Co-occurrence of five Fusarium toxins in corn-Dried Distiller’s Grains with Solubles in Thailand and comparison of ELISA and LC-MS/MS for fumonisin analysis

Dried Distiller’s Grains with Solubles (DDGS), a by-product of bio-ethanol production from maize and other cereals, is increasingly used as a feed additive. In this study, five Fusarium toxins, including fumonisin B₁ (FB₁), fumonisin B₂ (FB₂), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN) and beauvericin (BEA) were quantified by LC-MS/MS in 59 corn-DDGS samples. In addition, the fumonisin level in 30 randomly selected-samples was compared using an ELISA detection technique. No sample was free from mycotoxin contamination, and 50.8 % of the samples were co-contaminated with all five mycotoxins. Moreover, toxin levels were generally high, with mean levels of 9 mg kg^?1 FB₁, 6 mg kg^?1 FB₂, 1.2 mg kg^?1 DON, 0.9 mg kg^?1 ZEN, and 0.35 mg kg^?1 BEA. Maximum levels for FB₁ (143 mg kg^?1) and FB₂ (125 mg kg^?1) are of acute toxicological relevance. The ELISA method had a tendency to underestimate the fumonisin content when compared with LC-MS/MS. Finally, this is the first reported beauvericin contamination in corn-DDGS.     

Growth and physiological responses to copper stress in a halophyte Spartina alterniflora (Poaceae)

A study quantifying the effects of different copper (Cu) concentrations (50, 200, 800 and 1,000 mg kg^?1 Cu) on Cu bioaccumulation and physiological responses of Spartina alterniflora was conducted. Plant biomass and Cu accumulation were determined. Plant height, tiller number, chlorophyll, leaf electrolyte leakage rate (ELR), malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, soluble sugar, and organic acids were also measured. The results showed that S. alterniflora mainly accumulated Cu in fine roots. No significant changes of biomass of fine roots were detected except for obvious reduction under 1,000 mg kg^?1 Cu. In leaves, rhizomes and fine roots, the highest Cu accumulations were detected under 800 mg kg^?1 Cu. The highest Cu accumulation in stem was revealed under 200 mg kg^?1 Cu. Plant height decreased under 1,000 mg kg^?1 Cu; chlorophyll content reduced under >50 mg kg^?1 Cu; levels of ELR and MDA increased under >200 mg kg^?1 Cu. However, osmotic components such as proline and soluble sugar were accumulated to cope with higher Cu stresses (800 and 1,000 mg kg^?1). Further, oxalic and citric acids were positively related with Cu contents in leaves and stems, suggesting that oxalic and citric acids may be related to Cu detoxification in aboveground parts of S. alterniflora. However, in above and belowground parts, no detoxification function of ascorbic and fumaric acids was observed due to unchanged or decreased trend under Cu stress.     

A novel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma</Emphasis> fusant for enhancing nutritional value and defence activity in chickpea

In recent years, due to the rise in food consumption, much of the attention has been focused to increase the yield of the agricultural crops which resulted in compromised nutritional quality. Efforts have to be undertaken to enhance the nutritional attributes of legumes, cereals and staple food crops by increasing amino acids and mineral content. In the present study, we evaluated a protoplast fusant (H. lixii MTCC 5659) for its ability to enhance nutritional value and defence activity in chickpea. Essential amino acids; methionine (9.82 mg kg^?1 dw), cysteine (2.61 mg kg^?1 dw), glycine (11.34 mg kg^?1 dw), valine (9.26 mg kg^?1 dw), and non-essential amino acids; aspartic acid (39.19 mg kg^?1 dw) and serine (17.53 mg kg^?1 dw) were significantly higher in seeds of fusant inoculated chickpea. Fusant significantly improved accumulation of mineral nutrients i.e. Cu (157.73 mg kg^?1 dw), Co (0.06 mg kg^?1 dw), Ni (1.85 mg kg^?1 dw), Zn (157.73 mg kg^?1 dw) and S (16.29 mg kg^?1 dw) in seeds. Biocontrol and defence activities of chickpea increased from 20 to 35% in fusant inoculated plants suggesting its potential to ameliorate biotic stress. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an increase in amino acids and mineral content of chickpea by fusant inoculation.     

