Phytotoxicity of cobalt,vanadium, titanium,silver, and chromium

Abstract

The phytotoxicity of five nonessential elements (Co, V, Ti, Ag, Cr) to higher plants was studied in solution culture experiments with bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. C.V. Improved Tendergreen). All, but in varying degrees, tended to concentrate in roots with a decreasing gradient to stems and leaves. Cobalt was one of the more mobile of the five trace metals. Its toxicity was expressed as severe chlorosis; 43 (with 10^‐5 M) and 142 (with 10^‐4 M) μg Co/g dry weight in leaves resulted in severe chlorosis. Vanadium as 10^‐4 M vanadate resulted in smaller plants but not in chlorosis. Leaf, stem, and root V, respectively, were 13, 8, and 881 μg/g dry weight. Titanium was somewhat mobile with considerable yield decrease at 10^‐4 M; leaf, stem, and root Ti concentrations, respectively, were 202, 48, and 2420 μg/g. Symptoms were chlorosis, necrotic spots on leaves, and stunting. Silver was very lethal at 10^‐4 M AgNO₃; at 10^‐5 M yields were greatly decreased, but plants were grown without symptoms. Leaf, stem, and root concentrations of Ag for this treatment, respectively, were 5.8, 5.1, and 1760 μg/g dry weight. Plants grown with 10^‐5 N Cr₂O₇ were decreased in yield by about 25% with or without EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid) while the same level of Cr₂(SO₄)₃ was essentially without effect. For the two salts, the leaf, stem, root concentrations for Cr, respectively were 2.2 and 1.3, 0.7 and 0. 7, and 140 and 104 μg/g. Most of the trace metals studied here had interactions in the uptake and/or distribution of other elements.     

Einfluß von Stickstoff- und Cytokiningaben auf die Entwicklung des Fahnenblattes und der Karyopsen von Weizen

Influence of nitrogen and cytokinin applications on the development of flag leaves and grains of wheat In two experiments spring wheat cv. Solo was grown in hydroculture under greenhouse conditions. The influence of cytokinin applications during grain filling period (Cy: 0 – 100 μg BA/l nutrient solition) combined with different nitrogen supply (N: 0, 0.25, 0.50 and 4.0/1.3 mMol/l) was studied in regard to the development of flag leaves and grains. As to flag leaf, only N was capable to increase specific fresh and dry matter and delay the decrease during development. Similar changes in the chlorophyll content, photosynthesis and N-content of leaves and grains, resp., could be induced by either N or Cy. Grain growth and grain N-content was favoured by N, with the first effect becoming visible early and the second late in the grain filling period. At maturity Cy gave the same effects, but time course was slightly modified. At high doses of N (4.0/1.3 mMol/l) Cy-applications reduced chlorophyll content, photosynthesis and N-content of leaves and grains. This gave rise to the conclusion that cytokinins limit the corresponding physiological processes only if nitrogen nutrition is low.     

Effect of different salts of sodium and potassium on the growth of Atriplex prostrata (Chenopodiaceae)

Although there are a variety of ions occurring in the soil throughout most of North America, the majority of halophyte literature focuses on the effects of NaCl on plants. In this study, a comparison is made of the effects of NaCl, KC1, Na₂SO₄, and K₂SO₄, on growth of the halophyte Atriplex prostrata Boucher ex DC (SYN: A. triangularis Willd.) at 0, ‐0.75, ‐1.00, and ‐1.50 MPa. Plant survival, height, number of leaves, nodes, and branches were recorded weekly. Photosynthesis was measured once before plants were harvested and dry mass was determined after one month. Content of Na⁺, K⁺,‐Mg²⁺, and Cl^‐ in plant tissue was also measured. A general trend observed was that all plant growth parameters decreased with a lowering of the medium osmotic potential, and that K⁺ salts were more inhibitory than Na⁺ salts. Ion content of plant tissue generally increased with a lowering of osmotic potential. Our data indicated that K⁺, a plant macronutrient, was more inhibitory to plant growth than Na⁺. It is possible that halophytes such as Atriplex prostrata could use Na⁺ as an osmoticum to adjust the vacuolar water potential, but were unable to use K⁺ for this function because of a specific ion toxicity. The inhibitory effect of salt on plant growth parameters and survival follow the pattern; K₂SO₄ >KCl>Na₂SO₄=NaCl.     

