Estimation of the effect of lead and cadmium ions on fluctuating asymmetry in leaves of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The effect of lead and cadmium ions on the fluctuating asymmetry of the side leaflets’ central veins of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was estimated. The impact of heavy metals on the parameter with the lead or cadmium content in the ground in the concentration of 650 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg respectively was not revealed.     

Malignant transformation of a unicameral bone cyst in a cat

A unicameral bone cyst in the proximal humerus of a 3-year-old Norwegian forest cat was diagnosed by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, surgical exploration, and histopathology. Surgical curettage and incorporation of bone cement led to full recovery. An osteosarcoma developed at the surgical site 17 months later. Thoracic radiographs showed pulmonary lesions consistent with metastasis.     

Does returning sites of historic peri‐urban waste disposal to vegetable production pose a risk to human health? – A case study near Manchester,UK

Urban waste disposal occurred on fenland to the west of Manchester, England, between 1900 and 1964. The reclaimed fenland, Chat Moss, is now used for mixed arable farming. A total of 1.92 Mt of waste including privy midden, street sweepings, clinkers and slaughterhouse refuse was incorporated into the moss resulting in a modified topsoil with raised pH and reduced organic matter content compared with the subsoil. Elevated levels of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are observed in the topsoil beyond the typical depth of atmospheric contamination; Cd and As concentrations exceed soil guideline values (SGVs) at 1.8 and 43 mg/kg, respectively. Sequential extraction indicates that waste‐derived Pb, Zn and Ni remain predominantly in the residual fraction, whereas Cu was mainly organically bound. Arsenic was predominately found in oxide and organic matter fractions with Cd in carbonate, oxide, organic matter and residual fractions. Pot trials indicated limited uptake of PTEs by vegetables grown on the waste‐amended soil, with the exception of Cd uptake by lettuce (0.22 mg/kg FW) and Pb uptake by radish (0.16 mg/kg FW), which exceeded current EU limits of 0.2 and 0.1 mg/kg FW, respectively. Hazard quotients (HQs) identified no risks to adults from consumption of vegetables grown in these soils with the exception of lettuce consumption with a HQ of 1.4. Risks to children were slightly greater with HQs >1 for Cd in lettuce, spinach, carrots and onion, As in lettuce, parsley and onion and for Zn in spinach.     

Anthropogenic effects on the physical and chemical properties of subtropical coastal urban soils

We investigated the effects of various anthropogenic factors on urban soil properties in subtropical, coastal Tampa, FL, USA. Specifically, we explored the influence of (i) urbanization as measured by land use, land cover, population density and years since urban development and (ii) socioeconomic conditions as reflected in household income and property values on bulk density (BD) and several key soil chemical properties. Results indicate that Tampa’s urban soils were affected to varying degrees by these factors with chemical properties being more variable than BD. Across land uses significant differences were found for Mehlich‐1 (M1) extractable P, Ca and Na. A similar trend was observed for land‐cover classes, although significant differences were also found for pH and M1‐Cu. Soil properties had no statistically significant relationship with population density. However, time since urbanization did with M1‐P and Na varying significantly across age categories. For our socioeconomic analyses, M1‐K and Mg levels differed significantly by household income while pH, P, Ca and Na values differed significantly by property value. Overall, our findings indicate that despite their inherent heterogeneity, there are identifiable patterns among subtropical coastal urban soil properties. We suggest that a more thorough understanding of these patterns and their drivers is an essential first step towards developing soil management strategies aimed at maintaining environmental quality and ecosystem services in subtropical cities.     

Performance of rainy season greengram as influenced by land configuration and phosphorus application

A field experiment was carried out for 2 crop years (July‐October) at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to study the effect of land configuration and phosphorus levels on the growth and yield of rainy season greengram under limited irrigation facility. The crop sown on 2 meter wide broad bed and furrow (BBF) showed higher growth attributes, nodulation, yield attributes and yield compared to flat bed (FB) sowing. Application of 30 and 60 kg P₂O₅ha_‐1 showed significant increase in growth attributes, nodulation, yield attributes and yield as compared to no phosphorus application. The moisture status in the soil determined the optimum dose of phosphorus needed for greengram. The combination of BBF sowing and application of 60 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1 recorded the highest grain yield among all the combinations of land configuration and phosphorus levels.     

The effects of mechanically-induced stress and water stress on freezing resistance in lettuce and cauliflower seedlings

Summary

Mechanically-induced stress, applied by brushing young lettuce and cauliflower plants for 90 s each day, reduced the freezing resistance of cauliflower but had no effect on that of lettuce. Brushing reduced fresh weight in both species and smaller plants were less freezing-resistant than larger ones. The levels of abscisic acid (ABA) in the shoots of brushed cauliflowers were slightly less than in unbrushed plants, whereas in lettuce the levels were similar in the two treatments. ABA sprayed onto lettuce plants had no effect on freezing resistance. With both lettuce and cauliflower, freezing resistance, and the osmolarity of sap extracted from the shoots, increased following water-stress and declined progressively following rehydration.     

Environmental control of the growth distribution index of vegetative grass plants

One of the ways in which grasses respond to varying conditions is by adjusting the growth rates of their different component parts relative to their overall growth rate. When plants are grown in constant conditions, increasing age brings about a decline in the growth rate of the leaf lamina component and an increase in the growth rate of the root component relative to the plant growth rate. Variations in temperature, photoperiod and in the daily amount of radiant energy received by the plant do, however, influence the distribution pattern of growth within the plant.