high as in CP1 plants. Mycorrhizal plants showed Mn toxicity symptoms early in the growth period that were no longer visible in later growth stages. The shoot P concentration was almost twice as high in mycorrhizal plants compared with CP1 and CP2 plants. The shoot Mn and Fe concentrations and contents were lower in GmP1 and GeP1 plants compared with the CP2 treatment, even though levels of extractable metals increased in the soil when plants were mycorrhizal. This suggests that mycorrhiza protected its host plant from excessive uptake of Mn and Fe. In addition, higher tissue P concentrations may have facilitated internal detoxification of Mn in mycorrhizal plants. The exact mechanisms acting on alleviation of Mn toxicity in mycorrhizal plants should be further investigated.     

Plant critical levels for the evaluation of boron toxicity in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Summary Pot experiments on B toxicity in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L., cv. Trumpf) using sandy soils indicated that there are significant relationships between B content of the leaves and of the shoots respectively in the toxic range and degree of damage of the leaves at stage 7–8 of the Feekes scale, which may be used to derive plant critical levels of B toxicity. Symptoms due to B excess begin to develop on the leaves (leaf tip necroses) relatively independently of the ontogenetical stage of development as soon as the B content of the leaf tissue reaches 60–80 mg/kg DM.The corresponding symptom-related toxic plant critical level of shoots (i.e. the B content of the whole shoot at which the first damage in leaves begins to occur) ranges from 30 mg/kg shoot DM (related to older leaves) to 80 mg/kg shoot DM (related to younger leaves). Grain yield is significantly reduced only when the B content of shoots at Feekes stages 7–8 exceeds the yield-related toxic plant critical level (yield reduction to 90% of the optimum yield) of 120–130 mg/kg shoot DM.B contents of the shoots at Feekes stages 7–8 from 80–120 mg/kg shoot DM define the range at which plants have marked toxicity symptoms, but at which there are no yield reductions.     

Effect of mycorrhizal inoculations on heavy metal uptake and stress alleviation of Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. genotypes grown in cadmium and lead contaminated soils

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on metal uptake, oxidative effects and antioxidant defence mechanisms under cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) stresses in Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. (pigeonpea). Treatments consisted of two concentrations each of Cd (25 and 50 mg/kg of soil) and Pb (500 and 800 mg/kg of soil) singly as well as in combination. Both metals induced oxidative damage through increased lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage and hydrogen peroxide levels, but Cd was found to be more toxic than Pb. Compared with the effects of Cd or Pb alone, the combination of Cd and Pb acted synergistically; however, Pb immobilisation in soil controlled the uptake of Cd in plants. There was a direct correlation between the type of genotype, heavy metal content and oxidative damage in concentration dependent manner. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX) increased under stress. The toxicity symptoms of the metal stress were significantly higher in Sel-141-97 genotype when compared with Sel-85 N. The high ratio of glutathione to its oxidised form, glutathione disulfide (GSH/GSSG), could be restored by means of higher glutathione reductase (GR) activity and increased GSH synthesis in mycorrhizal stressed plants. AM inoculations with Glomus mosseae significantly arrested uptake of Cd and Pb into the root system and further translocation into the above ground parts and led to decreased lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage. Increased activities of SOD, CAT, POX as well as GR were observed in all mycorrhizal stressed plants.     

A reconsideration of the safety of fenoxycarb (IGR) in soil environment: The toxicity of fenoxycarb to Yuukianura szeptyckii (Collembola)

Fenoxycarb, a juvenile hormone agonist has been widely used to control various insect pests in agriculture. Fenoxycarb has been considered environmentally safe because it degrades quickly and has lower mammalian toxicity compared with many conventional pesticides. To date, fenoxycarb is reported safe for soil organisms, but this conclusion is based solely on toxicity studies with Folsomia candida (Collembola) and Eisenia fetida (earthworm). The aim of this study was to investigate the toxic effect of fenoxycarb on Yuukianura szeptyckii (Collembola) to assess further whether this chemical is environmentally safe or not. After 28 d of exposure of fenoxycarb in the soil, adult survival and juvenile production were assessed. The median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) value for adult was 955.2 mg/kg and the median effective concentration (EC₅₀) and no observed effect concentration (NOEC) value for juvenile production was 0.2 mg/kg and <0.15 mg/kg, respectively. The effect of fenoxycarb on egg production and hatching rate was evaluated using a compressed soil substrate. A significant reduction in egg production was observed at 300 mg/kg or more, and the hatching rate was significantly reduced at 0.15 mg/kg or more. These results indicated that the adverse effects of fenoxycarb on juvenile production at concentrations of 0.15, 9.4, and 75 mg/kg were mainly due to a reduced hatching rate. The toxicity/exposure ratio (TER) for fenoxycarb in Y. szeptyckii was <5, indicating risk to Y. szeptyckii from fenoxycarb residues in soil. This study suggests that fenoxycarb poses high potential risk to Y. szeptyckii at environmentally relevant concentrations. Thus, further research, such as higher tier study is needed to clarify fenoxycarb risk in soil ecosystems.     

