Bioavailable cadmium during the bioremediation of phenanthrene-contaminated soils using the diffusive gradients in thin-film technique

AIMS: To study the impact of fungal bioremediation of phenanthrene on trace cadmium solid-solution fluxes and solution phase concentration. METHODS AND RESULTS: The bioremediation of phenanthrene in soils was performed using the fungus Penicillium frequentans. Metal behaviour was evaluated by the techniques of diffusive gradient in thin-films (DGT) and filtration. Fluxes of cadmium (Cd) show a significant (P < 0.002) increase after the start of bioremediation, indicating that the bioremediation process itself releases significant amount of Cd into solution from the soil solid-phase. Unlike DGT devices, the solution concentration from filtration shows a clear bimodal distribution. We postulate that the initial action of the fungi is most likely to breakdown the surface of the solid phase to smaller, 'solution-phase' material (<0.45 microm) leading to a peak in Cd concentration in solution. CONCLUSIONS: Phenanthrene removal from soils by bioremediation ironically results in the mobilization of another toxic pollutant (Cd). SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Bioremediation of organic pollutants in contaminated soil will likely lead to large increases in the mobilization of toxic metals, increasing metal bio-uptake and incorporation into the wider food chain. Bioremediation strategies need to account for this behaviour and further research is required both to understand the generality of this behaviour and the operative mechanisms.     

DGT-measured fluxes explain the chloride-enhanced cadmium uptake by plants at low but not at high Cd supply

The technique of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) has been shown to be a promising tool to assess metal uptake by plants in a wide range of soils. With the DGT technique, diffusion fluxes of trace metals through a diffusion layer towards a resin layer are measured. The DGT technique therefore mimics the metal uptake by plants if uptake is limited by diffusion of the free ion to the plant roots, which may not be the case at high metal supply. This study addresses the capability of DGT to predict cadmium (Cd) uptake by plants at varying Cd supply. To test the performance of DGT in such conditions, we used the chloride (Cl^?) enhancement effect, i.e. the increase in Cd solution concentrations—due to chloride complexation of Cd—and Cd uptake with increasing Cl^? concentrations, as previously characterized in pot, field and solution culture experiments. The uptake of Cd by spinach was assessed in soil amended with Cd (0.4–10.5 mg Cd kg^?1) and NaCl (up to 120 mM) in a factorial design. Treatments with NaNO₃ were included as a reference to correct for ionic strengths effects. The effect of Cl^? on the shoot Cd concentrations was significant at background Cd but diminished with increasing soil Cd. Increasing Cl^? concentrations increased the root area based Cd uptake fluxes by more than a factor of 5 at low soil Cd, but had no significant effect at high soil Cd. Short-term uptake of Cd in spinach from nutrient solutions confirmed these trends. In contrast, increasing Cl^? concentrations increased the DGT measured fluxes by a factor of 5 at all Cd levels. As a result, DGT fluxes were able to explain soil Cl^? effects on plant Cd concentrations at low but not at high Cd supply. This example illustrates under which conditions DGT mimics trace metal bioavailability. If biouptake is controlled by diffusive limitations, DGT should be a successful tool for predicting ion uptake across different conditions.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium frequentans</Emphasis> isolated from<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Picea glehnii</Emphasis> seedling roots as a possible biological control agent against damping-off

Picea glehnii seedlings are affected by damping-off fungi in nurseries. The aims of this study were (1) to isolate fungi grown in the seedling rhizosphere in forest soil of P. glehnii, (2) to select fungi that produce antifungal compounds against Pythium vexans, and (3) to examine whether or not selected fungi can protect seedlings from P. vexans. Penicillium frequentans from Picea glehnii seedling roots produced antibiotic penicillic acid. Penicillic acid did not cause significant phytotoxicity to the seedlings. Penicillium frequentans increased the average percentage of surviving seedlings when inoculated together with Pythium vexans, but the increase was not significant. Vigorous mycelial growth of P. frequentans around seedling roots seems to be one of the mechanisms for protection, but the amount of penicillic acid was too low to show antifungal activity in the seedling rhizosphere.     

