Gravi- and Chemotropisms of the Primary Maize Roots when Affected by Lead and Cadmium

Gravity-imposed growth orientation was studied in the roots of three-day-old maize seedlings treated for 3 h with 10^–5to 10^–2-M lead and cadmium nitrate solutions. Cubic agar blocks (1 mm³) containing lead and cadmium nitrate solutions were used to produce unilateral local chemostimulation of roots. Gravistimulation was induced when roots were in the horizontal position or slightly deviated from the initial vertical position at the beginning of chemotropic curvature response. Positive (towards the salt) and negative (away from the salt) chemotropic curvatures were observed most often when meristems of the initially vertical roots were chemostimulated. Negative curvatures were observed most often in response to medium salt concentrations, whereas high concentrations resulted in positive curvatures. Half of the roots with their meristems stimulated by salt solutions still continued growing vertically downward. Most roots exposed to simultaneous gravi- and chemostimulation and exposed to gravistimulation after salt treatment (except at the highest salt concentration) curved downward. It follows that the final growth orientation of these roots depended mostly on gravity. The author concludes that the primary roots of maize seedlings possess high gravitropic and low chemotropic sensitivity.     

Manure Application and Cannabis Cultivation Influence on Speciation of Lead and Cadmium by Selective Sequential Extraction

The contamination of agricultural soils by heavy metals is a worldwide problem. Degradation of organic matter (OM) from organic amendments used in the remediation of metal-contaminated soils leads to changes in soil chemical properties shortly after their addition, which may affect the soil metal distribution. The effects of four differing organic amendments on chemical forms of Pb and Cd in a contaminated soil were investigated in a pot experiment of control unamended soil and soils amended with dry cow and poultry manures (20 g CM or PM kg^?1 soil), and cow and poultry manure extracts (2 g CME or PME kg^?1 soil) cultured with cannabis sativa. After eight weeks, a sequential extraction scheme was used to fractionate soil Pb and Cd into soluble-exchangeable (Sol-Exch), organic matter associated (AOM), and carbonates associated (ACar) forms. The addition of animal manures and their extracts increased the DTPA-extractable Pb and Cd in soil significantly. Soil Pb and Cd in Sol-Exch fraction were increased by manure applications. Both Pb and Cd in AOM fraction were increased by application of manures and their extracts. This increase was more obvious for Pb in application of cow and poultry manure extracts. The ACar chemical forms of Pb and Cd were also increased by application of manures and their extracts. The increases of Pb and Cd in Acar fraction was noticeable in soils treated with cow manure. Soil cultivation with cannabis sativa increased available, Sol-Exch, and AOM chemical forms of Pb in soil significantly compared to control soil. However, soil Pb and Cd in ACar fraction were decreased significantly by cannabis cultivation. The effect of cannabis cultivation on all of the Cd chemical forms (except on Sol-Exch) was similar to the results of Pb chemical forms. Plant cultivation had no significant effect on Cd in Sol-Exch chemical form.     

Intracellular Concentrations of Potassium,Chloride, and Protons during Differentiation of Tobacco Male Gametophyte

Changes in intracellular pH, K⁺and Cl^–concentrations were measured in pollen grains, anther loculi, and whole anthers during in vivodifferentiation of male gametophyte of Nicotiana tabacumL. The effects of extracellular K⁺and Cl^–on intracellular pH regulation were also studied during development of pollen grains in vitro. Ion-selective electrodes and X-ray microanalysis were used to measure ion concentrations, and microfluorometry was used to measure pH. The intracellular pH and [K⁺] decreased at the mid- and late binucleate stages of pollen grain development, while [Cl^–] increased. At the same stages, K⁺and Cl^–concentrations in locular liquid were found to increase. The intracellular pH in pollen grains, isolated at the mid-binucleate stage, decreased during in vitrodevelopment in the medium containing 50 mM KCl. It was suggested that changes in ionic composition of the external medium can regulate the intracellular pH during development of pollen grain in vivo.     

