Estrogenic Effects of Extracts and Isolated Compounds from Belowground and Aerial Parts of Spartina anglica

Menopause, caused by decreases in estrogen production, results in symptoms such as facial flushing, vaginal atrophy, and osteoporosis. Although hormone replacement therapy is utilized to treat menopausal symptoms, it is associated with a risk of breast cancer development. We aimed to evaluate the estrogenic activities of Spartina anglica (SA) and its compounds and identify potential candidates for the treatment of estrogen reduction without the risk of breast cancer. We evaluated the estrogenic and anti-proliferative effects of extracts of SA and its compounds in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. We performed an uterotrophic assay using an immature female rat model. Among extracts of SA, belowground part (SA-bg-E50) had potent estrogenic activity. In the immature female rat model, the administration of SA-bg-E50 increased uterine weight compared with that in the normal group. Among the compounds isolated from SA, 1,3-di-O-trans-feruloyl-(-)-quinic acid (1) had significant estrogenic activity and induced phosphorylation at serine residues of estrogen receptor (ER)α. All extracts and compounds from SA did not increase MCF-7 cell proliferation. Compound 1 is expected to act as an ERα ligand and have estrogenic effects, without side effects, such as breast cancer development.     

互花米草成熟期光合作用日变化特征研究

[目的]为互花米草的防治提供生理生态学依据。[方法]利用LI-6400型便携式光合仪测定成熟期互花米草光合生理特性的日变化及其与环境影响因子的关系。[结果]互花米草净光合速率（Pn）的日变化呈双峰曲线,7：00～9：00迅速升高,9：00左右达到1d中的最大值,9：00～13：00持续下降,出现明显的光合“午休”现象;气孔导度（叫）和蒸腾速率（Tr）的日变化均呈单峰曲线;胞间CO2浓度与净光合速率呈极显著负相关;光强、温度、气孔导度和蒸腾速率的峰值均出现在12：00。[结论]互花米草的光合“午休”现象受非气孔因素和气孔因素的共同影响。     

海涂互花米草与水稻远缘杂交种质资源发掘与创新(Ⅳ)

[目的]发掘互花米草耐盐、水稻高产种质资源,创制海涂粮饲兼用耐盐水稻新种质。[方法]于2009～2011年开展海涂互花米草与水稻远缘杂交研究,采用海涂互花米草与水稻属间远缘杂交育种方法,同时采用四选一突破结合技术——海涂种植筛选、细胞学检测筛选、回交表型筛选、分子标记辅助筛选结合技术,寻找海涂粮饲兼用耐盐水稻新种质。l结果]2009～2010年实际远缘杂交成功率为1．39％。7C14、中香1号2种水稻母本与互花米草（H）父本远缘杂交材料进行RAPD分子鉴定,发现RH一1—10K205-7C14×H、RH．2．8K157-7C14×H、RH-13-9H5一中香1号×H具有与互花米草亲本相同的条带,而同时在水稻亲本中缺失的情形,表明以上远缘杂交种具有互花米草亲本遗传成分;水稻7K339母本与互花米草父本远缘杂交材料经RAPD分子鉴定,杂交种RH-5-10l〈215、RH-6-8K48、RH-12-9H9、RH-14-9H8、RH-16-9H28具有与互花米草亲本相同的条带,而同时在水稻亲本中缺失的情形,表明以上远缘杂交种具有互花米草亲本遗传成分。其余杂交种与互花米草亲本和水稻亲本也存在不同程度的变异。[结论]育出耐盐优质饲料稻新品种,不但解决了沿海开发、盐碱地治理中急需解决的耐盐作物品种问题,而且解决了草食动物精粗饲料问题,同时对于资源利用、农业增效、粮食安全、耕地战略等方面有着重要的科学意义,具有广阔的应用前景。     

互花米草的饲用价值分析

分析不同收割时期闽江口湿地互花米草的营养成分,确定最佳收获期,并探讨互花米草的饲用价值。结果表明,互花米草的最佳收获期是6～9月的营养生长期,在此期间的互花米草粗蛋白13.57%、粗脂肪3.04%、钙0.34%、磷0.18%、天冬氨酸1.37%、谷氨酸0.75%、中性洗涤纤维58.78%、酸性洗涤纤维34.47%、NaCl含量3.51%。互花米草不仅氨基酸组成成分齐全、含量丰富,饲料相对价值(RFV)达98.17%,与杂交狼尾草相近,具有一定的饲用价值。     