Interaction of Heavy Metals in Multimetal Biosorption by Galerina vittiformis from Soil

ABSTRACT Soil heavy metal contamination, a major threat due to industrialization, can be tackled by an efficient and economical process called bioremediation. Mushrooms are employed to accumulate heavy metals from soil due to their high metal accumulation potential and better adaptability. The bioaccumulation potential of Galerina vittiformis was already reported for individual metals. At natural conditions, since soil consists of more than one polluting metal, more focus has to be given to multimetal systems. In this study, multimetal accumulation potential was analyzed using central composite design, and the responses obtained were analyzed using response surface methodology. Heavy metals such as Cu(II), Cd(II), Cr(VI), Pb(II), and Zn(II) were subjected to biosorption at 10–250 mg/kg concentrations along with pH 5–8. The results showed that the preference of the organism for the five metals under study was in the order Pb(II) > Zn(II) > Cd(II) > Cu(II) > Cr(VI) at pH 6.5 under multimetal condition. The study also indicates that the metal interaction pattern in multimetal interaction is a property of their ionic radii. The response surface methodology clearly explains the effect of interaction of heavy metals on the accumulation potential of the organism using three-dimensional response plots. The present work suggests that the fungus Galerina vittiformis could be employed as a low-cost metal removal agent from heavy metal–polluted soil.     

Root development and heavy metal phytoextraction efficiency: comparison of different plant species in the field

Heavy metal phytoextraction is a soil remediation technique which implies the optimal use of plants to remove contamination from soil. Plants must thus be tolerant to heavy metals, adapted to soil and climate characteristics and able to take up large amounts of heavy metals. Their roots must also fit the spatial distribution of pollution. Their different root systems allow plants to adapt to their environment and be more or less efficient in element uptake. To assess the impact of the root system on phytoextraction efficiency in the field, we have studied the uptake and root systems (root length and root size) of various high biomass plants (Brassica juncea, Nicotiana tabacum, Zea mays and Salix viminalis) and one hyperaccumulator (Thlaspi caerulescens) grown in a Zn, Cu and Cd contaminated soil and compared them with total heavy metal distribution in the soil. Changes from year to year have been studied for an annual (Zea mays) and a perennial plant (Salix viminalis) to assess the impact of the climate on root systems and the evolution of efficiency with time and growth. In spite of a small biomass, T. caerulescens was the most efficient plant for Cd and Zn removal because of very high concentrations in the shoots. The second most efficient were plants combining high metal concentrations and high biomass (willows for Cd and Zn and tobacco for Cu and Cd). A large cumulative root density/aboveground biomass ratio (L_A/B), together with a relative larger proportion of fine roots compared to other plants seemed to be additional favourable characteristics for increased heavy metal uptake by T. caerulescens. In general, for all plants correlations were found between L _A/B and heavy metal concentrations in shoots (r=0.758^***, r=0.594^***, r=0.798^*** (P<0.001) for Cd, Cu and Zn concentrations resp.). Differences between years were significant because of variations in climatic conditions for annual plants or because of growth for perennial plants. The plants exhibited also different root distributions along the soil profile: T. caerulescens had a shallow root system and was thus best suited for shallow contamination (0.2 m) whereas maize and willows were the most efficient in colonising the soil at depth and thus more applicable for deep contamination (0.7 m). In the field situation, no plant was able to fit the contamination properly due to heterogeneity in soil contamination. This points out to the importance and the difficulty of choosing plant species according to depth and heterogeneity of localisation of the pollution.     