Dry Matter and Leaf Structure in Young Wheat Plants as Affected by Cadmium, Lead, and Nickel

The effects of 1 mM cadmium, lead and nickel on dry mass, Cd, Pb, and Ni contents, and changes in leaf structure in young wheat plants were studied. In leaves, Cd content was highest, followed by Pb and Ni, in roots Cd content was also highest, but followed by Ni and Pb. Roots accumulated considerably larger amounts of the three heavy metals than leaves. Largest reductions of leaf and root mass were obtained with Cd. Pb and Ni effects were almost equal. Ni excess had a strong negative effect on mesophyll thickness, while Cd mostly reduced the number and size of vascular bundles and vessel diameter. High Pb reduced the diameter of vessels causing their different deformations. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

麦秆蹄盖蕨（Athyrium fallaciosum）配子体的发育规律及播种密度对配子体性别分化的影响

在组织培养条件下,对麦秆蹄盖蕨（Athyrium fallaciosum）配子体发育的连续过程进行了详细观察。结果表明:麦秆蹄盖蕨孢子为四面体型; 孢子萌发为书带蕨型（Vittaria-type）;原叶体发育为铁线蕨型（Adiantum-type）,成熟原叶体为对称的心形;精子器近圆球形,成熟颈卵器细长,常向原叶体基部倾斜或弯曲。常规播种条件下,发现麦秆蹄盖蕨配子体有雌配子体、雄配子体、雌雄同体配子体和无性配子体类型。配子体的性别随密度不同而呈现一定的变化趋势,雄配子体随密度增大呈上升趋势;雌配子体随密度增大先上升后下降;雌雄同体配子体和无性配子体随密度变化不大。雌配子体和雌雄同体配子体具颈卵器数目一般为10～15个;精子器数目随密度的增大逐渐减少,雄配子体中具有约50个精子器,雌雄同体配子体具有约20个精子器。     

大叶补血草的大、小孢子发生与雌、雄配子体的发育

系统地报道了大叶补血草(Limonium gmelinii (Willd.) Kuntze)的大、小孢子发生和雌、雄配子体的形成发育过程。主要结果如下：(1)小孢子母细胞减数分裂过程中的胞质分裂为同时型,四分孢子多为正四面体形, 也有少数为左右对称形;(2)成熟花粉为三细胞型,具3个萌发孔;(3)花药壁由5层细胞组成,最外层为表皮,其内分别为药室内壁、中层、绒毡层,绒毡层为变形型,花药壁的发育属于基本型;(4)大叶补血草的雌蕊由5心皮合生,子房1室,基生胎座,胚珠1个,拳卷型,双珠被,厚珠心;(5)孢原细胞发生于珠心表皮下,经一次平周分裂,形成造孢细胞,由造孢细胞直接发育成大孢子母细胞,大孢子母细胞减数分裂形成4个大孢子呈直线排列,合点端大孢子具功能,属于典型的蓼型胚囊发育。     

Effect of Heavy Metals (Cd, Cu) on the Gametophytes of Laminaria japonica Aresch

Effects of various concentrations of two heavy metals, namely Cd and Cu, on gametophytes of Laminariajaponica Aresch were determined by recording morphological changes of gametophytes, determining pH values and the heavy metal content of the culture solution, calculating the germination rate of sporophytes, and observing heavy metal (Cd) distribution using a fluorescence microscope. The results showed that heavy metals damaged the gametophytes, and were even lethal, and that the higher the concentration of heavy metal ions, the greater the injury to gametophytes. Gametophytes could not survive in culture solutions containing more than 100 mg/L Cd and 50 mg/L Cu and were only able to survive in culture solution containing a mixture of Cd and Cu up to a concentration of 10 mg/L, which indicates that gametophytes have a higher tolerance to Cd than Cu and that multiple heavy metal ions in solution markedly aggravate the damage to gametophytes compared with individual heavy metal ions. With increases in the concentration of the heavy metal, the burgeoning rate of sporophytes decreased acutely, and solutions containing multiple heavy metal ions caused even more marked harm to sporophytes than solutions containing a single heavy metal ion, because most sporophytes died in mixed solutions. The pH value of the culture medium dropped immediately at the beginning (the first day) of treatment, increased over the following days, and then decreased again. The pH of culture media containing multiple heavy metal ions showed greater variation than media containing a single heavy metal ion, with the extent of the decrease in pH of culture media containing multiple ions being greatest during the last period of the experiment. With increases in the concentration of heavy metals, the capacity of gametophytes to accumulate these ions increased. The blue fluorescent light emitted by the Cd- and Cd-binding protein complex existing in gametophytes in media containing different concentrations of Cd showed clearly the distribution of the ion in gametophytes and the results obtained were consistent with distribution determined using other methods.All results of the present study showed that gametophytes of L. japonica play a remarkable role as heavy metal decontaminators, especially with regard to Cd.     

