在受控条件下植物促生菌对扁豆的生长，结瘤和养分积累的效应

Application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) has been shown to increase legume growth and development under field and controlled environmental conditions. The present study was conducted to isolate plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) from the root nodules of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) grown in arid/semi-arid region of Punjab, Pakistan and examined their plant growth-promoting abilities. Five bacterial isolates were isolated, screened in vitro for plant growth-promoting (PGP) characteristics and their effects on the growth of lentil were assessed under in vitro, hydroponic and greenhouse (pot experiment) conditions. All the isolates were Gram negative, rod-shaped and circular in form and exhibited the plant growth-promoting attributes of phosphate solubilization and auxin (indole acetic acid, IAA) production. The IAA production capacity ranged in 0.5-11.0 μg mL-1 and P solubilization ranged in 3-16 mg L-1 . When tested for their effects on plant growth, the isolated strains had a stimulatory effect on growth, nodulation and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptake in plants on nutrient-deficient soil. In the greenhouse pot experiment, application of PGPR significantly increased shoot length, fresh weight and dry weight by 65%, 43% and 63% and the increases in root length, fresh weight and dry weight were 74%, 54% and 92%, respectively, as compared with the uninoculated control. The relative increases in growth characteristics under in vitro and hydroponic conditions were even higher. PGPR also increased the number of pods per plant, 1 000-grain weight, dry matter yield and grain yield by 50%, 13%, 28% and 29%, respectively, over the control. The number of nodules and nodule dry mass increased by 170% and 136%, respectively. After inoculation with effective bacterial strains, the shoot, root and seed N and P contents increased, thereby increasing both N and P uptake in plants. The root elongation showed a positive correlation (R2 = 0.67) with the IAA production and seed yield exhibited a positive correlation (R2 = 0.82) with root nodulation. These indicated that the isolated PGPR rhizobial strains can be best utilized as potential agents or biofertilizers for stimulating the growth and nutrient accumulation of lentil.     

丛枝菌根真菌对万寿菊生长、吸镉及生理特性的影响

A pot experiment was carried out to study the effects of three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), including Glomus intraradices, Glomus constrictum and Glomus mosseae, on the growth, root colonization and Cd accumulation of marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) at Cd addition levels of 0, 5 and 50 mg kg-1 in soil. The physiological characteristics, such as chlorophyll content, soluble sugar content, soluble protein content and antioxidant enzyme activity, of Tagetes erecta L. were also investigated. The symbiotic relationship between the marigold plant and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was well established under Cd stress. The symbiotic relationship was reffected by the better physiobiochemical parameters of the marigold plants inoculated with the three AMF isolates where the colonization rates in the roots were between 34.3% and 88.8%. Compared with the non-inoculated marigold plants, the shoot and root biomass of the inoculated marigold plants increased by 15.2%- 47.5% and 47.8%-130.1%, respectively, and the Cd concentration and accumulation decreased. The chlorophyll and soluble sugar contents in the mycorrhizal marigold plants increased with Cd addition, indicating that AMF inoculation helped the marigold plants to grow by resisting Cd stress. The antioxidant enzymes reacted differently with the three AMF under Cd stress. For plants inoculated with G. constrictum and G. mosseae, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) increased with increasing Cd addition, but peroxidase (POD) activity decreased with increasing Cd addition. For plants inoculated with G. intraradices, three of the antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly decreased at high levels of Cd addition. Overall, the activities of the three antioxidant enzymes in the plants inoculated with AMF were higher than those of the plants without AMF inoculation under Cd stress. Our results support the view that antioxidant enzymes have a great influence on the biomass of plants, and AMF can improve the capability of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and reduce Cd concentration in plants to alleviate Tagetes erecta L. from Cd stress.     