Tolerance of Ricinus communis L. to Cd and screening of high Cd accumulation varieties for remediation of Cd contaminated soils

Response of castor (Ricinus communis L.) to cadmium (Cd) was assessed by a seed-suspending seedbed approach. Length of total radicle was the most sensitive indicator of Cd tolerance among the tested germination and growth characters. The ED₅₀ value for Cd was 11.87 mg L^?1, indicating high Cd tolerance in castor. A pot experiment was conducted by growing 46 varieties of castor under CK (without Cd) and Cd1 (10 mg kg^?1 of Cd) and Cd2 (50 mg kg^?1 of Cd) treatments to investigate genotype variations in growth response and Cd accumulation of castor under different Cd exposures. Castor possessed high Cd accumulation ability; average shoot and root Cd concentrations of the 46 tested varieties were 21.83 and 185.43 mg kg^?1, and 174.99 and 1181.96 mg kg^?1 under Cd1 and Cd2, respectively. Great variation in Cd accumulation was observed among varieties, and Cd concentration of castor was genotype dependent. The correlation between biomass and Cd accumulation was significantly positive, while no significant correlation was observed between Cd concentration and Cd accumulation, which indicated that biomass performance is the dominant factor in determining Cd accumulation ability.     

Interactive effects of cadmium and carbon nanotubes on the growth and metal accumulation in a halophyte Spartina alterniflora (Poaceae)

A study quantifying the interactive effects of cadmium (Cd) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on plant growth and Cd accumulation of pot-cultured Spartina alterniflora was conducted. The experiment consisted of two Cd levels (50, 200 mg kg^?1) as well as two CNTs levels (800, 2,400 mg kg^?1). As expected, CNTs alleviated higher Cd stress (200 mg kg^?1) due to restored shoot growth reduction, retrieved water content and resumed plant height. Furthermore, CNTs mitigated the deleterious effects of Cd stress through improving K⁺ and Ca²⁺ contents, while reducing Na⁺/K⁺ and Na⁺/Ca²⁺ ratios, regardless of the level of Cd stress. The proline contents in combined Cd and CNTs treatments were lower than Cd alone, suggesting that CNTs could reduce production of organic solutes under Cd stress. The results also showed higher Cd accumulation in roots than shoots, and both were improved by CNTs, except inhibition in roots under higher Cd stress (200 mg kg^?1). It appears that CNTs may not significantly affect negative Cd effects on growth of S. alterniflora, but improve total Cd accumulation under lower Cd stress (50 mg kg^?1). However, under higher Cd stress (200 mg kg^?1), CNTs restored the reduced plant growth, improved and reduced Cd accumulation in shoots and roots, respectively. Therefore, the effects of CNTs on plant growth and Cd accumulation are different, and levels of Cd stress should be considered when evaluating the combined application of CNTs and S. alterniflora on phytoremediation of Cd pollution.     

Screening survey of co-production of fusaric acid,fusarin C,and fumonisins B1, B2 and B3 by Fusarium strains grown in maize grains

Fusarium species isolated from Belgian maize were screened for their ability to produce fusarin C, fusaric acid, fumonisins B₁ (FB₁), FB₂ and FB₃ in maize grains. First, cultivation of Fusarium species in Myro liquid medium allowed overcoming the shortage of the standard of fusarin C on the market. All Fusarium verticillioides produced much higher contents of mycotoxins in Myro compared to Fusarium graminearum or Fusarium venenatum. The optimization of the LC-MS/MS method resulted in low limits of detection and quantification for fusarin C, fusaric acid, FB₁, FB₂ and FB₃ determination in maize grains. Its application for screening the potential toxin production ability evidenced that the concentrations of the analytes were significantly increased at various levels when F. verticillioides strains were cultivated in maize grains and reached 441 mg kg^?1 for fusaric acid, 74 mg kg^?1 for fusarin C, 1,301 mg kg^?1 for FB₁, 367 mg kg^?1 for FB₂ and 753 mg kg^?1 for FB₃.     