Forms of trace metals from inorganic sources in soils and amounts found in spring barley

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was grown on a sandy soil given different doses of cadmium carbonate (salt), copper carbonate (malachite), lead carbonate (cerussite), and zinc carbonate (smithsonite) in a pot experiment conducted in a greenhouse. The element compounds were added to the soil in amounts equivalent to the following levels of the metals: Cd 5, 10, 50 μq ^?1; Cu and Pb 50, 100, 500 μg g^?1; Zn 150, 300, 1500 μg g^?1. Sequential extraction was used for partition these metals into five operationally-defined fractions: exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to Fe-Mn oxides, bound to organic matter and residual. The residue was the most abundant fraction in the untreated soil for all the metals studied (43 to 61% of the total contents). The concentration of exchangeable Cd (0.2 μg g^?1), Cu (0.01 μg g^?1), Pb (0.1 μg g^?1), and Zn (1.4 μg g^?1) were relatively low in the untreated soil but increased markedly in the treated soils for Cd (up to 31 μg g^?1) and Zn (up to 83 μg g^?1), whereas only small changes were observed for Cu and Pb. The pot experiment showed a significant increase in the Cd and Zn contents of barley grown on the treated soils, but only small changes in Cu and Pb concentrations.     

Effects of Two Different Ozone Exposure Regimes on Chlorophyll and Sucrose Content of Leaves and Yield Parameters of Sugar Beet (Beta Vulgaris L.) and Rape (Brassica Napus L.)

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris cv. Loretta) and rape (Brassica napus cv. Licolly) plants were exposed under equaldose conditions in closed fumigation chambers under twodifferent ozone (O₃) pattern: Var₁₃₀ (17:00–09:00 h: 40 μg O₃ m^-3; 09:00–17:00 h: 130μgO₃ m^-3) and Var₂₂₀ (16:00-12:00 h: 40 μgO₃ m^-3; 12:00–16:00 h: 220μg O₃ m^-3).Control plants were exposed under carbon filtered airconditions (ozone free, CF-control). Sugar beet plants wereexposed four weeks each during 6-leaf-stage and lateralgrowth respectively. Rape plants were exposed for 14 daysduring flowering (f) or as young plants (y). In between andafter the end of exposure, plants were kept in carbonfiltered air (CF; < 10 μg O₃ m^-3). With respect to sucrose and chlorophyll content of leaves andseed weight, rape plants were most sensitive duringflowering. Under equal dose conditions, the most pronouncedeffects on chlorophyll and sucrose content of leaves as wellas fresh weight of taproots (CF: 100%; Var₁₃₀: 97%;Var₂₂₀: 83%) and of rape seeds (CF: 100%; y:Var₁₃₀: 122%; Var₂₂₀: 99%; f: Var₁₃₀: 84%;Var₂₂₀: 78%) were detected after exposure under shorttime high ozone peak conditions (Var₂₂₀). Howeverglucose content in taproots (CF: 100%; Var₁₃₀: 43%;Var₂₂₀: 79%) and fatty acid content in rape seeds wasaffected most after exposure to moderate ozone peaks(Var₁₃₀). Var₁₃₀-plants seem to recover better fromozone stress than Var₂₂₀-plants, but glucose content oftaproots and fatty acid content of rape seeds indicate long-lastingeffects especially in Var₁₃₀-plants.Although experiments were conducted in a closed chambersystem it can be concluded, that current ozone concentrationscan induce adverse effects on these crops.     

