Oxidative stress response in spinach plants induced by cadmium

In this work we studied the effect of cadmium (Cd) (25 μM), in spinach plants (Spinacea oleracea) growing in nutrient solution, for 1, 2 and 7 days. Spinach growing in the contaminated solution showed a decrease in biomass, chlorophyll content and an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) content, showing that photosynthetic apparatus was affected and lipid peroxidation occurred. The main defence mechanisms against the induced oxidative stress were the activation of catalase, glutathione reductase and guaiacol peroxidase. Glutathione reductase activity suggests that glutathione is involved in the response against Cd toxicity. The uptake of zinc (Zn), potassium (K), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) was affected, mainly at the higher exposition times. Spinach leaves showed no signs of toxicity and looked healthy although containing up to 35 mg kg^?1 dry weight (DW) of Cd. This can present a food security issue as there is no visible indication of the high amounts of Cd in the edible parts of the plant.     

Protective role of selenium on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) exposed to cadmium and lead stress during reproductive stage role of selenium on heavy metals stress

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of selenium on flowering indices, sex determination of flowers, and yield of cucumber plant under heavy metal stress conditions. Treatments consisted of selenium (0, 4, 6, 8 mgL^?1) and heavy metals of cadmium (0, 20, 25 µM) and lead (0, 60, 100 µM), which were applied in three stages during the experiment period. The results of this study showed that the stress of heavy metals with a negative effect on flowering indices resulted in delayed flowering and changing flower’s sex toward male flowers. Furthermore, delayed fruiting and significant decreases in fruit growth indices and total yield was observed in plants treated with cadmium and lead. Adding selenium to the culture medium resulted in accelerated flowering (reducing the time and number of nodes needed until the first flower emerges), the emergence of more male flowers, increased the ratio of the number of female flowers to male flowers in plants under stress, and the highest effect of this element was observed at the concentration 6?mg/L. Based on this results, the application of 4and 6mg/L selenium in stress and non-stress conditions enhanced fruiting (a significant reduction in the time required from cultivation to fertilize the first flower and the formation of fruit in lower nodes) and significantly increased the number of fruits, fruit length and diameter, single fruit weight and total yield, and the greatest effect of this element was observed in 6?mg/L concentration. The results of this study showed that selenium has a positive effect on control of stress conditions and improvement of flowering indices and total yield in cucumber plant under the stress of heavy elements of lead and cadmium.     

Drought stress-induced oxidative stress and antioxidative responses in four wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties

Drought stress was imposed on four varieties of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Mohan Wonder (MW), Kedar (K), Gayetri (GY) and Gandhari (GN), for 3, 6 and 9 days. The activities of all five tested antioxidative enzymes, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase, were enhanced initially in varieties K and GN, whereas in MW and GY, catalase and superoxide dismutase showed a decrease in activity at all periods of drought stress. Peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities increased even on the ninth day of stress in K and GN, but all other activities showed a decrease after 3 days of stress. H₂O₂ accumulation increased with drought stress, but in K and GN there was decrease during prolonged drought stress. Lipid peroxidation increased significantly due to drought stress, which was higher in the case of MW and GY. Proline, phenol and ascorbate content increased with period of drought stress. Carotenoid accumulation also increased initially. Total chlorophylls showed a general decrease during drought stress. The results of this study indicate that two of the varieties, MW and GY, are susceptible to drought stress, whereas the other two, K and GN, are tolerant, with peroxidase and glutathione reductase being most important in conferring tolerance.     

不同栽培方式菜田耕层土壤重金属状况

【目的】评价不同栽培方式(温室、大棚和露地)菜田土壤重金属状况,为菜田土壤质量改善和蔬菜高效安全施肥提供一定的理论依据。【方法】针对我国北方3个区域(东北、黄淮海、西北地区)和南方4个区域(华中、西南、华东、华南地区)主要蔬菜种植区不同栽培方式的典型菜田耕层土壤展开调查,选择的主要菜区不同栽培方式的菜田均为远离城郊的未受到工业“三废”、汽车尾气等污染的农村菜田,取样时间是2013年作物收获后或蔬菜施肥前或生长后期,共采集503个土壤样品,对温室、大棚和露地三种栽培方式下土壤重金属状况进行了研究。【结果】1)采样区设施(温室和大棚)菜田土壤重金属Cu、Zn和Cd总量总体上均高于露地菜田土壤,较露地菜田土壤平均分别高12.2%、21.7%和30.4%。2)随着种菜年限的增加,菜田土壤重金属Cu、Zn和Cd总量呈显著增加的趋势。不同栽培方式菜田土壤中均可能存在几种重金属同时污染的复合污染现象,土壤Cu、Zn、Cd等之间的相关性均达到极显著水平。3)采样区不同栽培方式菜田土壤Cd的二级超标率在19.2%~22.3%之间,温室、大棚和露地菜田土壤Cd的单项污染指数平均分别为0.97、0.98和0.70;土壤Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、As和Hg的二级超标率在0~14.6%之间,单项污染指数在0.06~0.52之间。【结论】设施菜田N、P2O5和K2O总量及有机肥用量均显著高于露地菜田,可能是造成设施菜田土壤中重金属Cu、Zn和Cd积累显著高于露地菜田的重要原因。采样区设施(温室和大棚)菜田土壤Cd总体上处于污染警戒级状态,露地菜田土壤总体上未受到Cd的污染;设施和露地菜田土壤Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、As和Hg总体上均未构成对土壤的污染。     