两株多环芳烃降解菌协同对菲-镉污染的去除特性北大核心

【目的】从污染土壤中分离筛选一株多环芳烃降解菌,并探究其与Pseudomonas aeruginosa B6-2构建的混菌体系对菲-镉复合污染的修复效能,以及微生物代谢特性对不同镉浓度赋存的响应特性,以期为复合污染的生物修复提供优良菌株资源及应用技术参考。【方法】采用富集驯化、筛选纯化方法得到一株多环芳烃降解菌,通过生理生化特征和16S rRNA基因序列分析进行鉴定。利用高效液相色谱法和电感耦合等离子体质谱法评估不同镉浓度赋存下各反应体系对菲和镉的去除效能;通过菌体细胞形态的扫描电镜观测及菌株代谢活性检测,探讨镉胁迫对菲生物降解过程的影响机制。【结果】筛选得到一株具有重金属耐受性和多环芳烃高效降解菌SZ-3,经鉴定为节杆菌属;降解菌协同体系(M)具有良好的菲降解效能和抗镉胁迫优势。镉胁迫浓度为0.5、10 mg/L时,M对菲和镉的去除率分别高于85%、80%;镉胁迫浓度为25、50 mg/L时,2种污染物的去除率均大于65%。扫描电镜分析表明,镉胁迫导致菌体表面粗糙且出现不同程度变形,菌体间黏附性和聚集性提高。反应周期内,邻苯二酚1,2-双加氧酶活性与电子传递体系活性随镉浓度增加而降低,两者变化与菲降解速率变化一致。【结论】Arthrobacter sp.SZ-3是一株PAHs高效降解菌,能与Pseudomonas aeruginosa B6-2协同高效修复菲-镉复合污染,随着初始镉胁迫浓度增加,混菌协同对目标污染物去除的优势显著。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chenopodium</Emphasis>: a prospective plant for phytoextraction

Leaf samples were collected from 40 accessions of Chenopodium spp. and assessed for six heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr and Cd) accumulation to explore the use of Chenopodium for phytoextraction of heavy metals. The results suggest that Chenopodium spp. have the ability to accumulate large quantities of heavy metals in the leaf tissues even when they are present in low concentrations in the soil. C. quinoa is a better accumulator of Ni, Cr and Cd than the rest of the species, while C. album accessions are good copper accumulators. Bioconcentration factor for chromium ranged from 0.36 (C. album “Chandanbathua”) to 6.57 (C. quinoa Ames 13719) with 13 accessions of C. quinoa scoring above the mean value. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for Ni, Cr and Cd, which indicated a major role of additive gene action in the inheritance of these characters. Zinc showed significant positive association with iron (0.351**), nickel (0.659**), chromium (0.743**) and cadmium (0.288**). Nickel was significantly and negatively associated with copper (−0.663**), while it was positively and significantly correlated with chromium (0.682**) and cadmium (0.461**). Considering the accumulation efficiency of Chenopodium spp. with respect to heavy metals, this genus should be further explored for decontamination of metal polluted soils, with plant breeding playing an important role in evolving new plant types with higher capacity of heavy metal accumulation.     

Solar power enhancement of electrokinetic bioremediation of phenanthrene by Mycobacterium pallens

Enhanced bioremediation of phenanthrene-contaminated soil with Mycobacterium pallens was conducted. Kaolinite was used in the tests as a soil matrix and was artificially contaminated with phenanthrene at a concentration of 2 mg phenanthrene per gram dry soil. Mycobacterim pallens at concentration of 10⁸ colony-forming units (CFU) per milliliter was used as a potential microorganism to degrade phenanthrene. Aspects of the study included evaluating efficacy of using Mycobacterium pallens for degrading phenanthrene, electrokinetics for delivering nutrients and microorganisms to contaminated soil, and solar panels for generating power for electrokinetic bioremediation. A novel anode-cathode configuration, in which the anode and cathode are placed in the same compartment, was implemented to control/minimize changes in pH during electrokinetic bioremediation. The nutrients (NO₃^?), electrical current, temperature, Mycobacterium pallens (CFU), and phenatherene concentration were evaluated. The results showed that solar panels generated sufficient power for electrokinetic bioremediation. The highest current obtained was generated when bacteria and nutrients were added to the soil. This was associated with the highest phenanthrene removal from the soil (50% of the initial concentration). Additionally, we determined that the novel anode-cathode configuration in the electrokinetic bioremediation cell was successful in delivering the bacteria and nutrients to the contaminated soil and in maintaining a relatively neutral pH around the electrode compartments, which improved the remediation. Overall, this study showed that the use of solar power with electrokinetic bioremediation can provide a cost-effective approach to reduce and remove hydrocarbon contaminations in soil.     

