Root damage and aboveground herbivory change concentration and composition of pyrrolizidine alkaloids of Senecio jacobaea

Thus far not many studies focussed on how herbivory in one plant part affects plant defence in the other. The effects of root damage and a leaf-feeding herbivore (Mamestra brassicae) on pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) levels of Senecio jacobaea were investigated in a controlled environment. Three cloned S. jacobaea genotypes, which differed in PA concentrations, received four treatments: (1) no damage, (2) root damage (removing half of the root system), (3) shoot herbivory by M. brassicae larvae, (4) root damage and shoot herbivory.Shoot herbivory did not significantly affect shoot biomass, while root damage decreased both root and shoot biomass. Shoot herbivory decreased PA concentrations in the roots. Conversely, root damage increased PA concentrations in the roots. Alkaloid concentrations in the shoot showed a weak response to root damage, shoot herbivory had no effect on PA levels in the shoot. The effect of damage on the allocation of PAs to shoot and roots depended on genotype. One genotype allocated more PAs to the damaged site, another genotype did not change allocation and the third genotype allocated more PAs to the shoot if the roots were damaged. Changes in PA composition were observed in one genotype. Shoot herbivory increased erucifoline concentrations in the shoot and decreased concentrations of senecionine in the roots. In conclusion, we have shown that even in an alleged constitutively defended plant, damage of one compartment affects secondary metabolite level in the other.     

Nutrient cycling in an excessively rainfed subtropical grassland at Cherrapunji

Cycling of six mineral elements (N, P, K, Na, Ca and Mg) was studied in a humid subtropical grassland at Cherrapunji, north-eastern India during 1988-1989. Elemental concentrations in the shoot of four dominant grass species,viz., Arundinella khaseana, Chrysopogon gryllus, Eragrostiella leioptera andEulalia trispicata were very low, and none of the species appears suitable for fodder use. Among different vegetation compartments, live root was the largest reservoir of all the nutrients (except Ca) followed by live shoot, dead shoot, litter and dead root. For Ca, live shoot was the major storage compartment. The total annual uptake (kg ha^-1) was 137.3, 10.4, 51.1, 5.5, 8.7 and 18.2 for N, P, K, Na, Ca and Mg, respectively. In an annual cycle 98% N, 77% P, 49% K, 109% Na, 87% Ca and 65% Mg returned to the soil through litter and belowground detritus. A major portion of N, P and Na was recycled through the belowground system, whereas nearly half of K, Ca and Mg was recycled through the shoot system. Precipitation acts as the source of N and P input, but at the same time causes loss of cations.     

叶片淋洗对盐胁迫下玉米生长和矿质营养的影响研究

研究了叶片淋洗对NaCl胁迫下两个不同耐盐性玉米品种生长和体内矿质营养含量的影响,结果表明：无盐胁迫时,两品种PH3．5淋洗处理的生物量明显下降,加盐（100mmol/L NaCl)时,各淋洗处理间无明显差异,PH7．0和3．5淋洗降低农大3138（耐盐中等品种）盐胁迫时茎叶钠含量,茎叶钾含量在不加盐时升高,加盐时降低,而高油115（盐敏感品种）两元素变化小,高油115pH3.5淋洗处理在不加盐时增加茎叶钙的含量,加盐时无影响,农大3138不加盐时淋洗对钙无影响,加盐时含量降低,根系3元素含量变化小,盐胁迫降低玉米生物量,提高茎叶和根系钠,钙含量,降低钾含量。     

