PHYLOGENETIC VARIATION IN THE TOLERANCE AND UPTAKE OF ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS

An investigation into the phylogenetic variation of plant tolerance and the root and shoot uptake of organic contaminants was undertaken. The aim was to determine if particular families or genera were tolerant of, or accumulated organic pollutants. Data were collected from sixty-nine studies. The variation between experiments was accounted for using a residual maximum likelihood analysis to approximate means for individual taxa. A nested ANOVA was subsequently used to determine differences at a number of differing phylogenetic levels. Significant differences were observed at a number of phylogenetic levels for the tolerance to TPH, the root concentration factor and the shoot concentration factor. There was no correlation between the uptake of organic pollutants and that of heavy metals. The data indicate that plant phylogeny is an important influence on both the plant tolerance and uptake of organic pollutants. If this study can be expanded, such information can be used when designing plantings for phytoremediation or risk reduction during the restoration of contaminated sites.     

Cd AND Zn TOLERANCE AND ACCUMULATION BY SEDUM JINIANUM IN EAST CHINA

Field survey, hydroponic culture, and pot experiments were carried out to examine and characterize cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) uptake and accumulation by Sedum jinianum, a plant species native to China. Shoot Cd and Zn concentrations in S. jinianum growing on a lead/Zn mine area reached 103–478 and 4165–8349 mg kg^?1 (DM), respectively. The shoot Cd concentration increased with the increasing Cd supply, peaking at 5083 mg kg^?1 (DM) when grown in nutrient at a concentration of 100 μmol L^?1 for 32 d, and decreased as the solution concentration increased from 200 to 400 μmol L^?1. The shoot-to-root ratio of plant Cd concentrations was > 1 when grown in solution Cd concentrations ≤ 200 μmol L^?1. Foliar, stem, and root Zn concentrations increased linearly with the increasing Zn level from 1 to 9600 μmol L^?1. The Zn concentrations in various plant parts decreased in the order roots > stem > leaves, with maximum concentrations of 19.3, 33.8, and 46.1 g kg^?1 (DM), respectively, when plants were grown at 9600 μmol Zn L^?1 for 32 d. Shoot Cd concentrations reached 16.4 and 79.8 mg kg^?1 (DM) when plants were grown in the pots of soil with Cd levels of 2.4 mg kg^?1 and 9.2 mg kg^?1, respectively. At soil Zn levels of 619 and 4082 mg kg^?1, shoot Zn concentrations reached 1560 and 15,558 mg kg^?1 (DM), respectively. The results indicate that S. jinianum is a Cd hyperaccumulator with a high capacity to accumulate Zn in the shoots.     

INTER- AND INTRASPECIFIC VARIATION OF MOSSES IN TOLERANCE TO COPPER AND ZINC

Bryophytes are often viewed as slowly evolving with little genetic variation within and among populations. A study of heavy-metal tolerance was initiated to test the capacity of bryophytes to undergo genetic differentiation in response to natural selection. Tolerance of Funaria hygrometrica to copper and zinc was greater in populations that originated on soil with high concentrations of these metals. Protonemal growth was more inhibited by the metals than was germination, and copper was more toxic than zinc. Zinc and copper tolerances were correlated, but so were the zinc and copper concentrations of native substrates. The pattern of population differentiation for heavy-metal tolerance in this species is much like that of flowering plants. Five populations of Physcomitrium pyriforme, which does not occur on metal-contaminated soil, were all highly tolerant of zinc but extremely intolerant of copper. This species seems to have an inherent tolerance to the former. Significant variation in tolerance to copper and zinc occurred among populations, but tolerance did not correlate with metal contents in native substrates. This pattern differs from that of flowering plants. Normal populations of species that colonize contaminated sites tended to be more tolerant than populations of species that do not colonize such sites. The extensive population differentiation in Funaria hygrometrica augments the evidence from electrophoretic data that there is genetic variation among populations of mosses and liverworts.     

Polyploids and their structural and PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS RELATIVE TO WATER DEFICIT IN BETULA PAPYRIFERA (Betulaceae)

The morphology and leaf anatomy, water relations, gas exchange, and growth characteristics of Betula papyrifera seedlings grown in a greenhouse representing three ploidy levels (diploids, pentaploids, and hexaploids) have been compared in an effort to understand the role of polyploidy in habitat differentiation and adaptation to water deficit. The polyploids are more tolerant of water deficit than their diploid relatives. The polyploids have fewer stomata per unit area and smaller stomatal indices than the diploids. They also have thicker upper and lower epidermis and more pubescence, which tend to reduce water loss. The polyploids have lower osmotic potential at saturation (_p.sat) than corresponding diploids, suggesting they are more able to maintain turgor in the case of low tissue water potential than the diploids. The photosynthesis of the diploids is more sensitive to water deficit. A 2-hr artificial water stress treatment caused complete cessation of photosynthesis in the diploids. They are more drought-avoiding than the polyploids as evidenced by closing their stomata to limit water loss at a relatively higher tissue water potential (-1.425 MPa). The pentaploids and hexaploids maintained, although to a small extent, photosynthesis when their tissue water potentials dropped to -1.86 MPa and -2.07 MPa, respectively.     

早稻旱育与湿润育秧苗期耐冷性差异的初步研究

在人工低温下比较旱秧和湿润秧苗的耐冷性。在人工气候箱以日平均气温8.5℃处理5d期间旱秧植株还有缓慢生长,受害苗率较少,受害程度也较轻,而湿润秧则植株生长停滞,受害苗率多,植株中度矮缩且叶片大部萎蔫。旱秧比湿润秧较为耐冷。     

种子脱水耐性与糖的关系

糖类在植物种子中的累积随种子的发育阶段和种子类型不同而不同,并与种子脱水耐性的变化相联系。许多正常性植物种子的发育伴随着某些糖的累积,这些糖的累积已被认为在种子脱水耐性获得中起重要作用。但糖对种子脱水耐性的影响不是单独的,而是与ABA和蛋白质等物质协同作用。种子脱水耐性不仅与糖的种类和含量有关,而且与种子所处的生理状态和发育进程有关。本文综述了种子脱水耐性与糖关系的研究进展。