Induced anti-oxidant activity in soybean alleviates oxidative stress under moderate boron toxicity

The effect of B toxicity on antioxidant responses of soybean (Glycine max) cv. Athow was investigated by growing plants for 43 days at 0.2 (control), 2 and 12 mg B kg^?1. At the end of the treatment period, shoot growth, lipid peroxidation level, the activities of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR), and their isoenzymes in leaves were measured. Boron concentration in leaves was significantly increased by the increasing levels of B treatment from 43 to 522 mg kg^?1, and shoot dry matter was depressed at 12 mg B kg^?1. Significant increases in SOD, CAT, and APX activities were determined in leaves under 12 mg B kg^?1; however, GR activities were decreased while POX activity was unchanged. Increased enzymic antioxidant activity arose from a combination of newly formed isoenzymes and activation of existing isoenzymes. By contrast, SOD and GR activities were decreased by 2 mg B kg^?1 concentration as compared to the control groups while POX activity was increased and the activity of CAT did not change. Malondialdehyde content increased under 2 mg B kg^?1 but decreased under 12 mg B kg^?1. These results suggest that higher antioxidant activity observed under 12 than at 2 mg B kg^?1 provided higher free radical-scavenging capacity, and thus a lower level of lipid peroxidation in Athow. While the induction of increased antioxidant activity was related to internal boron levels, the signaling and coordination of responses remain unclear.     

The Combined Effects of Iron Excess in the Diet and Chromium(III) Supplementation on the Iron and Chromium Status in Female Rats

Inadequate iron supply has significant consequences to health. There are some relations between the metabolism of different trace elements, such as iron, zinc, copper and chromium. However, the direction of these interactions can be antagonistic or synergistic, and it depends on many factors. The aim of the study was to evaluate the combined effects of supplementary of chromium(III) propionate complex (Cr3) with iron excess on the Cr and Fe status in healthy female rats. The 36 healthy female Wistar rats were divided into six experimental groups (six animals in each) with different Fe levels—adequate (45 mg kg^?1—100% RDA) and high (excessive—180 mg kg^?1—400% RDA). At the same time, they were supplemented with Cr(III) at doses of 1, 50 and 500 mg kg^?1 of diet: C1—control (Fe 45 mg kg^?1, Cr 1 mg kg^?1); C50 (Fe 45 mg kg^?1, Cr 50 mg kg^?1); C500 (Fe 45 mg kg^?1, Cr 500 mg kg^?1); H1 (Fe 180 mg kg^?1, Cr 1 mg kg^?1); H50 (Fe 180 mg kg^?1, Cr 50 mg kg^?1); H500 (Fe 180 mg kg^?1, Cr 500 mg kg^?1). The serum iron level and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were measured with colorimetric methods. The serum ferritin level was measured by means of electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The serum transferrin level was measured with the ELISA method. Haematological measurements were made with an automated blood analyser. The Cr and Fe tissular levels were measured with the AAS method. The exposure to a high level of Fe(III) alone or in combination with Cr caused Fe accumulation in tissues, especially in the liver and kidneys, but there were no significant changes in the TIBC, transferrin, ferritin concentration in the serum and most haematological parameters. Moreover, the serum, hepatic and renal Cr concentrations decreased. The doses of supplementary Cr(III) given separately or in combination with high level of Fe(III) disturbed the Cr content in the liver and kidneys of healthy female rats. However, they did not change most of the parameters of Fe metabolism, except the Fe kidney concentration. Supplementary Cr3 decreased the renal Fe level in groups with adequate Fe content in the diet. However, the renal Fe levels increased along with a higher Cr level in the diet in groups with high Fe content. The findings proved a relationship between Fe(III) and Cr(III) metabolism in healthy female rats. However, the direction of change varied and depended on relative amounts of these elements in the diet.     

Does radial oxygen loss and iron plaque formation on roots alter Cd and Pb uptake and distribution in rice plant tissues?

Background and Aims

Metal (e.g. Cd and Pb) pollution in agricultural soils and crops have aroused considerable attention in recent years. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ROL and Fe plaque on Cd and Pb accumulation and distribution in the rice plant.

Methods

A rhizobag experiment was employed to investigate the correlations among radial oxygen loss (ROL), Fe plaque formation and uptake and distribution of Cd and Pb in 25 rice cultivars.

