Organic and inorganic compound variations in haemolymph, epidermal tissue and cuticle over the molt cycle in Scylla serrata (Decapoda)

Analysis of organic and inorganic compounds in haemolymph, epidermal tissue and cuticle, allowed the correlation of their content variation during the molt cycle in Scylla serrata (Decapoda). The extrusion of carbohydrate, chitin, H(2)O- and NaOH-soluble proteins of the epidermal tissue from D2 stage on suggested an early formation of the organic fraction in the new cuticle. The additional secretion of HCl-soluble protein, glycosaminoglycans, calcium, phosphorus and sulfur in D2-D3 stages suggests mineral nucleation shortly before or at ecdysis. This is consistent with the dominant content of proteins and chitin associated with peaks of carbohydrates and GAG-sulfur groups detected in the cuticle immediately after ecdysis. Furthermore, the maximal phosphorus content at this moment suggests calcium, magnesium and manganese phosphate deposits. After an intense accumulation of calcium, chitin and sharp decrease of protein from A to B stages, a constant rate of their deposition in intermolt and dissolution in premolt occurred. The variations concerning proteins, carbohydrates, glycosaminoglycans, calcium, magnesium and sulfur in the haemolymph, before and after ecdysis, suggest a transitory phenomenon for calcium binding and releasing. Other major elements such as, sodium, potassium and chloride may function as osmotic regulators in the haemolymph and in epidermal compartments. The copper profile presented an indicator role for variations of osmolality over the molt cycle.     

Regulation of the elemental composition of the epididymal fluids in the tammar, Macropus eugenii

Micropuncture, microanalytical and microelectrode techniques were used to study electrochemical aspects of 7 elements and fluid in the ductuli efferents and ductus epididymidis of the tammar. Rete testis fluid was isosmotic with blood and had a lower pH. It also contained lower concentrations of bicarbonate, sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sulphur and higher concentrations of potassium and chloride than blood. The luminal fluid was acidified further during passage through the sperm ducts and all of the elements which were studied moved in or out of the lumen, usually against an electrochemical gradient. The ductuli efferents reabsorbed 87% of the fluid leaving the testis without changing the intraluminal concentrations of sodium, potassium and calcium, but the concentrations of magnesium, phosphorus and sulphur increased. The caput epididymidis reabsorbed about half the fluid entering it: sodium concentrations decreased and those of potassium and phosphorus increased. There was also some fluid reabsorption and an increase in the values of potassium and phosphorus in the corpus epididymidis. There was little net transport of fluid in the cauda epididymidis; sodium, chloride, magnesium and phosphorus concentrations decreased and potassium values increased. Studies involving filtration through a dialysis membrane of blood and fluid from the rete testis and cauda epididymidis showed that, whilst some of the calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sulphur was associated with high molecular weight compounds in blood, the association was not significant in the reproductive fluids.     

Effects of silicon on the chemical composition of rice plants

Summary Rice plants were grown in nutrient culture solutions. Silicon was supplied to these plants at different rates. The plant samples of early vegetative, vegetative and flowering stages were analysed for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, silicon, protein and carbohydrate contents. The application of silicon generally decreased the nitrogen, protein and potassium content of rice plants. Its application also decreased the iron and manganese contents. The use of silicon resulted in an increase in phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, silicon and carbohydrate contents of rice plants.Reader and Head of the Department of Soil Science, University of Dacca, Dacca, East Pakistan.     

Effect of various chloride salts on the utilization of phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium

Only part of the effect of dietary protein on urinary calcium excretion can be ascribed to sulfur amino acids. We hypothesized that chloride, another factor often associated with isolated proteins, and another amino acid, lysine, affect utilization of calcium. The effects of supplemental dietary chloride, inorganic or organic, on calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium utilization were studied in two rat studies. Weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed semi-purified diets that contained moderate (1.8 mg Cl/g diet) or supplemental (15.5 mg Cl/g diet) chloride as sodium chloride, potassium chloride, or lysine monohydrochloride with or without calcium carbonate for 56 or 119 days. Rats fed supplemental sodium chloride or potassium chloride had higher urinary phosphorus excretion, more efficient phosphorus absorption, but unchanged tissue phosphorus levels after 7 and 16 weeks of dietary treatment as compared to rats fed moderate chloride. Rats fed supplemental sodium chloride or potassium chloride excreted more calcium in urine at 7 weeks and absorbed calcium less efficiently at 16 weeks. Tissue calcium concentrations were unaffected, but total tibia magnesium and plasma magnesium concentrations were lower in rats fed supplemental sodium chloride or potassium chloride than those fed moderate chloride. Lysine chloride with or without additional calcium elevated urinary calcium excretion even more than sodium chloride and potassium chloride ingestion. Rats fed lysine chloride with supplemental calcium had smaller apparent absorption and urinary losses of phosphorus and magnesium after 16 weeks and lower tibia and plasma magnesium concentrations than rats fed lysine chloride.     

Hematochemical parameters in calves before, during and after weaning to a regular diet

The Authors studied the changes of 17 blood parameters of calves before, during and after a traditional weaning. Concentrations of total protein, albumin, urea nitrogen, creatinine, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin and phosphorus were determined by an automated assay system; sodium, potassium and chloride by a flame photometer; calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Observed changes can be referred to: 1) the change of the digestion (glucose); 2) the age of the subjects (alkaline phosphatase); 3) the increase of weight (creatinine); 4) the type of feeding (phosphorus, copper and zinc). Sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and magnesium did not change during the weaning.     

Electrolyte composition of cow and calf tissues in health and in acute digestive disturbances]

Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc and chloride contents in the blood plasma of calves at parturition have been established to correspond to their levels in blood of cows during their calving period. Iron and inorganic phosphorus contents in calves blood plasma appeared to increase and copper content to be lower in this period as compared to postnatal period. By the third day of postnatal ontogenesis sodium concentration in calves blood decreased, copper level increased and the rest indices of water-salts metabolism in calves and adult animals were alike. Digestion disturbances in the calves were accompanied by changes in levels and magnitude of Na+/K+ ratio, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese and zinc contents in blood, liver and kidneys as well as Ca++/Pi ratio in mitochondria and cytosol of liver and jejunum mucose layer cells in comparison with clinically healthy animals.     

Inorganic elements in the adults of Ascaridia galli (Schrank, 1788)

Inorganic analysis of Ascaridia galli has shown the levels of sodium, potassium, copper, magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, chlorine and cobalt (expressed as percentage of dry weight) to be higher in females than in males.     

Fractionated extraction and speciation of macronutrients from Scots pine and Norway spruce needles of different ages

Summary The relationship between proteins and the macroelements potassium, magnesium, calcium, sulphur and phosphorus was studied in homogenates of needles of different ages from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.]. Complete extractions by acid digestion, protein extractions by a buffer-detergent and non-protein extractions by a buffer alone showed that most of the potassium and magnesium of the needles was soluble independent of the proteins. Only a minor part (50–60 ppm, dry weight) of the magnesium could be referred to the chlorophyll content of the needles. Both potassium and magnesium appeared independent of the protein gel filtration. This was also valid for the minor fraction of the total calcium content, which was extractable in a buffer. Heterogeneous calcium deposits are also suggested by extraction using a chelator (EGTA). Part of the buffer-soluble sulphur and phosphorus compounds occurred independently of solubilized proteins, and had complex distribution patterns after gel filtration, even outside the high molecular separation range. It is suggested that further analyses along the present lines, compared with conventional analyses on total extracts, may extend the usefulness of mineral nutrient analyses in plants.     

Response of Copepods to Elevated pCO2 and Environmental Copper as Co-Stressors – A Multigenerational Study

We examined the impacts of ocean acidification and copper as co-stressors on the reproduction and population level responses of the benthic copepod Tisbe battagliai across two generations. Naupliar production, growth, and cuticle elemental composition were determined for four pH values: 8.06 (control); 7.95; 7.82; 7.67, with copper addition to concentrations equivalent to those in benthic pore waters. An additive synergistic effect was observed; the decline in naupliar production was greater with added copper at decreasing pH than for decreasing pH alone. Naupliar production modelled for the two generations revealed a negative synergistic impact between ocean acidification and environmentally relevant copper concentrations. Conversely, copper addition enhanced copepod growth, with larger copepods produced at each pH compared to the impact of pH alone. Copepod digests revealed significantly reduced cuticle concentrations of sulphur, phosphorus and calcium under decreasing pH; further, copper uptake increased to toxic levels that lead to reduced naupliar production. These data suggest that ocean acidification will enhance copper bioavailability, resulting in larger, but less fecund individuals that may have an overall detrimental outcome for copepod populations.     