The role of the smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora and associated sediments in the heavy metal biogeochemical cycle within Bahía Blanca estuary salt marshes

Background, aim, and scope

Bahía Blanca estuary is characterized by the occurrence of large intertidal areas, including both naked tidal flats and salt marshes densely vegetated with Spartina alterniflora. The estuary is strongly affected by human activities, including industrial and municipal discharges, harbor maintenance, cargo vessels and boat navigation, oil storage and processing, etc. Even numerous studies have reported the occurrence and distribution of heavy metals in sediments and biota from this estuary, although the function of the halophyte vegetation on metals distribution was at present not studied. The main objective of the present study was to understand the potential role of the salt marshes as a sink or source of metals to the estuary, considering both the obtained data on metal levels within sediments and plants from the studied areas at naked tidal as well as vegetated flats.

Materials and methods

The selected study area, named Villa del Mar, was located in the middle estuary coast. The sampling was carried out under low tide conditions, and the sampling area was divided into two parts: A (close to Villa del Mar) and B (north-westerly of Villa del Mar). In each part, two integrated samples of S. alterniflora (the first in the medium-salt marsh and the second in the higher one) were collected. Also sediments associated with the roots of S. alterniflora were taken at the same locations, in addition to another sediment sample from the naked zones of the tidal flats (without any vegetation). After corresponding treatment at the laboratory, plant and sediment samples were mineralized according to Marcovecchio and Ferrer, J Coast Res 21:826–834, 2005), in order to measure their metal concentrations by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Analytical quality (AQ) was checked against certified reference materials from NIES, Tsukuba (Japan).

Results

Most of the Spartina samples have shown highest Cd and Mn concentrations in the aerated parts of the plants, indicating an allocation process from the roots up to the leaves. Most of the samples have presented non-detectable Pb and Cr values. Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn have presented highest concentrations in the underground parts of the plant, suggesting an accumulation process in the roots and rhizomes. In the case of sediments, samples from those sites located far away from Villa del Mar have presented greater concentrations on the sediments associated with underground parts of Spartina than those from the naked tidal flat, for almost all of the metals studied. Unlike this, the samples from the site close to Villa del Mar have shown the higher concentrations in sediments from the naked tidal flat.

Discussion

Marsh plants are known to absorb and accumulate metals from contaminated sediment, and this is one reason that allows wetlands to be used for wastewater treatment. It was observed that those sets of samples from the same salt marsh levels (e.g., A.1 and B.1, or A.3 and B.3) have shown similar heavy metal distribution trends, although even their corresponding concentrations could be different. Thus, the concentrations of Cu, Zn, Ni, and Fe in the medium-salt marshes were higher in the underground tissues (roots plus rhizomes), with the exception of Mn, which was seen to be higher in the aboveground parts. The same tendency occurs at high-salt marshes for these heavy metals, with the exception of Ni. This fact was sustained regarding the fact that the levels mentioned (medium-salt marsh and high-salt marshes) must have the same exposition to heavy metal sources, similar physical-chemical conditions regulating metal distribution within the compartments on the salt marshes or, simultaneously, both mentioned processes. Moreover, metals in this macrophyte can remain after the leaves have died and turned into detritus. The metals present in the detritus can be passed on to consumers (Quan et al., Mar Environ Res 64:21–37, 2007)). Keeping in mind that Bahía Blanca estuary’s salt marshes are inundated twice each day by tidal water for 3–4 h, macrophytes may act as a conduit for the movement of metals from the sediment to the estuarine body and near-coastal system.

Conclusions and recommendations

Considering the comments on the previous paragraphs, salt marshes from Bahía Blanca estuary are sources or sinks for metals? It can be sustained that both are the case, even if it is often stated that wetlands serve as sinks for pollutants, reducing contamination of surrounding ecosystems (Weis and Weis, Environ Int 30:685–700, 2004)). In the present study case, the sediments (which tend to be anoxic and reduced) act as sinks, while the salt marshes can become a source of metal contaminants. This is very important for this system because the macrophytes have been shown to retain the majority of metals in the underground tissues, and particularly in their associated sediments. This fact agreed well with previous reports, such as that from Leendertse et al., Environ Pollut 94:19–29, 1996) who found that about 50% of the absorbed metals were retained in salt marshes and 50% was exported. Thus, keeping in mind the large spreading of S. alterniflora salt marshes within Bahía Blanca estuary, it must be carefully considered as a re-distributor of metals within the system.     