干热河谷失稳性坡面植物碳氮磷化学计量特征对土壤性质的响应

以干热河谷阴坡和阳坡典型失稳性坡面不同区段(稳定区、失稳区和堆积区)的草本植物为研究对象,分析植物地上和地下碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量及其化学计量特征对土壤性质的响应机制。结果表明:失稳性坡面植物地上C含量(320.59 g·kg^-1)、N含量(12.15 g·kg^-1)和C/P(25.37)均显著高于地下(分别为254.01 g·kg^-1、6.12 g·kg^-1、13.43),C/N则表现为地下(43.09)显著高于地上(31.90)。阳坡植物地上和地下C含量、N/P均表现为稳定区和失稳区显著高于堆积区,N含量则表现为失稳区显著高于堆积区;阴坡植物地上N、P含量及地下P含量均表现为堆积区显著高于稳定区和失稳区,地下C含量则反之。植物地上生长主要受P限制,根系生长主要受N限制并随区段向下呈逐渐增加趋势;阴坡植物生长受P的限制程度高于阳坡,N限制弱于阳坡。土壤含水量(SWC)是影响植物地上C、N、P含量变化的重要因子,影响值分别为28.8%、20.8%、19.9%,土壤有机碳(SOC)则显著影响植物地下C、N含量,影响值分别为49.5%、22.1%,植物地下N含量的变化主要受土壤pH值的影响(24.3%)。坡向、区段及土壤因子均显著影响植物养分的分配,SWC和SOC是主要影响因子,同时还受土壤pH值的影响。     

转HAL1基因番茄的耐盐性

利用农杆菌介导的叶盘法,把HAL1 基因转入番茄,Southern杂交检测得到转基因植株.耐盐实验表明, T1代转基因番茄在150 mmol/L的NaCl胁迫下仍有43%的发芽率,200 mmol/L的NaCl胁迫下发芽率为6%,而对照种子在100和150 mmol/L的NaCl胁迫下发芽率分别为11.0%和0.转基因番茄的电解质相对外渗率小于对照,而根冠比和叶绿素含量大于对照,转HAL1基因显著提高了番茄的耐盐性.盐胁迫下Na 、K 的累积状况表明,转基因番茄根、茎、叶的K /Na 均有所提高,根系的SK/Na增大,茎、叶的RSK/Na和RLK/Na减小,说明根系对K /Na 离子的选择吸收和运输能力加强.不但选择吸收K /Na ,而且表现出整株水平上的有利于耐盐的K /Na 区域化分配.     

Cadmium tolerance and phytoremediation potential of acacia (Acacia nilotica L.) under salinity stress

In this study, we explored the effect of salinity on cadmium (Cd) tolerance and phytoremediation potential of Acacia nilotica. Two-month-old uniform plants of A. nilotica were grown in pots contaminated with various levels of Cd (0, 5, 10, and 15 mg kg^?1), NaCl (0%, 0.5%, 1.0% (hereafter referred as salinity), and all possible combinations of Cd + salinity for a period of six months. Results showed that shoot and root growth, biomass, tissue water content and chlorophyll (chl a, chl b, and total chl a+b) contents decreased more in response to salinity and combination of Cd + salinity compared to Cd alone. Shoot and root K concentrations significantly decreased with increasing soil Cd levels, whereas Na and Cl concentrations were not affected significantly. Shoot and root Cd concentrations, bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) increased with increasing soil Cd and Cd + salinity levels. At low level of salinity (0.5%), shoot and root Cd uptake enhanced, while it decreased at high level of salinity (1.0%). Due to Cd tolerance, high shoot biomass and shoot Cd uptake, this tree species has some potential for phytoremediation of Cd from the metal contaminated saline and nonsaline soils.     

Arsenic tolerance and phytoremediation potential of Conocarpus erectus L. and Populus deltoides L.

The present study was conducted to explore arsenic (As) tolerance and phytostabilization potential of the two tree species, buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) and eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides). Both plant species were grown in pots and were exposed to various soil As levels (control, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mg kg^?1). The plants were harvested after 9 months for the evaluation of growth parameters as well as root and shoot As concentrations. With increasing soil As levels, plant height stress tolerance index (PHSTI) was significantly decreased in both tree species, whereas root length stress tolerance index (RLSTI) and dry matter stress tolerance index (DMSTI) were not affected. Root and shoot As concentrations significantly increased in both tree species with increasing soil As levels. Translocation factor and bioconcentration factor were less than 1.0 for both plant species. This study revealed that both tree species are non-hyperaccumulators of As, but they could be used for phytostabilization of As-contaminated soils.     