RESPONSE OF SALT STRESSED STRAWBERRY PLANTS TO FOLIAR SALICYLIC ACID PRE-TREATMENTS

Salinity has deleterious effects on plant growth and development through membrane stability, photosynthetic activity, protein content, and ionic composition; however, salicylic acid (SA) could restore these properties in plants. The objective of this study was to determine the ameliorative effects of SA as foliar pre-treatments on membrane permeability, proline and protein contents, chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll and ionic composition of strawberry cv. ‘Camarosa’ under saline conditions. Membrane permeability and proline content significantly increased and protein and chlorophyll contents significantly decreased by 6 mS cm^?1 application without SA treatment compared with the control (2 mS cm^?1) treatment. Membrane permeability decreased from 6.9 in 0 mM SA treatment to 5.2 by application of 1.0 mM SA under saline conditions and same to the control (5.2). Compared with 0 mM SA treatment, the average increases of proline and protein contents were 66.7% in 0.25 mM SA treatment and 62.2% in 0.1 mM SA treatment in 6 mS cm^?1 level, respectively. Chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll significantly increased by 0.25 mM SA treatments under saline conditions. The lowest and the highest chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll were obtained from 0 mM SA treatment (19.6 and 44.5 mg L^?1) and 0.25 mM SA treatment (28.6 and 52.9 mg L^?1) in 6 mS cm^?1 salinity level. Ionic compositions of leaves were significantly affected by salinity and SA treatments. Nitrogen in 1.0 mM SA treatment and P contents of leaves in 0.1 mM SA treatment significantly increased but Na and Cl contents of leaves significantly decreased by SA treatments in 6 mS cm^?1 salinity level. The results of this study were clearly indicated that the SA application on strawberry plants could ameliorate the deleterious effect of salt stress on membrane permeability, proline, protein, and chlorophyll contents. Therefore, SA treatment could offer an economic and simple application to salinity stress.     

外源ALA对盐胁迫下夏枯草幼苗抗氧化能力与光合特性的影响

为探讨外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸(ALA)对盐胁迫下植物生长的缓解作用,以夏枯草为试验材料,研究1.25~10.00 mg·L~(-1)ALA对70 mmol·L~(-1)盐胁迫下夏枯草幼苗叶片和根系的抗氧化酶活性、叶片的叶绿素含量与光合特性的影响。结果表明,1.25~5.00 mg·L~(-1)ALA处理均可不同程度地提高盐胁迫下夏枯草幼苗叶片和根系过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)的活性及可溶性糖含量;增加夏枯草叶片的叶绿素a(Chl a)、叶绿素b(Chl b)、总叶绿素(Chl a+b)及类胡萝卜素(Car)含量;提高净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)与蒸腾速率(Tr),降低胞间CO2浓度(Ci)。外源ALA可以通过提高抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质的含量,增强叶片的光合作用,进而缓解盐胁迫对夏枯草幼苗产生的伤害,从而提高夏枯草幼苗的抗盐能力,ALA浓度以5.00 mg·L~(-1)最佳。本研究结果为探明ALA缓解夏枯草盐胁迫危害的作用机理提供了理论依据。     

Lithium toxicity in plants

Abstract

The toxicity of Li to three plant species was studied to determine if there were interactions with other elements and to determine if a chelating agent modified Li toxicity. Bush beans (Phaseolus vulgarls L. C.V. Improved Tendergreen), grown in solution culture, were sensitive to 0.5 X10^‐3Li which resulted in 10 μg/g in leaves, 48 in stems, and 24 in roots. Higher concentrations of Li produced marked reductions in plant yield accompanied by increased Li concentrations in leaf, stem, and root tissues. For most treatments, root concentrations of Li were lower than those in shoots, but those in stems were higher than those in leaves. Higher levels of Li decreased Zn in leaves, increased Ca in stems, and generally increased Fe and Mn in all plant tissues. Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) resulted in slightly increased Ii levels in leaves, stems, and roots. Bush bean plants were injured slightly with 25 μg Li/g of Yolo loam soil applied as LiCl; 50 μg Li/g soil caused more severe injury. Leaf concentrations of about 200 μg Li/g resulted in significant yield reduction and around 600 μg//g of leaves resulted in severe toxicity. There were some interactions of Li with other elements which resulted in an increase of them in both leaf and stem tissues. Barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L. C.V. Atlas 57) were severely stunted when grown with 500 and 1000 μg Li/g soil as Li oxalate. Increasing the soil pH even further with lime and decreasing it with S had no influence on the toxicity. Shoot concentrations of Li ranged from 800 to over 2000 in the various treatments resulting in severe disruption of the Ca and K balance. Leaf concentrations of Li were higher than those for stems in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. C.V. Acala 442). Cotton was tolerant of a leaf concentration of 587 μg Li/g. High levels of Li increased concentrations of several elements in cotton leaves and in stems. Cotton leaves accumulated more Li than did bush beans.     

