The Potted-Plant Microcosm Substantially Reduces Indoor Air VOC Pollution: I. Office Field-Study

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major contaminants of indoor air, with concentrations often several times higher than outdoors. They are recognized as causative agents of “building-related illness” or “sick-building syndrome”. Our previous laboratory test-chamber studies have shown that the potted-plant/root-zone microorganism microcosm can eliminate high concentrations of air-borne VOCs within 24 hours, once the removal response has been induced by an initial dose. However, the effectiveness of the potted-plant microcosm in ‘real-world’ indoor spaces has never previously been tested experimentally. This paper reports the results of a field-study on the effects of potted-plant presence on total VOC (TVOC) levels, measured in 60 offices (12 per treatment), over two 5–9 week periods, using three planting regimes, with two ‘international indoor-plant’ species. Fourteen VOCs were identified in the office air. When TVOC loads in reference offices rose above 100 ppb, large reductions, of from 50 to 75% (to <100 ppb), were found in planted offices, under all planting regimes The results indicate that air-borne TVOC levels above a threshold of about 100 ppb stimulate the graded induction of an efficient metabolic VOC-removal mechanism in the microcosm. Follow-up laboratory dose-response experiments, reported in the following paper, confirm the graded induction response, over a wide range of VOC concentrations. The findings together demonstrate that potted-plants can provide an efficient, self-regulating, low-cost, sustainable, bioremediation system for indoor air pollution, which can effectively complement engineering measures to reduce indoor air pollution, and hence improve human wellbeing and productivity.     

Metal Enrichment in Zlatna, a Romanian Copper Smelting Town

A preliminary survey of metal concentrations in soil and vegetable samples was undertaken in the town of Zlatna, in western Romania that is dominated by a large copper smelter. One data set (town survey) consisted of soil samples taken from sites both in the centre of the town (near smelter and school grounds) and the outskirts and included those from roadside verges and wooded areas. The second data set consisted of soil samples taken from vegetable garden plots together with an associated sample of spring onion (Allium fistulosum). The aim of this study was to measure levels of the elements Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and As in soil samples from Zlatna in general, and to assess their uptake into home grown vegetables and thus into the food chain. Concentrations of the elements of interest in soils and vegetables peaked southwest of the smelter and also in soils near the school in the town centre. Concentrations of elements in soils from the town, including those near the school, had the following ranges: Cu, 41–12,000, geometric mean 863 μg/g; Zn, 89–15,600, geometric mean 920 μg/g; Pb, 32–7860, geometric mean 740 μg/g; Cd, BDL–329.5, geometric mean 3.35 μg/g; As, 15–1440 geometric mean 223 μg/g; Thus, the residents of Zlatna are potentially exposed to levels of these elements that are higher than the recommended guideline values. Mean concentrations of the toxic elements in spring onions were: Cu, 10.2; Zn, 95; Pb, 11; Cd, 0.8; As 2.6 μg/g dry weight.     

Quantitative monitoring of airborne lead pollution by a foliose lichen

The potential use of lichens as quantitative monitors of airborne heavy metal pollution has been demonstrated by measurements of Po²¹⁰, Pb, Cd, Zn, and V levels in sequential growth of the foliose lichen Pseudoparmelia baltimorensis from three localities in the greater Washington, D.C. area. Samples were dated using the growth rate measured by Lawrey and Hale (1977). Po²¹⁰, Pb, and V increase with age in a given colony. Higher levels of Pb, V, Cd, and Zn are present in samples from the two more polluted sites. The retention of heavy metals is consistent with trapping by an ion exchange mechanism. Since Po²¹⁰ is the daughter product of in situ decay of Pb²¹⁰, accumulated from atmospheric fallout of known rate, its levels can be used to calculate trapping efficiencies of Pb and retrospective fallout rates. These rates are similar to published data from rural and urban areas.     