盐条件下产胞外多糖植物促生细菌研究

Salt-tolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can play an important role in alleviating soil salinity stress during plant growth and bacterial exopolysaccharide (EPS) can also help to mitigate salinity stress by reducing the content of Na + available for plant uptake.In this study,native bacterial strains of wheat rhizosphere in soils of Varanasi,India,were screened to identify the EPS-producing salt-tolerant rhizobacteria with plant growth-promoting traits.The various rhizobacteria strains were isolated and identified using 16S rDNA sequencing.The plant growth-promoting effect of inoculation of seedlings with these bacterial strains was evaluated under soil salinity conditions in a pot experiment.Eleven bacterial strains which initially showed tolerance up to 80 g L -1 NaCl also exhibited an EPS-producing potential.The results suggested that the isolated bacterial strains demonstrated some of the plant growth-promoting traits such as phosphate solubilizing ability and production of auxin,proline,reducing sugars,and total soluble sugars.Furthermore,the inoculated wheat plants had an increased biomass compared to the un-inoculated plants.     

水稻突变体对镉的吸收及其亚细胞分布和化学形态特点

Wild-type （Zhonghua 11） and mutant rice （Oryza sativa L.） plants were used to investigate the effect of cadmium （Cd） application on biomass production, to characterize the influx of Cd from roots to shoots, and to determine the form, content, and subcellular distribution of Cd in the roots, leaf sheaths, and leaves of the rice plants. Seedlings were cultivated in a nutrient solution and were treated with 0.5 mmol L^-1 of Cd^2＋ for 14 d. The sensitivity of rice plants to Cd toxicity was tested by studying the changes in biomass production and by observing the onset of toxicity symptoms in the plants. Both the wild-type and mutant rice plants developed symptoms of Cd stress. In addition, Cd application significantly （P ≤ 0.01） decreased dry matter production of roots, leaf sheaths, and leaves of both types, especially the mutant. The Cd content in roots of the mutant was significantly （P ≤0.05） higher than that of the wild-type rice. However, there was no significant difference in the Cd content of roots, leaf sheaths, and leaves between the wild-type and mutant rice. Most of the Cd was bound to the cell wall of the roots, leaf sheaths, and leaves, and the mutant had greater Cd content in cell organelles than the wild type. The uneven subcellular distribution could be responsible for the Cd sensitivity of the mutant rice. Furthermore, different chemical forms of Cd were found to occur in the roots, leaf sheaths, and leaves of both types of rice plants. Ethanol-, water-, and NaCl-extractable Cd had greater toxicity than the other forms of Cd and induced stunted growth and chlorosis in the plants. The high Cd content of the toxic forms of Cd in the cell organelles could seriously damage the cells and the metabolic processes in mutant rice plants.     

土壤－水分－植物体系中铅和镉的交互作用及其机制: Ⅱ. 根际中Pb-Cd的交互作用

The interaction of Pb-Cd can be observed not only in the uptake process of elements by plants and in their influence on the growth,but also in rhizosphere.The changes in extractable Cd and Pb concentrations in the rhizosphere soil of rice plants ,root exudates from wheat and wheat plant and their complexing capacity,with Pa and Cd were investigated under different Pb and Cd treatments.Results showed that the concentration of extractable Cd in the rhizosphere of rice in red soil was markedly increased by Pb-Cd interaction,It increased by 56% in the treatment with Pb and Cd added against that in the treatment with only Cd added in soil . The considerable differences in both composition and amount of root exudate from wheat and rice were found among different treatments.Pb and Cd might be complexed by root exudates ,The concentrations of free Pb and Cd in the solution were increased markedly by adding root exudate from wheat and decreased by that from rice due to Pd-Cd interaction.The distribution patterns of Pb and Cd in roots were affected by Pb-Cd interaction,which accelerated transport of Pb into internal tissue and retarded accumulation of Cd in external tissue.     

