盐胁迫下两种草坪草膜脂过氧化和抗氧化酶比较

Salinity stress is a major factor limiting the growth of turfgrass irrigated with recycled wastewater. The change in lipid peroxidation in terms of malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxide (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) in the shoots and roots of Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue were investigated under salinity stress. Plants were subjected to 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mmol L 1 NaCl for 40 d. The MDA content under salinity stress was lower in tall fescue than in Kentucky bluegrass in both shoots and roots. Activities of SOD in the shoots of both species increased with salinity stress. The activities of CAT and APX decreased in Kentucky bluegrass, but no significant difference in the activities of CAT and APX was observed in tall fescue. The activities of SOD, CAT and APX in the shoots of tall fescue were higher than those in Kentucky bluegrass. In the roots of Kentucky bluegrass, SOD and GR activities increased and CAT and APX activities decreased in comparison with the control. In the roots of tall fescue, salinity increased the activities of SOD, CAT, and APX. These results suggested that tall fescue exhibited a more effective protection mechanism and mitigated oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation by maintaining higher SOD, CAT and APX activities than Kentucky bluegrass.     

钙离子通过调节抗氧化酶活性保护NaCl对菊芋的毒害

The ameliorative effect of external Ca^2＋ on Jerusalem artichoke （Helianthus tuberosus L.） under salt stress was studied through biochemical and physiological analyses of Jerusalem artichoke seedlings treated with or without 10 mol L^-1 CaCl2, 150 mmol L^-1 NaCl, and/or 5 mmol L^-1 ethylene-bis（oxyethylenenitrilo）-tetraacetic acid （EGTA） for five days. Exposure to NaC1 （150 mmol L^-1） decreased growth, leaf chlorophyll content, and photosynthetic rate of Jerusalem artichoke seedlings. NaC1 treatment showed 59% and 37% higher lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage, respectively, than the control. The activities of superoxide dismutase （SOD）, peroxidase （POD）, and catalase （CAT） were decreased by NaCl, indicating an impeded antioxidant defense mechanism of Jerusalem artichoke grown under salt stress. Addition of 10 mmol L^-1 CaCl2 to the salt solutions significantly decreased the damaging effect of NaC1 on growth and chlorophyll content and simultaneously restored the rate of photosynthesis almost to the level of the control. Ca^2＋ addition decreased the leaf malondialdehyde （MDA） content and electrolyte leakage from NaCl-treated seedlings by 47% and 24%, respectively, and significantly improved the activities of SOD, POD, and CAT in NaCl-treated plants. Addition of EGTA, a specific chelator of Ca2＋, decreased the growth, chlorophyll content, and photosynthesis, and increased level of MDA and electrolyte leakage from NaCl-treated plants and from the control plants. EGTA addition to the growth medium also repressed the activities of SOD, POD, and CAT in NaCl-treated and control seedlings. External Ca2＋ might protect Jerusalem artichoke against NaC1 stress by up-regulating the activities of antioxidant enzymes and thereby decreasing the oxidative stress.     

缺锌和高锌胁迫下苹果根系有机酸对锌的内稳性的响应

To elucidate the mechanisms of tolerance to zinc (Zn) deficiency and Zn toxicity in the root of apple trees, the apple rootstock Malus hupehensis (Pamp.) Rehd seedlings were selected to study the responses of organic acids to Zn homeostasis in roots under low Zn (0 μmol L-1 ), adequate Zn (as control, 4 μmol L-1 ) and toxic Zn (100 μmol L-1 ) treatments. The differences of Zn concentrations and accumulations in the roots were highest, compared with those in the stems and leaves, when apple seedlings were subjected to low and toxic Zn treatments for 1 d. The concentrations and accumulations of oxalic and malic acids in the roots in the low and toxic Zn treatments increased by 20% to 60% compared with those of the control treatment. Significantly negative correlations were found between the total Zn concentrations and the concentrations of oxalic and malic acids in the roots under 1 d of low Zn treatment. However, contrary correlations were found for the toxic Zn treatment. Meanwhile, the maximum influx rates of Zn 2+ under low and toxic Zn treatments increased by 30% and 20%, respectively, compared with the rate of the control treatment. Both Zn deficiency and Zn toxicity increased the concentrations of organic acids in root after short-time Zn treatment, which could resist Zn stress through balanding Zn homeostasis in M. hupehensis Rehd.     