The toxicity of phenolic compounds to soil algal population and toChlorella vulgaris andNostoc linckia

Summary p-Nitrophenol (PNP),m-nitrophenol (MNP), 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) and catechol were tested for their effects on algal population in a soil and on pure cultures of two algae isolated from soil. Both PNP and MNP, even at 0.5 kg ha⁻¹ level were toxic to the soil algae; high doses effected increase in toxicity. Inhibition of algae was relatively more with PNP compared to the other two nitrophenols. Catechol treatment up to 1.0 kg ha⁻¹ led to a significant initial enhancement of algae with a subsequent far less toxic effect. The toxicity of the phenolic compounds towardChlorella vulgaris, a green alga andNostoc linckia, a blue-green alga, decreased in the order: MNP≧PNP>DNP>Catechol. However, algicidal or algistatic effect of the test chemicals was fairly more againstC. vulgaris, suggesting that the eukaryotic alga is highly sensitive to such soil pollutants compared to the prokaryotic alga.     

Studies of Enantiomeric Degradation of the Triazole Fungicide Hexaconazole in Tomato,Cucumber, and Field Soil by Chiral Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Chiral pesticide enantiomers often show different bioactivity and toxicity; however, this property is usually ignored when evaluating their environmental and public health risks. Hexaconazole is a chiral fungicide used on a variety of crops for the control of many fungal diseases. This use provides opportunities for the pollution of food and soil. In this study, a sensitive and convenient chiral liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method was developed and validated for measuring hexaconazole enantiomers in tomato, cucumber, and soil. Separation was by a reversed‐phase Chiralcel OD‐RH column, under isocratic conditions using a mixture of acetonitrile‐2 mM ammonium acetate in water (60/40, v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. Parameters including the matrix effect, linearity, precision, accuracy and stability were undertaken. Then the proposed method was successfully applied to investigate the possible enantioselective degradation of rac‐hexaconazole in plants (tomato and cucumber) and soil under field conditions. The degradation of the two enantiomers of hexaconazole proved to be enantioselective and dependent on the media: The (+)‐enantiomer showed a faster degradation in plants, while the (?)‐enantiomer dissipated faster than the (+)‐form in field soil, resulting in relative enrichment of the opposite enantiomer. The results of this work demonstrate that both the environmental media and environmental conditions influenced the direction and rate of enantioselective degradation of hexaconazole. Chirality 25:160–169, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Bioaccumulation of mercury,arsenic, cadmium,and lead in plants grown on coal mine soil

Mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) are the major toxic metals released by coal mining activities in the surrounding environment. These metals get accumulated in the soils. The plants grown on the contaminated soil uptake these toxic metals in their roots and aerial parts. This study monitored the bioaccumulation of Hg and other three toxic metals in coal mine soil. The pot study of Hg accumulation in Brassica juncea showed that the extent of Hg uptake by roots and shoots of the plants grown on was high in the mature plant and Hg content in root was higher than the shoot. In the soil of unreclaimed overburden (OB) dump, the toxic metal content was higher than that of reclaimed OB dump which posed high ecological risk in the soil of unreclaimed OB dump. Bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC) value showed that Hg was not accumulated in the leaves of Dalbergia sissoo L., Gmelina arborea, Peltaphorum inerme L., Cassia seamea L, and Acacia mangium L grown on coal mine soil.     

Accumulation of 90Sr in field crops in conditions of radioactive pollution of agricultural lands

In the field experiment the influence of manure, peat, lake silt and their combinations on the uptake of 90Sr by barley, corn and potatoes was studied. Saturation of soil with organic substance, the decrease in soil acidity resulted in the lower accumulation of 90Sr by plants. In the beginning of the experiment, the specific activity of barley grain was from 75 to 132 Bq/kg. After three years of application of fertilizers the content of 90Sr in the barley grain decreased to 39 Bq/kg. There were no increase in 90Sr accumulation by the basic field crops with time.     

