The in vivo and in vitro effects of Ca2+ and Al3+ upon ATPases from barley roots

Experiments were performed to test the effect of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ upon ATPases (E.C. 3.6.1.3) from barley roots (Hordeum distichon L. cv. MULTUM) that had or had not taken up Al³⁺. Furthermore, the effect of the uptake period was examined. With longer duration of the Al³⁺ uptake, the activity of the ATPases dropped, independently of whether they were activated by Ca²⁺ or by Mg²⁺. Mg²⁺ stimulated the activity of the ATPases if no Al³⁺ had been taken up with lacking Ca²⁺ in the assay. If Al³⁺ had been taken up no additional activation by Mg²⁺ to the Ca²⁺ stimulation could be observed, and in some cases Mg²⁺ decreased the Ca²⁺ stimulation.     

Two cultivars of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) seedlings show different tolerance to calcium deficiency

The objectives were to determine whether two peanut cultivars show different tolerance to calcium (Ca) deficiency. The seedlings of cultivars LH11 and YZ9102 at first trifoliate leaf stage were transplanted in nutrient solution for 28 days with 0.01 and 2.0 mmol/L Ca treatments. Low Ca supply did not affect plant growth, root length and surface area of YZ9102, whereas decreased plant biomass, root length and surface area of LH11 seedlings that appeared necrosis in shoot tip. YZ9102 plant had higher Ca concentration and more Ca distribution to leaves than LH11. Under limited Ca condition, LH11 appeared net Ca²⁺ effluxes in the zones of 0.2 ～ 1.5 mm from root apex, while YZ9102 roots maintained net Ca²⁺ influxes. Peanut cultivar YZ9102 seedlings had longer roots and higher capacities of Ca uptake and Ca translocation to shoots than LH11, which might be account for higher tolerance to Ca deficiency compared with LH11.     

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。结果表明，在相同NO^-₃浓度胁迫7d后， Ca²⁺浓度越大，膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)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⁺、Ca²⁺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⁺、Ca²⁺的响应亦不同，在一定程度上，K⁺和Ca²⁺ 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。     

局部根系盐胁迫对冬小麦生长和光合特征的影响

通过分根装置设置无盐胁迫(0|0)、局部根系150 mmol-L-1NaCl胁迫(0|150)、全部根系75 mmol-L-1NaCl胁迫(75|75)、全部根系150 mmol-L-1NaCl胁迫(150|150)4种处理,研究根系局部盐胁迫对冬小麦生长及光合特征的影响。结果表明:盐胁迫显著抑制了小麦幼苗的生长,并且随着盐胁迫浓度的增加,小麦受抑制程度加重;根系盐胁迫方式对小麦幼苗生长影响显著,局部根系胁迫处理(0|150)小麦幼苗地上部干重比等浓度150 mmol-L-1NaCl全部盐胁迫处理(150|150)增加23.5%,比等浓度75 mmol-L-1NaCl全部盐胁迫处理(75|75)增加17.2%。在局部根系盐胁迫下,非盐胁迫一侧根系(0|150-0)补偿生长,其根长、侧根数、侧根长比盐胁迫一侧根系(0|150-150)分别增加195.2%、206.2%和237.8%,盐胁迫一侧根系吸收的Na+部分向非盐胁迫一侧根系运输,盐胁迫一侧根系(0|150-150)的Na+含量比全部胁迫处理(150|150)减少12.1%。与全部根系盐胁迫相比,局部根系盐胁迫减少了Na+在叶片中的积累,降低了钠/钾值。局部根系盐胁迫叶片净光合速率、气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度和叶绿素荧光参数(Fv/Fm)均高于同浓度完全盐胁迫处理的小麦幼苗,进而增加地上部和根系的生物量。因此,局部根系胁迫显著缓解了全部盐胁迫对小麦地上部和根系生长的抑制作用。     

