Mercury-induced root damage in spruce seedlings

Seedlings of Picea abies (L.) Karst. were exposed to a range of c concentrations of Hg as HgCl₂ or CH₃HgCl. Root elongation was inhibited by both forms of Hg, but was more inhibited by CH₃HgCl than by HgCl₂. After a 7-week exposure, higher Hg levels were determined in roots when Hg was supplied as CH₃HgCl than as HgCl₂. Treatment with both HgCl₂ and CH₃HgCl resulted in lower levels of K, Mn and Mg in roots and root tips. An accumulation of Fe was found in root tips exposed to both forms of Hg. All changes in element content were greater in the root tips than the older root parts. Uptake of ⁴⁵Ca into the roots was strongly increased by HgCl₂ but only slightly increased by CH₃HgCl.     

Influence of boron deprivation on Hg stress-induced programmed cell death in suspension-cultured tobacco BY-2 cells

Some agricultural regions in large areas deficient in Boron (B) also present a risk of contamination of soils with excess mercury (Hg). The purpose of this study was to explore whether Hg stress induces programmed cell death (PCD) in tobacco BY-2 (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Bright Yellow-2) cells and the influence of B deprivation on mercury (Hg) stress-induced PCD. It was shown that the BY-2 cells exposed to 30 μM mercury chloride (HgCl₂) underwent PCDand in the meantime, the expression changes of PCD-related genes were found. Meanwhile, Hg stress in combination with B deprivation can cause much higher proportion of cells to undergo PCD than Hg stress alone. Accompanied with PCD, the HgCl₂-stressed cells under B deprivation accumulated more H₂O₂ and lipid peroxides than control cells. Our results suggest that HgCl₂ can induce PCD in tobacco BY-2 cells, that B deficiency would enhance this effect, and oxidative damage is directly involved in the PCD process.     

Effects of salicylic acid on growth and accumulation of phenolics in Zea mays L. under drought stress

The accumulation of total soluble and cell wall-bound phenolics and total soluble proteins in Zea mays plants exposed to drought stress and foliar spray of salicylic acid (SA) at 10^?4?mol/L and 10^?5?mol/L was investigated. Drought stress was imposed at the four-leaf stage for 10 days (30–35% field capacity). Dehydration of maize leaves was accompanied by the accumulation of both total soluble and cell wall-bound phenolics, reduction in leaf relative water content (LRWC), and shoot and root growth attributes. Foliar spraying of SA further augmented the content of total soluble and cell wall-bound phenolics and total soluble proteins content under drought stress. SA ameliorated the adverse effects of drought stress on LRWC, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, root dry weight, root length and root area. The accumulation of both soluble and cell wall-bound phenolics by foliar spray of SA may be a mechanism related to SA-induced drought stress tolerance in maize. It was concluded that foliar spraying of SA at 10^?5?mol/L can be highly economical and effective for modifying the effects of drought stress on maize at the four-leaf stage.     

Mercury accumulation and resistance to mercury stress in Rumex induratus and Marrubium vulgare grown in perlite

Plants of Rumex induratus and Marrubium vulgare, collected in the mining area of Almadén, were transferred to pots and grown for 2 months using perlite as substrate and treated with soluble mercury (Hg) in the applied nutrient solution. Mercury resistance, Hg bioaccumulation, and some stress biomarkers were investigated in both plant species. Mercury concentration increased in both plant species in response to Hg supply, but R. induratus was more effective in Hg accumulation. Rumex induratus and M. vulgare showed higher [Hg]_shoot‐to‐[Hg]_root ratios than other plant species. Mercury in the growth medium perlite was also investigated, distinguishing soluble, available, and total amounts of Hg in the medium. At the lower doses, one half of the applied Hg was retained by perlite. Rumex induratus decreased the available Hg fraction in perlite more than M. vulgare. The bioaccumulation factor ([Hg]_plant/[Hg]_available) was similar in both species and similar as found in previous field studies. Plant growth, water content, and chlorophyll concentration, and nutrient translocation were reduced in both plant species by the Hg. Rumex induratus showed higher resistance and Hg‐accumulation capacity than M. vulgare, due to the accumulation of thiols in roots and the absence of a lipid oxidative response.     