Effects of leaf age and tree size on stomatal and mesophyll limitations to photosynthesis in mountain beech (Nothofagus solandrii var. cliffortiodes)

Mesophyll conductance, g(m), was estimated from measurements of stomatal conductance to carbon dioxide transfer, g(s), photosynthesis, A, and chlorophyll fluorescence for Year 0 (current-year) and Year 1 (1-year-old) fully sunlit leaves from short (2 m tall, 10-year-old) and tall (15 m tall, 120-year-old) Nothofagus solandrii var. cliffortiodes trees growing in adjacent stands. Rates of photosynthesis at saturating irradiance and ambient CO(2) partial pressure, A(satQ), were 25% lower and maximum rates of carboxylation, V(cmax), were 44% lower in Year 1 leaves compared with Year 0 leaves across both tree sizes. Although g(s) and g(m) were not significantly different between Year 0 and Year 1 leaves and g(s) was not significantly different between tree heights, g(m) was significantly (19%) lower for leaves on tall trees compared with leaves on short trees. Overall, V(cmax) was 60% higher when expressed on the basis of CO(2) partial pressure at the chloroplasts, C(c), compared with V(cmax) on the basis of intercellular CO(2) partial pressure, C(i), but this varied with leaf age and tree size. To interpret the relative stomatal and mesophyll limitations to photosynthesis, we used a model of carbon isotopic composition for whole leaves incorporating g(m) effects to generate a surface of 'operating values' of A over the growing season for all leaf classes. Our analysis showed that A was slightly higher for leaves on short compared with tall trees, but lower g(m) apparently reduced actual A substantially compared with A(satQ). Our findings showed that lower rates of photosynthesis in Year 1 leaves compared with Year 0 leaves were attributable more to increased biochemical limitation to photosynthesis in Year 1 leaves than differences in g(m). However, lower A in leaves on tall trees compared with those on short trees could be attributed in part to lower g(m) and higher stomatal, L(s), and mesophyll, L(m), limitations to photosynthesis, consistent with steeper hydraulic gradients in tall trees.     

Prey switching in red-necked phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus: Feeding limitations, the functional response and water management at Mono Lake, California, USA

The ability of red-necked phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus to switch prey under conditions of changing prey abundance at Mono Lake, California, was tested in order to predict the potential effects of continued water diversions there on migratory waterbird populations. Red-necked phaloropes cannot switch prey because they are incapable of surviving on a diet of just the hardier of two invertebrates threatened by salinity increases at Mono Lake. Individuals experimentally limited to brine shrimp Artemia monica as a primary prey source lost mass rapidly until death ensued, or until they were offered other prey. These data show that a marked preference for one prey may indicate important physiological limitations in a predator. Such limitations may partly explain Murdoch's empirically supported prediction (Ecol. Mongr. (196), 39, 335-54) that prey switching will not occur where strong prey preferences exist. These results also indicate that strong prey preferences of migratory birds can, and probably should, help determine water management policy at wetlands of importance to shorebirds, especially in cases where initial prey diversity is low.     

The reproductive biology and genetic diversity of Potamophila parviflora R. Br.

Potamophila parviflora, a wild relative ofdomestic rice, is endemic to the north-eastern river systemsof New South Wales, Australia. It is the only member of the genus,and is habitat specific. Several new sites were found, mostly in theUpper Clarence catchment. Florets of P.parviflora were found to be 86%female-only, while 14% contained mature malereproductive parts, which occurred more often in the middle sectionof the panicle. Pollen was found to be necessary for the developmentof mature fruits. RAPD data showed that there is very little geneticvariation between individual plants, or between differentpopulations. An embryological study showed several irregularities inmegasporogenesis and megagametogenesis. No tetrads were observed inmegasporogenesis and the ovule is vacuolate at the megaspore mothercell stage. Megagametogenesis proceeded rapidly, nuclei within theovule were sometimes not spherical and varied in size, and sometimesthe antipodal cells doubled in number with a corresponding halving insize of the nuclei. Chromosome number varied between 2n = 24and 2n = 25, between and within populations. These resultsindicate that P. parvifloracould be a diplosporous apomict of the Antennaria type, althoughfurther works are required to provide conclusive proof.     