Determination of Fe2+ in Rice Leaves (Oryza sativa L.) by Using the Chelator BPDS Alone or Combined with the Chelator EDTA

Abstract

Iron toxicity is a problem in many areas of wetland rice. Since Fe²⁺ is considered to be the toxic form of iron, the objective of this research was to determine the Fe²⁺ concentration in rice leaves using the chelator bathophenanthroline disulfonate (BPDS), disodium salt alone or combined with the chelator ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), disodium salt, where BPDS should solely chelate the Fe²⁺ and EDTA chelate only Fe³⁺. Thus, the combination of these chelators should stabilize the Fe oxidation states. It was also tested whether the chelators BPDS and EDTA could stabilize the oxidation states of Fe during the extraction of rice leaves. Extractions of rice leaves were carried out using an 1 mM BPDS or BPDS‐EDTA extractant solution. To test the stabilization of the Fe oxidation states by the combination of BPDS with EDTA, the extraction solution for one part of the samples contained 0.07 mM Fe³⁺. An extraction without plant material as control was also taken into consideration. The results indicated that the chelators were able to stabilize the oxidation states of Fe in the control (extraction without plant material). However, in the presence of plant material, Fe³⁺ was partly reduced to Fe²⁺, i.e., the chelators could not stabilize the oxidation states of Fe. Accordingly, we concluded that the BPDS‐EDTA method may function for the Fe²⁺ determination in water and soil, but it is apparently not suited for rice leaves.     

阴离子对可变电荷土壤吸附铜离子的影响机理

根据NO-3、Cl-和SO24-对可变电荷土壤和恒电荷土壤吸附Cu2+的影响的比较,探讨了阴离子对可变电荷土壤吸附Cu2+的影响机理。结果表明,当3种阴离子的浓度相同时,在SO24-体系中铁质砖红壤对Cu2+的吸附率较在NO3-和Cl-体系中大得多,而在浓度相同的3种阴离子体系中,黄棕壤对Cu2+的吸附率相差不大。在离子强度相近的NaCl体系中,砖红壤对Cu2+的吸附率相近。在3种阴离子体系中,随着pH升高,砖红壤对Cu2+的吸附率均增大;但在NO-3体系和Cl-体系中Cu2+的吸附率相近;而在SO24-体系中Cu2+的吸附率最大。随着Na2SO4浓度的增大,铁质砖红壤和砖红壤对Cu2+的吸附率减小。但在0.005 mol L-1和0.05 mol L-1Na2SO4体系中,Cu2+的吸附率大于在不含Na2SO4的体系中者。而在0.5 mol L-1Na2SO4体系中,Cu2+吸附率小于在不含Na2SO4体系中者。在3种浓度的Na2SO4体系中,黄棕壤对Cu2+的吸附率均小于在不含Na2SO4体系中者。总之,阴离子可通过离子强度、专性吸附和形成离子对影响土壤对Cu2+的吸附。在可变电荷土壤中,阴离子对Cu2+吸附的影响机理较在恒电荷土壤中复杂得多。     

Distribution of Manganese(Ⅱ) Chemical Forms on Soybean Roots and Manganese(Ⅱ) Toxicity

