Sulfur Alleviates Growth Inhibition and Oxidative Stress Caused by Cadmium Toxicity in Rice

A hydroponic experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of sulfur (S) on growth inhibition and oxidative stress caused by Cd²⁺ toxicity, using two rice cultivars with different grain Cd²⁺ content. Treatments consisted of factorial arrangement of three S levels (0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mmol), two cadmium (Cd) levels (0 and 1 μ mol), and two rice cultivars (‘Bing 97252,’ a cultivar with low grain Cd²⁺ content, and ‘Xiushui 63,’ a cultivar with high grain Cd²⁺ content). The results showed that Cd²⁺ addition in the medium generally increased Cd²⁺ and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in both roots and shoots; the increases were more pronounced in ‘Xuishui 63’ than in ‘Bing 97252.’ Dramatic reductions in growth parameters, including plant height, root and shoot weight, tillers per plant, chlorophyll content, and net photosynthetic rate were found in the plants exposed to Cd stress relative to the plants without Cd²⁺ treatment. ‘Xiushui 63’ showed more sensitivity than ‘Bing 97252’ under Cd²⁺ exposure. In comparison with the lower S level (0.2 mmol), the higher S levels (0.4 and 0.6 mmol) helped alleviate Cd toxicity, characterized by a significant increase in growth parameters, and a decrease in Cd²⁺ and MDA content in both roots and shoots. In addition, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the plants varied among tissues, cultivars, and Cd treatments. High Cd²⁺ and MDA content was consistently accompanied by higher SOD activity, and higher S levels caused a marked increase in glutathione content and a reduction in SOD activity, indicating a positive effect of S in alleviating oxidative stress.     

Oxidative Stress Induced by Cadmium and Copper in Brassica rapa Leaves: Indicators of Stress,Oxidative Damage,and Antioxidant Mechanisms

Brassica rapa is frequently used as a vegetable for human consumption and can accumulate metals that are bioavailable in soils. We studied the oxidative stress induced by 25 μM cadmium (Cd) and 50 μM copper (Cu) on Brassica rapa leaves and evaluated the intracellular antioxidative plant response mechanisms and the accumulation of these metals. With this purpose, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentration, lipid peroxidation, and enzymatic and nonenzymatic responses was determined. The obtained results indicate that Cd and Cu induced different plant responses. Oxidative stress induced by Cu was characterized by increased lipid peroxidation and free proline levels. Guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase showed a relevant role in H₂O₂ removal. Cadmium did not influence lipid peroxidation, H₂O₂, proline and glutathione contents, and the enzymatic response mainly involves superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase. It was concluded that both excess Cu and Cd induced oxidative stress but plant response is characterized by different antioxidative response mechanisms.     

过量硼对植物的毒害及高硼土壤植物修复研究进展

硼作为一种植物必需元素,在土壤中过量存在会对植物产生毒害,硼对植物的毒害作用以及利用植物修复高硼土壤已经日益受到关注。目前,硼对不同类型植物的毒害特点,植物的耐受机制还不十分清楚。特别是对于硼污染的植物修复,其研究还处于起步阶段。本文分别从植物的表观症状、生理生化和基因水平等层次,综述了过量硼对植物的毒害,并从高耐受性、超富集能力植物筛选,以及转基因技术应用等角度回顾了硼污染的植物修复研究进展。在此基础上,提出了当前相关研究存在的主要问题,并对未来的研究进行了展望。     

Effects of Nitrate and Potassium on Ammonium Toxicity in Cucumber Plants

ABSTRACT

Interactions between nitrate (NO₃ ^?), potassium (K⁺), and ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) were investigated using hydroponically grown cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants. Ammonium as the sole nitrogen (N) source at 10 mM was toxic and led to overall growth suppression, chlorosis, and necrosis of leaves. After 20 days, 50% of the plants were dead. However, when NO₃ ^? was supplied at very low concentration together with high NH₄ ⁺ (only 1% of total 10 mM N) all seedlings survived and their growth was improved. High K⁺ concentration (5 mM) also alleviated NH₄ ⁺ toxicity and increased plant growth several fold compared to intermediate concentration of K⁺ (0.6 mM). Leaf total N and ¹⁵N derived from ¹⁵N-labelled NH₄ ⁺ increased in the presence of NO₃ ^?, but decreased at high K⁺ concentration. High K⁺ supply enhanced total carbon (C) and δ ¹³C and stimulated GS and PEPCase activities in leaves and roots. Nitrate supplementation had no effect on GS or PEPCase activities. It is concluded that K⁺ may alleviate NH₄ ⁺ toxicity, partly by inhibiting NH₄ ⁺ uptake, partly by stimulating C and N assimilation in the roots.     