沉水植物对重金属的吸收净化和受害机理研究进展

沉水植物对重金属的积累净化和受害机理研究主要集中在4个方面：（1）沉水植物对重金属（包括放射性物质）的吸收、积累和净化作用;（2）沉水植物对重金属的抗性强弱和机制;（3）沉水植物用于监测水体的重金属污染;（4）沉水植物的重金属胁迫机制,包括重金属对植物形态和显微结构的损伤,对植物抗氧化酶系统的影响,对植物的叶绿素、蛋白质以及光合与呼吸作用等生理生化指标的影响,植物对重金属的吸附和转运动力学,以及Zn对Cd毒害的拮抗等。     

Spatial Variation and Fractionation of Bed Sediment-Borne Copper,Zinc, Lead,and Cadmium in a Stream System Affected by Acid Mine Drainage

An investigation was conducted to examine the spatial variation and fractionation of bed sediment-borne Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in a stream system affected by acid mine drainage. The pH had a major control on the spatial variation pattern of soluble, exchangeable, and carbonate-bound Cu, Zn, and Cd. There was a prominent concentration peak of carbonate-bound, oxide-bound, and organic-bound metals at the 29 km station, as controlled by the abundance of organic C, carbonate C, and oxides of manganese and iron. In general, the residual fraction was the dominant form for all four investigated metals. It was likely that oxide-Mn played a more important role in binding Zn and Cd than oxide-Fe did. In contrast, Cu had a higher affinity for iron hydrous oxides than for manganese oxide. Pb had a higher affinity for oxides of iron and manganese than for carbonates and organic matter. The presence of organic-bound metals in both the acidic upstream reach and non-acidic downstream reach suggests that the binding of these metals by organic matter was not markedly affected by pH, while the correspondence of organic C peak and organic-bound metal peaks at the 29 km station indicates a strong control by organic matter abundance on the quantity of organic-complexed metals.     

Effect of pH on the biosorption of nickel and other heavy metals by Pseudomonas fluorescens 4F39

Accumulation of heavy metals by Pseudomonas fluorescens 4F39 was rapid and pH-dependent. The affinity series for bacterial accumulation of metal cations decreased in the order Ni>>Hg>U>>As>Cu>Cd>Co>Cr>Pb. Metal cations were grouped into those whose accumulation increased as the pH increased, with a maximum accumulation at the pH before precipitation (Ni, Cu, Pb, Cd, Co), and those whose maximum accumulation was not associated with precipitation (Cr, As, U, Hg). High Ni²⁺ accumulation was studied. Electron microscopy indicated that at pH 9, Ni²⁺ accumulated on the cell surface as needle and hexagon-like precipitates, whose crystalline structure was confirmed by electron diffraction analysis and corresponded to two different orientations of the nickel hydroxide crystals. Crystals on cells showed marked anisotropy by X-ray powder diffraction, which differentiated them from crystals observed in nickel solution at pH 10 and 11 and from commercial nickel hydroxide. Nickel biosorption by Pseudomonas fluorescens 4F39 was a microprecipitation consequence of an ion exchange. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2000) 24, 146–151. Received 22 June 1999/ Accepted in revised form 04 December 1999     

Cadmium Sorption Characteristics of Soil Amendments and its Relationship with the Cadmium Uptake by Hyperaccumulator and Normal Plants in Amended Soils

In order to select appropriate amendments for cropping hyperaccumulator or normal plants on contaminated soils and establish the relationship between Cd sorption characteristics of soil amendments and their capacity to reduce Cd uptake by plants, batch sorption experiments with 11 different clay minerals and organic materials and a pot experiment with the same amendments were carried out. The pot experiment was conducted with Sedum alfredii and maize (Zea mays) in a co-cropping system. The results showed that the highest sorption amount was by montmorillonite at 40.82 mg/g, while mica was the lowest at only 1.83 mg/g. There was a significant negative correlation between the n value of Freundlich equation and Cd uptake by plants, and between the logarithm of the stability constant K of the Langmuir equation and plant uptake. Humic acids (HAs) and mushroom manure increased Cd uptake by S. alfredii, but not maize, thus they are suitable as soil amendments for the co-cropping S. alfredii and maize. The stability constant K in these cases was 0.14–0.16 L/mg and n values were 1.51–2.19. The alkaline zeolite and mica had the best fixation abilities and significantly decreased Cd uptake by the both plants, with K ≥ 1.49 L/mg and n ≥ 3.59.     