2020污染土壤的生物修复专刊序言

生物修复技术,作为可持续发展的重要方向,因其环境友好、高效且无二次污染并能从根本上解决土壤污染问题而受到关注,已经在土壤污染治理中得到了广泛的应用。为了梳理和凝练生物修复技术的发展状况,本专刊收录了该研究领域的16篇论文,分别从植物修复、微生物修复、联合修复、重金属吸收积累的相关分子机制、资源化再利用等方面,详细阐述生物修复技术的发展动态,展望未来的发展趋势,为促进生物修复技术的发展提供参考。     

Effect of a commercial alcohol ethoxylate surfactant (C<Subscript>11-15</Subscript>E<Subscript>7</Subscript>) on

Biodegradation of poorly soluble polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been a challenge in bioremediation. In recent years, surfactant-enhanced bioremediation of PAH contaminants has attracted great attention in research. In this study, biodegradation of phenanthrene as a model PAHs solubilized in saline micellar solutions of a biodegradable commercial alcohol ethoxylate nonionic surfactant was investigated. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactant and its solubilization capacity for phenanthrene were examined in an artificial saline water medium, and a type of marine bacteria, Neptunomonas naphthovorans, was studied for the biodegradation of phenanthrene solubilized in the surfactant micellar solutions of the saline medium. It is found that the solubility of phenanthrene in the surfactant micellar solutions increased linearly with the surfactant concentrations, but, at a fixed phenanthrene concentration, the biodegradability of phenanthrene in the micellar solutions decreased with the increase of the surfactant concentrations. This was attributed to the reduced bioavailability of phenanthrene, due to its increased solubilization extent in the micellar phase and possibly lowered mass transfer rate from the micellar phase into the aqueous phase or into the bacterial cells. In addition, an inhibitory effect of the surfactant on the bacterial growth at high surfactant concentrations may also play a role. It is concluded that the surfactant largely enhanced the solubilization of phenanthrene in the saline water medium, but excess existence of the surfactant in the medium should be minimized or avoided for the biodegradation of phenanthrene by Neptunomonas naphthovorans.     

Simultaneous phenanthrene and cadmium removal from contaminated soil by a ligand/biosurfactant solution

Surfactants and inorganic ligands are pointed as efficient to simultaneous removal of heavy metals and hydrophobic organic pollutants from soil. However, the biosurfactants are potentially less toxic to soil organisms than other chemical agents. Thus, in this study the efficiency of combinations of iodide (I⁻) ligand and surfactants produced by different bacterial species in the simultaneous removal of cadmium (Cd²⁺) and phenanthrene in a Haplustox soil sample was investigated. Four microbial surfactants and the synthetic surfactant Triton X-100 were tested with different concentrations of ligand. Soil samples contaminated with Cd²⁺ and phenanthrene underwent consecutive washings with a surfactant/ligand solution. The removal of Cd²⁺ increased with increased ligand concentration, particularly in solutions containing biosurfactants produced by the bacterial strains Bacillus subtilis LBBMA155 (lipopeptide) and Flavobacterium sp. LBBMA168 (mixture of flavolipids) and Triton X-100. Maximum Cd²⁺ removal efficiency was 99.2% for biosurfactant produced by Arthrobacter oxydans LBBMA 201 (lipopeptide) and 99.2% for biosurfactant produced by Bacillus sp. LBBMA111A (mixed lipopeptide) in the presence of 0.336 mol iodide l⁻¹, while the maximum efficiency of Triton X-100 removal was 65.0%. The biosurfactant solutions removed from 80 to 88.0% of phenanthrene in soil, and the removal was not influenced by the presence of the ligand. Triton X-100 removed from 73 to 88% of the phenanthrene and, differently from the biosurfactants, iodide influenced the removal efficiency. The results indicate that the use of a single washing agent, called surfactant-ligand, affords simultaneous removal of organic contaminants and heavy metals.     