Distribution of chemical forms of manganese(Ⅱ)(Mn(Ⅱ))on plant roots may affect Mn(Ⅱ)absorption by plants and toxicity of Mn(Ⅱ)to plants at its high level.The chemical forms of Mn(Ⅱ)on soybean roots were investigated to determine the main factors that affect their distribution and relationship with Mn(Ⅱ)plant toxicity.Fresh soybean roots were reacted with Mn(Ⅱ)in solutions,and Mn(Ⅱ)adsorbed on the roots was differentiated into exchangeable,complexed,and precipitated forms through sequential extraction with KNO_3,EDTA,and HCl.The exchangeable Mn(Ⅱ)content on the roots was the highest,followed by the complexed and precipitated Mn(Ⅱ)contents.Mn(Ⅱ)toxicity to the roots was greater at pH 5.5 than at pH 4.2 due to the larger amount of exchangeable Mn(Ⅱ)at higher pH.The cations Al~(3+),La~(3+),Ca~(2+),Mg~(2+),and NH_4~+competed with Mn(Ⅱ)for cation exchange sites on the root surfaces and thus reduced exchangeable Mn(Ⅱ)on the roots,in the order Al~(3+),La~(3+)Ca~(2+),Mg~(2+)NH_4~+.Al~(3+) and La~(3+) at 100μmol L~(-1) decreased exchangeable Mn(Ⅱ)by 80%and 79%,respectively,and Ca~(2+) and Mg2+at 1 mmol L~(-1) decreased exchangeable Mn(Ⅱ)by 51%and 73%,respectively.Organic anions oxalate,citrate,and malate reduced free Mn(Ⅱ)concentration in solution through formation of complexes with Mn(Ⅱ),efficiently decreasing exchangeable Mn(Ⅱ)on the roots;the decreases in exchangeable Mn(Ⅱ)on the roots were 30.9%,19.7%,and 10.9%,respectively,which was consistent with the complexing ability of these organic anions with Mn(Ⅱ).Thus,exchangeable Mn(Ⅱ)was the dominant form of Mn(Ⅱ)on the roots and responsible for Mn(Ⅱ)toxicity to plants.The coexisting cations and organic anions reduced the exchangeable Mn(Ⅱ)content,and thus they could alleviate Mn(Ⅱ)toxicity to plants on acid soils.     

Nutrient Solution and Nutrient Soil Solution Parameter Evolution in Tomato with Dynamic Fertigation under Saline Conditions

This trial was carried out to study the evolution of the nutrient parameters of the nutrient solution applied to tomato plants (Lycopersicum sculentum Mill. Forteza) cultivated in Mediterranean greenhouse conditions under different fertigation management models. The dynamic model is based on soil water content, which was measured by tensiometers, and on soil solutions obtained with suction cups (porous ceramic cup water samplers). The local traditional method consists of following technical recommendations, and the classical model requires the estimation of Crop Factor (Kc) and knowing the nutrient extraction. Nutrient solution and water applied are functions of the fertigation management criteria. The water used for fertigation was classified as C₄-S₃ according to the Riverside classification system. The cultivation period lasted from 15 August to 20 April. The nutrient parameters studied in nutrient and soil solution were pH, electrical conductivity (EC), nitrate (NO₃ ^?), phosphate (H₂PO₄ ^?), potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), sodium (Na⁺), and chloride (Cl^?). The pH shows similar trends under the different treatments. Electrical conductivity is in the range of 2.8–4.5 dS m^?1. Chloride, sodium, magnesium, and sulfate are exclusively modified by the salt concentration in the irrigation water, so it can be assumed that the three treatments vary equally. Nitrate, potassium, phosphate, and calcium are modified depending on each fertigation management method. Soil solution is modified by the nutrient solution applied. Dynamic management allows low nutrient concentration in the nutrient solution to be maintained and keeps soil nutrient concentration low, reducing fertilizer losses and therefore aquifer contamination.     

羟基磷灰石对铅锌矿区土壤吸附Zn2+、Cd2+的影响

为探究羟基磷灰石(HAP)对矿区土壤重金属的固化效果,采用吸附试验,研究施加HAP的铅锌矿区土壤对Cd~(2+)、Zn~(2+)的动力学吸附和等温吸附效果。结果表明:土壤对Cd~(2+)、Zn~(2+)的吸附量随Cd~(2+)、Zn~(2+)初始浓度的增加而增加;在酸性条件下,其吸附量随pH上升而上升;准二级动力学方程能很好地描述两者的吸附过程,土壤吸附能力随HAP的添加量增大而增强;在Zn—Cd共存体系中,当初始浓度为20mg/L时,土壤对Zn~(2+)、Cd~(2+)的吸附无明显差异,2种金属离子竞争力度小,随着初始浓度上升,竞争明显,对Zn~(2+)的最大吸附量能达到单一体系中的79%～87%,而Cd~(2+)的最大吸附量只有单一体系中的57%～72%,Zn~(2+)的竞争力优于Cd~(2+),Zn~(2+)对Cd~(2+)吸附产生严重的抑制。综上可知,HAP能提高矿区土壤的吸附性能,在Zn、Cd污染土壤中,更能提升土壤对Zn~(2+)的吸附固持能力。     