用固定剂减少污泥中重金属污染土壤的研究

该研究将加有重金属固定剂的污泥装入废弃塑料容器制成施肥器,利用人工淋水或自然降水,使污泥中的养分从施肥器中流入土壤,而重金属被固定在污泥中,减少重金属土壤污染,再收集处理残渣,防止二次污染。通过淋滤试验和种植油麦菜、蕹菜的盆栽试验得出以下结论：硫酸钾作为固定剂和污泥混合,不仅肥效好,作物产量高,而且污泥重金属被水淋出量少,植物体内重金属的含量低。该文为污泥合理农用提供了新方法,同时充分利用了废弃塑料容器等废弃物,成本低而收效显著。     

Boron stress,oxidative damage and antioxidant protection in potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Six potato cultivars grown in Turkey in boron-prone areas and differing in their tolerance towards high boron were studied to reveal whether boron causes oxidative stress. To assess stress level, chlorophyll fluorescence and growth parameters were measured. Oxidative damage was assessed as malondialdehyde level, and antioxidant protection was evaluated as ascorbate (AA), dehydroascorbate, reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione amounts and superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities. High boron stress affected photosynthesis negatively in a threshold-dependent manner and inhibited growth. No pronounced changes in oxidation of lipids occurred in any cultivar. Activation of APX suggested the involvement of an ascorbic acid–reduced glutathione cycle in the protection against oxidative stress caused by high boron. Efficient work of this antioxidant system was probably hindered by boron complexation with NAD(P)⁺/NAD(P)H and resulted in the inhibition of GR and a decrease in AA and GSH. Hence, oxidative stress associated with high boron is a secondary component of boron toxicity which arises from metabolic changes caused by boron interference with major metabolites. Potato cultivars tolerate excess boron stress well and show damage only in very high boron concentrations. The potato cvs best suited for high boron soils/breeding purposes are cvs Van Gogh and Agria.

Abbreviations: AA: ascorbic acid; APX: ascorbate peroxidase; CAT: catalase; DHA: dehydroascorbic acid; DHAR: dehydroascorbate reductase; DTNB: 5; 5′-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid; DTT: dithiotreitol; F_v/F_m: photosynthetic efficiency at the dark-adapted state; GR: glutathione reductase; GSH: reduced glutathione; GSSG: oxidized glutathione; MDA: malondialdehyde; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SOD: superoxide dismutase; TCA: trichloroacetic acid     

Concentrations and forms of heavy metals in Slovak soils

The risk assessment of heavy‐metal contamination in soils requires knowledge of the controls of metal concentrations and speciation. We tested the relationship between soil properties (pH, CEC, C_org, oxide concentrations, texture) and land use (forest, grassland, arable) and the partitioning of Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn among the seven fractions of a sequential extraction procedure in 146 A horizons from Slovakia. Using a cluster analysis, we identified 92 soils as representing background metal concentrations while the remaining 54 soils showed anthropogenic contamination. Among the background soils, forest soils had the lowest heavy‐metal concentrations except for Pb (highest), because of the shielding effect of the organic layer. Arable soils had the highest Cr, Cu, and Ni concentrations suggesting metal input with agrochemicals. Grassland soils had the highest Cd and Zn concentrations probably for geogenic reasons. Besides the parent material (highest metal concentrations in soils from carbonatic rock, lowest in quartz‐rich soils with sandy texture), pedogenic eluviation processes controlled metal concentrations with podzols showing depletion of most metals in E horizons. Partitioning among the seven fractions of the sequential extraction procedure was element‐specific. The pH was the overwhelming control of the contributions of the bioavailable fractions (fractions 1–4) of all metals and even influenced the contributions of Fe oxide‐associated metals (fractions 5 and 6) to total metal concentrations. For fractions 5 and 6, Fe concentrations in oxides were the most important control of contributions to total metal concentrations. After statistically separating the pH from land use, we found that the contributions of Cu in fractions 1–4 and of NH₄NO₃‐extractable Al, Cd, Pb, and Zn to total metal concentrations were significantly higher under forest than under grassland and in some cases arable use. Our results confirm that metal speciation in soils is mainly controlled by the pH. Furthermore, land use has a significant effect.     