根瘤菌存在下土壤胶体和矿物对镉的吸附

Experiments were conducted to study the adsorption of Cd on two soil collids(red soil and yellowbrown soil) and three variable-charge minerals (goethite,noncrystalline Fe oxide and kaolin) in the absence and presence of rhizobia.The tested strain Rhizobium fredii C6,tolerant to 0.8 mmol L^-1 Cd,was selected from 30 rhizobial strains.Results showed that the isotherms for the adsorption of Cd by examined soil colloids and minerals in the presence of rhizobia could be described by Langmuir equation.Within the range of the numbers of rhizobial cells studied,the amount of Cd adsorbed by each system increased with increasing rhizobial cells,Greater increases for the adsorption of Cd were found in red soil and kaolin systems.Rhizobia influence on the adsorption of Cd by examined soil colloids and minerals was different from that on the adsorption of Cu.The presence of rhizobia increased the adsorption affinity of soil colloids and minerals for Cd,particularly for the goethite and kaolin systems.The discrepancies in the influence of rhizobia on the adsorbability and affinity of selected soil colloids and minerals for Cd suggesed the different interactions of rhizobia with various soil components.It is assumed that bacterial biomass plays an important role in controlling the mobility and bioavailability of Cd in soils with kaolinite and goethite as the major colloidal compnents,such as in variable-charge soil.     

外生根真菌对盐渍土中油松营养成分吸收和平衡的影响

Pinus tabulaeformis seedlings were grown under a factorial design to measure biomass accumulation and P, Na and K concentrations of plants, with 3 different ectomycorrhizal fungus (EMF) strains (Boletus edulis, Xerocomus chrysenteron and Gomphidius viscidus) and two P treatments (with or without extra P). Growth and mineral nutrition of pine seedlings were stimulated by three EMF under salinity stress. Na concentrations were changed and plant K and P concentrations were increased significantly by EMF. Adding extra P made no difference in accumulation of seedlings biomass, and did not assist element absorption of plants. Although three strains of EMF can all enhance the tolerance of pine seedlings to salinity stress, they may utilize different mechanisms because of different performance in absorption of elements. The increased P and K accumulation and the balance of ion concentrations might be due to the enhanced tolerance of EMF-inoculated plants to saline conditions.     

Root cell walls and phytochelatins in low-cadmium cultivar of Brassica parachinensis

‘Lvbao-701’ is a cultivar of Chinese flowering cabbage(Brassica parachinensis) that exhibits low cadmium(Cd) accumulation and high Cd tolerance.In this study, this cultivar was compared with a high-Cd accumulating cultivar, ‘Chixin-4’, to characterize the mechanisms influencing Cd accumulation in B. parachinensis. Root cell walls were isolated by dissolving the cytoplasm with an organic solvent, and root Cd and phytochelatin(PC) contents were analyzed. In addition, a PC synthase gene fragment was cloned and expressed under Cd stress conditions. The proportions of Cd bound to root cell walls were higher in the ‘Lvbao-701’ plants(68.32%–76.80%) than in the ‘Chixin-4’ plants(35.36%–54.18%) after exposure to Cd stress. The proportions of Cd bound to root cell walls measured using cell walls isolated with a non-destructive method were higher than those obtained using a conventional method that required grinding and centrifugation. Exposure to Cd stress induced the PC production and resulted in higher PC contents in the ‘Lvbao-701’ plants than in the ‘Chixin-4’ plants. Cloning and expression analysis of a B. parachinensis PC synthase cDNA fragment indicated that PC synthase gene expression was induced by Cd and occurred mainly in the roots of both ‘Lvbao-701’ and ‘Chixin-4’ plants. However, the PC synthase gene expression level was higher in the‘Lvbao-701’ roots than in the ‘Chixin-4’ roots. Therefore, a higher abundance of Cd in the root cell walls of ‘Lvbao-701’ and up-regulated PC production in the roots are probably the main reasons why ‘Lvbao-701’ exhibits lower Cd translocation to the shoots and higher tolerance to Cd than ‘Chixin-4’.     