An elemental correlation study in cancerous and normal breast tissue with successive clinical stages by neutron activation analysis

Influence of trace elements in body metabolism and their physiological importance in various diseases have motivated their accurate and quantitative determination in biological tissues and fluids. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) using short and long term irradiation has been employed to determine five minor elements (Cl, K, Na, Mg, P) and 15 trace elements (As, Br, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Rb, Sb, Se, Sc, Sr, and Zn) in cancerous and normal breast tissue from 30 patients of four clinical stages. Several elements show enhancement in cancerous breast tissue. Selenium shows maximum enhancement of 94.7% followed by K (81.6%), Sc (66.7%), Cu (58.2%), Na (48.5%), P (44.4%), and Zn (39.2%). Some element, such as Fe, Cr, and Mn, are depressed by 30.8, 30.1, and 12.8%, respectively. These elements compete for binding sites in the cell, change its enzymatic activity and exert direct or indirect action on the carcinogenic process accelerating the growth of tumors. This is further evidenced by histopathological examination of cancerous cells showing poor cytological differentiation. An attempt has been made to correlate trace element concentrations of Se, Cu, Zn, Rb, Br, Hg, As, Co, Fe, Cr, and Mn and the ratios of Se/Zn, K/P, Cu/Zn, Na/K, and Se/Fe with the clinical stages of cancer. Inhibition of enzymatic activity caused by variation in trace element concentrations results in immunological breakdown of the body system.     

A multielement analysis of Cu induced changes in the mineral profiles of Cu sensitive and tolerant populations of Silene paradoxa L.

This work investigates the Cu induced changes in element profiles in contrasting ecotypes of Silene paradoxa L. A metallicolous copper tolerant population and a non-metallicolous sensitive population were grown in hydroponics and exposed to different CuSO₄ treatments. Shoot and root concentrations of Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, P, S and Zn were evaluated through ICP-OES.Results indicated that increasing the environmental Cu concentration had a population dependent effect on element profiles, shoot-to-root ratios and correlations among the elements. Generally, in the tolerant population Cu treatment induced a higher element accumulation in roots and had minimal effects on the shoot element profile, thus resulting in a progressively decreasing shoot-to-root ratio for each element. In the sensitive population element concentrations in root and shoot were much more affected and without a consistent trend. Copper treatment also affected the correlations between the elements, both in roots and shoots of the two populations, but more so in the sensitive population than in the tolerant one. Thus, Cu exposure strongly disturbed element homeostasis in the sensitive population, but barely or not in the tolerant one, probably mainly due to a higher capacity to maintain proper root functioning under Cu exposure in the latter. Differences in element profiles were also observed in the absence of toxic Cu exposure. These differences may reflect divergent population-specific adaptations to differential nutrient availability levels prevailing in the populations’ natural environments. There is no evidence of inherent side-effects of the Cu tolerance mechanism operating in the tolerant population.     