Direct Determination of Copper,Lead and Cadmium in Tea Infusions by Flameless Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Two kinds of “group A saponin,” Aa and Ab, are present as the main constituent in soybean seed. The saponin composition and content in F₁ and F₂ seeds derived from the cross parents of Aa and Ab types were analyzed. The “group A saponin” was of Aa–Ab type in all the F₁ seeds, and the ratio of Aa type : Aa–Ab type : Ab type was 1:2:1 in the F₂ seeds. From these results, it appears that Aa and Ab were controlled by codominant allelic alternatives at a single locus. An investigation of the saponin composition of the seed hypocotyls of 18 wild lines revealed some lines in which “group A saponin” was absent.     

Enhanced Pb Absorption by Hordeum vulgare L. and Helianthus annuus L. Plants Inoculated with an Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Consortium

The effect of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) consortium conformed by (Glomus intraradices, Glomus albidum, Glomus diaphanum, and Glomus claroideum) on plant growth and absorption of Pb, Fe, Na, Ca, and ³²P in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants was evaluated. AMF-plants and controls were grown in a substrate amended with powdered Pb slag at proportions of 0, 10, 20, and 30% v/v equivalent to total Pb contents of 117; 5,337; 13,659, and 19,913 mg Pb kg^?1 substrate, respectively. Mycorrhizal root colonization values were 70, 94, 98, and 90%, for barley and 91, 97, 95, and 97%, for sunflower. AMF inoculum had positive repercussions on plant development of both crops. Mycorrhizal barley absorbed more Pb (40.4 mg Pb kg^?1) shoot dry weight than non-colonized controls (26.5 mg Pb kg^?1) when treated with a high Pb slag dosage. This increase was higher in roots than shoots (650.0 and 511.5 mg Pb kg^?1 root dry weight, respectively). A similar pattern was found in sunflower. Plants with AMF absorbed equal or lower amounts of Fe, Na and Ca than controls. H. vulgare absorbed more total P (1.0%) than H. annuus (0.9%). The arbuscular mycorrizal consortium enhanced Pb extraction by plants.     

云南野生稻离子吸收效率及其动力学特征研究

分析和检测4种,共6个不同类型的野生稻吸收H2PO4^-、K^＋、Mg^2＋、NO3^-的动力学特征以及培养液pH值变化的研究结果表明,景洪普通野生稻吸收K^＋较强;药用野生稻和元江普通野生稻次之。小粒野生稻吸收磷的能力最强。元江普通野生稻吸收Mg^2＋和NO3^-的能力强。药用野生稻吸收Mg^2＋较强;直立型景洪普通野生稻有较强的吸收NO3^-的能力。     

Phycoremediation of lead and cadmium by employing Nostoc muscorum as biosorbent and optimization of its biosorption potential

The present study reports the influence of different factors on the sorption of Pb and Cd by Nostoc muscorum. The results showed that extent of Pb and Cd removal by N. muscorum cells increased with increasing biosorbent dose, but exhibited decline in the adsorption capacity. The maximum sorption of Cd (85.2%) and Pb (93.3%) was achieved at 60 and 80 μg/ml concentrations of respective metal, within 30 and 15 min, respectively. The result revealed that optimum biosorption of Pb and Cd occurred at pH 5 and 6, respectively, at 40°C temperature. Presence of binary metals (both Pb and Cd) in a solution showed that the presence of one metal ion resulted into decreased sorption of other metal ion. The presence of Ca and EDTA showed significant decrease in the sorption of Pb and Cd, while other anions and cations did not show significant effect on the biosorption of both the metals. Maximum desorption of Pb and Cd was achieved in the presence of EDTA and HNO₃, respectively. Results also showed that the test biosorbent could be repeatedly used up to six biosorption/desorption cycles without significant loss of its initial metal adsorption capacity.     

