Sorption of Cu by organic matter from the decomposition of rice straw

Purpose

Sorption of heavy metals on soil components plays an important role in reducing their mobility and bioavailability. Organic matter is an important sorbent of heavy metals in soil. Crop residues which are important sources of soil organic matter will undergo decomposition after addition to the soil. However, few studies reported the effect of organic matter decomposition on heavy metal sorption. This study aimed to investigate the effect of straw decomposition on the sorption of Cu.

Materials and methods

Rice straw was decomposed in aerobic conditions for 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Solid organic matter in decomposed rice straw was collected and marked OM-1, OM-3, OM-6, and OM-12, respectively. Sorption isotherms and kinetics of Cu on solid organic matter were studied by batch experiments. The sorption of Cu was calculated by the difference between the amount of Cu added initially and that remained in the supernatant. Sorption thermodynamics of Cu were studied by isothermal titration calorimetry technique. Potential mechanisms of Cu sorption were analyzed by combining the information from sorption thermodynamics, desorption experiments, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy observations. All sorption experiments were carried out at pH 5.0.

Results and discussion

The maximum sorption of Cu was 165.8, 170.5, 186.6, and 226.9 mmol kg^?1, and the rate constant of Cu sorption was 0.80, 0.58, 0.50, and 0.32 kg mmol^?1 h^?1 on OM-1, OM-3, OM-6, and OM-12, respectively, indicating that the maximum sorption of Cu increased while sorption rate of Cu decreased with increasing the duration of straw decomposition from 1 to 12 months. The negative values of Gibbs free energy change and positive values of enthalpy change and entropy change revealed that Cu sorption was spontaneous, endothermic in nature, and the randomness was increased during sorption. Carboxyl and hydroxyl in solid organic matter were involved in Cu sorption. The percentage of Cu desorbed by NH₄Ac from OM-1, OM-3, OM-6, and OM-12 was 45.0, 43.5, 42.8, and 37.8 %, respectively.

Conclusions

In the current study, the decomposition of straw promoted the sorption capacity but reduced the sorption rate of Cu on solid organic matter. Copper sorption was an endothermic and spontaneous process. The formation of inner-sphere complexes was the main mechanism of Cu sorption, and its role in Cu sorption tended to increase with increasing the duration of straw decomposition. The information will facilitate the understanding of the contamination and remediation of heavy metal in cropland.

     

Responses of elephantgrass to nutrient solution ph levels

Seedlings of elephantgrass (Pennisetumpurpureum, Schum.), cvs. Vruckwona and Napier, were grown in aerated nutrient solution and exposed to pH levels of 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, or 7.0. After 30 days under controlled conditions, the effects on growth were evaluated. Plants exposed to pH 5.0, as compared to those under pH 4.0, showed increases in total leaf area, plant height, number of leaves (NL), and leaf, root, and stem fresh weight. No significant differences were found in stubble fresh weight, maximum individual leaf area, leaf area ratio (LAR), leaf area:plant height ratio, and leaf, root, stem, and stubble dry weight and dry matter percentage. Seedlings exposed to pH 4.0, as compared to those under pH 5.0, exhibited higher leaf:stem ratio on a fresh weight basis (FWR) and a tendency for higher leaf :stem ratio on a dry matter basis (DWR). Cultivar Vruckwona yielded superior results than Napier for most studied parameters, except for NL, LAR, and DWR (in which there were no significant differences) and for stubble length and FWR (in which Napier performed better). The results suggest that reductions below 5.0 in the nutrient solution pH cause growth inhibition, affecting root, stem, and leaf FW to a greater extent. The magnitude of such effects varies among contrasting cultivars. In turn, pH increases above 5.0 induce no significant growth reduction or promotion.     

Effects of a weak DC electric field on root growth in Arundo donax (Poaceae)

Abstract

Electric fields can determine changes at the morphological and the physiological level in plants. Plants of Arundo donax L. (giant reed), obtained by set, grown on organic substrate were exposed to a DC electric field. A significant increase in growth rate was observed in the shoots and roots of treated plants. Treated roots also showed a modification in their morphology as compared to untreated ones. Our results point to a possibility of applying electric fields in plant propagation and reproduction.     