高钾供应加剧了水稻叶片缺镁诱导的氧化胁迫

Magnesium （Mg） deficiency in plant affects photosynthesis and many other metabolic processes. Rice （Oryza sativa L. cv. ＇Wuyunjing 7＇） plants were grown in hydroponics culture at three Mg and two potassium （K） levels under greenhouse conditions to examine the induction of oxidative stress and consequent antioxidant responses in rice leaves due to Mg deficiency. At low Mg （0.2 mmol L 1 Mg supply for two weeks after transplanting） and high K （6 mmol L^-1） for 21 days, the rice plants showed severe Mg deficiency and a significant decreases in the dry matter production. The Mg deficiency in leaves decreased chlorophyll concentrations, photosynthetic activity, and soluble protein, but significantly increased the concentrations of soluble sugars and malondialdchyde （MDA） and the activities of superoxide dismutase （SOLD, EC 1.15.1.1）, catalase （CAT, EC 1.11.1.6） and peroxidase （POD, EC 1.11.1.7）. In addition, Mg concentrations in the leaves and in the shoot biomass were negatively related to the activities of the three antioxidative enzymes and the concentration of MDA in leaves. There were very significant interactive effects between Mg and K supplied in the culture solution on shoot biomass yield, chlorophyll content, photosynthesis rate, the activities of SOD, CAT and POD, and MDA content in the leaves of rice. It is suggested that the high K level in the nutrient solution aggravated the effect of low Mg supply-induced Mg deficiency and created the oxidative damage in rice plants.     

Mechanisms of exogenous nitric oxide and 24-epibrassinolide alleviating chlorosis of peanut plants under iron deficiency

Iron(Fe) is a crucial transition metal for all living organisms including plants; however, Fe deficiency frequently occurs in plant because only a small portion of Fe is bioavailable in soil in recent years. To cope with Fe deficiency, plants have evolved a wide range of adaptive responses from changes in morphology to altered physiology. To understand the role of nitric oxide(NO) and 24-epibrassinolide(EBR) in alleviating chlorosis induced by Fe deficiency in peanut(Arachis hypogaea L.) plants, we determined the concentration of chlorophylls, the activation, uptake, and translocation of Fe, the activities of key enzymes, such as ferric-chelate reductase(FCR),proton-translocating adenosine triphosphatase(H~+-ATPase), and antioxidant enzymes, and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species(ROS) and malondialdehyde(MDA) of peanut plants under Fe sufficiency(100 μmol L~(-1)ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid(EDTA)-Fe) and Fe deficiency(0 μmol L~(-1)EDTA-Fe). We also investigated the production of NO in peanut plants subjected to Fe deficiency with foliar application of sodium nitroprusside(SNP), a donor of NO, and/or EBR. The results showed that Fe deficiency resulted in severe chlorosis and oxidative stress, significantly decreased the concentration of chlorophylls and active Fe, and significantly increased NO production. Foliar application of NO and/or EBR increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase,peroxidase, and catalase, and decreased the ROS and MDA concentrations, thus enhancing the resistance of plants to oxidative stress.Application of NO also significantly increased Fe translocation from the roots to the shoots and enhanced the transfer of Fe from the cell wall fraction to the cell organelle and soluble fractions. Consequently, the concentrations of available Fe and chlorophylls in the leaves were elevated. Furthermore, the activities of H~+-ATPase and FCR were enhanced in the Fe-deficient plants. Simultaneously,there was a significant increase in NO production, especially in the plants that received NO, regardless of Fe supply. These suggest that NO or EBR, and, especially, their combination are effective in alleviating plant chlorosis induced by Fe deficiency.     