钙对小麦氮同化关键酶活性的影响及其与蛋白质磷酸化的关系

为探讨氮素同化机理 ,小麦幼苗经溶液培养 (培养液中不含Ca2+)至二叶一心后 ,在培养液中分别设置不同浓度的Ca2+ 、Ca2+专一性螯合剂EGTA以及Ca2+通道阻塞剂LaCl3进行处理 (进行EGTA和LaCl3处理时 ,培养液中Ca2+浓度为 1mmol/L)。结果表明 ,氮同化关键酶硝酸还原酶 (NR)、谷氨酰胺合成酶 (GS)活性同Ca2+/CaM依赖性蛋白激酶 (Ca2+/CaM PK)活性之间存在明显的相关性。说明钙作为第二信使所介导的信号转导中 ,蛋白质可逆磷酸化可能参与了对氮素同化的调节作用。     

Effects of Salinity and Water Stress on Echophysiological Parameters and Micronutrients Concentration of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

In order to study the effects of salinity and drought stress on echophysiological parameters and micronutrients concentration of pomegranate leaves, a factorial experiment was conducted based on completely randomized design with 0, 30, and 60 mM of salinity levels of sodium chloride and calcium chloride (1:1) and three irrigation intervals (2, 4, and 6 days) with three replications on ‘Rabab’ and ‘Shishegap’ cultivars of pomegranate. The results analysis of shoot and root indicated that the water salinity and drought affected the concentration of iron (Fe²⁺), zinc (Zn²⁺), copper (Cu²⁺) and manganese (Mn²⁺) in pomegranate leaves and roots. Mineral concentration of zinc (Zn²⁺), copper (Cu²⁺) and manganese (Mn²⁺) in roots and manganese (Mn²⁺) in shoot was increased with increasing salinity. Drought treatments decreased the concentration of Zn²⁺ in the shoot and increased Zn²⁺ in roots. Both cultivars showed significant differences in the Fe²⁺ concentrations of shoot, however the most accumulation of Fe²⁺ was observed in ‘Shishegap’ cultivar.     

Oxalic Acid Effect on Potassium Release from Typical Rice Soils of Kashmir

Batch experiments were employed to examine the influence of oxalic acid on release kinetics of potassium (K) from soils along with adsorption and desorption of soil K⁺. The soils used were three rice soils from high-, mid-, and low-altitude zones. The results showed that soil K extracted using 0.2 mol L^–1 oxalic acid was similar to that of 1 mol L^–1 boiling nitric acid (HNO₃). The relation between K release (y) and concentrations of oxalic acid (c) could be best described as y = a + b log c, whereas the best-fit kinetic equation of K release was y = a + b √t. The K release for soils was in the order Bonbagh > Ganasthan > Kreeri. An oxalic acid solution with low pH was able to release more K. Oxalic acid decreased soil K⁺ adsorption and increased desorption, the effect of which tended to be greater at lower pH.     