Maceration enzymes and mannoproteins: a possible strategy to increase colloidal stability and color extraction in red wines

Different strategies were adopted to achieve increases in color stability in Tempranillo wines: (i) addition of maceration enzymes directly to the must, (ii) addition of commercial mannoproteins to the must, and (iii) inoculation of must with yeast overexpressed of mannoproteins. The addition of enzymes favored color extraction, and the wines obtained presented higher values of wine color, color intensity, bisulfite-stable color, and visually enhanced color intensity. The enzyme hydrolytic activity produced an increase in the acid polysaccharide content and polyphenol index and yielded to wines with more astringency, tannin, and length. Added mannoproteins had clearer effects on the analyzed parameters than yeast. Contrary to what may be thought, mannoproteins did not maintain the extracted polyphenols in colloidal dispersion and neither ensured color stability. These compounds clearly modified the gustative structure of the wines, enhancing the sweetness and roundness.     

Multiplex PCR method for use in real-time PCR for identification of fish fillets from grouper (Epinephelus and Mycteroperca species) and common substitute species

Mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequences from morphological validated grouper (Epinephelus aeneus, E. caninus, E. costae, and E. marginatus; Mycteroperca fusca and M. rubra), Nile perch (Lates niloticus), and wreck fish (Polyprion americanus) were used to develop an analytical system for group diagnosis based on two alternative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) approaches. The first includes conventional multiplex PCR in which electrophoretic migration of different sizes of bands allowed identification of the fish species. The second approach, involving real-time PCR, produced a single amplicon from each species that showed different Tm values allowing the fish groups to be directly identified. Real-time PCR allows the quick differential diagnosis of the three groups of species and high-throughput screening of multiple samples. Neither PCR system cross-reacted with DNA samples from 41 common marketed fish species, thus conforming to standards for species validation. The use of these two PCR-based methods makes it now possible to discriminate grouper from substitute fish species.     

Fruit spot of sweet lime (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus limetta</Emphasis>) caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Septoria</Emphasis> sp. in Peru

In 2002, a severe fruit spot of sweet lime (Citrus limetta) was observed in Piura and Lambayeque provinces in northern Peru. Affected fruits showed large oval and sunken lesions, often surrounded by chlorotic haloes. Septoria sp. was isolated from affected fruits. Sweet lime isolates showed larger pycnidia and pycnidiospores than those of Septoria spp. previously described on citrus. In addition, phylogenetic analysis of the ITS sequences clearly separated the sweet lime isolates from S. citri and S. citricola. Isolates were pathogenic to detached sweet lime fruits and the fungus was isolated from lesions on inoculated fruits.     

Field studies of anthracnose symptoms and pathogen infection in different phases of the persimmon growing season

Anthracnose is the main disease of persimmon and is caused by Colletotrichum spp. The study of field epidemiology is essential for the development of efficient management of this disease. In this study, we investigated infection by Colletotrichum spp. throughout the persimmon growing season to understand the host–pathogen interactions better. We observed the production of primary inoculum of persimmon anthracnose and described how epidemics progress from secondary infections during the fruit crop season. The field study was carried out in an organic orchard with three susceptible persimmon cultivars, Fuyu, Kakimel and Jiro, for three consecutive seasons. Our results indicate that the pathogen survives in 1-year-old shoots, which are the sources of primary inoculum. Later that growing season, the inoculum reaches flowers and new shoots, developing symptoms and producing the secondary inoculum. Fruit drop was also observed, with or without symptoms of anthracnose, throughout the plant cycle. In some of the symptomless fruit, collected from the plant and from the ground where they had fallen, latent infections of Colletotrichum spp. were detected. Shoots, flowers, immature and ripened fruit remained infected throughout the growing season, producing conidia that could lead to new secondary infections within and among plants. The incidence of anthracnose in fruit at harvest and postharvest proved to be less relevant for disease management. Practices for chemical and cultural control of the disease throughout the persimmon growing season are discussed.     

Effect of latent and symptomatic infections by Colletotrichum godetiae on oil quality

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum spp., is the main olive fruit disease. Colletotrichum can severely infect olive fruit with a negative impact on the oil...