Rhamnolipid-Enhanced Mineralization of Phenanthrene in Organic-Metal Co-Contaminated Soils

Successful remediation of soils co-contaminated with organics and metals may require a combination of technologies. This research addresses the organic component within co-contaminated sites. It is well known that metal contaminants in soil can partially or completely inhibit normal heterotrophic microbial activity and hence prevent in situ biodegradation of organics. Previous work has shown that a rhamnolipid biosurfactant can complex metals such as lead and cadmium. It has also been demonstrated, in pure culture, that rhamnolipid can mitigate metal inhibition during the degradation of naphthalene. The goal of this study was to investigate whether rhamnolipid could reduce the toxicity of a model metal, cadmium, to indigenous soil populations in two different soils, Brazito and Gila, during the mineralization of phenanthrene. Results show that cadmium inhibited phenanthrene mineralization in both soils at bioavailable cadmium concentrations as low as 27 µM. This inhibition was reduced by the addition of rhamnolipid. Since rhamnolipid is degraded by soil populations, a rhamnolipid pulsing strategy was used to maintain a constant level of rhamnolipid in the system. Using this strategy, phenanthrene mineralization levels comparable to the control (0 mM Cd/0 mM rhamnolipid) were achieved in the presence of toxic cadmium concentrations. This research demonstrates that pulsed application of rhamnolipid may allow bioremediation of organic contaminants in sites that are co-contaminated with organics and metals.     

Bioremediation of multi-metal contaminated soil using biosurfactant — a novel approach

An unconventional nutrient medium, distillery spent wash (1:3) diluted) was used to produce di-rhamnolipid biosurfactant by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain BS2. This research further assessed the potential of the biosurfactant as a washing agent for metal removal from multimetal contaminated soil (Cr-940 ppm; Pb-900 ppm; Cd-430 ppm; Ni-880 ppm; Cu-480 ppm). Out of the treatments of contaminated soil with tap water and rhamnolipid biosurfactant, the latter was found to be potent in mobilization of metal and decontamination of contaminated soil. Within 36 hours of leaching study, di-rhamnolipid as compared to tap water facilitated 13 folds higher removal of Cr from the heavy metal spiked soil whereas removal of Pb and Cu was 9–10 and 14 folds higher respectively. Leaching of Cd and Ni was 25 folds higher from the spiked soil. This shows that leaching behavior of biosurfactant was different for different metals. The use of wastewater for production of biosurfactant and its efficient use in metal removal make it a strong applicant for bioremediation.     

Toxic metals accumulation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma asperellum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">T. harzianum</Emphasis>

Heavy metal contamination represents an important environmental issue due to the toxic effects of metals on different organisms. Filamentous fungi play an important impact in the bioremediation of heavy metal-contaminated wastewater and soil. The purpose of this investigation was to observe fungal uptake behavior toward heavy metal. For this aim Trichoderma asperellum TS141 and T. harzianum TS103 at growth period were screened for their tolerance and uptake capability of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) at different concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/L) in PDB media (potato dextrose broth as a complex medium). Results showed that both fungi were able to survive at the maximum concentration of 200 mg/L of the heavy metals, and remove them. T. asperellum had a better uptake capacity for Cd compared to Pb and Ni in the highest metal concentration in media. Maximum removal efficiency of Pb (68.4%) at 100 mg/L and Ni (78%) at 200 mg/L was performed by T. asperellum. For Cd, the highest removal efficiency (82.1%) was recorded by T. harzianum at 200 mg/L Cd in aqueous solution. The uptake of Cd was highly dependent on pH of solution than Pb and Ni so that the optimal pH of Cd uptake was 9 for T. asperellum and 4 for T. harzianum. Also, optimal temperature was 35°C for Cd and Pb uptake in both fungi, whereas for Ni uptake was 30 and 35°C in T. harzianum and T. asperellum, respectively. We propose that T. asperellum TS141 and T. harzianum TS103 can be used as a bioremediation agent for metal remediation from wastewater and heavy metal-contaminated soils.     