典型设施栽培土壤重金属含量变化及其风险评价

采用野外调查采样和室内分析相结合的方法,对典型设施栽培地山东寿光的部分土壤重金属含量进行测定,并根据温室蔬菜产地环境质量评价标准,选取单项污染指数法和尼梅罗综合指数法对土壤的重金属污染状况进行了环境质量评价。结果表明,重金属Cu、C r、Pb在设施栽培土壤耕层(0—20 cm)的含量达最大值,显著高于露地土壤;而设施栽培土壤中Zn和Cd的含量分别在20—40 cm和40—60 cm的土层达到最大值,其中Zn含量在0—20 cm和60—80 cm的土层显著高于露地土壤,Cd含量在0—20 cm,40—60 cm,60—80 cm和80—100 cm的土层显著高于露地土壤。从不同使用年限设施栽培土壤中重金属含量变化看出,重金属在设施栽培24~年的土壤中含量最高。对研究区设施栽培土壤重金属含量进行风险评估及分级发现,山东寿光设施土壤耕层主要受到重金属Cd的污染。     

The Effect of Cadmium Toxicity and Silicon Supplementation on the Activity of Antioxidative Enzymes and the Concentration of Zinc and Iron in Hydroponically Grown Cucumber

Two cucumber cultivars (Cucumis sativus L.) exposed to three cadmium (Cd) concentrations (0, 1, and 5 μM) were supplemented or un-supplemented with silicon (Si) (1 mM). Exposure to 1 μM Cd had no effect on shoot and root dry mass, whereas exposure to 5 μM Cd significantly reduced plant growth. Addition of Si stimulated the growth of Cd-treated cucumber. Exposure to 5 μM Cd significantly increased shoot Cd concentration and decreased iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) concentration. Plants supplied with Si had lower Cd and higher Zn and Fe compared with unsupplied plants. Exposure to Cd resulted in a higher production of malondialdehyde (MDA). Si nutrition partly ameliorated lipid peroxidation induced by Cd toxicity. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), and catalase (CAT) decreased, whereas ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity increased in response to 5 μM Cd. Induction of APX activity might play an important role in the response of cucumber to Cd toxicity.     

经济发达区不同土壤利用方式下重金属的时空分布及预测

土壤利用方式的改变可能导致重金属的积累,并威胁食品安全。本文以长江三角洲经济发达的典型地区张家港市为例,评价了土壤利用由稻麦轮作转变为蔬菜种植对该市土壤中Cd、As、Cr、Cu时空分布的影响;并预测了目前条件下,蔬菜种植面积的扩大和种植年限的增加对重金属在土壤中的积累趋势及污染潜力。结果表明,在蔬菜种植过程中,土壤中As含量变化不明显;Cd、Cr和Cu的含量有不断累积的趋势,一定面积的土壤超过了土壤环境质量一级限值(背景值);如果按目前的蔬菜种植扩大和重金属积累的趋势发展,未来10年,将有2.4%面积的土壤Cu超过土壤环境二级限值,20年后,Cd亦出现超标现象(约0.7%面积),有可能对蔬菜品质产生影响。因此,对今后蔬菜种植管理过程中引起的土壤重金属积累及潜在污染问题应该得到充分的重视。     

Extractable heavy metals in Atlantic coast soils

Abstract

The analysis of soils, using 0.1 N HC1 as an extractant for the heavy metals, Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb on “fine”; textured North Shore and “coarse”; textured Annapolis Valley soils was completed. Results show ranges of 0.012 to 0.469 parts per million Cd; 0.102 to 2.90 parts per million Cr; 0.16 to 29.25 parts per million Ni and 0.12 to 244.8 parts per million Pb. Correlation studies indicate that the heavy metal content of fine textured soils is less influenced by changes in clay content and organic matter than are coarse textured soils. Generally the surface layers (0–15 cms) are higher in extractable heavy metal content than the lower layers (15–30 cms).     