Results

Large differences between the cultivars were found in rates of ROL (1.55 to 6.88 mmol O₂ kg^?1 root d.w. h^?1), Fe plaque formation (Fe: 6,117–48,167 mg kg^?1; Mn: 127–1,089 mg kg^?1), heavy metals in shoot (Cd: 0.13–0.35 mg kg^?1; Pb: 4.8–8.1 mg kg^?1) and root tissues (Cd: 1.1–3.5 mg kg^?1; Pb: 45–199 mg kg^?1), and in Fe plaque (Cd: 0.54–2.6 mg kg^?1; Pb: 102–708 mg kg^?1). Rates of ROL were positively correlated with Fe plaque formation and metal deposition on root surfaces, but negatively correlated with metal transfer factors of root/plaque and distributions in shoot and root tissues.

Conclusions

ROL-induced Fe plaque promotes metal deposition on to root surfaces, leading to a limitation of Cd and Pb transfer and distribution in rice plant tissues.     

Conversion of oat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Avena sativa</Emphasis> L.) haploid embryos into plants in relation to embryo developmental stage and regeneration media

Obtaining oat DH lines is only effective via wide crossing with maize. Seven hundred haploid embryos from 21 single F₁ progeny obtained from wide crosses with maize were isolated, divided into four groups according to their size (<0.5 mm, 0.5–0.9 mm, 1.0–1.4 mm, and ≥1.5 mm), and transferred into 190–2 regeneration medium with different growth regulators: 0.5 mg L^?1 kinetin (KIN) and 0.5 mg L^?1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA); 1 mg L^?1 zeatin (ZEA) and 0.5 mg L^?1 NAA; or 1 mg L^?1 dicamba (DIC), 1 mg L^?1 picloram (PIC), and 0.5 mg L^?1 kinetin (KIN). Among all isolated embryos, approximately 46.1% were between 1.0–1.4 mm, while the smallest group of embryos (7.1%) were those <0.5 mm. The ability of haploid embryos to germinate varied depending on oat genotypes and the size of embryos. Haploid embryos <0.5 mm were globular and did not germinate, whereas embryos ≥1.5 mm had clearly visible coleoptiles, radicles, and scutella, and were able to germinate. Germination of oat haploid embryos varied depending on growth regulators in the regeneration medium. Most haploid embryos germinated on medium with 0.5 mg L^?1 NAA and 0.5 mg L^?1 KIN, while the fewest germinated on medium with 1 mg L^?1 DIC, 1 mg L^?1 PIC, and 0.5 mg L^?1 KIN. One hundred thirty germinated haploid embryos converted into haploid plants. Fifty oat DH lines were obtained after colchicine treatment.     

The influence of redox conditions in soils on extraplasmatic Fe-loading of plant roots

Loading of extraplasmatic Fe, as a potential storage pool for Fe nutrition, was studied in roots of maize grown under hypoxic conditions in soil culture. Extraplasmatic Fe loading was investigated depending on (i) duration of flooding (0, 1, 2 or 4 days) and (ii) microbial activity as affected by graduated addition of carbon sources (0, 2 or 10 g each starch and cellulose kg^?1 soil). Maize plants were grown in a soil culture system with root systems enclosed in membrane bags to avoid Fe contamination of the root surface by soil particles. Due to the high redox buffer capacity of the Haplic Luvisol employed for the experiments, flooding treatments induced only moderately reducing conditions (～?300 mV) and a slight increase of extraplasmatic Fe loading (41\to165 mg kg^?1 d.m.). Strongly reducing conditions (?100 mV) associated with a high Fe²⁺ concentration in the soil solution and a significant increase of extraplasmatic Fe (1190 mg kg^?1 d.m.) were obtained only after application of high amounts of organic carbon (10 g starch and 10 g cellulose kg^?1 soil), which accompanied by unrealistic reducing conditions due to intense stimulation of microbial growth. The expression of effects only under extremely high application level of organic carbon (～?33 t C ha^?1) suggest that similar to aerobic conditions, extraplasmatic Fe-loading under transient hypoxia is probably of limited ecological significance for the iron nutrition of higher plants, at least in soils with a high redox buffer capacity as employed in the present study. Abbreviations: DHA – dehydrogenase activity; d.m. – dry matter; DOC – dissolved organic carbon; Eh – redox potential; PIXE – proton-induced X-ray emission; STIM – scanning transmission ion microscopy.     