Observations on Manganese Deficiency and Toxicity in Some Australian Native Plants

Analysis and research on the nutrition of some Australian native plants as well as diagnostic analysis of failed native plant gardens reinforces the view that manganese (Mn) availability is a major factor in the edaphology and cultivation of Australian native species. Yellow Kandosol soils on sandstone show a unique endemic floral assemblage. These soils show low total soil Mn levels of only 20–30 mg/kg. Despite this, endemic species such as Eucalyptus haemastoma and Acacia suaveolens show greater foliar Mn levels (around 291 and 389 mg/kg, respectively) than iron (Fe) levels, with Fe/Mn ratios as low as 0.14 and 0.27. During pot trial work on artificial soils created from crushed sandstone and green waste compost that were designed to research phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) nutrition, some interesting data on Mn uptake were collected. Levels of foliar Mn as high as 1250 and 389 mg/kg, respectively, accumulated in E. haemastoma and A. suaveolens when soils were artificially acidified to pH 4.7 (CaCl₂) using ferrous sulfate. These Mn levels were associated with visible toxicity symptoms in foliage of E. haemastoma but not in A. suaveolens. Foliar Mn in both species showed a strong inverse correlation (R² > 0.93) with soil pH. Previous research has shown that eucalypts from this floral assemblage are prone to Mn toxicity when grown in conditions of high soil Mn availability. Diagnostic analysis of soils and foliage for a client with horticultural problems in a native plant landscape showed severe chlorosis in a wide range of native species due to Mn deficiency induced by neutral soil pH (around 7.0 in CaCl₂). Such soil pHs are considerably greater than those of the plant’s natural distribution. Despite apparently elevated soil P and the appearance of what looked like P toxicity, foliar P levels were not sufficiently elevated to conclude acute P toxicity but rather simple and severe Mn deficiency. The work suggests that induced Mn deficiency and toxicity may be underdiagnosed problems in the cultivation of many Australian native plants.     

Root Carbon Enrichment Alleviates Ammonium Toxicity in Cucumber Plants

ABSTRACT

The addition of carbonates to a nutrient solution to alleviate ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) toxicity in hydroponically-grown cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants was investigated. Stable isotopes [nitrogen (¹⁵N) and carbon (¹³C)] were used to assess the uptake of nitrogen [NH₄ ⁺ or nitrate (NO₃ ^?)] as well as carbon [bicarbonate (HCO₃ ^?)/carbonate (CO₃ ^2?)] by the roots. Ammonium as the sole N source at 5 mM decreased plant fresh weights compared to NO₃ ^?. However, at lower concentrations of NH₄ ⁺ (25% of 5 mM total N), growth was increased compared to NO₃ ^? alone. Inorganic C enrichment [calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)] of the nutrient solution increased the fresh weight of NH₄ ⁺ grown plants with up to 150% relative to control plants receiving calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)₂] for pH regulation. Root ¹⁵N enrichment was lower in ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ supplied plants compared to ¹⁵NO₃ ^?, while the ¹³C enrichment in leaves was increased by NH₄ ⁺ nutrition compared to NO₃ ^? or NH₄NO_3. The enhanced C capture was associated with high PEPCase activity in the roots. It is concluded that inorganic carbon enrichment of the root medium may alleviate NH₄ ⁺ toxicity via increased synthesis of C skeletons and, accordingly, increased capacity for NH₄ ⁺ assimilation and N export to the shoots.     

Comparison of Plants for Germination Toxicity Tests in Petroleum-Contaminated Soils

Pollution of soil by petroleum hydrocarbons is a serious environmental problem world-wide. Although total concentration of contaminants in soil and/or water is used for regulatory review, it also is beneficial to assess the potential for ecosystem impact through a series of bioassays. One commonly used bioassay is seed germination. In this test, seeds are placed in contaminated material, and seedlings enumerated after a specified incubation period. However, different plant species produce variability in response. In the research project reported here, lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), millet (Panicum miliaceum), radish (Raphanus L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum) were tested for sensitivity to petroleum-contaminated soil in germination tests. While most plants appeared to show some sensitivity to the pollutant, only lettuce had a statistically significant difference in response to contaminated and uncontaminated soil. These results confirm that Latuca sativa L is the optimal plant choice for standard germination toxicity tests with petroleum-impacted soil.     