接种菌根真菌影响青菜中铅镉的累积和迁移

Heavy metal(HM) contamination in soils is an environmental issue worldwide that threatens the quality and safety of crops and human health. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to investigate the growth, mycorrhizal colonization, and Pb and Cd accumulation of pakchoi(Brassica chinensis L. cv. Suzhou) in response to inoculation with three arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM) fungi(AMF), Funneliformis mosseae, Glomus versiforme, and Rhizophagus intraradices, aimed at exploring how AMF inoculation affected safe crop production by altering plant-soil interaction. The symbiotic relationship was well established between pakchoi and three AMF inocula even under Pb or Cd stress, where the colonization rates in the roots ranged from 24.5% to 38.5%. Compared with the non-inoculated plants, the shoot biomass of the inoculated plants increased by 8.7%–22.1% and 9.2%–24.3% in Pb and Cd addition treatments, respectively. Both glomalin-related soil protein(GRSP) and polyphosphate concentrations reduced as Pb or Cd concentration increased. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation significantly enhanced total absorbed Pb and Cd(except for a few samples) and increased the distribution ratio(root/shoot) in pakchoi at each Pb or Cd addition level. However, the three inocula significantly decreased Pb concentration in pakchoi shoots by 20.6%–67.5% in Pb addition treatments, and significantly reduced Cd concentration in the shoots of pakchoi in the Cd addition treatments(14.3%–54.1%), compared to the non-inoculated plants.Concentrations of Pb and Cd in the shoots of inoculated pakchois were all below the allowable limits of Chinese Food Safety Standard.The translocation factor of Pb or Cd increased significantly with increasing Pb or Cd addition levels, while there was no significant difference among the three AMF inocula at each metal addition level. Meanwhile, compared with the non-inoculated plants, AMF inocula significantly increased soil p H, electrical conductivity, and Pb or Cd concentrations in soil organic matter in the soils at the highest Pb or Cd dose after harvest of pakchoi, whereas the proportion of bioavailable Pb or Cd fraction declined in the AMF inoculated soil. Our study provided the first evidence that AM fungi colonized the roots of pakchoi and indicated the potential application of AMF in the safe production of vegetables in Pb or Cd contaminated soils.     

油菜光合生产模拟模型

Photosynthetic production is a major determinant of final yield in crop plants. A simulation model was developed for canopy photosynthesis and dry matter accumulation in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) based on the ecophysiological processes and using a three-layer radiation balance scheme for calculating the radiation interception and absorption by the layers of flowers, pods, and leaves within the canopy. Gaussian integration method was used to calculate photosynthesis of the pod and leaf layers, and the daily total canopy photosynthesis was determined by the sum of photosynthesis from the two layers of green organs. The effects of physiological age, temperature, nitrogen, and water deficit on maximum photosynthetic rate were quantified. Maintenance and growth respiration were estimated to determine net photosynthetic production. Partition index of the shoot in relation to physiological development time was used to calculate shoot dry matter from plant biomass and shoot biomass loss because of freezing was quantified by temperature effectiveness. Testing of the model for dynamic dry matter accumulation through field experiments of different genotypes, sowing dates, and nitrogen levels showed good fit between the observed and simulated data, with an average root mean square error of 10.9% for shoot dry matter. Thus, the present model appears to be reliable for the prediction of photosynthetic production in oilseed rape.     

Effect of Zn-tolerant bacterial strains on growth and Zn accumulation in Orychophragmus violaceus

Several Zn-tolerant bacterial strains were isolated from heavy-metal contaminated sludge, and their effects on root elongation, mobility, and accumulation of Zn in Orychophragmus violaceus were studied. The isolated strains included Bacillus subtilis, B. cereus, Flavobacterium sp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa which were capable of stimulating root elongation in O. violaceus seedlings either in the presence or absence of Zn. The four bacterial strains significantly increased the concentration of water-extractable Zn compared with axenic soil. In addition, the four Zn-tolerant bacteria significantly increased the shoot biomass and Zn accumulation in O. violaceus compared to non-inoculated plants. The bacterial strains displayed different capacities to enhance plant Zn accumulation. Flavobacterium sp. was identified as the best candidate for enhancing Zn accumulation in plants, increasing Zn accumulation up to 1.21- and 1.19-fold in shoots and roots, respectively, compared to non-inoculated plants. It was indicated that Zn-tolerant bacteria played an important role in influencing the availability of water-soluble Zn in soil and Zn accumulation by plants. This study provides insight into the development of plant–microbe systems for phytoremediation.     