CONTRIBUTION OF PROLINE AND INORGANIC SOLUTES TO OSMOTIC ADJUSTMENT IN COTTON UNDER SALT STRESS

Physiological responses to salt stress were investigated in two cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars (Pora and Guazuncho) grown hydroponically under various concentrations of NaCl. Dry matter partitioning, plant water relations, mineral composition and proline content were studied. Proline and inorganic solutes were measured to determine their relative contribution to osmotic adjustment. Both leaf water potential (Ψ_w) and osmotic potential (Ψ_s)decreased in response to NaCl levels. Although Ψ_wand Ψ_s decreased during salt stress, pressure potential Ψ_p remained between 0.5 to 0.7 MPa in control and all NaCl treatments, even under 200 mol m^?3 NaCl. Increased NaCl levels resulted in a significant decrease in root, shoot and leaf growth biomass. Root / shoot ratio increased in response to salt stress. The responses of both cultivars to NaCl stress were similar. Increasing salinity levels increased plant Na⁺ and Cl^?. Potassium level remained stable in the leaves and decreased in the roots with increasing salinity. Salinity decreased Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ concentrations in leaves but did not affect the root levels of these nutrients. The K/Na selectivity ratio was much greater in the saline treated plants than in the control plants. Osmotic adjustment of roots and leaves was predominantly due to Na⁺ and Cl^? accumulation; the contribution of proline to the osmotic adjustment seemed to be less important in these cotton cultivars.     

Auswirkungen hoher NaCl-Konzentration im Nährmedium auf die Transpiration,den Abscisinsäure-, Cytokinin- und Prolingehalt zweier Sojabohnensorten

Effect of high NaCl concentration in the nutrient medium on transpiration, abscisic acid, cytokinin and proline content of two soybean varieties With the differentially salt-sensitive soybean varieties ?Lee”? and ?Jackson”? the effect of salinization on transpiration, Cl^? and Na⁺ accumulation, and on abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinin and proline content was investigated. Salinization with 75 mM NaCl in the nutrient medium drastically inhibited the transpiration (about 40%) of both varieties but more so with the variety ?Jackson”?. Nevertheless this variety translocated substantially more Cl^? into the shoot than ?Lee”?. However, ?Lee”? accumulated more Cl^? into the roots and thus was able to effectively protect the shoot against a toxic Cl^? concentration. The Na⁺ distribution in the roots and shoots was nearly the same in both varieties. The ABA content of the leaves of both varieties increased 5-fold to 1200 ng × g^? dry weight after 48 h of salt stress. About the same time transpiration of the salt-stressed plants reached a minimum. Between 48 and 168 h the ABA content of ?Lee”? dropped to about half. The ABA level in ?Jackson”? remained higher which indicated that the shoot was stressed more intensely and/or longer. The results do not imply a causal relationship between the ABA concentration in the leaves and the exclusion of C1^? from the shoot of ?Lee”?. The cytokinin concentration of the two soybean varieties was not significantly affected by salinization. The proline content in the leaves increased markedly with salt stress in both varieties but much more so in ?Jackson”?. Proline content in the leaves increased from about 1.8 μmoles × g^?1 dr. w. before salt stress to 24.7 μmoles × g^?1 dr. w. after 168 h of stress. However, the proline concentration dropped to nearly the initial level within 48 h after a 120 h salt stress treatment was discontinued and the plants were returned to a control solution. In ?Lee”? salinization only doubled the amount of proline found initially. The highest value was observed after 120 h of salinization.     

SOME DELETERIOUS EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM SALT STRESS ON GROWTH,NUTRITION, AND PHYSIOLOGY OF GERBERA (GERBERA JAMESONII L.) AND POTENTIAL INDICATORS OF ITS SALT TOLERANCE

Tolerance of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) to long-term sodium chloride (NaCl) salt stress was evaluated by subjecting plants to 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mM NaCl levels for ten weeks. Increased NaCl led to a significant decrease in leaf and stem biomass. Salt stress significantly affected sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺) concentrations in leaves, stems and roots leading to sharp declines in K⁺/Na⁺ ratios. Magnesium concentrations in stems and roots also showed significant declines. Adverse effect of salt stress on chlorophyll content was also significant. Proline seemed less effective in osmotic adjustment under long-term high salt stress. Switching from vegetative to reproductive growth phase was crucial for certain physiological functions. Leaf Na⁺ concentration showed significant correlation with important traits. These data suggest that NaCl threshold level in irrigation water for gerbera is around 10 mM. Leaf fresh weight, chlorophyll content and leaf K⁺/Na⁺ ratio are promising indicators of salt-sensitivity of gerbera.     