Plant regeneration of the arsenic hyperaccumulator <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pteris vittata</Emphasis> L<Emphasis Type="Italic">.</Emphasis> from spores and identification of its tolerance and accumulation of arsenic and copper

An in vitro plant regeneration system was established from the spores of Pteris vittata and identification of its tolerance, and accumulation of gametophytes and callous, to arsenic (As) and copper (Cu) was investigated. The highest frequency (100%) of callus formation was achieved from gametophyte explants treated with 0.5 mg l^?1 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) + 0.5 mg l^?1 gibberellin acid (GA). Furthermore, sporophytes were differentiated from the callus tissue derived from gametophyte explants on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l^?1 6-BA, 0.5–1.0 mg l^?1 GA and additional 300 mg l^?1 lactalbumin hydrolysate (LH) for 4 weeks. The optimum combination of ½ MS + 1.0 mg l^?1 GA + 0.5 mg l^?1 6-BA + 300 mg l^?1 LH promoted sporophyte formation on 75 ± 10% of the callus. Every callus derived from gametophyte explants could achieve 3–4 sporophytes. The in vitro growth of gametophyte and callus was accelerated in the medium containing Na₃AsO₄ lower than 0.5 mM, but this growth was inhibited with 2 mM Na₃AsO₄. And with the increase of Na₃AsO₄ in the culture medium from 0 to 2 mM, the As accumulation in gametophytes and callus increased and achieved a level of 763.3 and 315.4 mg kg^?1, respectively. Gametophytes and calluses transplanted to culture medium, supplemented with different concentrations of CuSO₄, are similar to those in Na₃AsO₄, and the Cu accumulation in gametophytes could achieve 7,940 mg kg^?1 when gametophytes were subcultured in medium containing 3 mM CuSO₄. These results suggested that the high efficiency propagation system could be a useful and rapid means to identify other heavy metal tolerance and accumulation. Further, the regeneration ability of callus made it possible for genetic transformation of this fern.     

Bacterial community analysis in chlorpyrifos enrichment cultures via DGGE and use of bacterial consortium for CP biodegradation

The organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos (CP) has been used extensively since the 1960s for insect control. However, its toxic effects on mammals and persistence in environment necessitate its removal from contaminated sites, biodegradation studies of CP-degrading microbes are therefore of immense importance. Samples from a Pakistani agricultural soil with an extensive history of CP application were used to prepare enrichment cultures using CP as sole carbon source for bacterial community analysis and isolation of CP metabolizing bacteria. Bacterial community analysis (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) revealed that the dominant genera enriched under these conditions were Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and Stenotrophomonas, along with lower numbers of Sphingomonas, Agrobacterium and Burkholderia. Furthermore, it revealed that members of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, α- and γ-Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were present at initial steps of enrichment whereas β-Proteobacteria appeared in later steps and only Proteobacteria were selected by enrichment culturing. However, when CP-degrading strains were isolated from this enrichment culture, the most active organisms were strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Pseudomonas mendocina and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These strains degraded 6–7.4 mg L^?1 day^?1 of CP when cultivated in mineral medium, while the consortium of all four strains degraded 9.2 mg L^?1 day^?1 of CP (100 mg L^?1). Addition of glucose as an additional C source increased the degradation capacity by 8–14 %. After inoculation of contaminated soil with CP (200 mg kg^?1) disappearance rates were 3.83–4.30 mg kg^?1 day^?1 for individual strains and 4.76 mg kg^?1 day^?1 for the consortium. These results indicate that these organisms are involved in the degradation of CP in soil and represent valuable candidates for in situ bioremediation of contaminated soils and waters.     

Identification of Major QTL for Waterlogging Tolerance Using Genome-Wide Association and Linkage Mapping of Maize Seedlings