铅锌矿区分离丛枝菌根真菌对万寿菊生长与吸镉的影响

盆栽试验研究了土壤不同施Cd水平(0、20、50 mg kg-1)下,接种矿区污染土壤中丛枝菌根真菌对万寿菊根系侵染率、植株生物量及Cd吸收与分配的影响。结果表明:接种丛枝菌根真菌显著提高了Cd胁迫下万寿菊的根系侵染率和植株生物量;随着施Cd水平提高,各处理植株Cd浓度和Cd吸收量显著增加。各施Cd水平下万寿菊地上部Cd吸收量远远高于根系Cd吸收量,尤其在20 mg kg-1施Cd水平下,接种处理地上部Cd吸收量是根系的3.90倍,对照处理地上部Cd吸收量是根系的2.33倍;同一施Cd水平下接种处理地上部Cd吸收量要显著高于对照。总体上,试验条件下污染土壤中分离的丛枝菌根真菌促进了万寿菊对土壤中Cd的吸收,并增加了Cd向地上部分的运转,表现出植物提取的应用潜力。     

Roles of Bacillus megaterium in Remediation of Boron,Lead, and Cadmium from Contaminated Soil

Phytoremediation is an attractive, economical alternative to soil removal and burial methods to remediate contaminated soil. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of adding different rates of Bacillus megaterium on the capacity of Brassica napus plants to take up boron (B), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) from polluted soils under field conditions. Field experiments were conducted using a randomized complete block design with control (without pollution and B. megaterium application) and B, Pb, and Cd in two doses (0 and 100 mg kg^?1), B. megaterium with four doses (no application and 10⁸ cfu B. megaterium ml^?1 sprayed at 50 ml plot^?1, 100 ml plot^?1, 150 ml plot^?1). Results indicated that soil pollution treatments significantly decreased seed (SDMY), shoot (SHDMY), root (RDMY), and total dry-matter yield (TDMY) of plants at 42.9, 3.8, 62.6, and 23.4% for B-polluted treatment; 25.8, 8.7, 17.6, and 14.2% for Pb-polluted treatment; and 33.2, 7.0, 14.0, and 16.4% for Cd-treatment without B. megaterium application, respectively. However, the application of B. megaterium ameliorated the negative effects of B, Pb, and Cd at 41.4, 52.7, and 10.9% for B; 24.4, 21.6, and 4.9% for Pb; and 22.8, 22.0, and 3.3% for Cd, respectively. The potentially bioavailable and relatively available fraction of soil B, Pb, and Cd increased with increases in the B. megaterium application but total fraction and stable fraction decreased. It is concluded that the seed and shoot parts of B. napus can be used as hyperaccumulators for plant B, Pb, and Cd remediation according to remediation factors but the shoot is the biggest part of the plant, and thus an important portion of the plant to remove B, Pb, and Cd from the B-, Pb-, and Cd-contaminated soils. To decrease desired concentration for 8 mg B kg^?1, 4 mg Pb kg^?1, and 3 mg Cd kg^?1 in the active rooting zone of soil, approximately 2, 6, and 21 years would be necessary with only 150 ml plot^?1 B. megaterium–sprayed soil cultivated with B. napus, respectively.     