Response of ectomycorrhizalPinus banksiana andPicea glauca to heavy metals in soil

Pinus banksiana andPicea glauca inoculated or not with the ectomycorrhizal fungusSuillus luteus were grown in a sandy loam soil containing a range of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn concentrations. Ectomycorrhizal colonization rates were significantly reduced on Pinus and Picea seedlings by the heavy metals, particularly Cd and Ni. Needle tissue metal concentrations were lower in ectomycorrhizal seedlings at low soil metal concentrations. However, at higher soil concentrations, heavy metal concentrations of needle tissue were similar in ectomycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants. The growth of nonmycorrhizal seedlings exposed to heavy metals was reduced compared to those inoculated withSuillus luteus. Apparently ectomycorrhizal colonization can protect Pinus and Picea seedlings from heavy metal toxicity at low or intermediate soil concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn.     

Assessing Plant Phytoextraction Potential Through Mathematical Modeling

One of the most serious and long-term consequences of environmental pollution is heavy metal contamination of soils. Elements such as zinc, cadmium, lead, nickel, and chromium are being released into the environment by many industrial processes and have now reached concentrations that are of concern. Phytoremediation is a new, low-cost, and environmentally friendly technique that relies on the natural properties of some plants to clean-up the ground through their ability to take up metals from the soil. Hyperaccumulator plants, capable of accumulating metals far in excess of any normal physiological requirement, represent a most promising tool for metal phytoextraction, but the in field establishment of their conditions for utilization needs a long period because of the plant life-cycle. The use of a mathematical model is proposed to process growth and uptake data from in vitro experiments for a rapid assessment of the time and concentration parameters for the deployment of hyperaccumulator plants for phytoextraction purposes. This preliminary research has been carried out using Alyssum bertolonii Desv., a nickel hyperaccumulator endemic to Italian serpentine soils.     

Biosorption of Chromium(VI) and Lead(II): Role of Spirulina platensis in the Treatment of Industrial Effluent

Biosorption is the process of removal of any chemical molecules by the treatment of biological material. Industrialization resulted in the discharge of various toxic heavy metals into water bodies, which poses serious health hazards to humans and animals. In the present study, live Spirulina platensis was used as a biosorbent for the removal of the heavy metals chromium (Cr(VI)) and lead (Pb(II)) from the aqueous samples. S. platensis were cultured in the presence of different concentrations of heavy metals. The growth of the algal cells was found to be decreased by 59% and 36% in media containing 50 ppm Cr(VI) and Pb(II), respectively. To assess the biosorption of heavy metals, at different time intervals, the spent culture media were used to detect Cr(VI) by atomic absorption spectroscopy method and Pb(II) by 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol indicator method. Results suggested that there was a significant uptake of Cr(VI) and Pb(II) from the medium by S. platensis, with corresponding decrease of metals in the medium. When metal salt solutions or industrial effluent samples were passed through the column containing immobilized live S. platensis in calcium alginate beads, the concentration of Cr(VI) was found to be reduced drastically. The present study indicates the application of S. platensis for the bioremediation of heavy metals from the samples obtained from industrial effluents.     

Effects of soil amendment with different carbon sources and other factors on the bioremediation of an aged PAH-contaminated soil

Carbon supplementation, soil moisture and soil aeration are believed to enhance in situ bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soils by stimulating the growth of indigenous microorganisms. However, the effects of added carbon and nitrogen together with soil moisture and soil aeration on the dissipation of PAHs and on associated microbial counts have yet to be fully assessed. In this study the effects on bioremediation of carbon source, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, soil moisture and aeration on an aged PAH-contaminated agricultural soil were studied in microcosms over a 90-day period. Additions of starch, glucose and sodium succinate increased soil bacterial and fungal counts and accelerated the dissipation of phenanthrene and benzo(a)pyrene in soil. Decreases in phenanthrene and benzo(a)pyrene concentrations were effective in soil supplemented with glucose and sodium succinate (both 0.2 g C kg⁻¹ dry soil) and starch (1.0 g C kg⁻¹ dry soil). The bioremediation effect at a C/N ratio of 10:1 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than at a C/N of either 25:1 or 40:1. Soil microbial counts and PAH dissipation were lower in the submerged soil but soil aeration increased bacterial and fungal counts, enhanced indigenous microbial metabolic activities, and accelerated the natural degradation of phenanthrene and benzo(a)pyrene. The results suggest that optimizing carbon source, C/N ratio, soil moisture and aeration conditions may be a feasible remediation strategy in certain PAH contaminated soils with large active microbial populations.     