锌离子活度对水稻产量及子粒锌含量的影响及基因型差异

试验采用HEDTA螯合缓冲营养液培养法,选用子粒含锌量有明显差异的两个水稻基因型(碧玉早糯和浙农921),采用4种锌离子活度(pZn2+9.7,10.3,11.0,11.4),研究了锌离子活度对水稻产量和子粒锌积累、分配与子粒品质的影响及基因型差异。结果表明,锌离子活度通过对水稻有效穗数、每穗颖花数、结实率和千粒重的影响而显著影响水稻单株产量,其中影响最大的是单株有效穗数,其次是每穗颖花数,而对结实率的影响相对较小,但均存在明显的基因型差异。锌离子活度显著影响水稻子粒锌含量,随锌离子活度下降,水稻子粒含锌量降低,当锌离子活度低于pZn2+10.3时,两基因型水稻的含锌量均显著降低,但基因型间存在明显差异。不论在何种锌离子活度下,碧玉早糯的子粒含锌量均显著高于浙农921。从子粒锌分配看,颖壳、糙米、精米锌含量均随着锌离子活度提高而提高,当pZn2+从10.3升高到9.7时,碧玉早糯的糙米和精米锌含量开始降低,颖壳锌含量则开始超过糙米的锌含量继续升高;而浙农921糙米和精米锌含量的升高幅度较颖壳锌含量小。不同锌离子活度下,糙米和精米锌含量的比值在0.790~.90之间变化,并以pZn2+为9.7时为最小。因此,通过筛选子粒富锌水稻品种来提高稻米锌含量经济可行;通过增加环境锌离子活度,改善水稻的锌营养能显著提高水稻子粒的锌含量。     

MODELING GROWTH AND ION CONCENTRATION OF LILIUM IN RESPONSE TO NITROGEN:POTASSIUM:CALCIUM MIXTURE SOLUTIONS

Nutrient solution composition plays an important role in root uptake rate due to interactions among nutrients and internal regulation. Studies to determine the optimum nutrient solution concentration are focused on individual ions, ignoring the adaptation mechanisms triggered by plants when growing in a varying external nutrient concentration. The objective of the present study was to determine the response in growth and tissue ion concentration of lilium cv. ‘Navona’ to nutrient mixtures of varying proportions of nitrogen (N), potassium (K⁺), and calcium (Ca²⁺) in solution using mixture experiments methodology in order to determine the optimum concentration. Bulbs of lilium were transplanted in plastic crates and drip-irrigated with the treatment solutions, which consisted of a mixture of N, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ whose total concentration was 340 mg L^?1 and minimum concentrations of each ion was 34 mg L^?1. Chlorophyll concentration (SPAD), shoot fresh weight (FW), leaf FW, and leaf area were measured 60 days after transplanting and ion analysis was performed on shoot tissues from selected treatments. Lilium exhibited a moderate demand for N and K⁺ (136–170 mg L^?1 N and 116–136 mg L^?1 K⁺) and a very low demand for Ca²⁺ (34–88 mg · L^?1). This low demand may be due to the remobilization of the nutrients stored in the bulbs. Integrating the predictions of the models estimated to produce >90% of maximum growth, the optimum nutrient solution should contain Ca²⁺ at a concentration between 34 and 126 mg · L^?1, K⁺ between 119 and 211 mg · L^?1, and N between 92 mg · L^?1 and 211 mg · L^?1. Increasing external N concentration affected internal N concentration but not internal K⁺ or Ca²⁺ concentrations, despite that the increase in external N was associated with a decrease in external K⁺ and Ca²⁺. Similar trends were observed for external K⁺ and Ca²⁺ concentration. In conclusion, lilium was able to maintain a relatively constant K⁺ and Ca²⁺ concentration regardless of the lower concentration in the nutrient solution when N was increased (similar response was observed for K⁺ and Ca²⁺) and it has a low Ca²⁺ demand and moderate N and K⁺ supply.     