天然沸石对重金属离子的竞争性吸附研究

通过室内分析的方法研究了天然沸石对4种重金属离子Cd2 、Zn2 、Cu2 、Pb2 的竞争性吸附特性。研究结果表明,与单一离子体系比较,沸石在竞争体系中对Cd2 、Zn2 、Cu2 、Pb2 4种重金属离子的吸附量均呈下降的趋势。竞争体系下,其它重金属离子的存在显著地抑制了沸石对Cd2 的吸附,而对Pb2 的吸附几乎没有影响。天然沸石对4种重金属离子的富集系数,其大小顺序依次为Pb2 >Cu2 >Zn2 >Cd2 。该选择性吸附顺序可能与重金属离子的水合能、离子半径、有效水合离子半径等因素密切相关。     

不同复垦时间的粉煤灰充填复垦土壤重金属污染与评价

为了解粉煤灰充填复垦土壤重金属污染情况，通过实地试验与现场采样化验相结合的方法，对复垦时间不同的粉煤灰复垦土壤里砷(As)、镉(Cd)、铬(Cr)、汞(Hg)、铅(Pb)、铜(Cu)、硒(Se)、锌(Zn)、、镍(Ni)和氟(F)等重金属和微量元素含量的时空变异性进行了研究。结果发现：以土壤本底值作为评价标准时，粉煤灰充填复垦土壤整体处于受污染状态。其中，表层复垦土壤受到Cd、Se、Zn、F 4种元素污染较重；粉煤灰充填复垦土壤适合旱作，不适合用作水田；随着复垦时间的增加，表层复垦土壤的污染指数呈递增趋势。     

改良剂原位修复重金属污染土壤研究进展

改良剂原位修复重金属污染土壤因其成本低廉、易于实施,已经得到广泛应用。然而,改良剂对土壤重金属的修复仍然存在着一定的局限性和潜在风险。无机和有机改良剂的修复效果不仅与重金属离子的种类有关,而且还受作物、土壤类型及环境因子的制约。本文就目前常用改良剂的修复效果,存在的问题,改良剂原位修复重金属污染土壤的作用机制以及国内外研究进展作简要综述,并对此方面研究的未来趋势提出展望。     

北京耕作土壤重金属多尺度空间结构

为了有效揭示土壤重金属的空间分布特征,为土壤环境质量评价提供科学依据,该研究以北京市耕作土壤中重金属为例,通过地统计学方法分析了重金属空间结构的尺度效应。研究结果表明：土壤重金属Cr、Ni、Zn和Hg的空间结构性对空间尺度有明显的依赖,理论半方差函数的最优性检验进一步表明多尺度套合模型能充分地挖掘和利用土壤重金属Cr、Ni、Zn和Hg的空间变异结构,并且采用多尺度套合模型法对重金属Cr、Ni、Zn和Hg进行克里格插值,其插值效果明显优于单一尺度下的普通克里格插值。因此,多尺度套合模型法能有效地揭示耕作土壤中重金属的空间分布特征。     

The transfer of heavy metals to barley plants from soils amended with sewage sludge with different heavy metal burdens

Purpose

Our main aim objective was to evaluate the transfer of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn to barley (Hordeum vulgare) grown in various soils previously amended with two sewage sludges containing different concentrations of heavy metals. This allowed us to examine the transfer of heavv metals to barley roots and shoots and the occurrence of restriction mechanisms as function of soil type and for different heavy metal concentration scenarios.

Material and methods

A greenhouse experiment was performed to evaluate the transfer of heavy metals to barley grown in 36 agricultural soils from different parts of Spain previously amended with a single dose (equivalent to 50 t dry weight ha^?1) of two sewage sludges with contrasting levels of heavy metals (common and spiked sludge: CS and SS).

Results and discussion

In soils amended with CS, heavy metals were transferred to roots in the order (mean values of the bio-concentration ratio in roots, BCF_Roots, in brackets): Cu (2.4)?~?Ni (2.3)?>?Cd (2.1)?>?Zn (1.8)?>?Cr (0.7)?~?Pb (0.6); similar values were found for the soils amended with SS. The mean values of the soil-to-shoot ratio were: Cd (0.44)?~?Zn (0.39)?~?Cu (0.39)?>?Cr (0.20)?>?Ni (0.09)?>?Pb (0.01) for CS-amended soils; Zn (0.24)?>?Cu (0.15)?~?Cd (0.14)?>?Ni (0.05)?~?Cr (0.03)?>?Pb (0.006) for SS-amended soils. Heavy metals were transferred from roots to shoots in the following order (mean values of the ratio concentration of heavy metals in shoots to roots in brackets): Cr (0.33)?>?Zn (0.24)?~?Cd (0.22)?>?Cu (0.19)?>?Ni (0.04)?>?Pb (0.02) for CS-amended soils; Zn (0.14)?>?Cd (0.09)?~?Cu (0.08)?>?Cr (0.05)?>?Ni (0.02)?~?Pb (0.010) for SS-amended soils.

