与Fe(III) 共存的Fe(II) 分光光度法测定

Fe(Ⅱ)的含量及变化与土壤和沉积物的氧化还原性质关系密切。当与Fe(Ⅲ)共存时,Fe(Ⅱ)的测定往往受到干扰。本文研究了常用显色剂2,2’-联吡啶和菲洛嗪(Ferrozine)测定土壤Fe(Ⅱ)时存在的问题及解决办法。结果表明,Fe(Ⅲ)可与显色剂作用形成络合物,该络合物对Fe(Ⅱ)测定所用波段的光线具有吸收作用,从而使Fe(Ⅱ)浓度被过高估计。Fe(Ⅲ)对Fe(Ⅱ)测定的干扰程度与其浓度及所选显色剂有关。当以2,2’-联吡啶为显色剂时,单位浓度Fe(Ⅲ)(1.0 mg/L)将导致Fe(II)的测定值比实际值高0.012 mg/L;而当菲洛嗪为显色剂时,单位浓度Fe(Ⅲ)引起的Fe(Ⅱ)高估值在0.010～0.032 mg/L之间。F-能够抑制Fe(Ⅲ)-显色剂络合物的形成。当F-的加入量超过Fe(Ⅲ)的4倍时,F-能有效地消除Fe(Ⅲ)的干扰。实际样品的测定结果表明,改进的Fe(Ⅱ)分光光度法能够满足土壤及沉积物中Fe(II)的准确测定。     

Gallium(III) does not actively substitute for iron(III) in iron/gallium competition studies

Strategy II plants respond to Fe stress by releasing a phytosiderophore and are believed to absorb Fe as Fe(III). Gallium(III) has chemical characteristics which have made it useful as a substitute for Fe(III) in biological systems. The objectives of our study were to: 1) determine if Ga(III) acts competitively to reduce Fe(III) uptake or otherwise substitutes for Fe(III) in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and 2) determine if the competition for Fe(III) between EDDHA or BPDS and barley further elucidates the form of Fe absorbed by barley. Chlorosis ratings, phytosiderophore production, and tissue Fe contents were indexes of Fe stress.

Gallium was absorbed and translocated by the plant both in the presence and absence of Fe, and slightly alleviated Fe stress in the absence of Fe. However, Fe uptake was not affected by the presence of Ga. Thus, Ga(III) did not seem to compete with Fe(III) for uptake. Increasing EDDHA in solution intensified chlorosis and phytosiderophore production and reduced root Fe, but did not reduce leaf Fe concentration. Increased BPDS had no influence on either chlorosis or leaf Fe, but did cause phytosiderophore production to increase and root Fe to decline. The presence of Fe(II) in solutions containing BPDS suggests a potential for reducing Fe(III) in the roots of barley.     

Iron speciation in soils and soil aggregates by synchrotron-based X-ray microspectroscopy (XANES,μ-XANES)

Iron speciation in soils is still poorly understood. We have investigated inorganic and organic standard substances, diluted mixtures of common Fe minerals in soils (pyrite, ferrihydrite, goethite), soils in a forested watershed which constitute a toposequence with a hydrological gradient (Dystric Cambisol, Dystric Planosol, Rheic Histosol), and microsites of a dissected soil aggregate by X‐ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES) at the iron K‐edge (7112 eV) to identify different Fe(II) and Fe(III) components. We calculated the pre‐edge peak centroid energy of all spectra and quantified the contribution of different organic and inorganic Fe‐bearing compounds by Linear Combination Fitting (LCF) conducted on the entire spectrum (E = 7085–7240 eV) and on the pre‐edge peak. Fe‐XANES conducted on organic and inorganic standards and on synthetic mixtures of pyrite, ferrihydrite and goethite showed that by calculating the pre‐edge peak centroid energy, the Fe(II)/Fe(III) ratio of different Fe‐bearing minerals (Fe sulphides, Fe oxyhydroxides) in mineral mixtures and soils can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. A more accurate quantification of the Fe(II)/Fe(III) ratio was possible with LCF conducted on the entire XANES spectrum. For the soil toposequence, an increased groundwater influence from the Cambisol to the Histosol was reflected in a larger contribution of Fe(II) compounds (Fe(II) silicate, Fe monosulphide, pyrite) and a smaller contribution of Fe(III) oxyhydroxides (ferrihydrite, goethite) to total iron both in the topsoil and the subsoil. In the organic topsoils, organically bonded Fe (33–45% of total Fe) was 100% Fe(III). For different microsites in the dissected aggregate, spatial resolution ofμ‐XANES revealed different proportions of Fe(II) and Fe(III) compounds. Fe K‐edge XANES andμ‐XANES allows an approximate quantification of Fe(II) and Fe(III) and different Fe compounds in soils and (sub)micron regions of soil sections, such as mottles, concretions, and rhizosphere regions, thus opening new perspectives in soil research.     

EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT FOLIAR IRON APPLICATIONS TO CONTROL IRON CHLOROSIS IN ORANGE TREES GROWN ON A CALCAREOUS SOIL

The effectiveness on controlling Fe chlorosis in orange trees grown on calcareous soils was tested. The treatments were Fe(II) sulfate (500 mg Fe L^?1), sulfuric acid (0.5 mM H₂SO₄), Fe(III)-chelate (Hampiron 654 GS, 120 mg Fe L^?1) and distilled water as a control. A non-ionic wetting agent was used in all treatments. The use of frequent foliar sprays alleviated Fe chlorosis in orange trees. Sprays of Fe(II) sulfate increased the concentrations of chlorophyll, Fe and zinc in leaves and improved fruit size and quality compared to fruits of control trees. Sprays of Fe(III)-chelate also increased leaf chlorophyll and Fe concentrations and improved fruit quality, but did not increase fruit size. Sprays of sulfuric acid alone slightly increased leaf chlorophyll and Fe concentrations, without improving fruit size and quality. These results suggest that foliar sprays with Fe could help to avoid yield and quality losses caused by Fe chlorosis in citrus orchards. Furthermore, these treatments could be done with relatively cheap materials such as solutions containing Fe(II) sulfate.     

ROOT FERRIC CHELATE REDUCTASE IS REGULATED BY IRON AND COPPER IN STRAWBERRY PLANTS

In the present experiment, we studied the interaction between copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) in strawberry plants grown in nutrient solutions containing different concentrations of Fe. Plants grown in the absence of iron (Fe0) had the characteristic symptoms of Fe deficiency, with smaller chlorotic leaves, less biomass, acidification of the nutrient solution, and roots that were smaller and less ramified, while no symptoms of Fe deficiency were observed in plants grown with Fe. A greater amount of Cu was found in roots of chlorotic plants than in those grown with Fe, while plants grown with 20 μM of Fe (Fe20) in the nutrient solution had a greater amount of Fe compared with plants from the other treatments. Chlorotic plants (Fe0) and plants grown with the greatest level of Fe (Fe20) had a greater root ferric chelate reductase (FC-R; EC 1.16.1.17) activity compared with the other treatments with 5 or 10 μM Fe in the nutrient solution. The same pattern was obtained for relative FC-R mRNA concentration and for the sum of Fe and Cu contents in shoots (leaves plus crowns). The DNA obtained from amplification of the FC-R mRNA was cloned and several of the inserts analysed by single strand confirmation polymorphism (SSCP). Although there were different SSCP patterns in the Fe20 treatment, all the inserts that were sequenced were very similar, excluding the hypothesis of more than one FC-R mRNA species being present. The results suggest that Cu as well as Fe is involved in FC-R expression and activity, although the mechanism involved in this regulation is unknown so far. Both small contents of Fe and Cu in plants led to an over-expression of the FC-R gene and enhanced FC-R activity in strawberry roots.     