Potential of Trichoderma spp. as consistent plant growth stimulators

In a series of repeated trials, six Trichoderma spp. strains, applied as a dried powder from a liquid fermentation in molasses/yeast medium, proved to be consistent at promoting the growth of lettuce (Latuca sativa L.) seedlings grown in a peat-sand potting compost in the glasshouse. Strains WT, 92, 20, and 75 at 0.75% or 1% w:w concentrations increased shoot dry weight by up to 26%, although WT did inhibit germination. For example, after 4 days only 13% of seeds sown in WT 1% w:w treated compost had germinated, whereas in other treatments germination was consistently greater than 32%. WT increased shoot fresh and dry weights by 14.3 g and 0.6 g per pot, respectively, without affecting the root dry weights, to give concomitant increases in shoot: root ratios of fresh and dry weight. The potential use of these Trichoderma spp. strains for plant growth promotion is discussed.     

Generation of spatially coherent light at extreme ultraviolet wavelengths

We present spatial coherence measurements of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light generated through the process of high-harmonic up-conversion of a femtosecond laser. With a phase-matched hollow-fiber geometry, the generated beam was found to exhibit essentially full spatial coherence. The coherence of this laser-like EUV source was shown by recording Gabor holograms of small objects. This work demonstrates the capability to perform EUV holography with a tabletop experimental setup. Such an EUV source, with low divergence and high spatial coherence, can be used for experiments involving high-precision metrology, inspection of optical components for EUV lithography, and microscopy and holography with nanometer resolution. Furthermore, the short time duration of the EUV radiation (a few femtoseconds) will enable EUV microscopy and holography to be performed with ultrahigh time resolution.     

Genetic regulation of conidiation in Trichoderma hamatun

Achieving a balance between vegetative growth and spore production is essential for successful biocontrol by fungi. Low sporulation rates in the field can result in poor establishment and survival,whereas failure of conidia to recognise hosts can lead to persistence without efficacy. Commercial biocontrol products involve bulk preparations of conidia, however considerable variability in conidiation rates exists between biocontrol agents, which can restrict choice of strain for production. The majority of studies on Trichoderma conidiation have focused on the species T. viride and T. atroviride.These species form conidia in response to blue and near-UV light and/or nutrient deprivation and conidiation proceeds in a highly co-ordinated fashion, however relatively little is known on the genetic basis of Trichoderrma conidiation. In addition, whilst photoconidiation appears to be a general response detailed studies in other Trichoderma species are absent. In this study, conidiation in the lesser known biocontrol species T. hamatum is being investigated using a combined morphological and molecular approach. In contrast to T. atroviride, conidiation in response to blue-light was weaker and variable and suggested that additional triggers may be required for the T. hamatum photoresponse. A series of comparative photoconidiation assays are currently being undertaken investigating the effect of inoculum type and abiotic factors on timing and intensity of the response.Results will be discussed in relation to the current knowledge on conidial morphogenesis in Trichoderma. In addition to these morphological assays, a selection of genes implicated in sporulation and the blue-light responses are currently being isolated and characterised from T. hamatum. Two genes, phr1 and cmp1 , which were isolated previously from T. atroviride will be used as early and late markers of gene expression during the photoresponse in T. hamatum in order to define time points for harvesting comparable stage-specific RNA from T. hamatum and T. atroviride. Using degenerate PCR putative sporulation gene orthologues have also been identified in T. hamatum.Work is currently underway to isolate genomic clones of these genes from T. hamatum and T.atroviride. Sequence and expression analysis of orthologues, including expression in response to abiotic factors will be presented and discussed in relation to the current knowledge of the molecular basis of conidiation in Trichoderma and other filamentous fungi.……