大气CO2浓度的升高、施氮及土壤水分对春小麦干物质积累和氮吸收的影响

Spring wheat (Thiticum aestivum L.cv.Dingxi No.8654) was treated with two concentrations of atmospheric CO2 (350 and 700 μmol mol^-1),two levels of soil moisture (well-watered and drought) and five rates of nitrogen fertilizer(0,50,100,150,and 200 mg kg^-1 soil) to study the atmospheric CO2 concentration effect on dry matter accumulation and N uptake of spring wheat.The effects of CO2 enrichment of the shoot and total mass depended largely on soil nitrogen level,and the shoot and total mass increased significantly in the moderate to high N treatments but did not increase significantly in the low N treatment.Enriched CO2 concentration did not increase more shoot and total mass in the drought treatment than in the well-watered treatment.Thus,elevated CO2 did not ameliorate the depressive effects of drought and nitrogen stress.In addition,root mass decreased slightly and root/shoot ratio decreased significantly due to CO2 enrichment in no N treatment under well-watered condition.Enriched CO2 decreased shoot N content and shoot and total N uptake;but it reduced root N content and uptake slightly.Shoot critical N concentration was lower for spring wheat grown at 700 μmol mol^-1 CO2 than at 350μmol mol^-1 CO2 in both well-watered and drought treatments. The critical N concentrations were 16 and 19 g kg^-1 for the well-watered treatment and drought treatment at elevated CO2 and 21 and 26 g kg^-1 at ambient CO2,respectively. The reductions in the movement of nutrients to the plant roots through mass flow due to the enhancement in WUE (water use efficiency) and the increase in N use efficiency at elevated CO2 could elucidate the reduction of shoot and root N concentrations.     

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.     

外源硝态氮对菊芋耐海水胁迫的影响

A hydroponic experiment with six treatments, i.e., 0% seawater （control）, 10% seawater, 25% seawater, 0% seawater ＋ N （7.5 mmol L-1 NaNO3）, 10% seawater ＋ N （7.5 mmol L-1 NaO3）, and 25% seawater ＋ N （7.5 mmol L-1 NaNO3）, was carried out to study the effect of nitrogen addition on the growth and physiological and biochemical characteristics of Jerusalem artichoke （Helianthus tuberosus） seedlings under seawater stress. The 10% seawater stress treatment had the least effect on plant growth while at 25% seawater growth was significantly inhibited. The malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage in leaves under 10% seawater were similar to those of the control, but significantly higher under the 25% seawater stress. The activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase in the leaves increased concomitantly with increasing seawater concentration and time. Proline and soluble-sugars in the leaves and Na^＋, K^＋, and Cl- contents in shoots and roots increased significantly with the concentration of seawater increasing. Nitrogen addition resulted in increasing fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots compared with seawater treatment without N. Nitrogen supplementation also significantly enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes in leaves. Addition of N to seawater enhanced the contents of proline and soluble-sugars in the leaves and K^＋ and total-N in the aerial parts and roots of H. tuberosus, but it resulted in declined concentrations of Na^＋ and Cl- in the aerial parts and roots. Nitrogen addition ameliorated the toxicity of seawater by improving the antioxidative enzymes, accumulating of proiine and soluble-sugars, and altering the distribution of inorganic ions in H. tuberosus.     

深色有隔内生真菌柱孢顶囊壳对玉米幼苗生长、光合作用及耐铅能力的影响

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

泥炭土壤上与胞外酶相关的土壤微生物体与Marsh orchid的交互作用

The nature of the interactions between microbes and roots of plants in a peaty soil were studied in a laboratorybased experiment by measuring activities of β-glucosidase, phosphatase, N-acetylglucosaminidase, and arylsulphatase. The experiment was based on control （autoclaved）, bacteria-inoculated, and plant （transplanted with Dactylorhiza） treatments, and samples were collected over 4 sampling intervals. Higher enzyme activities were associated with the bacteria-inoculated treatment, suggesting that soil enzyme activities are mainly of microbial origin. For example,β-glucosidase activity varied between 25-30μmol g^-1 min^-1 in the bacteria-inoculated samples whilst the activity of the control ranged between 4-12 μmol g^-1 min^-1. A similar pattern was found for all other enzymes. At the end of the incubation, the microcosms were destructively sampled and the enzyme activities determined in bulk soil, rhizospheric soil, and on the root surface. Detailed measurement in different fractions of the peat indicated that higher activities were found in rhizosphere. However, the higher activities of β-glucosidase, N-acetylglucosaminidase, and arylsulphatase appeared to be associated with bacterial proliferation on the root surface, whilst a larger proportion of phosphatase appeared to be released from root surface.     