纳米氧化锌和接种丛枝菌根真菌对大豆生长及营养吸收的影响

纳米氧化锌是应用最广的人工纳米颗粒(nanoparticles,NPs)之一,具有一定生物毒性。丛枝菌根(arbuscular mycorrhizal,AM)真菌能与陆地上80%以上的高等植物形成丛枝菌根共生体,并能改善宿主植物矿质营养,提高其抗逆性。然而纳米ZnO与丛枝菌根的关系尚不清楚。通过温室沙培盆栽试验,研究了施加不同水平纳米ZnO(0、500、1000、2000、3000 mg/kg)和接种AM真菌Acaulospora mellea对大豆生长及营养状况的影响。结果表明,3000 mg/kg的纳米ZnO显著抑制大豆植株生长,表现出植物毒性,在其他水平时没有显著影响。纳米ZnO在施加水平500、1000 mg/kg时没有抑制AM真菌对大豆根系的侵染,但是高施加水平(2000 mg/kg)时对AM真菌产生毒害,几乎完全抑制大豆根系菌根侵染。接种AM真菌仅在500 mg/kg纳米ZnO时显著促进大豆生长,增加大豆植株对P、K、N的吸收,降低根系Zn含量。纳米ZnO可能会持续释放锌离子,并抑制大豆根系对矿质营养元素的吸收,从而产生生物毒性,而AM真菌与大豆根系的共生可起到有益作用。     

Primary poisoning risk for encapsulated sodium nitrite,a new tool for pest control

ABSTRACT

Acute toxicity of sodium nitrite (NaNO₂) was assessed in chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) and domestic mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domestica) by oral gavage and in free-feeding trials with chickens, domestic mallard ducks, pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica), budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulates) and wētā (Family: Rhaphidophoridae). Free-feeding trials involved the presentation of toxic paste and pellet baits containing encapsulated NaNO₂ developed for the control of common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) and feral pigs (Sus scrofa). The oral gavage LD₅₀ value for NaNO₂ in solution was approximately 68.50?mg/kg (95% CI 55.00–80.00?mg/kg) for both chickens and ducks. In feeding trials, six out of 12 chickens consumed toxic paste bait and four of these birds consumed a lethal dose. When chickens consumed toxic paste bait, the LD₅₀ value was approximately 254.6?mg/kg (95% CI 249.1–260.2?mg/kg). Of the other three species of birds presented with toxic baits only one duck consumed a lethal dose of paste bait. There was no evidence of wētā feeding on toxic baits.     

Functioning and toxicity of artificial soil mixtures with metal-bearing sewage sludge

Various artificial soil mixtures were prepared by mixing two different toxic metals containing sewage sludge from Ljubljana and Maribor wastewater treatment plants with natural mineral soil. The plots with mixtures were exposed to field environmental conditions for a period of 1 year, after which we assessed soil toxicity (germination test with Lactuca sativa), potential metal phyto-accessibility (diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid – DTPA extraction test), soil functioning (by soil enzymes activity) and conducted a field growth test with Lollium perenne L. as a metal bio-indicator plant. The metal phyto-accessibility extraction test (DTPA) showed lower values than the metal accumulation test with L. perenne L., which also showed higher metal concentrations in roots compared to leaves. With the exception of the mixture containing 30% (w/w) of sludge from the Ljubljana wastewater treatment plant, all mixtures containing more than 20% of sludge negatively affected root elongation of L. sativa seeds, indicating an increase in artificial soils toxicity. Increasing the ratio of sludge from the Ljubljana plant increased dehydrogenase and decreased phosphomonoesterase, while the addition of sludge from the Maribor plant increased phosphomonoesterase activity. Overall, the effect of sludge addition on artificial soil properties, toxicity and functioning not only depended on dosage but was also sensitive to the source and pre-treatment of the sewage sludge.     

Recovery of bean plants from boron-induced oxidative damage by zinc supply

The effects of zinc on growth, boron uptake, lipid peroxidation, membrane permeability (MP), lypoxygenase (LOX) activity, proline and H₂O₂ accumulation, and the activities of major antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)) in bean plants were investigated under greenhouse conditions. Treatments consisted of control, 20 mg/kg B, and 20 mg/kg B plus 20 mg/kg Zn. When the plants were grown with 20 mg/kg Zn, B toxicity was less severe. Zinc supplied to soil counteracted the deleterious effects of B on root and shoot growth. Excess B significantly increased and Zn treatment reduced B concentrations in shoot and root tissues. Applied Zn increased the Zn concentration in the roots and shoots. While the concentrations of H₂O₂ and proline were increased by B toxicity, their concentrations were decreased by Zn supply. Boron toxicity increased the MP, malondialdehyde content, and LOX activity in excised bean leaves. Applied Zn significantly ameliorated the membrane deterioration. Compared with control plants, the activity of SOD was increased while that of CAT was decreased and APX remained unchanged in B-stressed plants. However, application of Zn decreased the SOD and increased the CAT and APX activities under toxic B conditions. It is concluded that Zn supply alleviates B toxicity by preventing oxidative membrane damage. Published in Russian in Fiziologiya Rastenii, 2009, Vol. 56, No. 4, pp. 555–562. This text was submitted by the authors in English.