Atrazine photodegradation in aqueous solution induced by interaction of humic acids and iron: photoformation of iron(II) and hydrogen peroxide

The photochemical formation of Fe(II) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2) coupled with humic acids (HA) was studied to understand the significance of iron cycling in the photodegradation of atrazine under simulated sunlight. The presence of HA significantly enhanced the formation of Fe(II) and H 2O 2, and their subsequent product, hydroxyl radical ( (*)OH), was the main oxidant responsible for the atrazine photodegradation. During 60 h of irradiation, the fraction of iron presented as Fe(II) (Fe(II)/Fe(t)) decreased from 20-32% in the presence of the Fe(III)-HA complex to 10-22% after adding atrazine. The rate of atrazine photodegradation in solutions containing Fe(III) increased with increasing HA concentration, suggesting that the complexation of Fe(III) with HA accelerated the Fe(III)/Fe(II) cycling. Using fluorescence spectrometry, the quenching constant and the percentage of fluorophores participating in the complexation of HA with Fe(III) were estimated by the modified Stern-Volmer equation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) offered the direct evidence that Fe(III)-carboxylate complex could be formed by ligand exchange of HA with Fe(III). Based on all the information, a possible reaction mechanism was proposed.     

Transformations and Availability of Iron to Wheat as Influenced by Phosphorus and Manganese Fertilization in a Typic Haplustept Soil

An investigation was conducted using Typic Haplustept, sandy loam soil, to investigate the interactive effects of phosphorus (P) and manganese (Mn) fertilization on native iron (Fe) pools in soil and their availability to wheat (cv. PBW-343) crop. Phosphorus fertilization moved Fe from residual mineral fraction of Fe to manganese oxides (MnOX), organic matter (OM), amorphous (AMPOX), and crystalline (CRYOX) Fe and Al oxide fractions. However, Mn application decreased specifically adsorbed (SAD)–Fe and CRYOX–Fe but increased OM–Fe and mineral fraction of Fe. Available Fe in soil decreased as Olsen P and P:Mn ratio increased in the soil. Higher Olsen P (>60 mg P kg^?1soil) reduced mean Fe uptake by shoot. P content and P:Mn ratio in soil as well as in root and shoot were inversely related to Fe concentration in both the plant parts. The role of soil Fe associated with oxides and organic matter was found most notable in Fe nutrition of wheat.     

Soybean response to iron‐deficiency stress as related to iron supply in the growth medium

The Fe‐inefficient T203 and the Fe‐efficient A7 and Pioneer 1082 (P1082) soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) were grown hydroponically with no (0 mg Fe L^‐1 ; ‐Fe) and a minute level (0.025 mg Fe L^‐1 ; +Fe) of Fe to (a) compare their responses to Fe‐deficiency stress and (b) relate Fe‐efficiency in soybeans to their ability to initiate the Fe‐stress‐response mechanism at low levels of Fe. With no Fe in solution, P1082 released similar levels of H⁺ ions, but released less reductant from their roots and there was less reduction of Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ by their roots than by A7 roots. These responses were also one day later and occurred after a more severe chlorosis and a lower leaf Fe had developed in P1082 than in A7. With 0.025 mg L^‐1 of solution Fe, it was not necessary for the Fe‐stress response mechanism to be fully activated to make Fe available in A7 soybean, whereas a strongly enhanced Fe stress response was observed in P1082. Increased Fe uptake and regreening of leaves immediately succeeded initiation of the Fe stress response in both cultivars and at both levels of Fe. Thus, P1082 was slightly less efficient than A7 soybean, but would be classed more efficient than the previously studied soybean cultivars A2, Hawkeye, Bragg, Pride, Anoka, and T203. These results support the hypothesis that the most efficient soybeans are those which can initiate the Fe‐stress response mechanism with little or no Fe in the growth medium. The near simultaneous occurrence of the factors in the Fe‐stress response mechanism (H ion and reductant release, reduction of Fe to Fe by roots), and the immediate increase in leaf Fe and chorophyll contents following that response suggest that all these factors act in concert, not independently, to aid in the absorption and transport of Fe to plant tops.     

Extrinsic labeling method may not accurately measure Fe absorption from cooked pinto beans (Phaseolus vulgaris): comparison of extrinsic and intrinsic labeling of beans