香菇柄水提液对油菜种子活力及抗逆性的影响

在室内用生物学方法研究了不同浓度香菇柄水提液浸种对油菜种子活力的影响。结果表明,0.005 g/mL 的水提液浸种对提高油菜种子活力的效果最佳。进一步研究表明,0.005 g/mL 的水提液浸种处理,使油菜种子在4℃低温下的发芽率显著提高,且幼苗经4℃低温胁迫两天后,叶片中的超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、 过氧化物酶（POD）活性,可溶性糖、 可溶性蛋白及叶绿素含量显著高于对照组,膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛（MDA）含量显著低于对照组,表明香菇柄水提液浸种处理油菜种子可提高其种苗的抗寒性。试验结果还表明,香菇柄水提液浸种处理油菜种子可提高油菜种苗的耐除草剂能力。     

水硼互作对油菜的营养效应

在水培条件下 ,利用PEG-6000诱导水分胁迫 ,研究水硼互作对油菜幼苗的营养效应。试验结果表明 ,干旱使油菜全N量增加 ,蛋白N/全N比值下降 ,B浓度下降。油菜保护酶系统中的POD、CAT、SOD活性均下降 ,MDA含量增加 ,根系膜透性也显著增加。此外 ,渗透物质如Ca2+,脯氨酸 ,可溶性糖等在叶片中的含量均大幅度提高。试验结果还表明 ,缺硼环境为油菜抗旱提供了一个适应过程 ,而且硼素营养在一定程度上还可缓解干旱胁迫对油菜造成的伤害     

缺硼槟榔幼苗的生理反应和根系发育特征

  【目的】  探究缺硼对槟榔幼苗生理特征和根系形态的影响,以期为槟榔缺硼（B）诊断提供理论依据。  【方法】  以‘热研1号’槟榔幼苗为材料进行了砂培试验。设置营养液中不加B (B0,0 μmol/L) 和添加常规硼 (B50,50 μmol/L) 两个浓度处理。生长3个月后,测定了槟榔幼苗生物量、株高、硼含量、叶片糖类物质以及抗氧化酶活性、丙二醛含量、光合速率,观察了不同处理下根尖及根尖细胞的形态。  【结果】  与B50处理相比,B0处理显著降低了槟榔幼苗株高、地下部鲜重和干重、总鲜重、地上部和地下部硼含量;B0处理槟榔叶片蔗糖和淀粉含量下降,可溶性总糖含量无显著变化,叶片光合速率降低,且MDA含量、POD活性显著升高。在B0条件下,槟榔根系变短,根尖明显膨大,细胞壁明显增厚,且内壁上积累了大量的颗粒物,根系活力显著降低。  【结论】  缺硼导致槟榔幼苗根尖解剖结构受到破坏,养分吸收运转能力降低,叶片抗氧化系统受到损伤,光合能力下降,最终抑制植株生长。     

渗透胁迫下硼对细胞膜的保护作用

选用秦油2号油菜为供试材料，研究不同硼（B）浓度对植株的生长状况及细胞膜功能的影响。测定结果表明:油菜生长的最适硼浓度为0.5mg／L，B浓度过高或过低对植株抑制严重;在不同水势条件下处理，适宜的B浓度可以降低渗透胁迫对质膜的伤害，提高作物抗旱性。     