EFFECT OF CADMIUM ON PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF WHEAT AND CORN TO IRON DEFICIENCY

This work evaluated the effect of cadmium (Cd) on the physiological responses of corn (Zea Mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to iron (Fe) deficiency. For this purpose, seedlings of corn and wheat were cultivated under controlled conditions, plants were grown in different strength Hoagland's solutions for one month. In the fifth week, some seedlings were still in full strength Hoagland's solution (+Fe) and others were in full strength Hoagland's solutions without iron (?Fe). The plants were exposed to different cadmium (Cd) concentrations for four days. The plant chlorophyll content of young leaves, Fe and Cd content in shoots and roots, biomass production, and phytosiderophores (PS) release by roots were assessed. Results showed that Cd decreased the chlorophyll content of young leaves, accompanied by a significant shoot and root biomass reduction for Fe-deficient and Fe-sufficient wheat and corn across all Cd treatments. However, chlorophyll content and shoot and root biomass of Fe-deficient wheat and corn were lower than Fe-sufficient plants at different Cd concentrations. Iron-deficiency induced Cd accumulation compared to Fe-sufficient in wheat and corn; however, a depressive effect of Cd on iron acquisition in shoots and roots of Fe-deficient and Fe-sufficient wheat and corn across all Cd treatments was observed. Cadmium also inhibited PS release in Fe-deficient and Fe-sufficient wheat and corn. Iron-deficient PS release was higher than Fe-sufficient corn and wheat across all Cd treatments. These results suggested that Cd might reduce capacity of plants to acquire iron from solution by inhibiting PS release.     

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Contribute to Resistance of Upland Rice to Combined Metal Contamination of Soil

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate heavy metal [copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd)] uptake by two upland rice cultivars, ‘91B3’ and ‘277’, grown in a sterilized field soil contaminated by a mixture of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd. Rice plants were inoculated with each of three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Glomus versiforme (GV), Glomus mosseae (GM), and Glomus diaphanum (GD), or remained noninoculated (NM). Both rice cultivars could be colonized by the three AMF used in this experiment. The percentage of mycorrhizal colonization by the three AMFs on the two rice cultivars ranged from 30% to 70%. Mycorrhizal colonization of both upland rice cultivars had a large influence on plant growth by increasing the shoot and root biomass compared with non-inoculated (NM) plants. The results indicate that mycorrhiza exert some protective effects against the combined toxicity of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in the contaminated soil. This conclusion is supported by the partitioning of heavy metals (HMs) in the two cultivars. In the two cultivars, colonization by AMF reduced the translocation of HMs from root to shoot (except that the colonization of AMF increased the Cu translocation of HMs in cultivar ‘277’). Immobilization of the HMs in roots can alleviate the potential toxicity to shoots induced by the mixture of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd. The two rice cultivars showed significant differences in uptake of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd when uninoculated. GM inoculation gave the most protective effects on the two cultivars under the combined soil contamination.     

Yield and N assimilation of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L., var. Norstar) inoculated with rhizobacteria

The effects of bacterial inoculants on the growth of winter wheat were studied in a growth chamber. Azospirillum brasilense, Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus polymyxa, Enterobacter cloacae, or a mixture of the four rhizobacteria were the inoculants tested. Inoculation effects on yield, yield components, and N-derived from fertilizer (Ndff) were assessed. The response of plants inoculated with individual bacteria was inconsistent and varied with treatment. At the first harvest (58 days after planting-DAP) plants inoculated with the mixture exhibited increases in plant dry weight, total-N and Ndff. At the second harvest (105 DAP), plants inoculated with A. brasilense and the mixture exhibited increases in shoot biomass, whereas at maturity (170 DAP), the inoculated plants showed no differences in total-N or shoot dry matter yield, as compared to the uninoculated controls. Inoculation with A. brasilense, however, increased the Ndff in the shoots, and B. polymyxa tended to enhance grain yield. Practical use of these rhizobacteria as inoculants for winter wheat may have limited value until such time as we better understand factors which influence rhizosphere competence of bacterial inoculants.     