Isotopic labeling of food has been widely used for the measurement of Fe absorption in determining requirements and evaluating the factors involved in Fe bioavailability. An extrinsic labeling technique will not accurately predict the total Fe absorption from foods unless complete isotopic exchange takes place between an extrinsically added isotope label and the intrinsic Fe of the food. We examined isotopic exchange in the case of both white beans and colored beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) with an in vitro digestion model. There are significant differences in (58)Fe/(56)Fe ratios between the sample digest supernatant and the pellet of extrinsically labeled pinto bean. The white bean digest shows significantly better equilibration of the extrinsic (58)Fe with the intrinsic (56)Fe. In contrast to the extrinsically labeled samples, both white and red beans labeled intrinsically with (58)Fe demonstrated consistent ratios of (58)Fe/(56)Fe in the bean meal, digest, supernatant, and pellet. It is possible that the polyphenolics in the bean seed coat may bind Fe and thus interfere with extrinsic labeling of the bean meals. These observations raise questions on the accuracy of studies that used extrinsic tags to measure Fe absorption from beans. Intrinsic labeling appears necessary to accurately measure Fe bioavailability from beans.     

Activities of Iron‐Containing Enzymes in Leaves of Two Tomato Genotypes Differing in Their Resistance to Fe Chlorosis

Abstract

Two tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cvs. Pakmor and Target) genotypes differing in resistance to iron (Fe) deficiency were grown in nutrient solution under controlled environmental conditions over 50 days to study the relationships between severity of leaf chlorosis, total concentration of Fe, and activities of Fe‐containing enzymes in leaves. The activities of Fe‐containing enzymes ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, and guaiacol peroxidase, and additionaly the activity of glutathione reductase, an enzyme that does not contain Fe, were measured. Plants were supplied with 2 × 10^?7 M (Fe deficient) and 10^?4 M (Fe sufficient) FeEDTA, respectively. Leaf chlorosis appeared more rapidly and severely in Target (Fe deficiency senstive genotype) than Pakmor (Fe deficiency resistant genotype). On day 50, Pakmor had 2‐fold more chlorophyll than Target under Fe deficiency, while at adequate supply of Fe the two genotypes were very similar in chlorophyll concentration. Despite distinct differences in development of leaf chlorosis and chlorophyll concentrations, Pakmor and Target were very similar in concentrations of total Fe under Fe deficiency. In contrast to Fe concentration, activities of Fe‐containing enzymes were closely related to the severity of leaf chlorosis. The Fe‐containing enzymes studied, especially catalase, showed a close relationship with the concentration of chlorophyll and thus differential sensitivity of tomato genotypes to Fe deficiency. Glutathione reductase did not show relationship between Fe deficiency chlorosis and enzyme activity. The results confirm that measurement of Fe‐containing enzymes in leaves is more reliable than the total concentration of Fe for characterization of Fe nutritional status of plants and for assessing genotypical differences in resistance to Fe deficiency. It appears that Fe deficiency‐resistant genotype contains more physiologically available Fe in tissues than the genotype with high sensitivity to Fe deficiency.     

Iron oxide‐humic acid coprecipitates as iron source for cucumber plants

In soil, iron (Fe) solubility depends on complex interactions between Fe minerals and organic matter, but very little is known about plant availability of Fe present in Fe oxides associated with humic substances. For this purpose, this study investigates the effect of Fe mineral crystallinity in the presence of humic acids (HA) on Fe availability to plants. Four Fe–HA mineral coprecipitates were prepared, either in the presence or absence of oxygen, i.e., two goethite (G)‐HA samples containing large amounts of Fe as nanocrystalline goethite and ferrihydrite mixed phases, and two magnetite (M)‐HA samples containing crystalline magnetite. Bioavailability studies were conducted in hydroponic systems on cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L.) grown under Fe deficient conditions and supplied with the Fe–HA coprecipitates containing goethite or magnetite. Results showed that plants grown in the presence of Fe–HA coprecipitates exhibited a complete recovery from Fe deficiency, albeit less efficiently than plants resupplied with Fe‐chelate fertilizer used as control (Fe‐diethylene triamine penta acetic acid, Fe‐DTPA). However, the supply with either G‐ or M–HA coprecipitates produced different effects on plants: G–HA‐treated plants showed a higher Fe content in leaves, while M–HA‐treated plants displayed a higher leaf biomass and SPAD (Soil–Plant Analysis Development) index recovery, as compared to Fe‐DTPA. The distribution of macronutrients in the leaves, as imaged by micro X‐ray fluorescence (µXRF) spectroscopy, was different in G–HA and M–HA‐treated plants. In particular, plants supplied with the poorly crystalline G–HA coprecipitate with a lower Fe/HA ratio showed features more similar to those of fully recovered plants (supplied with Fe‐DTPA). These results highlight the importance of mineral crystallinity of Fe–HA coprecipitates on Fe bioavailability and Fe uptake in hydroponic experiments. In addition, the present data demonstrate that cucumber plants can efficiently mobilize Fe, even from goethite and ferrihydrite mixed phases and magnetite, which are usually considered unavailable for plant nutrition.     