Physiological Responses of Transgenic merA-TOBACCO (Nicotiana tabacum) to Foliar and Root Mercury Exposure

Plants expressing a modified bacterial mercury reductase, merA, are highly resistant to Hg(II) toxicity as a result of the enzymatically catalyzed electrochemical reduction of Hg(II) to the much less toxic and volatile Hg(0). merA expression may allow plants to manifest a suite of responses to mercury exposure, making them more capable than wild-type plants of interacting with and removing mercury from contaminated soil or water. We have engineered merA-expressing Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) as a model plant for examining these responses. Mercury resistance was demonstrated by germinating and growing merA tobacco seeds on semi-solid medium spiked with a HgCl₂ concentration acutely toxic to wild-type plants. On similar growth medium, merA plant roots penetrated a highly concentrated, localized Hg(II) zone of HgS (cinnibar) more readily than wild-type roots. In hydroponic medium spiked with HgCl₂, merA plants maintained higher evapotranspiration activity than wild-type plants. The ability of merA Hg(II)-reductive activity to counter typical plant-catalyzed Hg(0) oxidation to Hg(II) was demonstrated by a lower net foliar absorption of atmospheric Hg(0) than wild-type plants. Mercury translocation through merA plants was examined through reciprocally grafted merA and wild-type tobacco grown on HgCl₂-spiked hydroponic medium. Elevated mercury concentrations in wild-type shoots grafted to merA roots suggest the vertical movement of mercury within merA tissues or plants may be facilitated by dynamic balance between native Hg(0) oxidation and MerA-catalyzed Hg(II) reduction. These experiments demonstrate that merA-engineered tobacco plants display an array of tissue-level and whole-plant attributes which should allow for more efficient mercury extraction and processing compared to the wild-type.     

Inorganic and organic mercury uptake and loss by the crayfish orconectes propinquus

Inorganic and organic Hg accumulation from food by the crayfish Orconectes propinquus was studied in the laboratory. Animals were fed pellets of dried cat food dosed in 1 jig g^?1 dw with ²⁰³Hg labeled HgCl₂ and CH₃HgCl over a two-week period. This was followed by a three-week depuration period which crayfish were fed uncontaminated food. At the end of each of these periods body tissues were analyzed for labeled Hg. ²⁰³Hg uptake from HgCl₂ followed the ranking: hepatopancreas > gills > exoskeleton > muscle. In all tissues there was evidence of Hg uptake from water via leaching from food although uptake was principally from food. Mercury uptake from CH₃HgCl followed the ranking: gills > muscle > hepatopancreas > exoskeleton. Only Hg accumulated from HgCl₂ by the hepatopancreas failed to depurate over the next three weeks. Mercury uptake by the hepatopancreas from CH₃HgCl was negligible. Results suggest a more rapid turnover of Hg in crayfish than in finfish.     

外源乙烯对镉处理下玉米幼苗生理代谢的影响

为探讨外源乙烯缓解玉米（Zea mays）幼苗镉（Cd）毒害的生理机制,通过水培试验研究了Cd处理下,外源乙烯对玉米幼苗相关生理指标与Cd的亚细胞分布的影响,以不做任何处理为空白对照,以Cd处理和（NH₄）₂SO₄处理为试验对照。结果显示,相对Cd处理,乙烯和（NH₄）₂SO₄处理可显著降低Cd胁迫下玉米幼苗H₂O₂和丙二醛（MDA）含量,使净光合速率分别提升1.23倍和1.22倍;显著降低抗氧化物酶[超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）]活性,抗氧化物质[抗坏血酸（AsA）、谷胱甘肽（GSH）]含量则显著上升。另外,相对于Cd处理,乙烯+Cd处理可使玉米幼苗ATP硫酸化酶活性、谷胱甘肽还原酶（GR）活性、半胱氨酸和还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）含量分别上升54.43%、27.93%、50.77%和49.85%,而对非蛋白硫醇（NPT）和植物螯合素（PCs）含量无显著性影响。在乙烯+Cd处理的基础上添加GSH合成抑制剂BSO（buthionine sulfoximine）可导致玉米叶片GSH含量显著降低,H₂O₂含量上升,光合速率下降。外源乙烯可显著降低Cd胁迫下玉米叶片Cd含量,而显著提升根部细胞壁和液泡中Cd含量。因此,外源乙烯一方面通过提升玉米叶片GSH和AsA含量,增强叶片非酶促抗氧化能力,而非通过抗氧化酶促反应和NPT、PCs的螯合作用;另一方面则通过根细胞壁的固定作用和液泡区室化作用,减少Cd向玉米叶片中的转移,从而缓解Cd毒害。研究结果可为乙烯作为潜在的作物重金属拮抗剂提供理论依据。     