Inhibition of growth,and effects on nutrient uptake of arctic graminoids by leaf extracts — allelopathy or resource competition between plants and microbes?

Previous research has shown that plant extracts, e.g. from boreal dwarf shrubs and trees, can cause reduced growth of neighbouring plants: an effect known as allelopathy. To examine whether arctic and subarctic plants could also be affected by leaching of phytochemicals, we added extracts from the commonly occurring arctic dwarf shrubs Cassiope tetragona and Empetrum hermaphroditum, and from mountain birch, Betula pubescens ssp. tortuosa to three graminoid species, Carex bigelowii, Festuca vivipara and Luzula arcuata, grown in previously sterilized or non-sterilized arctic soils. The graminoids in non-sterilized soil grew more slowly than those in sterilized soil. Excised roots of the plants in non-sterilized soil had higher uptake rate of labelled P than those in sterilized soil, demonstrating larger nutrient deficiency. The difference in growth rate was probably caused by higher nutrient availability for plants in soils in which the microbial biomass was killed after soil sterilization. The dwarf shrub extracts contained low amounts of inorganic N and P and medium high amounts of carbohydrates. Betula extracts contained somewhat higher levels of N and much higher levels of P and carbohydrates. Addition of leaf extracts to the strongly nutrient limited graminoids in non-sterilized soil tended to reduce growth, whereas in the less nutrient limited sterilized soil it caused strong growth decline. Furthermore, the N and P uptake by excised roots of plants grown in both types of soil was high if extracts from the dwarf shrubs (with low P and N concentrations) had been added, whereas the P uptake declined but the N uptake increased after addition of the P-rich Betula extract. In contrast to the adverse extract effects on plants, soil microbial respiration and soil fungal biomass (ergosterol) was generally stimulated, most strongly after addition of the Betula extract. Although we cannot exclude the possibility that the reduced plant growth and the concomitant stimulation of microbial activity were caused by phytochemicals, we believe that this was more likely due to labile carbon in the extracts which stimulated microbial biomass and activity. As a result microbial uptake increased, thereby depleting the plant available pool of N and P, or, for the P-rich Betula extract, depleting soil inorganic N alone, to the extent of reducing plant growth. This chain of events is supported by the negative correlation between plant growth and sugar content in the three added extracts, and the positive correlation between microbial activity, fungal biomass production and sugar content, and are known reactions when labile carbon is added to nutrient deficient soils.     

Effects of mycorrhizal colonisation on<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Thymus polytrichus</Emphasis> from heavy-metal-contaminated sites in northern England

A study was performed to establish whether colonisation with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is beneficial to wild thyme [Thymus polytrichus A. Kerner ex Borbás ssp. britannicus (Ronn.) Kerguelen (Lamiaceae)] growing in the heavy-metal-contaminated soils along the River South Tyne, United Kingdom. T. polytrichus plants of the same genotype were grown under controlled conditions with and without Zn contamination, and differences between AM-colonised and -uncolonised plants in mean shoot and root growth (dry weight) and Zn concentration were assessed. When grown in the heavy-metal-contaminated, low-P soil from one of the South Tyne sites, AM-colonised plants grew significantly larger than uncolonised plants; however, there was no significant difference in growth between AM and non-AM plants grown in an artificial substrate with a larger available P concentration, with or without Zn contamination. Mycorrhizal colonisation increased tissue Zn concentrations during the experiments. It is concluded that AM fungi are beneficial, if not essential, to T. polytrichus growing in the low-nutrient soils along the River South Tyne, because of their role in enhancing plant uptake of P (and possibly other nutrients). There was no evidence from this study that the fungi reduce plant uptake of heavy metals at these sites, but rather increase Zn uptake. However, the resulting tissue metal concentrations do not appear to be large enough to be detrimental to plant growth.