Physiological and Biochemical Processes Related to Ammonium Toxicity in Higher Plants

Nitrate and ammonium have different effects on many biochemical and physiological processes in plants, and at high concentrations this can lead to markedly different growth responses. Most plant species show reduced growth, smaller leaves and a stunted root system when exposed to high ammonium concentrations, and in severe cases this leads to chlorosis. Although well known, ammonium toxicity is poorly understood and is generally considered to be the result of one or more of the following effects; (i) ammonium-induced mineral nutrient deficiency, arising from the impaired uptake of metal ions; (ii) secondary growth inhibition arising from the acidification of the rooting medium; (iii) alterations in intracellular pH and osmotic balance; (iv) uncoupling of photophosphorylation from electron transport, following the accumulation of ammonium in leaves; and (v) altered polyamine and phytohormone metabolism. These hypotheses are reviewed in the light of the available literature and experimental evidence from own experiments. It is concluded that no mechanism on its own provides an adequate explanation of the available data.     

Silicon Increases Tolerance to Boron Toxicity and Reduces Oxidative Damage in Barley

ABSTRACT

Silicon (Si) protects plants from multiple abiotic and biotic stresses The effect of exogenous Si levels (50, 75, and 100 mg kg^?1) on the growth, boron (B) and Si uptake, lipid peroxidation (MDA), lipoxygenase activity (LOX; EC 1.13.11.12), proline, and H₂O₂ accumulation, non-enzymatic antioxidant activity (AA) and the activities of major antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD, EC 1.15.1.1; catalase, CAT, EC 1.11.1.6 and ascorbate peroxidase, APX, EC 1.11.1.11) of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were investigated under glasshouse conditions. Increasing levels of Si supplied to the soil with 20 mg kg^?1 B counteracted the deleterious effects of B on shoot growth. Application of B significantly increased the B concentration in barley plants. However, Si application decreased B concentrations. Increasing application of Si increased the Si concentration in barley plants. The concentration of H₂O₂ was increased by B toxicity but decreased by Si supply. Boron toxicity decreased proline concentrations and increased lipid peroxidation (MDA content) and LOX activity of barley. Compared with control plants, the activities of AA, SOD, CAT, and APX in B stressed plants grown without Si decreased, and application of Si increased their activities under toxic B conditions. The LOX activity was decreased by Si. Based on the present work, it can be concluded that Si alleviates B toxicity by possibly preventing oxidative membrane damage, both through lowering the uptake of B and by increasing tolerance to excess B within the tissues.     

The Antitranspirant Di-1-p-menthene, a Potential Chemical Protectant of Ozone Damage to Plants

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of pinolene-based film-forming Vapor Gard (VG) emulsion (di-1-p-menthene), a commercial antitranspirant, on the response of the sensitive bean (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Pinto) plants to realistic ozone fumigations. Plants treated with the chemical were significantly less damaged in comparison with untreated controls when exposed to as much as 150 ppb of ozone in the atmosphere for 4 h. In unozonated plants, photosynthesis as well as stomatal conductance was significantly depressed by the antitranspirant. In VG-treated individuals, (1) visible injury is strongly reduced; (2) membrane damage is counteracted; (3) photosynthetic activity is unchanged, as well as the stomatal conductance and the store of CO₂ in substomatal chamber; (4) F _v/F _m and the other parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence reveal a stability of the photochemical apparatus; and (v) antioxidant defence is not stimulated. Unexpectedly, our results highlighted a dramatic difference between the protective effects towards ozone damage induced by VG, depending on its mode of distribution. As reported above, when entire plants (??both leaves??) are treated or untreated with VG, those individuals wherein VG was not applied showed severe alterations in phenomenological, biochemical and ecophysiological parameters investigated due to ozone toxicity. This is not true in the cases where ??single primary leaves?? or selected regions (??half leaves??) are treated with VG. Even if visible injury is present after ozone fumigation, physiological parameters, such as A _max and G _w, in ozonated and VG-treated single leaves and half leaves are similar to unfumigated controls. Similar results were obtained for chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. A membrane-protective action is observed in half-leaves treatment. It appears that the presence of regions (single leaves or half leaves), which are treated with VG, modifies the behaviour to ozone of untreated regions. Possible explanations of the observed phenomenon are discussed. The antitranspirant di-1-p-menthene proved to be a low-cost, low-technology tool for assessing ozone injury in the field.     