滇南喀斯特地区不同季节土壤和灌木叶片化学计量特征及对水分添加的响应

干旱是影响南方喀斯特地区植物生长的重要限制因子, 气候变化会影响该地区的降水量和分布格局。研究该地区土壤和植物化学计量特征及其水分响应格局, 具有重要意义。自2017年4月开始, 在云南建水喀斯特植物群落进行加水试验, 2018年4月(旱季)和8月(雨季)分别采集土壤和优势灌木鞍叶羊蹄甲(Bauhinia brachycarpa)和假虎刺(Carissa spinarum)叶片样品, 测定碳、氢、氮、磷、硫、钾、钙、镁、铝、钠、铁、锰、锌、铜14种元素含量。结果表明, 水分添加影响了表层土壤中碳、氮、钠的含量, 相比于旱季, 雨季土壤中钠和硫含量明显减少, 其余土壤元素在水分添加和季节变化下并未表现出明显差异。土壤水分含量的增加使得鞍叶羊蹄甲和假虎刺叶片中钾含量下降, 钙含量上升。在水分条件变化下, 两种植物叶元素含量的稳定性与植物中元素的含量有关, 含量越接近极大值(基本元素碳、氢、氮等)或极小值(微量元素铜、锌等)的元素其变异系数越小(越稳定), 两种植物中含量接近于1 mg·g^-1的元素磷、硫、镁的变异系数最高。在土壤水分条件变化下, 假虎刺中碳、氮、磷等大量元素含量的稳定性显著高于鞍叶羊蹄甲。降水变化和水分添加导致的土壤水分变化, 对滇南喀斯特地区土壤和植物中不同元素含量的影响不同, 这些结果将为该地区的土壤、植被修复和管理提供科学参考。     

Na-Ca interactions in barley seedlings: relationship to ion transport and growth

Abstract Salt-stressed plants often show Ca deficiency symptoms. The effects of NaCl salinity (1 to 150 mol m^-3) and supplemental Ca (10 mol m^-3) on Na and Ca transport in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and their relationship to growth were investigated. The adjustment of Na and Ca transport was investigated by examining young seedlings exposed to short-term (immediate) and long-term (7 d) exposure to salinity. When the plants were exposed to long-term treatments of salinity, the rate of sodium accumulation in roots was approximately 10 to 15% of short-term treatments. No significant adjustment in the transport to the shoot was observed. Rates of tracer (²²Na) transport were compared to calculated rates based on relative growth rates and tissue element concentrations. Comparisons between measured tracer and calculated rates of transport indicate that ²²Na transport may underestimate transport to the shoot because of dilution of the tracer in the root cytoplasm. Calcium uptake showed only minor adjustment with time. Measured rates of tracer transport to the shoot correlated well with calculated values. The transport and tissue concentrations of Na were significantly affected by supplemental Ca. Calcium transport and tissue concentrations were markedly inhibited by salinity. Supplemental Ca increased Ca transport and accumulation at all NaCl treatments above that of control plants without supplemental Ca. Salinity inhibited plant growth at 150 mol m ^-3NaCl, but not at 75 mol m^-3. Supplemental Ca significantly improved root length but not fresh weight after 7d of salinity, although differences in fresh weight were detected after 9d. There were significant Na-Ca interactions with ion transport, ion accumulation, and growth. The effects of salinity on Na and Ca transport to the shoot do not appear to play a major role in shoot growth of barley.     

Unraveling salinity stress responses in ancestral and neglected wheat species at early growth stage: A baseline for utilization in future wheat improvement programs

In this study, we analyzed the behavior of several neglected, ancestral, and domesticated wheat genotypes, including Ae. triuncialis, Ae. neglecta, Ae. caudata, Ae. umbellulata, Ae. tauschii, Ae. speltoides, T. boeoticum, T. urartu, T. durum, and T. aestivum under control and salinity stress to assess the mechanisms involved in salinity tolerance. Physiological and biochemical traits including root/shoot biomasses, root/shoot ion concentrations, activity of antioxidant enzymes APX, SOD, and GXP, and the relative expression of TaHKT1;5, TaSOS1, APX, GXP, and MnSOD genes were measured. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant effects of the salinity treatments and genotypes for all evaluated traits. Salinity stress (350 mM NaCl) significantly decreased root/shoot biomasses, K+ concentration in root/shoot, and root/shoot K+/Na+ ratios. In contrast, salinity stress significantly increased Na+ concentration in root and shoot, activity of antioxidant enzymes (APX, SOD, and GPX) and relative expression of salt tolerance-related genes (TaHKT1;5, TaSOS1, APX, GPX, and MnSOD). Based on heat map and principal component analysis, the relationships among physiological traits and relative expression of salt-responsive genes were investigated. Remarkably, we observed a significant association between the relative expression of TaHKT1;5 with root K+ concentration and K+/Na+ ratio and with TaSOS1. Taken together, our study revealed that two neglected (Ae. triuncialis) and ancestral (Ae. tauschii) wheat genotypes responded better to salinity stress than other genotypes. Further molecular tasks are therefore essential to specify the pathways linked with salinity tolerance in these genotypes.     

