Differential antioxidant enzyme and thiol responses of tolerant and non-tolerant clones of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chloris barbata</Emphasis> to cadmium-stress

Tolerant and non-tolerant clones of Chloris barbata Sw. obtained, respectively, from an erstwhile mercury contaminated solid waste dump site near a chloralkali plant and a non-contaminated (control) site were subjected to cadmium-stress by growing the rooted cuttings in water containing CdSO₄, 13 and 130 μM. Differences between the two clones in their response to cadmium-stress were noted in root growth, and also with respect to certain biochemical parameters. Whereas catalase activity decreased and non protein-thiol levels increased in the non-tolerant clone, the level of protein-thiol alone increased significantly in the tolerant clone in response to cadmium-stress. No remarkable differences between the clones, however, were noted with respect to total soluble protein, peroxidase activity and lipid peroxidation. Remarkably the two clones responded differently to buthionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of glutathione and/or phytochelatin synthesis, which inhibited root growth significantly in non-tolerant clone but not in the tolerant clone. Buthionine sulfoximine, nonetheless, could potentate cadmium toxicity in either of the clones, but more effectively in the tolerant clone. The high sensitivity of tolerant-clone to the combined treatment of BSO and Cd in the present study could, therefore, be attributed to the cumulative oxidative stress generated synergistically by BSO and Cd.     

香溪河水系附石藻类的时空动态

香溪河系长江三峡水库湖北库区内第一大支流.对香溪河2005年7月—2006年6月干流及主要支流上12个样点的附石藻类进行调查,共观察到藻类218种,其中硅藻183种、绿藻24种、蓝藻10种、黄藻1种,硅藻门的线形曲壳藻为绝对优势种.其物种丰富度和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数时空动态差异显著（或接近显著）,总平均值分别为32和154.附石藻类密度和叶绿素a含量年总平均值分别为8.75×10.9 cells·m^-2和14.62 mg·m^-2.不同样点的藻类密度和叶绿素a含量差异显著,其中古夫河支流最高,九冲河支流最低,两者相差一个数量级; 不同季节附石藻类密度和叶绿素a含量差异不显著(P>0.05),但均表现出冬春季高、夏秋季低的趋势.附石藻类密度及叶绿素a含量与海拔及水流流速呈显著负相关,而与总氮呈正相关.     

Rhizosphere Microbial Densities and Trace Metal Tolerance of the Nickel Hyperaccumulator Alyssum Serpyllifolium Subsp. Lusitanicum

In this study we determine culturable microbial densities (total heterotrophs, ammonifiers, amylolytics and cellulolytics) and bacterial resistance to Co, Cr, and Ni in bulk and rhizosphere soils of three populations of the Ni-hyperaccumulator Alyssum serpyllifolium subsp. lusitanicum and the excluder Dactylis glomerata from ultramafic sites (two populations in Northeast (NE) Portugal (Samil (S), Morais (M)) and one population in Northwest (NW) Spain (Melide (L)). The relationship between bioavailable metal concentrations (H₂O-soluble) and microbial densities were analysed. Significant differences in microbial densities and metal-resistance were observed between the two species and their three populations. The hyperaccumulator showed higher microbial densities (except cellulolytics) and a greater rhizosphere effect, but this was only observed in S and M populations. These populations of A. serpyllifolium also showed selective enrichment of Ni-tolerant bacteria at the rhizosphere where Ni solubility was enhanced (densities of Ni-resistant bacteria were positively correlated with H₂O-soluble Ni). These rhizobacteria could solubilise Ni in the soil and potentially improve phytoextraction strategies.