Root iron plaque formation and characteristics under N2 flushing and its effects on translocation of Zn and Cd in paddy rice seedlings (Oryza sativa)

Background and Aims

Anoxic conditions are seldom considered in root iron plaque induction of wetland plants in hydroponic experiments, but such conditions are essential for root iron plaque formation in the field. Although ferrous ion availability and root radial oxygen loss capacity are generally taken into account, neglect of anoxic conditions in root iron plaque formation might lead to an under- or over-estimate of their functional effects, such as blocking toxic metal uptake. This study hypothesized that anoxic conditions would influence root iron plaque formation characteristics and translocation of Zn and Cd by rice seedlings.

Methods

A hydroponic culture was used to grow rice seedlings and a non-disruptive approach for blocking air exchange between the atmosphere and the induction solution matrix was applied for root iron plaque formation, namely flushing the headspace of the induction solution with N₂ during root iron plaque induction. Zn and Cd were spiked into the solution after root iron plaque formation, and translocation of both metals was determined.

Key Results

Blocking air exchange between the atmosphere and the nutrient solution by N₂ flushing increased root plaque Fe content by between 11 and 77 % (average 31 %). The N₂ flushing treatment generated root iron plaques with a smoother surface than the non-N₂ flushing treatment, as observed by scanning electron microscopy, but Fe oxyhydroxides coating the rice seedling roots were amorphous. The root iron plaques sequestrated Zn and Cd and the N₂ flushing enhanced this effect by approx. 17 % for Zn and 71 % for Cd, calculated by both single and combined additions of Zn and Cd.

Conclusions

Blocking of oxygen intrusion into the nutrient solution via N₂ flushing enhanced root iron plaque formation and increased Cd and Zn sequestration in the iron plaques of rice seedlings. This study suggests that hydroponic studies that do not consider redox potential in the induction matrices might lead to an under-estimate of metal sequestration by root iron plaques of wetland plants.     

A method to study slug predation on seedlings in the field

Dandelion is a common Asteraceae species that populates disturbed sites and gaps within swards where it becomes an important competitor of grasses. The natural control against dandelion includes seedling predation, with slugs, particularly Arion lusitanicus, being the most important in the Czech Republic. However, the study of slug seedling consumption is difficult because naturally established seedlings are not always available. Therefore, we developed a method of exposing laboratory‐grown seedlings as bait for slug predation. Dandelion seeds were sown in plastic cups containing a bottom layer of moist substrate. The emerged seedlings were thinned to 20 and displayed in an open area. During 2008–2010, the seedling baits were placed at 15 sites at 1 month intervals throughout the dandelion vegetative season, in parallel with plasticine baits that monitored slug feeding activity. For each 1 month interval, seedling survival was observed for a period of 8 days, and the estimated time to death was calculated; the percentage of surviving seedlings was then recorded. This method of seedling presentation demonstrated that local and temporal variation in seedling survival is correlated with slug feeding activity. The advantage of this technique is that the seedlings in baits may be presented at any place and time, as required by the experimental design; however, we found that the estimated time to seedling death was shorter for the exposed baits than for the naturally established seedlings. The method is suitable for the study of plant species other than dandelion, and also for aims other than the study of spatiotemporal trends in seedling consumption by slugs.     

外源NO对2+胁迫下小桐子幼苗抗氧化能力的影响

为探讨外源一氧化氮(NO)供体硝普钠(SNP)对铜(Cu2+)胁迫的缓解效应,该试验以小桐子幼苗为材料,先通过小桐子幼苗根茎生长指标的变化筛选出后续实验适宜的SNP(0.2mmol/L)和Cu2+浓度(90mmol/L),再进一步考察SNP预处理对Cu2+胁迫下幼苗脯氨酸(Pro)和丙二醛(MDA)的含量及抗氧化酶活性的影响。结果显示:(1)Cu2+处理能诱导小桐子幼苗叶片中Pro和MDA含量显著升高,且过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧物歧化酶(SOD)、愈创木酚过氧化物酶(POD)及抗坏血酸专一性过氧化物酶(APX)的活性增强。(2)用SNP预处理能显著提高Cu2+胁迫下幼苗叶片Pro的含量,进一步增强叶片中CAT、SOD、POD和APX活性,降低MDA的含量。研究表明,0.2mmol/L的SNP能够通过提高小桐子幼苗的抗氧化酶活性和游离脯氨酸含量来增强其抗氧化胁迫能力,从而显著缓解Cu2+胁迫对幼苗造成的氧化伤害,维持其正常生长发育。     

He-Ne激光预处理对镉胁迫下小麦幼苗生理特性的影响

用He-Ne激光（波长632.8 nm,辐射剂量5.43 mW/mm²）对萌动小麦种子辐照5 min,待幼苗长至一叶一心时,用150 μmol/L CdCl₂溶液进行胁迫处理,研究He-Ne激光预处理对镉（Cd²⁺）胁迫下小麦幼苗生长发育和生理特性的影响。结果显示:He-Ne激光预处理能显著降低Cd²⁺胁迫下小麦幼苗中丙二醛（MDA）、过氧化氢（H₂O₂）含量及超氧自由基（O^-·₂）产生速率,显著提高幼苗叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸氧化酶（APX）活性,并使叶片抗氧化物质谷胱甘肽(GSH)和抗坏血酸(AsA)含量以及幼苗株高、根长和干重增加。研究表明,He-Ne激光预处理可有效缓解镉胁迫对小麦幼苗生长的抑制作用,并通过促进其幼苗中酶类和非酶类抗氧化剂的产生,有效减少镉胁迫产生的脂质过氧化物含量,从而提高其耐镉性。     

Incorporation of Glycine and Serine into Sporulating Cells of Bacillus subtilis

The changes during growth and sporulation in activities of cells of Bacillus subtilis to incorporate various amino acids were investigated with wild-type strain and its asporogenous mutant. In the case of wild type strain the uptake of valine, phenylalanine, and proline was largest during the logarithmic growth period. The uptake of these amino acids decreased rapidly during the early stationary phase. The uptake of valine and cysteine increased again to some extent just prior to the forespore stage. The uptake of glycine and serine, however, was largest at the forespore stage at which the formation of spore coat took place. From these observed phenomena it was assumed that the remarkable incorporation of glycine and serine into the wild type strain during sporulation was closely related to the formation of spore coat.     