硝普钠对黄瓜幼苗缺镁和硝酸盐胁迫的缓解效应

【目的】设施栽培中土壤次生盐渍化严重,导致植株出现缺镁失绿症状。通过研究硝酸盐胁迫下外源NO供体(硝普钠,SNP)对缺镁黄瓜幼苗生长的影响,探究硝酸盐胁迫下外源NO对缺镁黄瓜幼苗的胁迫缓解效应,为解决设施生产中黄瓜幼苗的缺镁失绿症状提供理论指导。【方法】采用水培的方式培养黄瓜幼苗,幼苗长至三叶一心时进行处理。营养液采用山崎配方,镁离子浓度设两个水平为2 mmol/L(正常浓度)和1 mmol/L(缺镁胁迫);硝酸盐浓度设两个水平为14 mmol/L(正常浓度)和140 mmol/L(硝酸盐胁迫);硝酸盐和镁正常浓度为对照。用0.1mmol/L SNP分别缓解缺镁胁迫、硝酸盐胁迫以及缺镁和硝酸盐双重胁迫,用0.1 mmol/L SF(铁氰化钠)处理,观察SNP反应产物的影响;NO-3由Ca(NO3)2·4H2O和KNO3提供,各占1/2,p H由H2SO4调节,保持在5.5 6.5。【结果】1)缺镁胁迫下,黄瓜幼苗株高和叶面积增加值、干物质增长量较正常处理的黄瓜幼苗显著降低;电解质渗漏率、丙二醛含量和可溶性蛋白含量较正常处理的黄瓜幼苗显著升高。缺镁处理的黄瓜幼苗根茎叶中镁离子含量、叶片光合色素含量、光合特性指标、叶绿素荧光及抗氧化酶活性与正常处理的黄瓜幼苗相比明显降低。2)硝酸盐胁迫下,黄瓜幼苗株高和叶面积增加值、干物质增长量、黄瓜幼苗根茎叶中镁离子含量、叶片光合色素含量、光合特性指标、叶绿素荧光及抗氧化酶活性较正常处理的黄瓜幼苗显著降低;电解质渗漏率、丙二醛含量和可溶性蛋白含量较正常处理的黄瓜幼苗显著升高。3)缺镁和硝酸盐双重胁迫下,黄瓜幼苗的相关生长指标和抗逆指标较正常处理的黄瓜幼苗降低或增大更为显著。4)缺镁胁迫,硝酸盐胁迫以及缺镁和硝酸盐双重胁迫下,外施0.1 mmol/L SNP处理的黄瓜幼苗,株高和叶面积增加值、干物质增长量、幼苗根茎叶中镁离子含量、叶片光合色素含量、光合特性指标、叶绿素荧光、可溶性蛋白含量及抗氧化酶活性较未添加SNP处理的黄瓜幼苗显著提高,电解质渗漏率和丙二醛含量则明显降低。外施0.1 mmol/L SF则没有表现出明显的作用。【结论】硝酸盐胁迫下缺镁黄瓜幼苗生长受到明显抑制,出现失绿症状,通过添加0.1 mmol/L SNP,黄瓜幼苗的生长抑制得到明显缓解,说明在硝酸盐胁迫下外源NO对缺镁黄瓜幼苗的胁迫有显著缓解作用,增强黄瓜幼苗的耐盐性和对镁的吸收能力。     

NO-3胁迫下K+、Ca2+对黄瓜幼苗膜质过氧化及活性氧清除酶系统的影响

通过水培试验探讨了NO3-胁迫下K 、C a2 对黄瓜幼苗膜质过氧化及活性氧清除酶系统的影响。结果表明,在相同NO3-浓度胁迫7d后,C a2 浓度越大,膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛(M DA)含量越高,而K 浓度越大,电解质相对渗透率越高,由此说明K 、C a2 对细胞膜造成伤害的机理不同。黄瓜幼苗活性氧清除酶系统对K 、C a2 的响应亦不同,在一定程度上,K 和C a2 可提高SOD、POD和CAT活性,保护植物免受自由基伤害,继而可增强植物对逆境的适应能力。     

硼对不同硼效率棉花品种苗期叶片膜脂过氧化和多胺含量的影响

土培条件下研究缺硼对不同硼效率棉花品种苗期叶片膜伤害、保护酶活性及多胺化合物含量的影响。结果表明 ,遭受缺硼胁迫时 ,两棉花品种叶片膜透性和丙二醛含量增加 ,膜脂肪酸不饱和度下降 ,保护酶SOD、POD、CAT活性降低 ,但硼高效品种变化幅度比低效品种小。缺硼还导致两品种叶片中腐胺 (Put)含量显著降低 ,而低效品种降低幅度更大 ,但缺硼使高效品种叶片中精胺 (Spm)、亚精胺 (Spd)含量及多胺总量 (Spd +Spm +Put)显著升高 ,低效品种仅有升高趋势。推测硼高效品种在缺硼条件下保持较高的多胺含量是其保护酶活性较高、膜受伤害程度较轻的原因之一。     