Vanadium induced manganese toxicity in bush bean plants grown in solution culture

Seedlings of two bush bean cultivars (Phaseolus vulqaris L. cvs. Mn‐sensitive ‘Wonder Crop 2’ and Mn‐tolerant ‘Green Lord') were grown for 14 days in full strength Hoagland No. 2 nutrient solution containing 0.05 ‐ 2 mg L^‐1 of vanadium (V) as ammonium vanadate.

Increasing V concentration in the solution decreased total dry weight of both cultivars. Plant tops were stunted and leaf color became dark green at 1 ‐ 2 mg L^‐1 V, especially in ‘Green Lord’. Veinal necrosis similar to that of Mn toxicity was observed in the primary leaves of ‘Wonder Crop 2’ at 0.2 mg L^‐1 V or above, but not in those of ‘Green Lord’.

The V concentrations in the roots increased exponentially with increasing V concentration in the solution; however, V concentrations in the leaves and stems were not affected. The Mn concentrations in the primary leaves increased under the higher V treatment in ‘Wonder Crop 2'; but not in ‘Green Lord’. In contrast, Fe concentration in the leaves of ‘Wonder Crop 2’ decreased markedly with increasing V concentration in the solution. Enhanced Mn uptake and greater reduction of Fe uptake by ‘Wonder Crop 2’ may explain the incidence of V‐induced Mn toxicity.     

INDUCTION OF OXIDATIVE STRESS AND ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES BY EXCESS COBALT IN MUSTARD

This study focuses on induction of oxidative stress and antioxidative defense mechanism on exposure to excess cobalt (Co) in mustard (Brassica campestris L.; cv. ‘T-59’) plants grown in refined sand. Plants were grown for 40 days at normal (0.1 μM) Co. Additional cobalt was supplied from d 41 at 6 levels, i.e., 0.1 (control), 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 μM as cobalt sulfate. The primary site of Co toxicity was shoots where middle leaves developed interveinal chlorosis after three days of excess cobalt supply (>100 μM). At severity these chlorotic spots became necrotic and affected areas appeared dry and papery, at this stage, growth of the plants were completely checked, the upper part of the stem became dry and hanged down. The toxicity of cobalt at d 46, i.e., six days after metal supply, (DAMS) reduced the dry weight, concentrations of chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids in leaves and tissue Fe with decreased activity of catalase and lipid peroxidation. Enhancement in proline concentration and elevated activities of antioxidant enzymes peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase were observed in leaves and roots in response to excess Co supply in mustard. Cobalt concentration of mustard in leaves and roots, ranged from 200 to 397 μg g^?1 at excess Co as compared to 1.1 to 2.5 μg Co g^?1 dry matter in control (0.1 μM Co).     

COMPARISON OF OSMOTIC REGULATION IN DEHYDRATION- AND SALINITY-STRESSED SUNFLOWER SEEDLINGS

Plant dry matter accumulation rate (DMAR), relative water content (RWC), electrolyte leakage percentage (ELP), chlorophyll content, osmotic adjustment ability (OAA), and osmotica accumulation in leaves of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seedlings under different levels of dehydration and salinity stress induced by iso-osmotic PEG (polyethylene glycol) or sodium chloride (NaCl) were evaluated. Plants were subjected to four stress treatments for 10 days: ?0.44 MPa PEG6000, ?0.44 MPa NaCl, ?0.88 MPa PEG6000, ?0.88 MPa NaCl. Results showed that PEG and NaCl treatments decreased the plant's DMAR and RWC, and NaCl treatments had more severe inhibitory effect on the plants than PEG treatments. Leaf ELP in sunflower seedlings increased after NaCl and PEG treatments. However, leaf ELP under salt stress was higher than that under dehydration stress (PEG treatment). All stress treatments increased OAA in plant leaves. Leaf OAA was enhanced significantly as PEG concentration increases, while leaf OAA was less enhanced at higher concentration of NaCl. OAA of sunflower leaves under dehydration stress was due to an increase in potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), amino acid, organic acid, magnesium (Mg²⁺), and proline content. OAA of sunflower leaves under moderate salt stress was owing to an increase in K⁺, chlorine (Cl^?), amino acid, organic acid, sodium (Na⁺), and proline content, and was mainly due to an accumulation of K⁺, Cl^?, Na⁺, and proline under severe salt stress.     