To investigate the genetic basis of maize seedling response to waterlogging, we performed a genome-wide association study in 144 maize inbred lines, measuring length, fresh and dry weight of roots and shoots under normal and waterlogged conditions using 45,868 SNPs. This panel was divided into three subgroups based on the population structure results and the LD decay distance was 180 kb. A biparental advanced backcross (AB) population was also used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL). In a comparison of 16 different models, principal components analysis (PCA/top PC3)?+?K was found to be best for reduction of false-positive associations for further analysis. A whole-genome scan detected four strong peak signals (P <?2.18?×?10^?5) significantly associated with the waterlogging response on chromosomes 5, 6 and 9. SNP4784, SNP200, SNP298, and SNP6314 showed significant association with corresponding traits under waterlogging and explained 14.99–19.36 %, 15.75–17.64 %, 16.08 % and 15.44 % of the phenotypic variation, respectively. The identified SNPs were located in GRMZM2G012046, GRMZM2G009808, GRMZM2G137108 and GRMZM2G369629 (AGPV1). SNP4784 (GRMZM2G012046) was colocalized with the major QTL that was identified with the same traits in the AB population. Forty-seven SNPs significantly associated (P?<?2.18?×?10^?4) with six traits in association mapping were identified and, among these, 33 SNPs were already reported in literature as waterlogging-related traits. These results will help elucidate the genetic basis of differential responses and tolerance to waterlogging stress among maize inbred lines, and provide novel loci for improvement of waterlogging tolerance of maize inbred lines using marker-assisted selection.     

Interactive effects of soil salinity and boron on growth,mineral composition and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> assimilation of pistachio seedlings

Pistachio is a tree of the arid and semi-arid regions where salinity and boron (B) toxicity can be major environmental stresses. In this study, individual and combined effects of different concentrations of NaCl (0, 800, 1600, 2400 and 3200 mg kg^?1 soil) and B (0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0 mg kg^?1 soil) were studied on growth, gas-exchange and mineral composition of pistachio seedlings for a duration of 120 days. Excess amounts of salinity (> 1600 mg NaCl kg^?1 soil) and B (20.0 mg kg^?1 soil) significantly reduced the plant growth and CO₂ assimilation, which was associated with accumulation of Na, Cl and B in leaves. There was also a decline in cell membrane stability index (MSI). Reduced stomatal conductance (g _s) was the primary cause of inhibition of photosynthesis rate (P _N) under mild to moderate salinity. However, under severe salt stress and B toxicity, non-stomatal effects contributed to the inhibition of CO₂ assimilation in addition to the decline in g _s value. Application of 5.0–10.0 mg B kg^?1 soil significantly improved the plant growth and P _N and also recovered the MSI as countermeasures against salt stress. These observations were related to the role of B in cell membrane structure and functioning which reduced the concentration of toxic ions in the leaves. However, cell membrane damages and chlorophyll loss in plants affected by salt were observed to be exacerbated when excess amounts of B were present. In conclusion, the results revealed that optimizing the B nutrition can improve the performance of pistachio seedlings under salt stress, and NaCl also showed a mitigating effect on B toxicity if its concentration in the soil is kept under the plant salt tolerance threshold.     

Accumulation of Hydrocarbons by Maize (Zea mays L.) in Remediation of Soils Contaminated with Crude Oil

This study has investigated the use of screened maize for remediation of soil contaminated with crude oil. Pots experiment was carried out for 60 days by transplanting maize seedlings into spiked soils. The results showed that certain amount of crude oil in soil (≤2 147 mg·kg^?1) could enhance the production of shoot biomass of maize. Higher concentration (6 373 mg·kg^?1) did not significantly inhibit the growth of plant maize (including shoot and root). Analysis of plant shoot by GC-MS showed that low molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected in maize tissues, but PAHs concentration in the plant did not increase with higher concentration of crude oil in soil. The reduction of total petroleum hydrocarbon in planted soil was up to 52.21–72.84%, while that of the corresponding controls was only 25.85–34.22% in two months. In addition, data from physiological and biochemical indexes demonstrated a favorable adaptability of maize to crude oil pollution stress. This study suggested that the use of maize (Zea mays L.) was a good choice for remediation of soil contaminated with petroleum within a certain range of concentrations.     