Responses of Radial and Axial Hydraulic Resistances in Maize Root to Nitrogen Availability

Abstract

One of the important physiological mechanisms of nitrogen (N) deficiency inhibiting plant shoot growth may be related with its impacts on root hydraulic resistance. Hence, effects of N deficiency on root radial and axial hydraulic resistances of maize were studied in this study with potometer and anatomical methods, respectively. The results indicated that N deficiency increased root radial hydraulic resistance of the apical zone under both high and low transpiration and axial hydraulic resistance more than 6 cm from the root tip. Root radial hydraulic resistance of N deficiency treatment was insensitive to aquaporin inhibitor mercuric chloride (HgCl₂), but radial hydraulic resistance of normal N use treatment was sensitive to HgCl₂ under low photosynthetic photo flux density (PPFD). This suggested that the decrease of water transport across Hg‐sensitive transcellular pathway might be an important reason for the increase of radial hydraulic resistance on low N availability roots under a low hydrostatic gradient. The increase of axial hydraulic resistance more than 6 cm from the root tip under N deficiency was closely related with the decreased number and the smaller diameters of mature metaxylems.     

Adsorption of mercury compounds by tropical soils

Mercury adsorption of HgCl₂ and 2-methoxyethylmercury chloride (Aretan) (100 mg Hg L^?1) was measured for three soil profiles from Morogoro, Arusha, and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. The adsorption was investigated for the physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties of the soils. All soil samples showed greater capacity for adsorption of Aretan than for HgCl₂. In the Morogoro profile Hg adsorption decreased with depth but in the other two soils, the minimum adsorption occurred in the third horizon and increased both upwards and downwards. In the Morogoro profile, Aretan adsorption correlated well with pH. Adsorption of both Aretan and HgCl₂ correlated well with the distribution of organic C and with the cation exchange capacity of the soils. In the Arusha and Dar es Salaam profiles Hg adsorption was not significantly correlated with any of the soil properties tested.     

深色有隔内生真菌柱孢顶囊壳对玉米幼苗生长、光合作用及耐铅能力的影响

Dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi are ubiquitous and cosmopolitan,and occur widely in association with plants in heavy metal stress environment.However,little is known about the effect of inoculation with DSE fungi on the host plant under heavy metal stress.In this study,Gaeumannomyces cylindrosporus,which was isolated from Pb-Zn mine tailings in China and had been proven to have high Pb tolerance,was inoculated onto the roots of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings to study the effect of DSE on plant growth,photosynthesis,and the translocation and accumulation of Pb in plant under stress of different Pb concentrations.The growth indicators (height,basal diameter,root length,and biomass) of maize were detected.Chlorophyll content,photosynthetic characteristics (net photosynthetic rate,transpiration rate,stomatal conductance,and intercellular CO2 concentration),and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in leaves of the inoculated and non-inoculated maize were also determined.Inoculation with G.cylindrosporus significantly increased height,basal diameter,root length,and biomass of maize seedlings under Pb stress.Colonization of G.cylindrosporus improved the efficiency of photosynthesis and altered the translocation and accumulation of Pb in the plants.Although inoculation with G.cylindrosporus increased Pb accumulation in host plants in comparison to non-inoculated plants,the translocation factor of Pb in plant body was significantly decreased.The results indicated that Pb was accumulated mainly in the root system of maize and the phytotoxicity of Pb to the aerial part of the plant was alleviated.The improvement of efficiency of photosynthesis and the decrease of translocation factor of Pb,caused by DSE fungal colonization,were efficient strategies to improve Pb tolerance of host plants.     