High and dry: post‐fire tree seedling establishment in subalpine forests decreases with post‐fire drought and large stand‐replacing burn patches

Aim Climate warming and increased wildfire activity are hypothesized to catalyse biogeographical shifts, reducing the resilience of fire‐prone forests world‐wide. Two key mechanisms underpinning hypotheses are: (1) reduced seed availability in large stand‐replacing burn patches, and (2) reduced seedling establishment/survival after post‐fire drought. We tested for regional evidence consistent with these mechanisms in an extensive fire‐prone forest biome by assessing post‐fire tree seedling establishment, a key indicator of forest resilience. Location Subalpine forests, US Rocky Mountains. Methods We analysed post‐fire tree seedling establishment from 184 field plots where stand‐replacing forest fires were followed by varying post‐fire climate conditions. Generalized linear mixed models tested how establishment rates varied with post‐fire drought severity and distance to seed source (among other relevant factors) for tree species with contrasting post‐fire regeneration adaptations. Results Total post‐fire tree seedling establishment (all species combined) declined sharply with greater post‐fire drought severity and with greater distance to seed sources (i.e. the interior of burn patches). Effects varied among key species groups. For conifers that dominate present‐day subalpine forests (Picea engelmannii, Abies lasiocarpa), post‐fire seedling establishment declined sharply with both factors. One exception was serotinous Pinus contorta, which did not vary with either factor. For montane species expected to move upslope under future climate change (Larix occidentalis, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Populus tremuloides) and upper treeline species (Pinus albicaulis), establishment was unrelated to either factor. Greater post‐fire tree seedling establishment on cooler/wetter aspects suggested local topographic refugia during post‐fire droughts. Main conclusions If future drought and wildfire patterns manifest as expected, post‐fire tree seedling establishment of species that currently characterize subalpine forests could be substantially reduced. Compensatory increases from lower montane and upper treeline species may partially offset these reductions, but our data suggest important near‐ to mid‐term shifts in the composition and structure of high‐elevation forests under continued climate warming and increased wildfire activity.     

Activation of transposable elements and insertional polymorphism in Opuntia offspring as assessed by inter-retrotransposon amplified polymorphism markers

Activation of retrotransposon is a pivotal factor in the genesis of genetic polymorphism. Retrotransposon-based molecular markers are excellent tools for detecting genetic diversity and genomic changes associated with their activity. The objective of this study was to use IRAP markers to detect integration events of retrotransposon in Opuntia, and to compare IRAP and ISSR polymorphisms. To achieve these aims, five IRAP and five ISSR markers were analyzed on three varieties and their progenies. All IRAP primers showed an increase in the percentage of polymorphism, number of total bands, and polymorphic bands in the seedlings compared to their mother plants; that is, the offspring showed 13, 24 and 27 more bands than the mother plants from Tobarito, Montesa and Copena varieties, respectively. Conversely, sexual reproduction did not proportionally affect the variation in the number of ISSR bands, and neither did polymorphisms between mother plants and their offspring. Cluster and multivariate analyses based on IRAP and ISSR data revealed a clear separation between varieties, and there was no overlapping between seedlings of different varieties. The activation of retrotransposons in seedlings of opuntia with variable frequencies was evidenced. The presence of insertion and active retrotransposons may help to undertake studies on genetic diversity and evolution of Opuntia.     

植物激素和接种方式对广西金线莲壮苗生根的影响

该文以广西野生金线莲无菌播种离体茎段为材料,采用单因素对比试验,研究了植物激素(NAA、IBA、6-BA、GA_3、KT、ZT、TDZ、2-IP)以及接种方式(竖直接种和水平接种)对壮苗生根培养的影响。结果表明:与对照相比,生长素有利于壮苗生根,NAA的效果优于IBA;细胞分裂素对壮苗生根的效果依次为6-BATDZKT=ZT 2-IPCK,其中6-BA诱导平均株高8.4 cm,3.6条根,茎粗为2.84 mm,植株生长健壮,诱导效果最好;赤霉素GA_3诱导出的植株高且直,但植株细弱,且抑制根系生长,不利于壮苗生根培养;在激素组合6-BA 0.5 mg·L~(-1)、NAA1.0 mg·L~(-1)处理中,组培苗生长健壮且根数量较多,效果最佳;水平接种能诱导出更多的根系,且便于接种操作,可以节省接种时间。因此,确定广西金线莲最适宜的壮苗生根培养基配方为1/2MS+6-BA 0.5 mg·L~(-1)+NAA 1.0 mg·L~(-1)+香蕉汁100 g·L~(-1)+AC(活性炭) 1.0 g·L~(-1)+蔗糖20 g·L~(-1),最佳接种方式为水平接种。     

Can environmental flows moderate riparian invasions? The influence of seedling morphology and density on scour losses in experimental floods

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