Intensification of arsenic toxicity to paddy rice by hydrogen sulfide and ferrous iron

Abstract

The phytotoxicity of arsenic to paddy rice was examined by the pot culture method using Utsunomiya grey lowland soil which had received nutrient salts including ammonium sulfate with or without additional rice straw powder as a reducing agent.

By treatment with 50 ppm of arsenic and straw, plant growth was retarded from the beginning of culture, and about 6 weeks later, at the middle of July, small reddish black spots emerged near the tips of expanded green leaves. The spots then increased and spread over the whole leaves resulting in bronzing and final dieback in about the mid-August. On treatment with higher concentrations of arsenic and straw, the plants were more severely injured and died through bronzing at earlier stages. All such dead plants were found to have accumulated abnormally high iron in their leaf tissues. On treatment with lower concentrations of arsenic and straw or in the case of higher arsenic without straw, plant growth and grain yield were reduced with the occurrence of partial bronzing or oranging of leaves and the iron content of the plants was somewhat increased.

These results indicate that arsenic may induce ferrous iron toxicity which intensifies the toxicity of arsenic to paddy rice.     

Methane production and its fate in paddy fields

Abstract

Oxidation of methane and total water soluble organic carbon (TOC) in the subsoil, which percolated from the plow layer, was investigated in a column experiment. The amounts of both methane and TOC in the leachate decreased by percolation in the subsoil.

Fe²⁺ percolated from the plow layer was nearly completely retained in the subsoil. The decomposition of methane and TOC in the subsoil was considered to result in the coupling with the formation of Fe²⁺. Methane was estimated to contribute ca. 19–21% to the total amount of Fe²⁺ formed in the subsoil by the organic materials in the leachate.     

Contribution of iron associated with high-molecular-weight substances to the maintenance of the SPAD value of young leaves of barley under iron-deficient conditions

Abstract

In higher plants, it is well known that the retranslocation of iron from old leaves to young leaves is difficult; as a result, iron deficiency leads to interveinal chlorosis, particularly in the young leaves. However, in the case of barley, young chlorotic leaves can grow under conditions of long-term iron deficiency. Previously, we have reported that the distribution and retranslocation characteristics of iron in barley may be better adapted to iron deficiency than those in rice. Furthermore, barley maintained a relatively high chlorophyll index (SPAD value) even when its iron content was not higher than that of rice. In this study, we aimed to predict the chemical form of iron that contributes to the physiologically available iron in barley leaves. To examine the correlation between plant growth and the SPAD value with the amount of fractionated iron, we cultured plant materials in a culture solution containing various iron concentrations. We compared these correlations among barley, rice and sorghum and among three barley cultivars. To compensate for the amount of mugineic acid phytosiderophores (MAs) in the culture solution, we cultured different plant species in the same container. The results revealed that the amount of soluble iron associated with the high-molecular-weight substances (MW >10,000) correlated with the SPAD value of the young barley leaves and the R² value (determination coefficient) of barley was higher than the values of rice and sorghum.     

Synthetic Iron Chelates as Substrates of Root Ferric Chelate Reductase in Green Stressed Cucumber Plants

This work studied the behavior of different iron (Fe)-chelates as substrates of ferric chelate reductase (FCR) and their ability as Fe suppliers for mildly chlorotic plants. FCR activity and Fe concentration in xylem sap were determined in green stressed cucumber plants with different stress levels using different synthetic chelates as substrates. Both reduction and Fe concentration in the xylem sap were higher for the less-stable Fe chelates, except for Fe-EDTA, which presented a relatively low Fe concentration in sap. It was concluded that a high stability of the chelate in the nutrient solution reduces the Fe reduction, but other factors, such as the complexation of the Fe(II) by the chelating agents, should be considered when the complete process of Fe uptake is studied. The use of both indexes together, i.e., FCR determination and xylem sap concentration, is useful for understanding the Fe uptake from different Fe chelates.     