ALLEVIATION OF CADMIUM-TOXICITY BY APPLICATION OF ZINC AND ASCORBIC ACID IN BARLEY

ABSTRACT

Effect of cadmium (Cd) on biomass accumulation and physiological activity and alleviation of Cd-toxicity by application of zinc (Zn) and ascorbic acid in barley was studied, using semisolid medium culture including 15 treatments [four Cd concentration treatments: 0.1, 1, 5, 50?µmol?L^?1, four treatments with addition of 300?µmol?L^?1 Zn or 250?mg?L^?1 ascorbic acid (ASA) based on these four Cd concentrations, respectively, and three controls: basic nutrient medium, and with Zn or ASA, respectively]. Cadmium addition to semisolid medium, at a concentration of 1, 5, and 50?µmol?L^?1, inhibited biomass accumulation and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content of barley plants, while the addition of 0.1?µmol?L^?1 Cd increased slightly dry mass. There was a tendency to a decrease in Zn, copper (Cu) concentrations both in shoots and roots and iron (Fe) in shoots of barley plants exposed to 1 to 50?µmol?L^?1 Cd. In addition, there were indications of a stress repose characterized by increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities relative to plants not subjected to Cd. The physiological changes caused by Cd toxicity could be alleviated to different extent by application of 300?µmol?L^?1 Zn or 250?mg?L^?1 ASA in Cd stressed plants. The most pronounced effects of adding Zn or ASA in Cd stressed medium were expressed in the decreased MDA and increased biomass accumulation, e.g., MDA contents were reduced (p≤0.01) by 4.8%–17.8% in shoots and 0.5%–19.7% in roots by adding 300?µmol?L^?1 Zn, in 50?µmol?L^?1 Cd stressed plants, and by 1.3%–7.4% in shoots and 2.6%–4.5% in roots by application of 250?µmol?L^?1 ASA, respectively. However, ASA addition may enhance Cd translation from root to shoot, accordingly, ASA would be unsuitable for the edible crops grown in Cd contaminated soils to alleviate phytotoxicity of Cd.     

Symbiotic performance of fast-growing rhizobia isolated from the coastal sand dune legumes of west coast of India

The symbiotic efficiency of coastal sand dune rhizobial isolates on four cultivated legumes, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), green gram (Vigna radiata), black gram (Vigna mungo) and horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum), was assessed. Among the isolates of Someshwara (S1–S5), inoculation of S5 resulted in the highest increase of shoot biomass in cowpea (control vs experimental, 1:6), while inoculation of P1 among the Padubidri isolates (P1–P5) induced the highest shoot biomass in cowpea (1:14.4). Inoculation of the isolate P2 induced higher shoot biomass against uninoculated controls of horse gram (12.6:1), green gram (11.2:1) and black gram (6.1:1). One-way ANOVA revealed significant difference in the shoot biomass between uninoculated and inoculated cowpea plants with ten rhizobial isolates (P <0.05). Cultivation of surface-sterilized green gram seeds on unsterilized dune sand resulted in profuse flowering as well as nodules within 6 weeks indicating possibilities for isolating efficient rhizobial strains through cultivating edible legumes on coastal sand dune soils.     

Effects of plant growth-promoting bacteria on the phytoremediation of cadmium-contaminated soil by sunflower

This paper describes the effect of plant growth-promoting bacteria on sunflower growth and its phytoremediation efficiency under Cd-contaminated soils. Four levels of bacteria inoculation (non-inoculation, inoculation by Bacillus safensis, Kocuria rosea and co-inoculation by Bacillus safensis+Kocuria rosea) and four Cd concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 150 mg Cd per kg soil) were arranged as factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design (CRD). Results showed that Cd significantly decreased growth by decreasing the shoot and root length and biomass (p < 0.01). In addition, Cd dramatically decreases photosynthetic pigments, Fe transport to shoot and Zn uptake (p < 0.01). Bacterial inoculation increased Fe and Zn uptake by plants, Cd concentration in the aboveground part of plants and Cd uptake by the enhancement of Cd concentration in plant tissue and biomass production. Results showed that the highest shoot Cd uptake was ?observed in ?inoculated plants by Bacillus safensis at Cd100 (20.35 mg pot^?1). However, in average of Cd treatments, the performance of co-inoculation in Cd uptake (13.04 mg pot^?1) was better than singular inoculation (10.68 and 12.58 mg pot^?1 for Bacillus safensis and Kocuria rosea, respectively). Results revealed that bacterial inoculation increased the Cd uptake performance in shoot and total biomass by 30% and 25%, respectively.