Phytosequestration of Metals in Selected Plants Growing on a Contaminated Okhla Industrial Areas, Okhla, New Delhi, India

Contamination of metal ions in soil and water represents more pressing threats to resources as well as human health. The present research was carried out to screen the phytosequester plants growing in industrial waste- and wastewater-affected industrial areas of Okhla, New Delhi, India. Accumulation trend of metal Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd, Hg, and As from soil and wastewater by plants were collected for study. Among aquatic plants Hydrilla verticillata, Marsilea quadrifolia, and Ipomea aquatica were found to be highest metals accumulator, Eclipta alba and Sesbania cannabina among terrestrial plant were highest accumulator of metals. Among the algal spp. Spirulina platensis and Phormidium papyraceum were the most efficient in accumulating Cd and Hg. The maximum bioconcentration factor (BCF) was recorded in Hygroryza aristata for the metals (Hg, Cd) in M. quadrifolia (Cd, Cr), in E. alba (Cr, Cu), and in S. platensis (Hg, Pb). However, the translocation factor (TF) of metals was found more in M. quadrifolia followed by I. aquatica than other plants. Among all the plants, H. verticillata showed high TF and low BCF values for toxic metals (Pb, Cr) and was suitable for phytostabilization of these metals. Our study showed that native plant species growing on contaminated sites may have a potential of phytosequestration of these metals.     

塔里木马鹿对生境选择的初步研究

2006年8月和12月,在新疆车尔臣河下游阿克塔孜牧场,对塔里木马鹿夏季和冬季生境的选择进行了研究。选择5类生态因子,并设置290个10 m×10 m样方。选择结果表明,塔里木马鹿喜欢胡杨和芦苇、植被覆盖度较大、水源距离较近和认为干扰距离>1 000 m的环境。其中,夏季多选择芦苇草甸,冬季选择胡杨林和柽柳灌丛。对生境特征的主成分分析显示,前3个主成分的累计贡献率夏季达到71.277%,冬季达到67.925%,可以反映塔里木马鹿的生境特征。同时表明,影响塔里木马鹿生境选择的主要因素依次为人为干扰、植被类型和距水源距离。     

乌鲁木齐地区三种不同景观鸟类群落结构初报

作者于１９９４年３－６月在乌鲁木齐地区,对三各不同景观的鸟类群落进行了调查,可划分为３类群落：干旱荒漠为角百灵＋沙群落（群落Ａ）;干旱草原为角百灵＋领岩鹨群落（群落Ｂ）;干旱灌丛云雀＋漠莺＋靴篱莺群落（群落Ｃ）群落的物种多样性以群落Ｃ最高（１．８８６７）,次为群落Ｂ（１．８８３７）,群落Ａ的多样性最低（１．５２１２）种的多样性与生态环境的差异有关。     

近50年来塔里木盆地南、北缘干湿状况变化趋势分析

全球变暖大背景下,塔里木盆地边缘绿洲气候变化趋势研究已成为研究的热点。文中利用塔里木盆地南、北缘17个典型绿洲气象站1959-2008年的气象资料,使用联合国粮农组织(FAO)推荐的Penman-Monteith公式,计算近50年潜在蒸散量,定义了地表干燥度指数。在此基础上,对塔里木盆地南、北缘,近50年气候变化特征及其成因进行对比分析。结果表明:塔里木盆地南、北缘气候变化与全球气候变化趋势基本一致,但又具有明显的区域性特点:塔里木盆地南、北缘潜在蒸散量均在波动中呈减少趋势,南缘递减速度比北缘快;干燥度指数也均在波动中呈缓慢减小趋势,其中南缘干燥度指数递减速度比北缘快;总之塔里木盆地南、北缘绿洲有缓慢向暖湿转化的迹象,这对气候极端干燥的塔里木盆地边缘绿洲生态环境的改善和农业生产有积极的影响。     

Floristic composition and ecological gradient analyses of the Liakot Forests in the Kalam region of District Swat,Pakistan

Kalam Kohistan is a dry,temperate hilly region in the Hindu Raj Series of the Greater Hindu Kush Mountains with diverse forests.As plant distribution and composition is expression of a range of various environmental variables,ecological and floristic attributes of vegetation in the Laikot Forests were therefore evaluated via consecutive explorative trips.These forests have not been evaluated ecologically before due to harsh climatic conditions and issues of accessibility and the study in hand is one of the first in its nature.Quantitative ecological techniques were used to sample forest vegetation and identify species in quadrats of 2 m×2 m for herbs,5 m×5 m for shrubs and 10 m×10 m for trees.All the data of 195 plant species and environmental factors were analyzed via Two-way Cluster Analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis using PCORD and CANOCO software.Among 195 plant species from 63 families were 27 species of Asteraceae,the most-speciose family,followed by Poaceae(20 spp.).The dominant life form was therophyte(86 spp.;44%share),followed by phanerophyte(41 spp.;21%share).For the leaf size spectrum,most prevalent was nanophyll(73 spp.;44%)followed by microphyll(66 spp.,34%)and mesophyll(44 spp.;23%).Calcium carbonate,pH,potassium,sand,silt,organic matter,slope aspect and grazing significantly influenced species composition,distribution and habitat.The floristic variation in the region was diverse due to elevational and aspect gradients and thus devided into three zones.This vegetation zonation can be utilized for forest management,species and habitat conservation.Both in situ and ex situ conservation of threatened plant species may improve their conservation status in future if address properly.     