江苏省滨海盐土向潮土演化过程中水溶性氟含量变化原因的探讨

江苏滨海盐土向潮土演化过程中，水溶性Ｆ＾－含量经历了由少变多，再由多变少的过程。水溶性氟含量变化受控于水溶性Ｃａ＾＋＋变化（Ｆ＾－＝ａ＋ｂＣａ＾＋＋－１／２），同时，由于土壤胶体和溶液中ＯＨ＾－与Ｆ＾－含量可能ＣａＦ２的活度积起控制作用，而ｐＨ值的变化起叠加作用。江苏沿海土壤中影响水溶性氟含量的矿物主要是ＣａＦ２。     

Suppression of Methane Production via the Promotion of Fe2+ Oxidation in Paddy Fields

ABSTRACT

Methane is a greenhouse gas, mainly generated from paddy fields and lakes by methanogens using hydrogen and acetic acid as substrates. In anaerobic environments with adequate Fe³⁺, iron-reducing microorganisms utilize these substrates, thus suppressing methane generation. We promoted Fe²⁺ oxidation to Fe³⁺ by physically stirring paddy soil and using a chelating agent (nitrilotriacetic acid; NTA) to evaluate the feasibility of the suppression of methane generation using Fe³⁺-reducing bacteria. Under anaerobic conditions, Fe³⁺ reduction to Fe²⁺ began immediately in the slurry made by adding water into air-dried paddy soil. Methane generation began on the 6th day when most Fe³⁺ was reduced. Under anaerobic conditions for 10 days followed by aerobic conditions, Fe²⁺ oxidation hardly progressed under static conditions. On stirring the slurry, Fe²⁺ oxidation progressed over 12 h (67% Fe²⁺ oxidized to Fe³⁺). When NTA was added under anaerobic conditions followed by stirring under aerobic conditions, Fe²⁺ oxidation was promoted further. The idea of physical stirring of paddy soil in the actual environment was derived from the effects of paddy soil stirring by ducks in interrelated rice–duck farming. In such farming, paddy soil contains more Fe³⁺ in its surface water compared with normal farming, resulting in suppressed methane generation.     

硅缓解水稻根系铁毒害

Silicon (Si) can enhance the resistance of plants to many abiotic stresses. To explore whether Si ameliorates Fe2+ toxicity, a hydroponic experiment was performed to investigate whether and how Si detoxifies Fe2+ toxicity in rice (Oryza sativa L.) roots. Results indicated that rice cultivar Tianyou 998 (TY998) showed greater sensitivity to Fe2+ toxicity than rice cultivar Peizataifeng (PZTF). Treatment with 0.1 mmol L-1 Fe2+ inhibited TY998 root elongation and root biomass significantly. Reddish iron plaque was formed on root surface of both cultivars. TY998 had a higher amount of iron plaque than PZTF. Addition of Si to the solution of Fe treatment decreased the amount of iron plaque on root surface by 17.6% to 37.1% and iron uptake in rice roots by 37.0% to 40.3%, and subsequently restored root elongation triggered by Fe2+ toxicity by 13.5% in the TY998. Compared with Fe treatment, the addition of 1 mmol L-1 Si to the solution of Fe treatment increased xylem sap flow by 19.3% to 24.8% and root-shoot Fe transportation by 45.0% to 78.6%. Furthermore, Si addition to the solution of Fe treatment induced root cell wall to thicken. These results suggested that Si could detoxify Fe2+ toxicity and Si-mediated amelioration of Fe2+ toxicity in rice roots was associated with less iron plaque on root surface and more Fe transportation from roots to shoots.     