水分状况及硼素营养对油菜苗期根系生长及硼营养效率的影响

采用温室盆栽试验 ,研究了不同土壤水分条件下施硼对油菜苗期根系生长、硼吸收、利用及其移动性的影响。结果表明 ,随土壤含水量、施硼量的下降 ,油菜根长、根体积、根系生长速率、根 /冠比减小 ,根系及地上部干物质积累降低 ,植株地上部硼浓度及含硼量下降。而硼利用效率、硼运移指数则随土壤含水量、施硼量的下降而升高。不同油菜品种的根系形态参数 (包括根长、根体积、根干重、根冠比及根系生长速率 )、硼利用效率及运移指数存在明显差异 ,即在相同条件下 ,V1根系较发达 ,硼利用效率、运移指数均高于V4 。研究认为 ,根系发达程度、硼利用效率及硼移动性大小是不同基因型油菜耐缺硼差异的重要因素。     

Increase in NAD(P)H‐dependent generation of active oxygen species and changes in lipid composition of microsomes isolated from roots of zinc‐deficient bean plants

The role of zinc (Zn) in maintaining the structural and functional integrity of plant membranes was investigated in the present work. The relationship between the activity of NAD(P)H oxidases generating active oxygen species and changes in lipid composition and peroxidation was evaluated in microsomal membrane vesicles isolated from roots of Zn‐defícient bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L., cv. Bobis) plants. Zinc content of bean root microsomal membranes was decreased by about 30% by Zn deficiency. Microsomes isolated from roots of Zn‐deficient plants showed higher rates of NAD(P)H oxidation and NAD(P)H‐dependent O₂ ^‐ generation than Zn‐sufficient roots. Microsomal O₂ ^‐ consumption, measured in the presence of pyridine nucleotides, was also considerably enhanced by Zn deficiency. This latter activity was greatly stimulated by Fe(III)EDTA, while inhibited by Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, indicating that active oxygen species were produced during the oxygen consuming enzyme reaction. Zinc deficiency caused a decline in microsomal phospholipid (PL) content. In addition, saturated fatty acids were present at a higher proportion than unsaturated fatty acids in microsomes from Zn‐deficient roots. Sterol content of microsomal vesicles was also modified by Zn deficiency, which led to an increase in the planar sterol campesterol and a concomitant decrease in stigmasterol and sitosterol content. NADPH‐dependent lipid peroxidation, directly measured in microsomal vesicles as malondialdehyde (MDA) production, was slightly enhanced by Zn deficiency. These results support the idea that Zn deficiency determines an enhanced generation of harmful oxygen species by membrane‐associated enzymes and show that this activity can be more pronounced in the presence of iron (Fe), which accumulates in Zn‐deficient tissues. The relationship between the occurrence of this phenomenon and the changes in membrane lipid profile is discussed.     

Beneficial effects of silicon nutrition in alleviating salinity stress in hydroponically grown canola,Brassica napus L., plants

Abstract

Silicon (Si) is the second most abundant element in soil and effectively counteracts the effects of various abiotic stresses, such as drought, heavy metal toxicity and salinity, on plants. In the present study the ameliorating effects of Si nutrition supplied as 2?mmol?L^?1 sodium silicate were investigated on hydroponically grown canola (Brassica napus L.) plants under salinity stress (i.e. 150?mmol?L^?1 sodium chloride). Salinity decreased plant growth parameters such as tissue fresh and dry weights. These decreases were accompanied by increased lignin contents, Na⁺ ion accumulation, increased lipid peroxidation and decreased chlorophyll contents in plants. Silicon nutrition, however, enhanced plant growth parameters and led to the prevention of lignin and the Na⁺ accumulation in shoots, reduced levels of lipid peroxidation in the roots and higher levels of chlorophyll. As a result of salinity, catalase activity in the whole plant and both soluble and cell wall peroxidase activities in the shoots decreased. Silicon nutrition, however, increased the reactive oxygen species scavenging capacity of salt-stressed plants through increased catalase and cell wall peroxidase activities. Thus, silicon nutrition ameliorated the deleterious effects of salinity on the growth of canola plants through lower tissue Na⁺ contents, maintaining the membrane integrity of root cells as evidenced by reduced lipid peroxidation, increased reactive oxygen species scavenging capacity and reduced lignification.