Alleviation of Manganese Phytotoxicity in Barley with Calcium

In order to clarify the mechanism by which calcium (Ca) alleviates manganese (Mn) phytotoxicity, barley plants were grown under the following conditions: (1) nutrient solution alone (control), (2) nutrient solution + 25 μM Mn (Mn-toxic), and (3) nutrient solution + 25 μ M Mn + 20 mM Ca (Ca-alleviated). Feeding experiments using ⁵⁴Mn and ⁵⁹Fe (iron) with 2.0 or 20 mM Ca to the plant roots were also conducted. The absorption and translocation of ⁵⁴Mn in the control plants were lowered by the high-Ca (20 mM) feeding condition. The translocation of ⁵⁴Mn to shoots of Mn-toxic or Ca-alleviated plants was also lowered by the high-Ca feeding condition, but ⁵⁴Mn absorption by roots of the plants was unaffected. The absorption and translocation of ⁵⁹Fe in the plants was unaffected by the high-Ca feeding condition. Calcium alleviation of Mn phytotoxicity in barley may be induced mainly by the inhibition of Mn translocation to shoots.     

ZINC TREATMENT RESULTS IN TRANSPIRATION RATE DECREASES THAT VARY AMONG SOYBEAN GENOTYPES

Zinc (Zn) pollution of croplands can have negative impacts on yields through its effects on key physiological functions such as transpiration rate (TR). Previous long-term experiments indicated that differential tolerance among soybean genotypes following exposure to high Zn levels existed in the shoots. There are, however, no studies of the possibility that short-term responses to Zn directly limit shoot TR. Measurements of TR of eight soybean genotypes were measured over 220 minutes after placing de-rooted shoots in 500 μM Zn solution. Six genotypes exhibited TR that decreased slowly in a linear fashion over time while two genotypes (‘PI 416937’ and ‘N01-11136’) exhibited very rapid decrease in TR following a Boltzmann sigmoid response. One possibility to explain these results is that there exists a Zn-sensitive AQP population in the leaves of ‘PI 416937’ and ‘N01-11136’ with abundance or activity that is much higher than in the leaves of the remaining six lines.     

Nanoplastic–plant interaction and implications for soil health

Nanoplastics (NPs) are accumulating in the soil environment at a rapid rate, which may cause serious consequences for ecosystems and human health. However, environmental behaviour and toxicity of NPs in the soil–plant system remain poorly understood. This review summarizes current studies on NP–plant interactions to unravel uptake mechanisms and phytotoxicity of NPs. NPs could be taken up by plant roots and transported upwards through the xylem to all organs of the plant, even to the edible parts such as the grain, thereby threatening human health. The interaction of NPs with plants affects plant transport of water and nutrients. Besides, it induces significant oxidative stress leading to inhibition of physiological and biochemical activities such as photosynthesis, and thus adversely affects plant growth and development. In addition, the co-transport of NPs with other soil pollutants may induce the combined toxic effects. This study also discussed the potential mechanism of NP–plant interactions based on previous experience with engineered nanomaterials. Finally, a comprehensive assessment of the key challenges in each area was presented, and future perspectives are offered.     

Nutritional Augmentation of Jeffrey Pine Saplings on a Harsh Sierran Site

Broadcast fertilization with an array of amendments was examined for its capacity to reinvigorate growth and enhance nutrition of a 12-yr-old Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.) plantation growing on an acidic Sierra Nevada surface mine site. Selected amendments consisted of Viking Brand 21-7-14, Free Flow 29-3-4, High N 22-4-6 + Minors, and Milorganite 6-2-0 + Iron—formulations that differed substantially in critical characteristics including N sources and the duration of release, and each was administered using three rates of application. All formulations stimulated sapling growth during some stage of the study, especially when applied at the highest rates, but the Free Flow amendment, which features urea as the predominant N source, the High N formulation, which is a controlled release fertilizer, and Milorganite, an organic amendment based on municipal biosolids, sustained growth enhancement longer than the Viking amendment, which relies exclusively upon ammoniacal and nitrate N forms and lacks any provision for metering nutrient release. As indicated by foliar analysis, increased availability and uptake of N probably accounted for most of the added growth induced by fertilization, although improved P nutrition likely contributed as well. However, in addition to the N and P responses, fertilized saplings were frequently lower in Mn, B, and Al—all of which may be phytotoxic at elevated concentrations. Further support for the possible linkages between foliar concentrations noted above and sapling growth responses were provided by the concentrations of these elements in the mine soil, which was low in N and P but high in Mn, B, and Al. This study reports approaches to nutritional augmentation on degraded sites suitable for use during the sapling stage of tree development.     