Mineral nutrition of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.)

Summary Two experiments on cacao seedlings grown in sand culture are described, the first of which was concerned with variations in the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur (the macronutrient experiment) and the second dealing with variations in the levels of iron, copper, zinc, boron, manganese, and molybdenum (the micronutrient experiment).Many of the deficiency symptoms obtained were similar to those reported in the literature and they have not been described again. However, additional information is provided for symptoms of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, manganese, copper, boron, and molybdenum deficiencies.The effects of all treatments on the dry weights of leaves, stems, and roots are presented. The effects of the macronutrient treatments on the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in the leaves of eight month old plants and the effects of micronutrient treatments on the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, boron, molybdenum, sodium, and aluminium in the leaves of eleven-month-old plants are presented and discussed.     

Sulphur and phosphorus requirements of Curvularia pallescens Boed

The effect of different sulphur and phosphorus compounds on the growth and sporulation ofCurvularia pallescens Boed. has been studied. Nine different sulphur sources were tried but among them only magnesium sulphate yielded the best dry weight of the fungus. Zinc sulphate, sodium sulphate, sodium thiosulphate, potassium sulphate and calcium sulphate supported good growth. Poor growth was recorded on sodium bisulphite, ammonium sulphate, sodium sulphide and control. Sporulation was excellent on magnesium sulphate. It was good on zinc sulphate, sodium sulphate and potassium sulphate. On sodium thiosulphate, calcium sulphate, sodium bisulphite and control it was fair. Sodium sulphide and ammonium sulphate had inhibitory effect as sporulation was poor and nil on these two compounds respectively.Six phosphorus compounds were studied. Tripotassium phosphate gave best growth and excellent sporulation. Good growth and excellent sporulation was recorded on monobasic potassium phosphate and magnesium phosphate. Growth and sporulation were good on dibasic potassium phosphate and sodium dihydrogen phosphate. Ammonium phosphate was poorly utilized.     

Effect on soil and plant mineral levels following application of manures of different copper contents

Summary Manure from finishing pigs fed diets with and without a growth stimulating level of added copper (250 ppm in 1972, 370 ppm in 1973 and 300 ppm in 1974) was incorporated into a Groseclose silt loam at the rate of 15.5, 12.9 and 15.7 metric tons of dry matter per hectare, respectively, for 1972, 1973 and 1974. A third treatment was no manure. The manure was applied between rows when corn was about 10 cm tall and worked into the surface 10 cm of the soil with a rotary tiller. The average composition of the manure for the three years on a dry basis was 3.6 per cent nitrogen, 2.87 per cent calcium, 0.93 per cent magnesium, 2.22 per cent phosphorus, 1.30 per cent potassium, 648 ppm zinc, 2191 ppm iron. The copper content was 73 ppm for control manure and 1719 ppm for high copper manure. The copper content in the upper 10 cm of the soil was significantly increased each year when high copper manure was applied. During one growing season, copper did not appear to move down, however, plowing after the first year increased the copper level in the 10–20 cm depth with a small increase in the 20–30 cm depth. Potassium, zinc, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium levels of the soil were increased when manure was applied. There was a small increase in the copper content of the maize ear leaf (average of one ppm per year) when manure from pigs fed diets containing high copper was applied. Copper in the washed roots of the mature maize plants was doubled (5.6 vs 11.2 ppm) when the high copper manure was added. The copper content of grain from plants grown on soil receiving high copper manure was not different from that of grain from soil receiving no manure. The zinc, potassium and phosphorus contents of the maize ear leaf were increased a small amount when both control and high copper manure were applied with the effect of potassium and phosphorus carrying over to the grain. The iron and calcium contents of the ear leaf were not affected by application of manure, but there was a decrease in calcium content of the grain from the application of control and high copper manure. re]19750305Department of Animal ScienceDepartment of AgronomyDepartment of Statistics     