Conclusions

Soils weakly restricted the mobility of heavy metals to roots, plant physiology restricted the transfer of heavy metals from roots to shoots, observing further restriction at high heavy metal loadings, and the transfer of Cd, Cu and Zn from soils to shoots was greater than for Cr, Ni and Pb. Stepwise multiple linear regressions revealed that soils with high sand content allowed greater soil-plant transfer of Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn. For Cd and Ni, soils with low pH and soil organic C, respectively, posed the highest risk.     

复垦土壤重金属污染潜在生态风险评价

为揭示矿区复垦土壤中重金属元素潜在的污染特征,采用Hakanson 潜在生态风险指数（The Potential Ecological Risk Index）,对安太堡露天煤矿复垦土壤中Cd,Cr,Cu,Pb,Hg,As等6种污染元素进行了分析,研究了露天煤矿复垦土壤重金属污染程度及潜在的生态危害性。结果表明：安太堡露天煤矿不同复垦时间和复垦模式下不同层次的复垦土壤的综合污染程度范围为8.29～16.90,平均值为10.72,处于中等的污染程度。重金属潜在风险指数在131.43～331.03之间,平均191.68,生态风险达到了中等程度,特别是复垦13年的南排1?420退化平台,综合潜在生态风险指数为331.03,达到了较高程度。0～40 cm土层的潜在生态风险综合评价属于中度的潜在生态风险。Hg是主要的污染因子,其对潜在的生态风险指数所贡献的比例达到了72.5%～84.62%。其余重金属的生态风险较低。因此,在安太堡露天煤矿复垦土壤中,Hg是最主要的潜在污染因子,应采取一定的措施,防止Hg的污染。应用该体系对复垦土壤重金属污染生态风险评价所得的结论同其它研究结果互为补充和借鉴。     

Application of composted sewage sludges contaminated with heavy metals to an agricultural soil

To elucidate the mechanism of transfer of heavy metals into the food chain, an experiment was carried out with a calcareous soil, to which two different doses of a sewage sludge compost contaminated with either Cd or Zn, Cd, Cu, and Ni were applied. A crop of lettuce was then grown in the amended soils. The application of sewage sludge composts to a calcareous soil lowered the soil's pH, although the value was always around 8 at the end of the experiment. Electric conductivity rose with organic amendment. As anticipated, such an amendment improved the nutritional level of the soils, particularly Nand P, both total and available. Plant yields were negatively affected by organic amendments contaminated with heavy metals, the most dangerous in our experiment being Cd and Zn since this metals easily taken up by plants. As Ni and Cu form insoluble complexes with the organic matter of the sewage sludge composts they are not readily absorbed. Of the metals studied, Cd and Zn showed the highest bioavailability index.     

北京耕地土壤重金属空间自回归模型及影响因素

为了揭示土壤重金属含量与其影响因素间的作用关系,为土壤重金属的污染控制和治理提供参考,该研究以北京市耕作土壤重金属元素为例,采用传统线性回归模型和空间自回归模型分析和比较了土壤重金属含量及其影响因素间的相关关系。结果表明：Cr、Ni、Zn、Hg空间自回归模型的拟合度较传统线性回归模型好,并且残差的空间自相关性消失。因此,空间自回归模型能够很好地解释重金属含量与其影响因素间的相关关系。结果表明：Cr、Ni含量的影响因素主要为土壤母质和土地利用强度,Zn、Hg含量的主要影响因素为道路、工矿企业和土壤母质。     

Comparison of some physiological aspects of drought stress resistance in two ground cover genus

Owing to high water requirements of turfgrass, it is essential to find suitable turfgrasses for cultivation in arid and semi-arid conditions. For this purpose, physiological responses of Agropyron desertorum and Poa pratensis cv. “Barimpala” that were subjected to outdoor with holding irrigation were evaluated. Seeds of these two genuses were cultured in polyvinyl chloride tubes and were irrigated daily until drainage occurred. After establishment, irrigation was stopped until leaf wilting occurred. P. pratensis and A. desertorum were wilted during 15 and 20 days after drought treatment, respectively. Turf quality and relative water content were decreased due to drought stress, butthe extent of decrease in A. desertorum was less than that it was in P. pratensis. Five days after stress, malondialdehyde levels increased in P. pratensis more quickly than A. desertorum, while electrolyte leakage rose immediately after with holding irrigation in these genuses. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the two stressed plants increased and then decreased with stress development. In these conditions activities of AT, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, peroxidase and glutathione peroxidase had a similar pattern in P. pratensis, while A. desertorum showed continuous increase in these enzyme activities.