Growth,ion accumulation,and lipid composition of two olive genotypes under salinity 1

Olive (Olea europaea L cv. Leccino and cv. Frantoio) plants grown in aeroponic cultivation system were supplied with Hoagland solutions containing 0 and 150 mM NaCl for 4 weeks. Sodium (Na⁺), chloride (Cl^‐), and potassium (K⁺) concentration was measued on 15‐day‐old leaves and K⁺/Na⁺ selectivity ratio was calculated. Plant water relations were estimated on the same leaves by measuring leaf bulk water and osmotic potentials, and by calculating leaf turgor pressure. Root and leaf tissues were also analysed for lipid composition, estimating free sterol (FS), glycolipid (GL) and phospholipd (PL) content. The salt‐sensitive Leccino accumulated more Na⁺ and Cl^‐ in the leaves and showed a lower K⁺/Na⁺ selectivity ratio than the salt‐tolerant Frantoio. The FS/PL ratio and the content of GL (namely mono‐galactosyldiglyceride, MGDG) in the roots were related to the salt accumulation in the shoot. Salinity‐induced changes on root lipids were more important in Frantoio than in Leccino, indicating the specific role of the roots in salt exclusion mechanisms. Conversely the effect of salinity on leaf lipid composition was more important in the leaves of the salt‐sensitive Leccino.     

转碱蓬SsNHX1基因烟草的耐盐抗旱性研究

烟草是重要的模式植物和经济作物,盐害和干旱两种环境因子对其生长发育、产量和品质都危害很大。为了提高烟草的耐盐抗旱性,本研究利用农杆菌介导的遗传转化法在烟草中过量表达了碱蓬液泡膜Na~+/H~+逆向转运基因SsNHX1,对转基因烟草的耐盐及抗旱性进行表型鉴定和各项生化指标的检测,以期得到耐盐抗旱表性良好的SsNHX1转基因烟草。表型分析发现,SsNHX1基因过表达株系L1和L5的抗盐能力比野生型显著提高,表现为盐胁迫条件下仍能保持旺盛的生长且根系的伸长未受抑制。SsNHX1过表达株系在叶片和根系中积累了更多的Na~+和K~+,同时Na~+含量增长速率较快,而K~+含量降低速率较缓,并可维持较高的叶片相对含水量和叶绿素含量,及较低的丙二醛含量和相对电导率。干旱胁迫发现,过表达株系受干旱胁迫程度更小,并在复水后迅速恢复正常生长。同时,过表达株系的丙二醛含量和相对电导率显著低于野生型,且维持了较高的叶片相对含水量及叶绿素含量。这些结果说明SsNHX1基因在烟草中过量表达后,降低了盐胁迫和干旱胁迫对烟草根系及细胞膜的损伤,并通过调节离子含量、降低细胞的渗透势,维持了叶片较高的相对含水量和叶绿素含量,最终提高了烟草的抗盐和抗旱性。     

Salt‐resistant and salt‐sensitive wheat genotypes show similar biochemical reaction at protein level in the first phase of salt stress