Organic acids influence iron uptake in the human epithelial cell line Caco-2

It has previously been suggested that organic acids enhance iron absorption. We have studied the effect of nine organic acids on the absorption of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in the human epithelial cell line Caco-2. The effect obtained was dose-dependent, and the greatest increase (43-fold) was observed for tartaric acid (4 mmol/L) on Fe(III) (10 micromol/L). Tartaric, malic, succinic, and fumaric acids enhanced Fe(II) and Fe(III) uptake. Citric and oxalic acid, on the other hand, inhibited Fe(II) uptake but enhanced Fe(III) uptake. Propionic and acetic acid increased the Fe(II) uptake, but had no effect on Fe(III) uptake. Our results show a correlation between absorption pattern and chemical structure; e.g. hydroxyl groups, in addition to carboxyls, were connected with a positive influence. The results may be important for elucidating factors affecting iron bioavailability in the small intestine and for the development of foods with improved iron bioavailability.     

Inulin affects iron dialyzability from FeSO4 and FeEDTA solutions but does not alter Fe uptake by Caco-2 cells

The in vitro effects of inulin on the fluxes of Fe (F(Fe)) and uptake by Caco-2 cells from FeSO4 and FeEDTA were evaluated. Cell ferritin formation was used as a measure of Fe uptake. Mitochondrial (MTT test) and lysosomal activities were monitored as biomarkers of the changes of cellular metabolism. Changes in mRNA expression of Fe transporters, DMT1 and Dcytb, were evaluated. Inulin decreased dialyzability and F(Fe) from FeSO4 solution, suggesting a mineral binding effect, but increased those from FeEDTA. Cultures exposed to FeEDTA solutions exhibited higher ferritin values and MTT conversion percentages. Regardless of Fe source, cell Fe uptake and mRNA expression of Fe transporters were similar with or without inulin, suggesting that inulin did not impair Fe uptake. These observations might indicate a faster cellular Fe internalization from FeEDTA solutions. From a physiological perspective, the decreased F(Fe) from FeSO4 might be reflected in a decreased Fe uptake.     

Effects of Fe compounds on nutrient uptake by plants grown in sand media with different pH

The effect of soil and foliar application of different iron (Fe) compounds (FeSO₄, Fe‐EDTA, Fe‐EDDS, and Fe‐EDDHA) on nutrient concentrations in lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv. Australian gelber) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. Prego) was investigated in a greenhouse pot experiment using quartz sand as growth medium. Soil application was performed in both the acidic and alkaline pH range, and foliar application to plants grown in the alkaline sand only. Lettuce growth was depressed by Fe deficiency in the alkaline sand, whereas the treatments had no effect on ryegrass growth. Soil‐applied Fe compounds raised the Fe concentrations in lettuce. This was especially true for the Fe chelates, which also increased yields. Soil‐applied Fe compounds had no statistically significant effect on Fe concentrations in ryegrass. Concentrations of manganese (Mn) in lettuce were equally decreased by all soil‐applied chelates. In the alkaline sand, soil application of Fe‐EDDHA elevated copper (Cu) and depressed zinc (Zn) concentrations in lettuce. The chelates increased Zn concentration in ryegrass. Foliar application of Fe‐EDDS increased Fe concentrations in lettuce and in ryegrass most. Fe‐EDDHA depressed Mn and Zn concentrations in lettuce more than other Fe compounds, suggesting the existence of another mechanism, in addition to Fe, that transmits a corresponding signal from shoot to roots with an impact on uptake of micronutrients.     

