Effects of mycorrhizal fungi on root-hair growth and hormone levels of taproot and lateral roots in trifoliate orange under drought stress

A pot experiment was used to evaluate the effects of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Funneliformis mosseae on plant growth performance, root-hair growth, and root hormone levels in trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings under well-watered (WW) and drought stress (DS). A 9-week mild DS treatment significantly reduced mycorrhizal colonization of 2nd- and 3rd-order lateral roots. Root mycorrhizal colonization was relatively higher in the 2nd- and 3rd-order lateral roots than in the taproot and the 1st-order lateral root under WW and DS. AMF seedlings exhibited significantly higher root-hair density, length (except for the taproot) and diameter in taproot and 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-order lateral roots under WW, and considerably higher root-hair density (except for 1st-order lateral root), length (except for 2nd-order lateral root) and diameter under DS. Mycorrhizal inoculation remarkably increased root abscisic acid (ABA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), methyl jasmonate, and brassinosteroids (BRs) concentrations under DS, in company with the decrease in root zeatin riboside and gibberellins levels and root IAA effluxes. Root-hair traits were significantly positively correlated with root colonization and root ABA and BRs levels. It is concluded that mycorrhizal plants possessed better root-hair growth to adapt mild DS, which is associated with mycorrhizal colonization and endogenous hormone changes.     

Potentially toxic elements in the riparian soils of the Sava River

Purpose

Riparian zone contamination is a growing problem for several European catchments due to high anthropogenic pressures. This study investigates As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations in the Sava River riparian zone, characterized by wide agricultural areas, various geological substrates, and different types of industrial pollution. The accumulation and mobility of these elements were studied because they are listed as priority substances in the Water Framework Directive and environmental objectives for surface waters.

Materials and methods

Sampling was performed during the sampling campaign of the EU 7th FW-funded GLOBAQUA project in September 2015 during a low-water event. Soil samples were collected along the Sava River at 12 selected sampling sites, from a depth of 0–30 cm, at a distance of 10–15 m from the river bank. The extent of pollution was estimated by determining total and readily soluble element concentrations in the soils. Potential ecological risk and the source of the selected elements in the soils was determined using the enrichment factor (EF), potential ecological risk index (RI), and statistical methods such as the principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression analysis (MLRA).

Results and discussion

This study showed that concentrations of the selected elements increase along the Sava. In terms of origin, PCA and MLRA indicated that Cr and Ni in soils are predominantly lithogenic, while As, Cd, Pb, and Zn are both lithogenic and anthropogenic (ore deposits, industry, and agriculture). PCA singled out Cu since its origin in soil is most probably from specific point-source pollution. EF was generally minor to moderate for most of the examined elements, apart from Cu, for which the EF was significant at one sampling site. Overall ecological risk (RI) fell within the low-risk category for most sites, apart from Belgrade sampling site (BEO), where high total Cd content affected individual and overall ecological risk indicators, indicating Cd could represent a considerable ecological risk for the downstream riparian zone.

Conclusions

At downstream sites, there was a noticeable increase in PTE content, with Cd, Cr, Ni, and Zn exceeding the proposed threshold values for European soils, indicating rising contamination in riparian soils. In terms of the ecological risk, only Cd could pose a potential ecological threat for the downstream riparian zone.

     

外源钾对三种不同土壤钾转化影响的研究

采用盆栽试验,在黄棕壤,砖红壤,黑土三种土壤上种植烟草,研究了外源钾对土壤中钾转化的影响,结果表明:在黄棕壤,黑土上,0.0-0.8 g kg-1施肥范围内,随着施钾量的增加,土壤中速效钾和缓效钾的总增量、作物的含钾量均在增加,尤其是在0.8 g kg-1施肥水平时,二者超出了施肥的增加量,说明施钾促进了其它钾的释放;三种土壤中粘土矿物含量为:黑土>黄棕壤>砖红壤。     

施钴对冬小麦产量和蛋白质含量及土壤有效钴含量的影响

采用盆栽试验的方法,研究了石灰性褐土上不同钴施用量对冬小麦产量、蛋白质含量及土壤有效钴含量的影响。试验结果表明:施用适量的钴可以显著提高冬小麦的产量和蛋白质的含量。各施钴处理较对照增产0.98-13.73%, 生物产量增加2.01-18.47%,其中以处理Co3增产最高。在施钴量4mg kg-1以内,随着施钴量的增加,增产效应提高,但当施钴量超过4mg kg-1时,冬小麦的籽粒产量和生物产量增加,但增产效应下降。处理Co1、处理Co2的蛋白质含量分别比对照增加2.14和1.1个百分点,但处理Co3、处理Co4的蛋白质含量分别比对照减少0.07和0.21个百分点。各处理的蛋白质产量比对照增加0.06%-20.02%,其中以处理Co1增加最大,处理Co2次之。土壤有效钴含量与施钴量呈极显著正相关,小麦籽粒中钴含量与施钴量呈显著正相关。     