堆肥种子发芽指数测定方法与敏感性种子筛选

种子发芽指数（Germination Index,GI）作为评价堆肥腐熟度的权威指标,被广泛应用于评价堆肥产品植物毒性等方面,但对于GI测定方法和供试种子类型仍缺少统一标准,导致不同堆肥研究的GI结果缺乏可比性。为此,该研究通过设置不同毒性梯度的堆肥试验、选取不同类型种子,详细介绍了GI测定方法,规定根长为0 mm和1 mm的计量标准以及根长起始测量位置,并系统分析了表征堆肥腐熟度指标与种子发芽之间响应关系。结果表明：最终产品GI以纯猪粪（26.54%～80.49%）、纯羊粪（16.71%～92.98%）、猪粪+秸秆（28.28%～110.74%）、羊粪+秸秆（43.38%～119.69%）的顺序递增。综合分析不同堆肥处理理化指标（温度、氧气、pH值、碳氮比）和植物毒性因子（电导率、铵根、有机酸和有机质）与不同种子GI（黄瓜、萝卜、白菜、油菜）相关性关系,发现萝卜种子响应度最高（3.69,r=0.96）,在综合表征堆肥腐熟度和植物毒性上最具科学性和代表性。以上结果可为种子发芽指数测定、有机肥标准制定以及堆肥农田安全施用提供参考。     

A novel pre‐emergence herbicide (Diclosulam) as an environmentally friendly weed management option in peanut and its phytotoxicity evaluation

A two‐season field experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of diclosulam compared with recommended doses of pendimethalin and oxyfluorfen for weed management in peanut. Persistence of diclosulam in oil, de‐oiled cake, haulm of peanut, and soil was also studied. Diclosulam 22 and 26 g a.i. ha^?1, and a weed‐free check had a high pod yield due to more mature pods and their mass. Pre‐emergence application of diclosulam 26 g a.i. ha^?1 provided better weed management and enhanced peanut growth and yield with high net returns. Phytotoxicity studies indicated that the diclosulam application did not cause any phytotoxic symptoms (vein clearing, epinasty, hyponasty, wilting, and injury) on leaf tips and leaf surface of peanut. Diclosulam residues in peanut viz. oil, de‐oiled cake, haulm, and soil were below the detection level after harvesting of peanut from the experimental field. Further, germination percentage and seed cotton yield of cotton crop cultivated after peanut were also not affected significantly.     

Terbufos biodegradability and efficacy against Radopholus similis in soils from banana cultivation having different histories of nematicide use,and the effect of terbufos on plant growth of in vitro-propagated Musa AAA cv. Grande Naine

The aims of this investigation were to: (1) determine whether there is enhanced biodegradability of terbufos in soils of banana plantations infested with Radopholus similis; (2) whether nematicide use history affects the degree of biodegradation; and (3) establish whether terbufos has phytotoxic side-effects on banana root growth. A greenhouse bioassay, using soils collected from different banana fields in Costa Rica, revealed that terbufos underwent enhanced biodegradation in the soil of a plantation having a long history of terbufos use. In the soils of two other plantations, where terbufos had never been used, and in another where the most recent terbufos application had occurred over a year before soil collection, high nematicide activity against R. similis was obtained even 60 days after application. Our study demonstrated that terbufos efficacy lasted longer in soils with no or low history of terbufos than in soils that had been treated several times. Terbufos did not reduce root fresh weight of in vitro-propagated bananas, and its positive effect was related to a control of R. similis.     

麦田除草剂药害诊断及对产量的影响研究

对青海省春小麦田常用6种除草剂进行药害症状诊断研究。2,4-D丁酯、氯氟吡氧乙酸两种除草剂高量的倍量处理区小麦药害等级达到4级,其余4种除草剂各处理小麦药害在3级以下。结果表明,在青海省土壤气候条件下,6种除草剂的药害发生情况不严重,对小麦产量影响较小。     

A Preliminary Study on the Carcinogenicity of the Common Fern Onychium contiguum

Onychium contiguum (Family Cryptogrammaceae) is a common terrestrial fern in the Himalayas and in many other parts of the world. It is also present on the pastures in areas where grazing animals suffer from bovine urinary bladder cancer. This fern is occasionally grazed by animals and in some areas it is present as a contaminant in grasses stored for winter feeding. Certain species of the genus Onychium are used in folk medicine. Long-term exposure of experimental animals to O. contiguum appeared to cause tumours of the ileum, urinary bladder and mammary glands.     

硫酸铵对草甘膦在空心莲子草中输导及除草活性的影响

草甘膦与硫酸铵混合后处理空心莲子草,测定其对植株的抑制作用和体内草甘膦的吸收与传导量。结果表明,加入硫酸铵(1.20 g/L)后草甘膦(300 mg/L)对地下根茎抑制率比对照提高了12.2个百分点。植株经硫酸铵喷雾处理后,地下茎和根系中14C-草甘膦含量分别是对照处理的1.39和1.86倍。药液中水的硬度达到342.0 mg/L时明显降低草甘膦的除草活性,硫酸铵浓度达到12.0 g/L则可基本消除水的硬度对草甘膦除草活性的影响。