Phytoextraction Potential of Indian Mustard at Various Levels of Zinc Exposure

ABSTRACT

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea Czern.) has the potential to extract zinc (Zn) and other metals from contaminated soils, but the potential to accumulate metals at different levels of exposure is not well documented. The objectives of this research were to assess plant growth and Zn accumulation for different metal-accumulating accessions of Indian mustard grown with various Zn concentrations. In the experiment, three accessions of Indian mustard (426308, 182921, and 211000) were supplied with 12 levels of Zn (ranging from 0.0 to 7.0 mg L^?1) for three weeks in solution culture. Accession 426308 had a greater capacity for dry-mass accumulation than the others, but differences among accessions lessened as the concentration of Zn in solution increased. Accessions did not differ in Zn concentrations in shoots, but accession 426308 had a greater potential to accumulate Zn than the other accessions. Elevating the Zn supply in solutions had a limited effect on increasing the total Zn accumulation of shoots. Plants suffered Zn-induced iron (Fe) deficiency if the Zn concentration in solution exceeded 2.0 mg Zn L^?1. The level of Zn tolerance of Indian mustard accessions was: 211000 > 182921 > 426308. Maximum Zn accumulation in shoots was approximately 5.0 mg Zn per plant. The phytoextraction potential of Indian mustard may be limited under Zn-contaminated conditions by nutrient disorders and toxic effects of Zn that suppress growth.     

Genetic Differences in Resistance to Iron Deficiency Chlorosis in Peanut

Iron (Fe) deficiency has been a widespread problem in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) grown on calcareous soils of northern China and has resulted in significant yield losses. Field observations showed considerable variability in visual chlorosis symptoms among peanut cultivars in the same soil. The objective of this study was to confirm the genetic differences in resistance to Fe-deficiency chlorosis in peanut and to identify feasible indicators for screening Fe-efficient genotypes. Resistance to Fe chlorosis of sixteen peanut cultivars grown on calcareous soil was evaluated in the field and physiological responses to Fe-deficiency stress were studied in nutrient solution. There were significant differences in resistance to Fe-deficiency chlorosis among the sixteen peanut cultivars tested, which was identified with SPAD readings, active Fe concentrations in young leaves in the early growth stages, and the pod yield. For Fe-resistant peanut cultivars, Fe-reduction capacity and quality of releasing hydrogen ions from roots increased under Fe-deficiency stress. Highly correlated relationships were observed between the summation of root Fe reduction and field chlorosis scores for sixteen cultivars (r² = 0.79). It was concluded that Fe-reduction capacity was a better physiological indicator for screening Fe-efficient peanut genotypes of the mechanisms measured.     

Mobility of Iron and Manganese within Two Citrus Genotypes after Foliar Applications of Iron Sulfate and Manganese Sulfate

Seedlings of sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) and Carrizo citrange (C. sinensis L. cv. Washington navel x Poncirus trifoliata)] were grown in plastic pots containing a sand: perlite mixture and watered with a modified Hoagland No 2 nutrient solution throughout the experiment. Three-months-old plants were divided in three groups and sprayed with 0.018 M iron sulfate (FeSO₄ ^.7H₂O), 0.018 M manganese sulfate (MnSO₄ ^.H₂O), or deionized water. Two months later, plants were harvested and divided into top leaves that grown after the treatments, basal leaves that existed prior to the treatments, stems that partially came in contact with the spray, and roots. The manganese (Mn) spray resulted in a significant increase of Mn concentrations in top leaves, basal leaves, stems and roots of sour orange, and in top leaves, basal leaves, and stems of Carrizo citrange. The iron (Fe) spray significantly increased the concentrations of Fe in the stems and basal leaves of both genotypes. For both genotypes, transport of Mn from basal (sprayed) leaves to top (unsprayed) ones was found. However, the results of this experiment did not give any evidence neither for Mn translocation from sprayed tissues to roots nor for Fe transport from sprayed tissues to unsprayed ones (top leaves, roots). Mn and Fe were found to be relatively mobile and strictly immobile nutrients, respectively, within citrus plants after their foliar application as sulfate salts.     