江西省茶园土壤肥力特征及其影响因子

为探明江西省典型茶园土壤养分状况和肥力特征,选取江西省21个地区372个典型茶园,分析茶园土壤养分的差异性、空间性、相关性及与地形、土壤类型、海拔和建园时间的关联性。结果表明: 江西省茶园土壤pH、有机质、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾、全氮、全磷和全钾分别达到优质高效高产茶园土壤营养指标的53.9%、60.1%、56.1%、22.9%、38.5%、43.7%、11.1%和95.5%,其中速效磷为强变异;有效铜、锌、铁、锰和硼达到土壤微量元素含量分级一级标准的占比分别为76.3%、74.2%、96.8%、73.1%和0.0%。江西茶园土壤养分以赣中地区最高,其次是赣东北和赣西北地区,赣南地区最低。除全钾外,土壤pH与有机质、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾、全氮和全磷均呈显著正相关。不同地形土壤养分以平地最高,高山次之,山地和丘陵最低;不同土壤类型土壤养分以水稻土、砂壤和山地黄棕壤较高,其次是黄壤、红黄壤和紫色土,红壤最低;土壤pH、有机质和全钾随海拔上升而递增,而速效磷随海拔上升而递减;土壤有机质、碱解氮、全氮、速效磷和全磷随建园时间的增加而递增,而土壤pH随建园时间的增加而递减。综上,江西省茶园土壤肥力总体水平良好,有机质、全钾、有效铜、锌、铁和锰均较丰富,但土壤偏酸,速效磷和全磷偏低,有效硼严重缺乏。赣中应提高土壤pH和钾肥,赣东北增加钾和氮肥,赣西北增加有机质和磷肥,赣南应增加氮磷钾肥并配施有机肥;高山茶园补充速效磷和钾肥,山地茶园提高氮和磷肥;红黄壤茶园提高土壤pH和全钾,红壤茶园应提高氮磷钾肥并配施有机肥,黄壤和山地黄棕壤茶园需要增施磷肥,紫色土茶园需提高土壤有机质;茶园需要逐年增加白云石粉、生理碱性肥料和有机肥等,防治茶园土壤酸化。     

Changes in the chemical content of birch (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula pendula </Emphasis>Roth) leaves in the air polluted Krusne hory mountains

Analyses of birch leaves (Betula pendula Roth) sampled from trees in the air polluted Krusne hory mountains and Decin sandstone highlands were performed in 1995 and 1998. The results revealed a connection between reduction of air pollutants and overall decrease in sulphur and nitrogen content of the leaves. Simultaneously, in many stands an increase in calcium content and a decrease in contents of phosphorus, magnesium and potassium occurred. The content of microelements and non-nutrient elements did not change.     

The pH Dependency of Relative Ion Permeabilities in the Crayfish Giant Axon

The dependence of the membrane potential on potassium, chloride, and sodium ions, was determined at the pH's of 6.0, 7.5, and 9.0 for the resting and depolarized crayfish ventral nerve cord giant axon. In normal saline (external potassium = 5.4 mM), the dependence of the membrane potential on the external potassium ions decreased with lowered pH while that for chloride increased. In contrast, in the potassium depolarized axon (external potassium = 25 mM), the dependence of the membrane potential on external potassium was minimum around pH 7.5 and increased in either more acidic or basic pH. In addition, the dependence of the membrane potential on external chloride in the depolarized axon was maximum at pH 7.5 and decreased in either more acidic or basic pH. The sodium dependency of the membrane potential was small and relatively unaffected by pH or depolarization. The data are interpreted as indicating a reversible surface membrane protein-phospholipid conformation change which occurs in the transition from the resting to the depolarized axon.     