Effects of sodium, potassium and calcium on salt-stressed barley

We grew barley ( Hordeum vulgare L. CM 72) for a 28-day period and sequentially harvested plants every 3 or 4 days. Plants were salt-stressed with either NaCl or KCl (125 m M ) with or without supplemental Ca (10 or 0.4 m M final concentration, respectively). We determined tissue concentrations of Na, Ca, Mg, K. S, P, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn for each harvest date by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. Uptake (specific absorption rate) was calculated from the element content and growth rates. Salinity had significant effects on the uptake and concentrations of most elements. Mg and Mn concentrations declined with time. The concentrations of all other elements determined increased over time. Element uptake on a root dry weight basis declined with time. Three variables were significantly affected by salinity and correlated with growth; 1) the Ca concentration, 2) the total sum of the cation concentration (TC), and 3) the Mn concentration of the shoot. Salinity reduced Ca uptake and concentrations. Supplemental Ca increased Ca concentrations and was positively correlated with growth during salt stress. Salinity doubled TC, which was negatively correlated with relative growth rate (RGR). Relative growth rate declined at TC values above 150 m M . Salinity reduced the uptake and concentration of Mn. Manganese concentrations in the shoot were highly correlated with RGR. Relative growth rate declined at Mn concentrations below 50 nmol (g fresh weight)⁻¹.     

Biomass and nutrient allocation of sawgrass and cattail along a nutrient gradient in the Florida Everglades

Biomass and nutrient allocation in sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense Crantz) and cattail (Typha domingensis Pers.) were examined along a nutrient gradient in the Florida Everglades in 1994. This north to south nutrient gradient, created by discharging nutrient-rich agricultural runoff into the northern region of Water Conservatio ea 2A, was represented by three areas (impacted, transitional and reference). Contrasting changes of plant density and size along the gradient were found for communities of both species. For the sawgrass community, more small plants were found in ref ce areas, whereas few large plants were found in impacted areas. In contrast, for the cattail community, bigger plants were found in reference areas, and smaller plants were found in impacted areas. Both species allocated approximately 60% of their total biomass to leaves and 40% to belowground tissues. However, sawgrass biomass allocation to leaves, roots, shoot bases and rhizomes (65%, 19%, 11%, and 5%, respectively) was similar among the three areas. In contrast, cattail plants growing in referen reas showed higher root allocation (27.3%), but lower leaf allocation (51.1%) than those growing in impacted areas (14.6% and 65.8% for root and leaf allocation, respectively). Cattail had higher phosphorus concentrations than sawgrass in tissues associated with growth functions (leaves, roots, and rhizomes). In contrast, sawgrass had higher phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations than cattail in tissues primarily associated with resource storage (shoot bases). From impacted to reference areas, for sawgrass, there was a decrease of leaf TP from 605 to 248 (mg/kg), root TP from 698 to 181 (mg/kg), rhizome TP from 1,139 to 142 (mg/kg), and shoot base TP from 5,412 to 400 to (mg/kg). For cattail, leaf TP decreased from 1,175 to 556 (mg/kg), root TP de sed from 1,100 to 798 (mg/kg), rhizome TP decreased from 1390 to 380 (mg/kg), and shoot base TP decreased from 2,990 to 433 (mg/kg). N/P ratios of sawgrass in reference areas were 27, 63, 38, and 50 for leaves, roots, rhizomes, and shoot bases, respectively, whereas in impacted areas they were 11, 21, 6, and 2, respectively. The greatest TP storage was found in impacted areas. Differences in seed output, seed number, and mean seed weight were found for both species as well. Each cattail flower stalk duced approximately 105 tiny seeds (0.048 ± 0.001 mg) while each sawgrass flower stalk produced about 103 large seeds (3.13 ± 0.005 mg). These results suggest that phosphorus is a limiting resource in the Everglades and that the two species have different life history strategies. These data provide an ecological basis for making informed management and planning decisions to protect and restore the Everglades.     