北京市边缘区土壤重金属污染的初步研究

基础资料为采集于北京城市边缘区的29个土壤剖面表层和底层58个样品6种重金属全量分析数据,以本区重金属自然土壤元素背景值作为评价标准,计算出各样点剖面表层和底层土壤单因子污染指数。应用对应因子分析手段, 初步揭示了北京市边缘区土壤重金属污染的空间分异特征。结果表明,北京市边缘区土壤重金属总体污染状况不明显,只有Hg元素属于轻微污染范围。不同样点间重金属污染水平比较显示,Hg污染水平差异明显,Pb、Cd、As、Zn、Cu污染差异不大。     

Bioindication of Different Stresses in Forest Decline Studies in Slovenia

Determination of the stresses operating on a forest ecosystem demands the use of several bioindication methods. Air quality indicators were assessed from an inventory of forest decline based on the assessment of tree crowns and epiphytic lichens. Photosynthetic pigments, ascorbic acid and major macronutrients were studied in Norway spruce needles as indicators of physiological and biochemical stress. Analyses were carried out on selected forest plots in polluted areas (Zasavje district, vicinity of thermal power plants) and predominantly unpolluted areas (Triglav National Park, Julian Alps, Slovenia). For some bioindication methods, there was good agreement with measured air quality and climatological parameters. The best agreement was found between total foliar sulphur in needles and epiphytic lichens, especially in more polluted areas. Agreement with forest decline inventories and analyses of some needle stress physiological/biochemical parameters was less convincing. The strength of agreement was further decreased by soil characteristics and climatic parameters, influenced also by biotic parameters and forest stand history and management. It was concluded that there is no simple bioindication method available to evaluate the vitality of a forest.     

Influence of land use in small karst watersheds on the chemical status of peloid sediments on the eastern Adriatic coast

Background, Aim and Scope  

Most of the cathment areas supplying water and mineral matter to the Adriatic bays with healing mud/peloids are affected by various degrees of human impact, i.e. activity that is introducing various types of contaminants to environment. The bays represent shallow marine depositional environments where organic-rich sediments accumulate. Investigations for balneological characterization of several localities along the Croatian coast have shown that these organic-rich sediments may be classified as healing mud, i.e. peloids. Healing mud due to its balneologic features is in treatment of various diseases and in improvement of the overall health conditions and general well-being. Various components of mud, particularly trace elements, could be absorbed through dermal contact. Therefore, the study of the abundance of such potentially toxic elements as As, Pb, Hg, Cd, Se, Sb, Cu, Zn in marine sediments used as healing mud is necessary in order to know their mobility and to avoid possible intoxications.     

Chronic toxicity of contaminated sediments on reproduction and histopathology of the crustacean <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gammarus fossarum</Emphasis> and relationship with the chemical contamination and in vitro effects

Purpose  

The aim of the present study was to investigate possible relationships between the sediment contaminants and the occurrence of intersex in situ. Two of the studied sediments were from polluted sites with increased occurrence of intersex crustaceans (Lake Pilnok, black coal mining area in the Czech Republic, inhabited by the crayfish Pontastacus leptodactylus population with 18% of intersex; creek Lockwitzbach in Germany with Gammarus fossarum population with about 7% of intersex).     

Macroinvertebrate Community and Chemistry of the Most Atmospherically Acidified Streams in the Czech Republic

We performed a comparative study of strongly acidified mountain streams covering 10 sites in the Czech Republic in the season 1999/2000. The aim of the study was to determine how acidification influenced macroinvertebrate community structure within a relatively narrow pH range. We focused on strongly acidified, non-humic running waters with low ionic content (pH < 4.6, total organic carbon < 10 mg l^?1, specific conductivity < 100 μS cm^?1) and minimum human influence in the catchment. The actual pH values ranged from 3.98 to 4.65, and concentrations of reactive aluminium ranged from 0.2 to 2.0 mg l^?1. Characteristic macroinvertebrates were the stoneflies Leuctra nigra, Nemurella pictetii, and Protonemura spp.; the chironomids Corynoneura spp.; and the caddisfly Plectrocnemia conspersa – the former two stoneflies formed together 46% of total organisms. The sites were divided into three groups with use of divisive classification. Individual groups reflected similarity in water chemistry, catchment characteristics, and geographical proximity. The largest biotic difference detected by PCA was in the abundance of stoneflies, mainly Diura bicaudata and Leuctra major. The strongest correlation with this gradient was shown by pH (and associated heavy metals), followed by the distance from source. The results show that even in such narrow pH range, the number of taxa is determined by the low pH value and related high concentrations of aluminium and heavy metals.