Interaction of iron chelates with several soil materials and with a soil standard

Frequently the effectiveness of iron (Fe) chelates is low because they can be retained or destroyed by soil materials. The high cost of these Fe fertilizers makes it necessary to study soil material reaction with Fe chelates. Commercial Fe chelates with EDTA, EDDHA, and EDDHMA as ligands and their standards, prepared in the laboratory, were shaken for one hour with various soil materials [amorphous Fe(III) oxide, acid peat, calcium (Ca)‐montmorillonite and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)] and with a soil standard made in the laboratory. After agitation, the chelate‐soil mixtures were filtered and the micronutrients and chelated Fe that remained in solution were determined. Among the soil materials used, amorphous Fe(III) oxide and acid peat had the greatest affect on the amount of chelated Fe remaining in solution. The type of chelating agent was the next major factor that affected the availability of soluble Fe following reaction with the soil materials. Another factor was the commercial formulation of the Fe chelates. The chelates comprised of EDDHA or EDDHMA maintained the highest percentages of chelated Fe in solution after interaction with the solid phases, except for the acid peat. The last soil material, acid peat, retained more chelated Fe for the Fe chelates with EDDHA or EDDHMA than with EDTA as the chelating agent. The commercial Fe‐EDDHA chelates had greater losses of chelated Fe than their standard after interaction with all the solid phases. The commercial Fe‐EDDHA chelate (Sequestrene) and the commercial Fe‐EDDHMA chelate (Hampirón) solubilized the highest amount of copper (Cu) from soil standard. This was attributed to the presence of by‐products in the commercial formulations since the Fe‐EDDHA standard did not have Cu in solution after the interaction. Therefore, the commercial Fe chelate by‐products are able to form Cu‐complexes which could affect chelated Fe and its availability to plants.     

Effects of phosphate carriers,iron, and indoleacetic acid on iron nutrition and productivity of peanut on a calcareous soil

Results of a field experiment designed to assess the effects of phosphate carriers, iron (Fe), and indoleacetic acid (IAA) on the Fe nutrition of peanut grown on a calcareous soil showed that single superphosphate (SSP) was more effective than diammonium phosphate (DAP) in improving Fe nutrition and chlorophyll synthesis. Increased phosphorus (P) and Fe contents of chlorotic leaves showing symptoms of Fe deficiency suggested that Fe, despite absorption and uptake, was subjected to inactivation, and that the Fe content per se was not the cause of the observed chlorosis. Better amelioration of chlorosis with the SSP treatment as compared with DAP indicated a role of sulphur (S) in preventing inactivation of Fe, possibly caused by excessive P accumulation. A foliar spray of Fe‐EDDHA corrected the chlorosis, but a ferric citrate foliar treatment did not. This further suggested that the mobility of Fe was impaired in chlorotic plants. An IAA foliar spray only also tended to improve Fe nutrition. Significant increase in peanut productivity was observed following improvement in Fe nutrition both with soil and foliar treatments.     

Blood powder,a source of iron for plants

Natural materials that possess chelating ability for iron (Fe) such as plant and animal residues have been used as Fe sources for plants. A solution culture study and a soil incubation study were conducted to investigate use of poultry blood powder as an Fe source for plants. Iron in blood is chelated by the heme group present in hemoglobin molecule. Stability of Fe in this chelate was found to be high in neutral and acidic solutions. Only a very small fraction (0.1 to 0.2%) of total Fe could be extracted from blood powder by a 0.1M calcium chloride (CaCl₂) solution. In the culture solution study, Fe from blood powder was as effective as Fe from FeEDDHA in preventing Fe chlorosis of soybeans. Yield and Fe content of plants receiving blood powder were higher than the control and were not different from the plants receiving FeEDDHA. The incubation study using two soils, two Fe sources and three Fe rates indicated that DTPA‐Fe increased from application of 5, 10 or 15 mg of Fe as blood powder/kg in one soil (Sudan) and from application of 10 or 15 mg of Fe as blood powder/kg in the other soil (Vernamkhast). Blood powder is a suitable Fe source for hydroponically grown plants and increases Fe availability when applied to soil.     