Dietary Supplementation of Zinc Nanoparticles and Its Influence on Biology,Physiology and Immune Responses of the Freshwater Prawn,Macrobrachium rosenbergii

The present study was conducted to assess the influence of dietary zinc nanoparticles (size 50 nm) on the growth, biochemical constituents, enzymatic antioxidant levels and the nonspecific immune response of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii post larvae (PL). The concentrations of dietary supplement zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) were 0, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mg kg^?1 with the basal diet, and the level of Zn in ZnNP-supplemented diets were 0.71, 10.61, 20.73, 40.73, 60.61 and 80.60 mg kg^?1, respectively. ZnNP-incorporated diets were fed to M. rosenbergii PL (initial body weight, 0.18?±?0.02 g) in a triplicate experimental setup for a period of 90 days. ZnNP supplemented feed fed PL up to 60 mg kg^?1 showed significantly (P?<?0.05) improved performance in survival, growth and activities of digestive enzymes (protease, amylase and lipase). The concentrations of biochemical constituents (total protein, total amino acid, total carbohydrate and total lipid), total haemocyte count and differential haemocyte count were elevated in 10–60 mg kg^?1 ZnNP supplemented feed fed PL. However, the PL fed with 80 mg ZnNPs kg^?1 showed negative results. Activities of enzymatic antioxidants [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)], metabolic enzymes [glutamate–oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate–pyruvate transaminase (GPT)] and the process of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the hepatopancreas and muscle showed no significant alterations in 10–60 mg kg^?1 ZnNP supplemented feed fed PL. Whereas, 80 mg ZnNPs kg^?1 supplemented feed fed PL showed significant elevations in SOD, CAT, LPO, GOT and GPT. Therefore, 80 mg ZnNPs kg^?1 was found to be toxic to M. rosenbergii PL. Thus, the study suggests that up to 60 mg ZnNPs kg^?1 can be supplemented for regulating survival, growth and immunity of M. rosenbergii.     

Temporal-spatial distribution,environmental significance and release risks of phosphorus in the sediments of a tropical mountain’s deep drinking water reservoir in southeastern China

In this study, the fractionation and distribution of phosphorus (P) in the core sediments of the Shanmei reservoir were investigated by using the chemical extraction method in directions for the first time in order to understand its bio-availability, adsorption characteristics, potential release and environmental significance. The results of the study showed that P in the sediments mainly consisted of inorganic phosphorus (IP) and that IP mainly consisted of non-apatite phosphorus (NAIP). The horizontal and temporal distributions of the P fractions were different from each other, but the vertical distribution was similar, which indicated a trend of stabilization after falling. The content of total phosphorus (TP), IP, organic phosphorus (OP), NAIP, apatite phosphorus (AP), and bio-available phosphorus (BAP) in the sediments during the three seasons ranged from 193.85 to 1664.05 mg·kg^?1, 126.90 to 1127.70 mg·kg^?1, 43.74 to 669.29 mg·kg^?1, 57.62 to 937.07 mg·kg^?1, 32.58 to 250.71 mg·kg^?1, and 41.06 to 871.82 mg·kg^?1, respectively. NAIP contents in the sediments accounted for more than 50% of TP. Using an analysis from three aspects, the eutrophication risk index (ERI) could be used to assess the potential release of P in the sediments, and there was a high release risk of P in the sediments in the Shanmei reservoir.     

Sulfur and molybdenum fractionation in marine and riverine alluvium paddy soils

Intermittently submergence and drainage status of paddy fields can cause alterations in morphological and chemical characteristics of soils. We conducted a sequential fractionation study to provide an insight into solubility of Sulfur (S) and Molybdenum (Mo) in flooded alluvial paddy soils. The samples (0–15 and 15–30 cm) were taken from marine and riverine alluvial soils in Kedah and Kelantan areas, respectively, and were sequentially extracted with NaHCO₃, NaOH, HCl, and HClO₄–HNO₃. Total S in upper and lower layers of Kedah and Kelantan ranged between 273 and 1121 mg kg^?1, and 177 to 1509 mg kg^?1, respectively. In upper layers and subsoil of Kedah, average total Mo were 0.34 and 0.27 mg kg^?1, respectively. Average total Mo in Kelantan were 0.25 mg kg^?1 (surface layer) and 0.28 mg kg^?1 (subsoil). Cation exchange capacity (CEC) was positively correlated with plant available amounts of Mo in upper layers of Kedah area. Also, total and medium-term plant-available S was correlated with total carbon (C) at lower layers of Kelantan soil series. But in surface layers of Kelantan soil series, CEC was strongly correlated with total and medium-term plant-available S. Our results indicates that the influence of flooding conditions on soil S and Mo contents in paddy fields may cause long-term changes in S and Mo chemical reactivities.