Root zone selenium reduces cadmium toxicity by modulating tissue-specific growth and metabolism in maize (Zea mays L.)

The effects of selenium (Se) cadmium (Cd) interactions on plant growth and metabolism are not fully clear. In the present study, we assessed whether Se could alleviate the toxic effects of Cd on growth and metabolism of maize. Seeds of maize variety FH-985 were sown in pots filled with sand treated with CdCl₂ (0, 50 and 100 µM) and Se (0, 2 and 4 mg L^?1) through Hoagland’s nutrient solution. Low Se (2 mg L^?1) increased germination percentage and rate, while high Se (4 mg L^?1) increased fresh and dry biomass under Cd stress. Interestingly, all Se concentrations were effective in alleviating the toxic effects of Cd on photosynthetic pigments, whereas higher Se mitigated the Cd-induced oxidative stress and increased flavonoids both in the shoots and roots while phenolics in the roots. The results demonstrated that root zone Se altered tissue-specific primary metabolism in maize. Furthermore, low Se mitigated the Cd-induced decrease in total proteins in the root. Overall, Se-mediated decrease in the oxidative stress in the shoots while increase of secondary metabolites in the roots helped the plants to grow faster at early growth stage and caused increase in the biomass under different Cd regimes.     

Physiological characteristics of selenite uptake by maize roots in response to different pH levels

In selenite solutions, H₂SeO₃, HSeO , and SeO<$>_3^{2‐}<$> are in equilibrium in proportions that vary with solution pH. The physiological characteristics of selenite uptake were studied with excised roots of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings at pH 3.0, 5.0, and 8.0. The results showed that 0.10 mM 2,4‐dinitrophenol (DNP), 1.0 mM sodium fluoride (NaF), and a temperature of 4°C inhibited selenite uptake by maize roots by 16%, 20%, and 23% at pH 3.0, by up to 80%, 79%, and 78% at pH 5.0, and by 5%, 9%, and 16% at pH 8.0. Hence, selenite may enter roots at pH 5.0 in an energy‐dependent manner, in contrast to pH 3.0 and 8.0. The uptake kinetics for selenite were determined for excised roots of maize, and the curves were linear at pH 3.0 and 8.0, but saturated at pH 5.0, showing that carrier‐mediated uptake of selenite occurred at pH 5.0, but not at pH 3.0 or 8.0. Further studies showed that HgCl₂ and AgNO₃ inhibited selenite uptake separately by 81% and 76% at pH 3.0 and indicated that selenite was absorbed by maize roots through aquaporins at pH 3.0. At pH 8.0, anion‐channel inhibitors only inhibited a small fraction of selenite uptake, indicating that the major absorption pathway of SeO<$>_3^{2‐}<$> species into roots was not absorbed passively through anion channels, but might involve other processes. According to these results, it is proposed that selenite uptake occurs via different mechanisms depending on its species in solution in response to pH levels.     

水分胁迫下施磷对潮土玉米苗期叶片光合速率、保护酶及植株养分含量的影响

水分胁迫是潮土区玉米苗期生长的主要限制性因素,本研究采用水磷二因素完全随机设计的盆栽试验,设水分胁迫(W_1,田间持水量的70%~75%)和充分供水(W_2,田间持水量的85%~90%)2个水分处理;磷素处理设对照不施磷(P1)、施磷0.05 g·kg~(-1)土(P2)、0.10 g·kg~(-1)土(P3)、0.15 g·kg~(-1)土(P_4)和0.20 g·kg~(-1)(P5)5个处理,研究水分胁迫下施磷对玉米苗期叶片光合特性、酶活性及养分吸收的影响,为潮土区农田水分和磷素合理施用提供科学依据。研究结果表明:水分胁迫(W1)降低了玉米苗期净光合速率(Pn),W_1较W_2叶片Pn平均降低了27.96%;显著提高了玉米苗期丙二醛(MDA)含量,平均提高41.93%,水分胁迫还降低了过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性。在W1条件下施磷达到P_2水平叶片Pn即显著提高27.56%,而在W_2条件下施磷量只有达到P_4、P_5高水平时Pn才显著提高,在W_1条件下施磷对MDA的抑制效果明显弱于W_2。W_1条件下施磷量在P3水平POD和CAT活性最高,而在W_2条件下POD和CAT活性在P4达到最大值。W_1条件下适宜的施磷量(P_2至P_4)可以增加苗期玉米植株氮磷含量,但对钾含量影响较小;在W_2条件下增施磷有利于植株氮磷含量的增加,但钾素含量出现降低。综上,适宜的施磷量对潮土玉米苗期水分胁迫有一定的补偿作用,在本试验条件下,P_3处理在水分胁迫下更利于光合产物积累和玉米苗期抗逆性提高。     