Ratios of Nutrients in Lowland Rice Grown on Two Iron Toxic Soils in Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Iron (Fe) toxicity is a widespread nutritional soil constraint affecting rice production in the wetland soils of West Africa. Critical levels of total iron in plant causing toxicity is difficult to determine as different rice cultivars respond to excessive Fe^{2 +} in various ways in what is called “bronzing” or “yellowing” symptoms (VBS). An investigation was conducted to evaluate the relationship between plant growth and nutrient ratios at four iron levels (1000, 3000, 4000 μ g L^?1) and control. This involved two rice cultivars (‘ITA 212’ and ‘Suakoko 8’), and two soil types (Aeric Fluvaquent and Aeric Tropaquept). The experimental design was a 2 × 2 × 4 factorial in a completely randomized fashion with four replications. The results showed that nutrient ratios [phosphorus (P)/Fe, potassium (K)/Fe, calcium (Ca)/Fe, magnesium (Mg)/Fe, and manganese (Mn)/Fe), Fe content, and Fe uptake vary widely with the iron levels as well as with the age of the cultivars. The iron toxicity scores expressed as VBS increased with increasing Fe^{2 +} in the soils, resulting in simultaneous reduction of the following variables: plant height, tiller numbers/pot, relationships grain yield (GY) and dry matter yield (DMY). There were no significant difference between nutrient ratios, Fe contents, Fe uptake, the GY and DMY of both rice cultivars on both soil types. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that Fe uptake and Fe contents contributed 42% and 17% respectively to the variation in the grain yield of ‘ITA 212’ on Aeric Tropaquept. On both soil types and cultivars, Fe uptake and Fe content contributed between 26 and 68% to the variation in the DMY, while the nutrient ratios (P/Fe, K/Fe, Ca/Fe, and Mn/Fe) contributed between 3% and 13% DMY. Thus, it could be concluded that iron toxicity in rice is more a function of a single nutrient (Fe) rather than nutrient ratios.     

Influence of Plant Phosphorus and Iron Concentrations on Growth of Soybean

Growth responses to phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) are commonly assessed based on element concentrations to which plants are exposed. Such data offer little insight about responses to the concentration of P and Fe actually accumulated in plants. In this study, soybean (Glycine max Merr., cv. ‘Biloxi’) was grown on nutrient solutions to induce varying P and Fe concentrations in plant tissues. Leaf P and Fe concentrations were correlated at lower concentrations. However, under high P treatments there was an apparent excess of accumulated P based on plant response. These results were interpreted to indicate that these plants could accumulate P in excess of the amount required for normal physiological activity. There appeared to be no excess accumulation of Fe so that correlations between leaf Fe concentration and leaf area and plant mass were significant for all data. Root mass did not correlate significantly with either leaf P or Fe concentration.     

Phosphorus Efficiency in Sunflower Cultivars and Its Relationships with Phosphorus,Calcium, Iron,Zinc and Manganese Nutrition

ABSTRACT

Phosphorus (P) efficiency (shoot dry weight at low P/shoot dry weight at high P) of a cultivar is the ability to produce a high yield in a soil that is limited in that element for a standard genotype. The large variation in P efficiency of different crops provides opportunities for screening crop species that perform well on low phosphorus soil. To explain the differences in P efficiency of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivars a glasshouse pot experiment was conducted by using P-deficient soil [0.5 M sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)-extractable P 8.54 mg kg^?1] treated with 0 (low P) and 100 mg P kg^?1 soil (high P). The relationship between P efficiency and P, calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) nutrition and anthocyanin accumulation was investigated in ten sunflower cultivars. Phosphorus deficiency resulted in significant decreases in the shoot and root yield. Phosphorus-efficient cultivars have the ability to produce higher yield than the inefficient cultivars in a limited P conditions. Our results showed that P-efficient cultivars had lower P concentrations, but higher P content in low P conditions. Phosphorus-efficient cultivars also have lower Ca and Fe concentrations in low P conditions but not in P-sufficient conditions. Applied P resulted in significant decreases in Zn concentrations in the shoots of the cultivars. Anthocyanin concentrations showed an accumulating pattern in all cultivars under P deficiency. The results demonstrated that phosphorus efficiency of the sunflower cultivars depends on their ability to produce higher yield and take up more P, and lower the concentration of Ca and Fe in shoots under low P conditions.