Detection,isolation and characterization of cowpea mosaic virus in Egypt

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Cowpea mosaic virus is among the most economically important viruses infecting cowpea. Incidence of infection was assessed in two governorates in Egypt,...     

Effects of petroleum spray oils on oviposition behaviour and larval survival of Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

We determined the effects of petroleum spray oil (PSO) (Caltex Canopy®) on oviposition responses of Helicoverpa armigera Hubner and Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner adults, and larval survival of the pest moths on cotton and maize plants in the laboratory. Application of 2% (v/v) of the PSO deterred H. armigera oviposition. Increasing the rate from 2 to 5% (v/v) did not significantly reduce the number of eggs laid by H. armigera on the treated plants. In contrast, the minimum rate at which the oil could deter oviposition of O. nubilalis on maize plants was 5% (v/v). Increasing the rate from 5 to 10% (v/v) did not significantly reduce the number of eggs laid per plant. However, a reduction in the rate of the PSO from 5 to 3% (v/v) resulted in a 73.9% increase in oviposition activity on the maize plants. In wind tunnel bioassay tests, all mated H. armigera females tested could detect and settle on plants treated with water but with plants treated with PSO at various times, only 50% of tested females settled on the plants 4?–?5 days after treatment (DAT) and none on the plants 0?–?2 DAT. A solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) test to determine the effect of the PSO on volatiles released by the cotton plants showed that the quantity of volatiles released by the cotton plants treated with PSO was lower than for water treated plants. This indicates that the PSO sprays may be suppressing or masking the leaf surface volatiles of the cotton plants, thereby deterring oviposition of H. armigera. Larval survival data show that PSO sprays can cause direct mortality of first, second and third instar O. nubilalis larvae. PSOs may have the potential to be integrated into pest management programme targeting H. armigera and O. nubilalis on cotton and maize crops, respectively.     

Chemical Composition of Urban Wet Deposition in Amman,Jordan

Precipitation events were collected during the period from October 1996 to April 1997 from two sites in the city of Amman, Jordan. The samples were analyzed for major cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and NH4+), major anions (F-, Cl-, NO3- and SO42-), in addition to heavy metals (Cu2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, and Pb2+). High levels of Ca2+ and SO42- were observed. The results were comparable with some regional values and they indicate that about 58% of Na+ and Cl- are of marine origin, while Ca2+, K+ and a large fraction of SO42- are of soil dust origin. Heavy metals were detectable in most of the samples, zinc showed the highest concentrations. Significant correlation was obtained between zinc and lead, which may indicate automobile emission source.     

Effects of long-term compost and fertilizer application on stability of aggregate-associated organic carbon in an intensively cultivated sandy loam soil

The study examined the influence of compost and mineral fertilizer application on the content and stability of soil organic carbon (SOC). Soil samples collected from a long-term field experiment were separated into macroaggregate, microaggregate, and silt + clay fractions by wet-sieving. The experiment involved seven treatments: compost, half-compost N plus half-fertilizer N, fertilizer NPK, fertilizer NP, fertilizer NK, fertilizer PK, and control. The 18-year application of compost increased SOC by 70.7–121.7%, and mineral fertilizer increased by 5.4–25.5%, with no significant difference between control soil and initial soil. The C mineralization rate (rate per unit dry mass) in microaggregates was 1.52–2.87 mg C kg⁻¹ day⁻¹, significantly lower than in macroaggregate and silt + clay fractions (P < 0.05). Specific C mineralization rate (rate per unit SOC) in silt + clay fraction amounted to 0.48–0.87 mg C g⁻¹ SOC day⁻¹ and was higher than in macroaggregates and microaggregates. Our data indicate that SOC in microaggregates is more stable than in macroaggregate and silt + clay fractions. Compost and mineral fertilizer application increased C mineralization rate in all aggregates compared with control. However, compost application significantly decreased specific C mineralization rate in microaggregate and silt + clay fractions by 2.6–28.2% and 21.9–25.0%, respectively (P < 0.05). By contrast, fertilizer NPK application did not affect specific C mineralization rate in microaggregates but significantly increased that in silt + clay fractions. Carbon sequestration in compost-amended soil was therefore due to improving SOC stability in microaggregate and silt + clay fractions. In contrast, fertilizer NPK application enhanced SOC with low stability in macroaggregate and silt + clay fractions.     

Influence of Degree of Hydrolysis on Chemical Composition,Functional Properties,and Antioxidant Activities of Chinese Sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) Hydrolysates Obtained by Using Alcalase 2.4L

Protein hydrolysates from Chinese sturgeon were prepared using Alcalase 2.4L enzyme. Under the optimum conditions (enzyme–substrate ratio of 3.5%, pH of 8.5, and temperature of 55°C), the degree of hydrolysis (DH) was 13.8%, 16.7%, and 19.1% after 1, 3, and 6 h, respectively. The contents of crude protein and amino acid increased at DH of 19.1% to 86.97% and 78.29%, respectively. There was an obvious increase in the low-molecular-weight peptides, which could enhance the hydrolysate’s functional properties such as solubility, representing more than 90% at different pH levels. The obtained protein hydrolysates revealed good emulsification properties and high oil absorption. Furthermore, good antioxidant activities such as 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) inhibition, ferric reducing power, and ferrous ion (Fe²⁺⁾ chelating ability were attained depending on the solution concentration. The findings indicate that the functional and antioxidant properties of protein hydrolysates could be useful in many applications of the food industry.