ROS-mediated vascular homeostatic control of root-to-shoot soil Na delivery in Arabidopsis

Sodium (Na) is ubiquitous in soils, and is transported to plant shoots via transpiration through xylem elements in the vascular tissue. However, excess Na is damaging. Accordingly, control of xylem-sap Na concentration is important for maintenance of shoot Na homeostasis, especially under Na stress conditions. Here we report that shoot Na homeostasis of Arabidopsis thaliana plants grown in saline soils is conferred by reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulation of xylem-sap Na concentrations. We show that lack of A. thaliana respiratory burst oxidase protein F (AtrbohF; an NADPH oxidase catalysing ROS production) causes hypersensitivity of shoots to soil salinity. Lack of AtrbohF-dependent salinity-induced vascular ROS accumulation leads to increased Na concentrations in root vasculature cells and in xylem sap, thus causing delivery of damaging amounts of Na to the shoot. We also show that the excess shoot Na delivery caused by lack of AtrbohF is dependent upon transpiration. We conclude that AtrbohF increases ROS levels in wild-type root vasculature in response to raised soil salinity, thereby limiting Na concentrations in xylem sap, and in turn protecting shoot cells from transpiration-dependent delivery of excess Na.     

Heavy metal accumulation in iron plaque and growth of rice plants upon exposure to single and combined contamination by copper, cadmium and lead

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the bioaccumulation of heavy metals and growth response of rice plants after exposure to single and combined contamination by Cu, Cd and Pb. The results showed that the biomass production was not significantly affected by either single or combined treatment of Cu, Cd and Pb. Adding Cu (Cd, or Pb) separately all increased concentrations of the respective element in root and shoot (p < 0.001). In the combined contamination, Pb promoted both root and shoot absorption of Cu and Cd (p < 0.001), and Cu affected Cd and Pb absorption in the root, but Pb concentrations in both root and shoot were not affected by Cd application. The formation of iron plaques varied obviously with soil types. Heavy metal accumulation in iron plaques was induced by the three elements (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the three heavy metals exhibited an interactive relationship as measured by the Cu, Cd, Pb and Fe concentrations in root surface iron plaques. The iron plaques partially inhibited transfer of Pb to root and shoot, but no such effect was observed for Cu and Cd. This research indicates that the interaction among different heavy metal elements is very complex. It is very important to have a clear understanding on the associated mechanism and the consequential impact on plant growth.     

Salt tolerance in Aster tripolium L. II. Ionic regulation

Abstract Measurements of tissue ion contents (Na, K and Cl) were carried out at frequent intervals on plants of Aster tripolium L. grown at a range of salinities for 36 d. Aster tripolium behaved as a typical halophyte showing high levels of inorganic ion accumulation even at low salinities. As salinity increased Na replaced K to a large extent in the shoot but root K was unaffected up to 500 mol m^?3 external NaCl. Shoot (Na + K) concentration on a tissue water basis was maintained constant in all treatments throughout the experiment, whereas shoot (Na + K) on a dry weight basis showed marked fluctuations in some treatments. An increase in (Na + K) per gram dry weight was, however, accompanied by a parallel increase in fresh weight: dry weight (FW : DW) ratio. Transport of (Na + K) to the shoot per unit root weight changed during the experiment in the manner expected, given the observed changes in shoot relative growth rate and FW : DW to result in a constant shoot (Na + K) concentration on a water basis. Chloride was the major balancing anion in the shoot at high salinity, but never accounted for more than 38% of the (Na + K) found in the root tissue. At all salinities (Na + K) salts accounted for the majority of the measured shoot sap osmotic potential. The interactions between salinity, growth, ion transport and osmotic adjustment are discussed.     