Salinity has a two‐phase effect on plant growth, an osmotic effect due to salts in the outside solution and ion toxicity in a second phase due to salt build‐up in transpiring leaves. To elucidate salt‐resistance mechanisms in the first phase of salt stress, we studied the biochemical reaction of salt‐resistant and salt‐sensitive wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes at protein level after 10 d exposure to 125 mM–NaCl salinity (first phase of salt stress) and the variation of salt resistance among the genotypes after 30 d exposure to 125 mM–NaCl salinity (second phase of salt stress) in solution culture experiments in a growth chamber. The three genotypes differed significantly in absolute and relative shoot and root dry weights after 30 d exposure to NaCl salinity. SARC‐1 produced the maximum and 7‐Cerros the minimum shoot dry weights under salinity relative to control. A highly significant negative correlation (r² = –0.99) was observed between salt resistance (% shoot dry weight under salinity relative to control) and shoot Na⁺ concentration of the wheat genotypes studied. However, the salt‐resistant and salt‐sensitive genotypes showed a similar biochemical reaction at the level of proteins after 10 d exposure to 125 mM NaCl. In both genotypes, the expression of more than 50% proteins was changed, but the difference between the genotypes in various categories of protein change (up‐regulated, down‐regulated, disappeared, and new‐appeared) was only 1%–8%. It is concluded that the initial biochemical reaction to salinity at protein level in wheat is an unspecific response and not a specific adaptation to salinity.     

Wasseraufnahme junger Zuckerrüben in Beziehung zur Salzkonzentration der wurzelnahen Bodenlösung

Water uptake of young sugar beets in relation to the salt concentration of the rhizospheric soil solution When plants absorb soil water from saline soils salts translocated to the roots surface accumulate in the soil solution close to the roots. Due to the salt dissolved in the rhizospheric soil solution its osmotic potential is several times lower than the osmotic potential of the soil solution far from the roots thus affecting their water uptake. Shoots of young sugar beets transpired about 3,0 resp. 1 ml/h/g shoot dry matter, when the roots were surrounded by soil solutions of –0,5 MPa resp. –2,0 MPa. There was nearly no water, uptake from soil solutions of –2,5 to –3,0 MPa. Ψ-values of this range are supposed to occur only around roots of highly salt adapted sugar beets. In a wide range the water content of a sandy soil did not affect the Ψ-value preventing water uptake.     

Einfluß von Zellkontakt und Eisen(III)-Oxidform auf die Bakterielle Eisenreduktion

Effect of cell contact and iron(III)-oxide form on bacterial iron reduction By means of a semipermeable membrane the influence of the separation of cells from Fe(III)-oxides (125–63 μm) was studied in model experiments using iron-reducing bacteria (Clostridium butyricum S 22 a and Bacillus polymyxa S 55) which lower the Eh considerably. Synthetic sieved (125–63 μm) hematite (Merck) was included in dialytic bags (pores < 20 Å), incorporated in a glucose-mineral salt broth (pH 7–7.2) and inoculated (anaerobically, 30°C). Fe(II) production (in solution), pH and Eh were measured (and the rH calculated) at regular intervals. In the second experiment, the preferential reduction of lepidocrocite, hematite and goethite was investigated, by mixing ⁵⁹Fe-labelled oxide forms with other crystalline oxides or with x-ray amorphous Go-soil material (all sieved at 125–63 μm).     

Use of Chlorophyll Meter to Assess the Effect of Nitrogen on Sweet Pepper Development and Growth

Abstract

The evolution of both leaf expansion and chlorophyll content was assessed in potted sweet pepper plants subjected to four different levels of nitrogen (mg N/kg of soil): N1 = 25 (basal dressing); N2 = 50 (basal dressing); N3 = 100 (basal dressing and one side dressing); and, N4 = 150 (basal dressing and two side dressings). In each plant, the first leaves (numbered 1–5) were chosen at the main stem and the next four ramifications. The relative chlorophyll content of leaves 1 to 5, from all treatments, was obtained by a portable chlorophyll meter, SPAD-502, twice a week. The SPAD readings were subsequently converted into total chlorophyll (μ g cm^{? 2}). The plant dry weight, the number of fruits per plant, and the N content of leaves were measured at final harvest (70 d after transplantation, DAT). Until the first side dressing (35 DAT), the increase in chlorophyll content was similar in all treatments, decreasing afterward under the N1 and N2 treatments (leaves 1 and 2), while under the N3 and N4 treatments the increase in the chlorophyll content continued after the first side dressing. The application of the second side dressing (53 DAT) under the N4 treatment induced a subsequent increase in chlorophyll content in all leaves compared with those of N3. An early senescence was observed under the N1 and N2 treatments compared with the others. Applied N in side dressing led to an increase in leaf width (leaves 2–5) and longevity, mainly in leaves 2 and 3, and a subsequent increase under fruit number and fruit dry weight under the N3 and N4 treatments.