Dissolution of granules in the Malpighian tubules of Musca autumnalis DeGeer,during mineralization of the puparium

The dissolution of mineralized granules stored in the larval Malpighian tubules of the face fly, Musca autumnalis DeGeer, was studied both in situ and with isolated granules in vitro. The release of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium from granules increased exponentially as the pH of the bathing medium was decreased. The pH measured in the distal region of the Malpighian tubules was 8.08 while that of the proximal region was 7.35. Thus, the decrease in pH of lumen contents from distal to proximal regions of the tubules appears to be a major effector of granule dissolution. Loss of structural integrity of the granules accompanied mineral release and also increased as pH of the bathing medium was lowered in vitro. This structural disintegration was similar to that observed in naturally dissolving granules isolated from the proximal region of the Malpighian tubules. The larval tubules, therefore, appear to have regional specialization in that granules are formed and stored in the distal lumen and dissolution takes place as granules move into the more acidic proximal region. No granules were found in the larval hindgut contents also indicating that dissolution and transport take place in the proximal region of the tubules. However, granules of similar composition were found in the meconium and in the most distal regions of adult Malpighian tubules.     

Microprobe analysis of Na,K, Cl,P, S,Ca, Mg and H2O in frozen-hydrated sections of anterior caeca of the locust, Schistocerca gregaria

Electron probe X-ray microanalysis of frozen-hydrated sections was carried out for sodium, potassium, chlorine, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, phosphorus and water concentrations in the lumen and epithelial cells of freshly-fed adult female desert locusts, and in blood of fed and starved locusts.Sodium and chloride were found to be at a much lower level in the lumen and cells than potassium, and at a much higher level in the blood. The luminal folds were plugged with a dense organic matrix, presumed to be polyanionic glycosaminoglycans, which appeared to restrict access of charged moieties of the absorptive sites. The data were consistent with a model of caecal fluid absorption in which a passive flux of potassium from lumen to blood, possibly assisted by an active absorption of chloride, drives fluid into the blood. Unlike the case of the vertebrate intestine, active absorption of sodium from the lumen would not contribute significantly to the fluid transport in vivo.     

FURTHER ASPECTS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NICKEL TOXICITY AND IRON SUPPLY

Absorption of nickel by oat plants increased with increasing pH for a fixed iron supply. Nickel uptake and toxicity symptoms (necrosis and chlorosis) were both reduced when the concentration of iron in the nutrient solution was high. Nickel-iron ratio in the nutrient solution. For solutions with the same nickel-iron ratio, toxicity symptoms increased with increase in the absolute amount of nickel. There was a linear relationship between the degree of necrotic symptoms and the nickel-iron ratio in the plant.
Nickel consistently reduced the iron content of roots and tops. In the absence of nickel, the iron content of the roots but not of the tops, increased with iron supply. In nickel-toxic plants, the magnesium, calcium and phosphorus contents of the tops and the potassium, calcium and phosphorus contents of the roots were higher than in healthy plants, but the potassium content of the tops and the magnesium content of the roots were lower.
Similar results were found with tomato.     

Peripheral plasma levels of certain mineral elements in primitive African goats

Changes in blood plasma calcium, inorganic phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, sodium and potassium concentrations over a 3-year period were investigated in primitive goats. Blood plasma mineral concentrations were determined by atomic absorption and a colorimetric method. Changes in Zn and Ca concentrations are season dependent, potassium levels show only a long-term change tendency, and magnesium and inorganic phosphorus had constant levels throughout the investigation period. Iron, copper and sodium showed both long-term change tendencies and more or less marked season related changes.     

Studies of the interaction between boron and calcium,and its modification by magnesium and potassium,in rats

Two experiments were performed to confirm that boron interacts with calcium, and that this interaction can be modified by dietary magnesium and potassium in the rat. Upon manipulating the dietary variables listed above, it was found that under certain conditions, boron and calcium deprivation similarly affected several variables; for example, they both could be made to elevate plasma alkaline phosphatase activity and to depress femur calcium concentration. Under some dietary conditions, both boron and calcium deprivation affected some variables related to blood or iron metabolism. However, the effects of dietary boron and calcium on spleen weight/body weight ratio, hematocrit, and femur iron concentration generally were not similar. Femur copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc also were affected by an interaction between boron and calcium under some dietary conditions. The findings show that there is a relationship between boron and calcium, but they do not clearly indicate the nature of the relationship. However, the data suggest that boron and calcium act on similar systems in the rat.