Alkali grass resists salt stress through high [K+] and an endodermis barrier to Na+

In order to understand the salt-tolerance mechanism of alkali grass (Puccinellia tenuiflora) compared with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), [K(+)] and [Na(+)] in roots and shoots in response to salt treatments were examined with ion element analysis and X-ray microanalysis. Both the rapid K(+) and Na(+) influx in response to different NaCl and KCl treatments, and the accumulation of K(+) and Na(+) as the plants acclimated to long-term stress were studied in culture- solution experiments. A higher K(+) uptake under normal and saline conditions was evident in alkali grass compared with that in wheat, and electrophysiological analyses indicated that the different uptake probably resulted from the higher K(+)/Na(+) selectivity of the plasma membrane. When external [K(+)] was high, K(+) uptake and transport from roots to shoots were inhibited by exogenous Cs(+), while TEA (tetraethylammonium) only inhibited K(+) transport from the root to the shoot. K(+) uptake was not influenced by Cs(+) when plants were K(+) starved. It was shown by X-ray microanalysis that high [K(+)] and low [Na(+)] existed in the endodermal cells of alkali grass roots, suggesting this to be the tissue where Cs(+) inhibition occurs. These results suggest that the K(+)/Na(+) selectivity of potassium channels and the existence of an apoplastic barrier, the Casparian bands of the endodermis, lead to the lateral gradient of K(+) and Na(+) across root tissue, resulting not only in high levels of [K(+)] in the shoot but also a large [Na(+)] gradient between the root and the shoot.     

Heavy metal accumulation in iron plaque and growth of rice plants upon exposure to single and combined contamination by copper, cadmium and lead

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the bioaccumulation of heavy metals and growth response of rice plants after exposure to single and combined contamination by Cu, Cd and Pb. The results showed that the biomass production was not significantly affected by either single or combined treatment of Cu, Cd and Pb. Adding Cu (Cd, or Pb) separately all increased concentrations of the respective element in root and shoot (p < 0.001). In the combined contamination, Pb promoted both root and shoot absorption of Cu and Cd (p < 0.001), and Cu affected Cd and Pb absorption in the root, but Pb concentrations in both root and shoot were not affected by Cd application. The formation of iron plaques varied obviously with soil types. Heavy metal accumulation in iron plaques was induced by the three elements (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the three heavy metals exhibited an interactive relationship as measured by the Cu, Cd, Pb and Fe concentrations in root surface iron plaques. The iron plaques partially inhibited transfer of Pb to root and shoot, but no such effect was observed for Cu and Cd. This research indicates that the interaction among different heavy metal elements is very complex. It is very important to have a clear understanding on the associated mechanism and the consequential impact on plant growth.     

Eco-service enhancement in peri-urban area of coal mining city of Huaibei in East China

After 50 years of coal mining, Huaibei Mine, located at 50 km southeast of Xuzhou City in East China, has grown to a middle-size city of 600,000 people from a small village of 2000 farmers. The Zhahe Valley, with 400 km² of a built-up area and more than 100 km² of subsided peri-urban wetland at the city center, is surrounded by eight exhausted old mines and communities. In cooperation with the local city government, an ecological landuse change assessment and eco-city planning project has been carried out with a focus on the assessment, restoration and enhancement of the wetland as an eco-service to the community. The assessment includes relationships to Green House Gas emissions and heat island effects, as well as measures for a livable, workable, affordable and sustainable human settlement development through industrial transition, landscape design and capacity building. This paper will briefly introduce the main ecological approaches and results of the assessment, including measures such as changing the car-dominated transportation network to a rail-dominated network, transforming the coal-oriented high-carbon industry to a service-oriented low-carbon industry, the C-shape urban form to an O-shape with a green–blue core at the center, and the fragmentized collapsed land to integrative eco-service land.