铝对植物的毒害和植物抗铝毒机理及其影响因素

本文综述了土壤中铝的存在形式、铝对植物产生的毒害、植物抗铝毒的内、外部机理以及铝毒效应的影响因子 .从植物抗铝毒遗传特性的差异出发 ,探讨利用抗铝毒作物基因型 ,提高酸性土壤上的作物生产力 .最后就植物抗铝毒研究提出一些看法     

Ozone Biomonitoring with Bel-W3 Tobacco Plants in the City of Valencia (Spain)

A biomonitoring study using the ozone-sensitive bioindicator plant Nicotiana tabacum cv. Bel-W3 was conducted in the city of Valencia (eastern Spain) and surrounding areas in 2002. Plants were exposed to ambient air at seven sites, including four traffic-exposed urban sites, a large urban garden and a suburban and a rural station, for six consecutive 2-week periods using highly standardised methods. Foliar injury was registered at all stations in at least one of the exposure periods. The urban stations submitted to intense traffic showed lower ozone injury than the less traffic-exposed stations. Strong changes in the intensity of ozone injury were observed for the different exposure periods. Leaf injury was significantly related to both mean ozone values (24 and 12 h means) and cumulative exposure indices (AOT20, AOT40). However, correlation strength was moderate (r _s?=?0.39 to 0.58), suggesting that the plant response to ozone was modified by environmental factors. The use of sensitive bioindicators like tobacco Bel-W3 in cities provides complementary information to that of continuously operating air quality monitors, as the impact of ambient ozone levels is directly measured.     

铀对植物的胁迫效应研究进展

铀是一种具有较高化学毒性的放射性核素。铀矿开采、核事故泄露、核废物的不恰当处理等会对周围土壤造成放射性污染。植物体内富集的铀可通过食物链进入人体,从而对人体健康造成伤害。国内外学者针对铀污染土壤的植物修复技术开展了一系列研究工作。本研究系统地总结了铀对植物胁迫效应的研究进展,主要包括铀对植物生长发育、生理生化、基因毒害、水分代谢和营养代谢等方面的影响。并结合当前研究现状,对未来的研究方向进行了展望。本研究结果为进一步阐释富集植物对铀的吸收和转运机制,以及铀污染土壤的植物修复提供了理论依据,对于监测治理铀污染土壤和保护生态环境具有重要意义。     

Molybdenum Stress Modulates Enzymes Responsive to Oxidative Stress and Affects Seeds Viability and Vigor in Chickpea

The importance of molybdenum (Mo) for plant growth is disproportionate with respect to the absolute amounts required by most plants. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cv. K-75 plants were raised in refined sand in glasshouse at graded levels from 0.002 to 1 µM for 100 days. Mo deficiency symptoms appeared as interveinal chlorosis of middle and old leaves. Compared with the control (0.2 µM Mo), dry matter, yield and seed protein decreased at low and excess Mo. The concentration of Mo in leaves and seed as well as the activity of nitrate reductase (NR) increased with an increase in Mo supply. The activities of antioxidative enzymes stimulate at both low and excess Mo supply. Low and excess Mo decreased the lipid peroxidation status in chickpea leaves, suggesting its antiperoxidative nature. The values of deficiency, threshold of deficiency and threshold of toxicity of Mo were, respectively, 0.38, 1.2 and 15 µg g^?1 in leaves of chickpea.     

O_3污染胁迫下冬小麦的伤害症状及其对叶片氮代谢脯氨酸和谷胱甘肽含量的影响

采用开顶式气室模拟研究O3污染胁迫对冬小麦叶片可见伤害症状、氮代谢、脯氨酸和谷胱甘肽含量的影响,结果表明冬小麦在O3胁迫下表现出明显的受害症状,且O3浓度越高受害症状越严重。O3浓度升高导致不同生长期冬小麦叶片硝酸还原酶活性显著降低,当O3浓度为40～120 nL.L-1时,拔节期、抽穗期和乳熟期的叶片硝酸还原酶活性分别比对照处理降低45.4%～92.9%、58.0%～93.5%和90.0%～93.2%。O3污染胁迫对冬小麦叶片硝态氮和铵态氮含量也有影响,但是随着O3浓度、冬小麦生长期的不同影响不一样;冬小麦叶片脯氨酸和谷胱甘肽含量在O3污染胁迫下变化也各异。在冬小麦抽穗期,当O3浓度为40、80 nL.L-1时,脯氨酸含量分别比对照处理提高163.9%和173.2%,但是在O3浓度为120 nL.L-1时却降低42.4%。O3污染胁迫下拔节期冬小麦叶片还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）含量显著比对照处理增加,而抽穗期GSH含量在较高O3浓度胁迫下却显著地比对照处理降低,说明植物在O3胁迫下表现出不同的调节和适应机制。     