围垦对条子泥互花米草种群年季扩张特征的影响

为了解围垦对入侵植物互花米草种群扩张的影响,借助无人机航测技术,观测了2017年5月—2018年7月江苏盐城滨海湿地条子泥围垦大堤内外互花米草种群面积的年季变化,并结合实地监测数据,分析了土壤含水率、土壤盐度、生长地高程、地表水位对互花米草生长和种群面积的影响。结果表明：围垦显著降低了互花米草的扩张速度,观测期间堤内面积增幅为21%,而未围垦的堤外增幅超过400%,且互花米草扩张具有明显的季节性,堤内和堤外快速扩张的季节分别为秋季和夏季;围垦区土壤含水率和盐度分别较围垦区外平均降低25%和50%;互花米草植株高度与生长地高程之间存在显著正相关性（P<0.01）;互花米草种群的扩张距离与地表水位呈显著正相关性（P<0.01）。研究表明,围垦工程阻断了互花米草海水传播的途径,改变了围垦区土壤水盐条件,进而抑制了互花米草的扩张。     

大米草防除剂--米草净的试验研究

采用小区试验方法,初步筛选研制出一种能够连根杀死大米草且对环境安全的药剂———米草净,能够在60d内连根杀死大米草。试验表明米草净对水生生物安全,使用后30d在土壤中已检测不到残留。     

互花米草与褐煤共热解特性试验

互花米草是一种高Na、K含量的盐生植物,直接燃烧存在结渣与沉积腐蚀问题,而与煤炭共热解可以有效发挥其高碱金属含量的特点。该文采用热重-傅立叶红外联用分析法(thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,TG-FTIR)研究了互花米草与褐煤在质量比(S∶L)分别为1∶4、2∶3、3∶2和4∶1条件下的共热解特性。试验所用互花米草的Na、K质量分数分别为16 064.3和6 175.7 mg/kg,挥发分质量分数为75.40%,褐煤的挥发分质量分数为33.92%。TG分析表明,4种混合原料共热解均产生了协同效应,且主要表现为385~510℃温度区间内互花米草对褐煤热解的促进作用,在该温度区间内共热解反应活化能随互花米草比例的增加呈下降趋势,由褐煤单独热解时的53.62 kJ/mol最低降到S∶L为4∶1时的13.34 kJ/mol,同时共热解比褐煤单独热解反应速率常数升高幅度达到1~2个数量级。热解气体的FTIR分析表明,共热解可以提高热解气体的质量,与单独热解相比共热解可以促进CH4和CO气体的产生。从提高热解气体质量角度分析,4种混合样品中S∶L为3∶2和4∶1的协同效应更为明显。研究表明互花米草可以用作煤炭热解的可弃催化剂,拓宽了互花米草的能源化利用途径。     

滨海湿地互花米草入侵的生态水文学机制研究进展

滨海湿地具有重要的生态服务功能和经济价值,互花米草入侵已经对滨海湿地生态系统产生巨大影响。为深入理解滨海湿地生态系统植被演替过程与水盐梯度等环境因子的耦合关系,完善滨海湿地生态水文学的研究内容和方法,为滨海湿地互花米草生态防治以及滨海湿地生态系统的保护和管理提供科学参考,本文针对水文因子和土壤盐分对互花米草的影响及其生理生态响应、水盐梯度下互花米草的空间格局与生物量反演,以及互花米草的生态格局模拟和预测等方面的国内外相关研究进展进行了梳理和展望。主要结论包括：①水盐梯度决定着互花米草的生理生态特征、物种分布和演替格局;②随着遥感技术的不断发展和地理信息系统技术的不断完善,关于群落尺度上互花米草的空间动态研究也越来越趋向于精确化;③群落尺度上的互花米草格局动态及其生态水文驱动机制的量化将成为今后的研究热点;④在对互花米草空间格局进行预测和模拟时,需综合考虑滨海湿地水动力学过程、植物生理学过程、地形生态演化等过程。     

互花米草切割迹地红树林恢复效果试验

通过对互花米草切割试验,以及在互花米草切割迹地上进行红树恢复试验研究,结果表明:切割对互花米草的萌生株数影响不明显;腋芽数随活根生物量的增加而增加;在互花米草迹地立地条件下造林,1年生木榄裸根苗比1年生的秋茄、桐花树裸根苗更适合;秋茄1年生裸根苗造林最适密度为100 cm×100 cm;秋茄胚轴造林最佳密度为50 cm×50 cm,其次为75 cm×75 cm。