Partial purification and initial characterization of phytochrome from the mossAtrichum undulatum P. Beauv. grown in the light

The extraction and partial purification of phytochrome from light-grownAtrichum undulatum P. Beauv., a chlorophyllous moss, is described. Polyethyleneimine and salt fractionation followed by hydroxyapatite and Affi-gel-blue chromatography were used to separate phytochrome from chlorophyll, and to purify the pigment. All steps were performed in the presence of Triton X-100 which improved the yield by a factor of about three. The protein has a molecular weight some-what larger than that ofAvena phytochrome (124 kDa), as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis. It cross-reacts with a monoclonal antibody against phytochrome from etiolated corn (Zea) and a polyclonal antibody against phytochrome from etiolated oat (Avena), and its photoreversibility is similar to that of phytochrome from greenAvena.Abbreviations EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - FMN flavinmononucleotide - PMSF phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride - P_r(P_fr) red(far-red)-absorbing form of phytochrome - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     

铅、镉和锌3种重金属离子对水螅的联合毒性研究

以水螅为实验生物,采用相加指数法,研究了铅、镉和锌3种重金属离子复合污染物的联合毒性.结果表明:铅和锌共存时的联合毒性为拮抗作用,而镉和锌,镉和铅共存时主要表现为毒性剧增的协同作用.铅、镉和锌三者共存时的联合毒性较为复杂,三者浓度比1∶1∶1时表现为协同作用,而毒性比1∶1∶1时表现为拮抗作用.     

Prospects of Inducing Resistance in Fodder Species against Toxic Ions and Metals

ABSTRACT

Experiments were carried out with various salts and their combinations to ascertain the impact of these salts on seedling traits of fodder species and to identify tolerant species. Length-based traits showed a repressed effect, whereas weight-based traits were increased under salt stress. Furthermore, accumulation of Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and Cl^? ions and metals (Cu²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Al³⁺) increased in various organs of seedlings due to various salt treatments. Contrastingly, K⁺, K⁺/Na⁺, and Ca²⁺/Cl^? decreased, showing priority for specific salts. Seedling traits, such as shoot length sensitivity and shoot biomass, provide an effective mean of selection for tolerant or susceptible genotypes. Diverse types of tolerance mechanisms were present in cultivars to detoxify the effect of ions and metals. Cultivars that showed low susceptibility index, high shoot biomass, and high metal concentration were salt includers and could be utilized for bioremediation of the affected areas, whereas tolerant cultivars that showed low susceptibility index, metals concentration, and comparable shoot biomass to that of the control were salt excluders and could be utilized for fodder purposes.     

Cadmium Flows Caused by the Worldwide Production of Primary Zinc Metal

Material flows of the economic cycle can contain toxic substances, which enter the economy as impurities in raw materials or are intentionally added as minor or even main constituents during the manufacture of industrial or consumer goods. Cadmium, predominantly associated with zinc minerals, is a by-product of the primary zinc production. Cadmium is generated when zinc is extracted from zinc ores and concentrates, an intermediate product resulting from flotation processing after the zinc ore has been mined and milled. Information on the amount of cadmium generated from zinc extraction is rarely published. In this article, we assess generation and fate of cadmium accumulating worldwide in the production of primary zinc from ores and concentrates. Model calculations for the beginning of the 21st century show that annually about 30,000 tonnes of cadmium were generated, but only approximately 16,000 tonnes were converted to primary cadmium metal, key material for the production of other cadmium compounds (e.g., cadmium oxide), and cadmium-containing goods (e.g., nickel−cadmium batteries). Hence, about 14,000 tonnes of cadmium must have been transferred somewhere else. The fate of about 5,500 tonnes can be plausibly explained, but it is difficult to determine what happens to the rest.     

The Effect of Copper Toxicity on the Growth and Root Morphology of Rhodes Grass (Chloris gayana Knuth.) in Resin Buffered Solution Culture

A solution culture experiment was conducted to examine the effect of Cu toxicity on Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Knuth.), a pasture species used in mine-site rehabilitation. The experiment used dilute, solution culture to achieve external nutrient concentrations, which were representative of the soil solution, and an ion exchange resin to maintain stable concentrations of Cu in solution. Copper toxicity was damaging to plant roots, with symptoms ranging from disruption of the root cuticle and reduced root hair proliferation, to severe deformation of root structure. A reduction in root growth was observed at an external Cu concentration of < 1 μM, with damage evident from an external concentration of 0.2 μM. Critical to the success of this experiment, in quantitatively examining the relationship between external Cu concentration and plant response, was the use of ion exchange resin to buffer the concentration of Cu in solution. After some initial difficulty with pH control, stable concentrations of Cu in solution were maintained for the major period of plant growth. The development of this technique will facilitate future investigations of the effect of heavy metals on plants.