菌根对紫色土上间作玉米生长及磷素累积的影响

丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)在土壤与植物系统的磷素循环中发挥着关键的作用。本文通过盆栽模拟试验研究了不同AMF接种状况[不接种(NM)、接种Glomus mosseae(GM)、接种G.etunicatum(GE)]和玉米/大豆间作体系不同根系分隔方式(不分隔、尼龙网分隔、塑料膜分隔)对间作玉米植株生长及磷素吸收累积的影响。研究结果表明:GM处理下的间作玉米根系侵染率在不同根系分隔方式之间的差异不显著,而GE处理则在塑料膜分隔处理下对玉米的侵染率最高。接种不同AMF对间作玉米促生效果不同,GM和GE处理在不同根系分隔情况下表现出各自的优势,与未接种处理相比,GM处理能使玉米生物量、株高有一定程度增加并在根系不分隔处理下玉米磷吸收较多、生长较好;GE处理能使植株生物量有一定程度增加并在尼龙网分隔处理下的玉米磷吸收较多、生长较好。间作体系不同根系分隔方式对玉米的影响也不同,其中玉米地上部生物量在根系分隔处理下普遍小于不分隔处理,但根系生物量的大小情况则刚好相反。另外,无论何种接种状况,玉米根系磷含量及吸收量均以尼龙网分隔处理显著较高。而根系磷吸收效率则以接种G.mosseae且不分隔根系处理显著高于分隔处理。所有复合处理中,以接种G.etunicatum与尼龙网分隔根系组合处理对间作玉米的生长及磷素累积的促进作用最好,若应用于滇池流域,可望有效控制坡耕地土壤磷素的迁移。     

Silicon Decreases Transpiration Rate and Conductance from Stomata of Maize Plants

ABSTRACT

To characterize the effect of silicon (Si) on decreasing transpiration rate in maize (Zea mays L.) plants, the transpiration rate and conductance from both leaves and cuticula of maize plants were measured directly. Plants were grown in nutrient solutions with and without Si under both normal water conditions and drought stress [20% polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentration in nutrient solution] treatments. Silicon application of 2 mmol L^?1 significantly decreased transpiration rate and conductance for both adaxial and abaxial leaf surface, but had no effect on transpiration rate and conductance from the cuticle. These results indicate that the role of Si in decreasing transpiration rate must be largely attributed to the reduction in transpiration rate from stomata rather than cuticula. Stomatal structure, element deposition, and stomatal density on both adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces were observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a light microscope. Results showed that changes in neither stomatal morphology nor stomatal density could explain the role of Si in decreasing stomatal transpiration of maize plants. Silicon application with H₄SiO₄ significantly increased Si concentration in shoots and roots of maize plants. Silicon concentration in shoots of maize plants was higher than in roots, whether or not Si was applied. Silicon deposits in cell walls of the leaf epidermis were mostly in the form of polymerized SiO₂.     

Adsorption of mercury compounds by tropical soils III. Adsorption isotherms

Isotherms for sorption of 2-methoxyethylmercury chloride (Aretan) and HgCl₂ showed that all three soils investigated had a large capacity to adsorb these Hg compounds, the order being Morogoro > Arusha > Dar es Salaam. For all soils, surface horizons adsorbed more Hg at any given concentration of Hg in solution as compared to subsurface horizons. Adsorption isotherms of Aretan, especially at lower equilibrium concentration in soil solution, were much steeper in all horizons and in all profiles. The Freundlich equation described the adsorption of HgCl₂ better than that of Aretan. The adsorption isotherms for Aretan and HgCl₂ showed different forms, implying probably that different adsorption mechanisms were involved.     