不同水稻品种根尖吸收NO3-过程中表皮细胞膜电位变化特征

越来越多的结果表明给水稻提供部分硝酸盐营养可促进水稻的氮素总吸收量并明显改善水稻的生长发育。利用微电极技术分别测定了4个水稻品种即农垦57(粳稻)、泗优917(杂粳)、扬稻6号(籼稻)和汕优63(杂籼)幼苗根尖表皮细胞在3种NO3^-浓度(0．1mmol L^-1、1mmol L^-1、10mmol L^-1)处理过程中膜电位的变化特征。结果表明：水稻根系吸收NO3^-引起膜的去极化，去极化到一定程度出现复极化。去极化程度随外界处理液中NO3^-浓度的增加而加强，0．1mmol L^-1 NO3^-处理产生的去极化值平均为7mV，1mmol L^-1 NO3^-处理的平均为11mV，10mmol L^-1 NO3^-处理的平均为21mV；就复极化来说，0．1mmol L^-1 NO3^-处理自动出现复极化，1mmol L^-1 NO3^-处理和处理10mmol L^-1 NO3^-处理只有当除去NO3^-时才出现复极化。就单位时间膜电位变化大小而言，扬稻6号对外界NO3^-较敏感，3种NO3^-浓度引起的去极化值均高于其他3个品种，表现出对NO3^-的吸收能力较强；泗优917和汕优63表现出相似的去极化大小和相似的反应时间，而农垦57对NO3^-相对不敏感，3种NO3^-浓度引起的去极化值均低于其他3个品种，表现出对NO3^-的吸收能力较弱。另外，有部分品种的水稻根在吸收NO3^-以后表现为膜电位先超极化后去极化。上述结果表明用根系对NO3^-响应的细胞膜电位变化来研究水稻的硝酸盐营养是有可行性的。     

PHYTOTOXICITY OF SALTS IN COMPOSTED SEWAGE SLUDGE AND CORRELATION WITH SODIUM CHLORIDE,CALCIUM NITRATE,AND MAGNESIUM NITRATE

The phytotoxicity of salts in composted sewage sludge (CSS) was evaluated. Concentrations of sodium (Na⁺), chloride (Cl^?1), calcium (Ca²⁺), and magnesium (Mg²⁺) were present at levels that would induce salt stress in plants. Nutrient imbalances were also found that would adversely affect the use of CSS as a growth medium. To further understand the phytotoxic nature of these salts, sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium nitrate [Ca(NO₃)₂] and magnesium nitrate [Mg(NO₃)₂] solutions were used to simulate the composition of salts found in CSS in an investigation of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seed germination. High concentrations of Ca²⁺ (92.1 mmol.L^?1) and Mg²⁺ (27.4 mmol.L^?1) inhibited seed germination to an equal extent as did Na⁺ (40.6 mmol.L^?1). The lower concentration of Ca²⁺ (10 mmol.L^?1), however, significantly relieved the stress caused by NaCl. These results indicated that the composition and total amount of Na⁺, Cl^?1, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ in CSS should be carefully monitored before it is used as a soil amendment or growth medium.     

Aluminum tolerance associated with enhancement of plasma membrane H+-ATPase in the root apex of soybean

Abstract

Seventeen soybean cultivars were screened to discern differences in aluminum (Al) sensitivity. The Sowon (Al-tolerant) and Poongsan (Al-sensitive) cultivars were selected for further study by simple growth measurement. Aluminum-induced root growth inhibition was significantly higher in the Poongsan cultivar than in the Sowon cultivar, although the differences depended on the Al concentration (0, 25, 50, 75 or 100?μmol?L^–1) and the amount of exposure (0, 3, 6, 12 or 24?h). Damage occurred preferentially in the root apex. High-sensitivity growth measurements using India ink implicated the central elongation zone located 2–3?mm from the root apex. The Al content was lower 0–5?mm from the root apices in the Sowon cultivar than in the apices of the Poongsan cultivar when exposed to 50?μmol?L^–1 Al for 12?h. Furthermore, the citric acid exudation rate was more than twofold higher in the Sowon cultivar. Protein production of plasma membrane (PM) H⁺-ATPase from the root apices (0–5?mm) was upregulated in the presence of Al for 24?h in both cultivars. This activity, however, decreased in both cultivars treated with Al and the Poongsan cultivar was more severely affected. We propose that Al-induced growth inhibition is correlated with changes in PM H⁺-ATPase activity, which is linked to the exudation of citric acid in the root apex.