Iron and/or acid foliar spray versus soil application of Fe-EDDHA for prevention of iron deficiency in Valencia orange grown on a calcareous soil

A two-year experiment was conducted in an iron(Fe)-deficient orchard with calcareous soil to find out an alternate method for soil application of Fe ethylenediamine-N,N'-bis(2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) (Fe-EDDHA) in orange trees. Foliar sprays of Fe-EDDHA (5 g l^?1, pH = 7.8), sulfuric acid (pH = 3), citric acid (5 g l^?1, pH = 2.4), Fe (II) sulfate solutions (250, 500, and 750 mg Fe l^?1) with their initial pH (6.5, 6.35, and 6.12) and reduced ones to pH of 3 were compared with soil applied (75 g tree^?1) Fe-EDDHA and a control test. Although optimum chlorophyll content, leaf Fe concentration, fruit quantitative and qualitative attributes were resulted from soil application of Fe-EDDHA, repeated sprays of Fe-EDDHA or acidified Fe solutions created suitable results. Acidification of Fe solutions made them more effective in alleviation of leaf Fe concentration and Fe chlorosis, probably due to remobilization of inactive Fe within the plant and prevention of Fe oxidation and precipitation in foliar solutions.     

Efficacy of an artificial microbial siderophore-Fe(III) with high redox potential on correcting Fe chlorosis in rice

ABSTRACT

Microbial siderophore-chelated Fe(III) is suggested to be an important source of Fe for plants, although it is hardly reduced by plant roots. Here, we investigated the efficacy of the easily reducible artificial microbial siderophore tris[2-{(N-acetyl-N-hydroxy)glycylamino}ethyl]amine (TAGE)-Fe(III) as an alternative Fe source to correct Fe deficiency in rice plants, and compared it to that of the natural siderophore deferoxamine B (DFOB)-Fe(III). We also evaluated the absorption of Fe from TAGE-Fe(III) by the Strategy I-like system of gramineous plants using nicotianamine aminotransferase 1 (naat1) mutant rice, which does not synthesize phytosiderophores. Fe(III)-siderophores were synthesized in vitro. Nipponbare rice and its naat1 mutant were reared in soil and gel cultures to determine Fe availability. Hydroponically grown naat1 mutant seedlings were used for reducibility assays to determine the ability of rice roots to reduce Fe(III) chelated by TAGE or DFOB. The expression of a Fe-deficiency inducible gene was also determined, as well as chlorophyll and Fe concentrations. Reduci bility assays on naat1 mutant seedlings revealed that the reduction level of TAGE-Fe(III) was approximately three times higher than that of DFOB-Fe(III). Application of TAGE-Fe(III) to both culture medium and alkaline soil improved Fe chlorosis, growth, and Fe concentration in both naat1 and wild type plants, whereas application of DFOB-Fe(III) only did so in wild type plants. Easily reducible Fe(III)-chelates such as TAGE-Fe(III) can be a better source of Fe for rice plants than most natural microbial siderophores-Fe(III). Our study also demonstrated that rice plants have the ability to utilize microbial siderophores-Fe(III) as the Fe source through the Strategy I-like Fe acquisition system.     

氮素供应对玉米子粒铁累积的影响

谷物子粒的铁营养是影响人及动物营养状况的重要因素之一,但对子粒铁营养的生理限制因素了解十分缺乏。氮素供应可能通过影响营养器官中的物质转移从而影响子粒铁的供应。本研究以玉米为材料,在田间两个氮水平(施氮、不施氮)下研究了吐丝至成熟期玉米从土壤中铁的吸收量、不同营养器官中铁的输出量、及其对子粒铁的表观贡献率,探讨了氮素供应对这些过程的影响。结果表明,氮素供应对子粒铁浓度没有显著影响,两个氮水平下,茎(含叶鞘)中铁的净输出量为1.25～1.71.mg/plant、输出率为40.4%～48.2%,对子粒铁的表观贡献率为50.9%～69.8%。中部叶片(穗位叶及其上、下各两片叶)中铁的含量表现为净增加。不施氮时营养器官中铁的净输出量和输出率低于施氮,而吸铁量对子粒铁的表观贡献率却高于施氮。两个氮水平下,吐丝至成熟期子粒铁的源(营养器官输出铁与从土壤中吸收的铁之和)的供应能力均大于子粒铁的累积能力(累积量),说明铁的吸收和转运可能不是决定子粒铁浓度的主要因素,子粒中铁的卸载及代谢可能是限制子粒铁营养的主要生理过程。