Nickel toxicity: Effects on growth and metabolism of maize

Effects of graded concentrations of nickel on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and certain metabolic parameters were studied. Under nickel (Ni) stress conditions, leaves become chlorotic at low concentrations and necrotic at, relatively, high ones. Concerning its effect on plant growth, nickel reduces dry matter production, more significantly in root system which accumulates large amounts of Ni. In leaves, chlorophyll content was severely decreased. Furthermore, this metal induces leaf accumulation of soluble phenolics, starch and reducing sugars. The accumulation of carbohydrates in shoots might be, at least in part, the cause of root growth inhibition.     

Temperature,pH and photoperiod effects on mercury bioaccumulation by nymphs of the burrowing mayflyHexagenia rigida

Accumulation of HgCl₂ and CH₃HgCl byHexagenia rigida nymphs from contaminated sediment and water column was investigated experimentally, taking into account 3 abiotic factors (temperature, pH and photoperiod). When the contamination of the experimental units was based on sediment compartment, Hg concentrations at the whole organism level revealed very high bioaccumulation differences between the two chemical forms of Hg (ratio close to 20 in favour of MeHg). When Hg compounds were added to the water column, the highest Hg accumulation rates were observed for MeHg, but with a small difference between the 2 compounds (ratio close to 2.0–3.0). These bioaccumulation processes were very dependent on the 3 abiotic factors taken into account, especially temperature and water column pH.     

Measurement of Hg methylation in sediments using high specific-activity203Hg and ambient incubation

Two methods were developed for estimating the rate ofin situ methylmercury (MeHg) formation in sediments. One method is based on incubation of intact sediment cores without added Hg over a period of days. The second method uses²⁰³HgCl₂ with a specific activity high enough to be used as a tracer (relative to bulk Hg). Use of high-specific activity²⁰³HgCl₂ allowed measurement of methylation rate in hours at ambient total Hg concentrations.²⁰³HgCl₂ was pre-equilibrated with pore water before injection into intact cores, to allow complexation with dissolved ligands. Methylation rates were measured with²⁰³HgCl₂ additions as low as 0.02 μCi and 1.2 ng Hg per g wet weight sediment. These methods were tested in epilimnetic and littoral sediments of two pristine seepage lakes in Northern Wisconsin, and found to compare well.In situ methylation rates in Pallette and Little Rock Lake sediments ranged from 0.1 to 0.4 ug/m² d. Use of²⁰³Hg gave lower errors with shorter incubation times than the ambient incubation method. A method for extraction of Me²⁰³Hg from bulk sediments is given.     

A Comparison of MER::LUX Whole Cell Biosensors And Moss, A Bioindicator, For Estimating Mercury Pollution

A sensor responsive to Hg²⁺ (pDL20) was constructed by fusing part of a narrow spectrum mer operon, including its regulatory elements, to promoterless lux genes. This was compared with another mer::lux fusion (pRB28) in order to estimate the available Hg in moss, a conventional bioindicator used for surveying Hg pollution in terrestrial environments. Hg(II) was measured as the relative luminescence unit (RLU) emitted by E. coli cells carrying either pRB28 or pDL20. The linearity ranges of standard curves were measured by spiking HgCl₂ at different nanomole levels in a phosphate buffered solution (PBS). The level of correlation between RLU and spiked HgCl₂ depended on the incubation time of E. coli cells: the correlation factors (R ²) of the regression lines were highly significant only after 150 min of incubation. pDL20 detected Hg(II) concentrations in the linear range between 0.05 nM and 0.5 nM and was approximately 27 times more sensitive than pRB28. The latter was less sensitive and showed a different range of linearity, from 20 nM to 200 nM. Measurements of bioavailable Hg were performed in buffered solutions leached from moss. Concentrations of Hg(II) were determined by external standard addition of HgCl₂. pDL20 was found to be more reliable than pRB28 in the estimation of very low concentrations of bioavailable Hg (II). Both sensors were unable to determine Hg(0) emitted by geothermal activities.