Changes of Growth,Amino Acids,and Ionic Composition in Strawberry Plants under Salt Stress Conditions

Seedlings of two strawberry cultivars ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Chandler’ were grown using perlite in a greenhouse for 20 days, and then plants were watered with nutrient solution containing 0, 8.5, 17.0, and 34.0 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) for 6 months. Sodium chloride treatments generally reduced the leaf and root dry weight. Relative water content (RWC) of leaves was maintained despite the increased salt concentrations while loss of turgidity was increased by sodium chloride (NaCl) treatments in both cultivars. As the most variable amino acids, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, arginine, proline, serine, and alanine were determined under salt stress in plants. Sodium chloride treatments generally increased sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) contents in all plant parts. The plants were able to maintain high potassium (K) levels in the aerial parts with the 8.5 mM NaCl treatment. It can be concluded that ‘Camarosa’ has the ability to osmotic regulation. ‘Chandler’ also tolerates the salt injury at low salt concentrations.     

Excess Nickel Modulates Oxidative Stress Responsive Enzymes in Groundnut

Groundnut plants exposed to excess nickel (Ni) produced visual symptoms of toxicity that intensified with increasing level and duration of metal supply. Decreased concentrations of pigments along with a marked increase in the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and peroxidase suggest strong induction of oxidative stress due to excess Ni. The decreased activity of catalase may suggest interference of excess nickel in iron metabolism of plants. The appearance of metal specific toxicity is a likely result of damage predominantly due to enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at higher (300–400 μM) nickel supply. The threshold of toxicity (10% growth reduction) and toxicity (33% growth reduction) values of Ni in groundnut were 26 and 72 μg g^?1 in leaves, 17 and 94 μg g^?1 in stem and 45 and 240 μg g^?1 in roots respectively.     

地表臭氧胁迫对冬小麦籽粒品质的影响研究

为深入探讨地表臭氧（O3）对冬小麦品质的影响,采用开顶式气室（OTC）,设置3个处理组：CK（对照组）、CF100（O3浓度为100 nL·L-1）、CF150（O3浓度为150 nL·L-1）,通过大田试验和实验室分析,开展了O3浓度增加对冬小麦蛋白质及其组分、氨基酸及其组成、淀粉含量等营养品质和加工品质的影响研究。结果表明：①籽粒氨基酸总量依次为CF100〉CF150〉CK,而人体所需的必需氨基酸总量为CF150〉CF100〉CK,处理间均差异显著（P〈0.05）。②粗蛋白含量随O3浓度的升高而增加,但各组分间变化趋势不同：清蛋白、球蛋白的含量为CF150〉CF100〉CK,醇溶蛋白、谷蛋白的含量则为CF100〉CF150〉CK。③淀粉含量随着O3浓度的升高而降低,两者呈显著负相关（P〈0.05）,与CK相比,CF100、CF150冬小麦淀粉含量分别下降了4.06%和16.61％。可见,O3胁迫能促进籽粒营养品质和加工品质的合成。     

臭氧胁迫对冬小麦干物质生产和产量构成的影响

利用开顶式气室（OTC）开展了大田实验条件下地表臭氧浓度增加对冬小麦干物质（DM）生产和产量构成的影响。结果表明,与对照组相比,100nL·L^-1臭氧熏气下干物质量略有降低,150nL·L^-1臭氧熏气下显著降低;100nL·L^-1和150nL·L^-1臭氧熏气下叶面积,净同化速率（NAR）变化规律不明显;100nL·L^-1和150nL·L^-1臭氧熏气都使抽穗期的叶/总干重增加,根/总干重下降,抽穗后根/总干重上升,而成熟期的各器官干重分配均没有达到显著性水平;100nL·L^-1臭氧熏气使单位面积穗数和空秕率显著降低,150nL·L^-1臭氧熏气使空秕率、单位面积穗数、穗粒数、穗粒重出现了显著或极显著降低,臭氧熏气对千粒重没有显著性变化。以上结果表明,NAR是影响干物质累积速度的关键因子,在不同生育阶段,通过干物质的分配,对小麦生长发育起关键作用的器官在一定程度上能够抵抗臭氧对其的损害。臭氧通过影响粒数和粒重使冬小麦减产。