Aluminum toxicity in plants grown in solution culture

Abstract

Earlirose rice (Oryza sativa L. ) and Hawkeye soybeans (Glycine max L.) were grown in solution culture with A1₂(SO₄)₃ in concentrations of 0, 10^‐6, 10^‐5, 10^‐4, 10^‐3 M. Only at 10^‐4 (slightly) and at 10^‐3 M were there yield depressions due to Al. The threshold concentration of Al for toxicity was about 20 μg/g in rice shoots and about 30 μg/g in soybean leaves. The solution level necessary for these concentrations was 8 μg Al/ml. Plant concentrations which caused severe toxicity were 70 μg Al/g plant with 81 μg Al/ml solution. Most Al remained in roots, but leaves contained more than did stems of soybeans. The high Al decreased Fe, Cu, and Mn concentrations in shoots of rice and decreased Fe, Cu, and Zn in roots of rice. The high Al resulted in decreased Fe and Zn in leaves of soybeans. No Fe deficiency symptoms were present due to the high Al.     

Changes in Anthocyanin Content as Indicator of Maize Sensitivity to Selenium

The aim of this experiment was to examine the effect of exogenous selenium (Se) on anthocyanin and chlorophyll accumulation, Se content, as well as the growth of maize (Zea mays var. ‘saccharata Kcke’) cv. ‘Zlota Karlowa’ seedlings. Plants were grown hydroponically in Hoagland's nutrient solution at different pH values: 4.5, 6.2, and 7.5. Selenium was added to the solution as either selenate (Na₂SeO₄) or selenomethionine (C₅H₁₁NO₂Se) to a final concentration of: 0 (control), 5, 25, 50, and 100 μ M Se. Generally, the presence of Se in the medium caused an increase in the anthocyanin content and a simultaneous decrease of the total chlorophyll concentration depending on the Se form and dosage. Higher concentrations of anthocyanin were detected in the presence of selenomethionine than selenate, notably at pH 4.5. The effect of individual Se forms on maize seedlings, expressed on the basis of the fresh weight, indicate that selenomethionine was more phytotoxic than selenate. Selenium content both in roots and shoots increased linearly with increasing Se concentration in solution culture. However, a much higher Se level was found in the maize organs when plants were supplied with selenomethionine than selenate. Experimental evidence shows that the changes in anthocyanin content can be used as a test parameter reflecting the degree of Se toxicity in maize plants, and may be potential useful for bioindication of Se phytotoxicity in other higher plants.     

Effects of pH and selenium oxidation state on the selenium accumulation and yield of alfalfa

Experiments were performed in greenhouse sand culture to determine the effect of pH and Se oxidation state on the tissue composition and yield of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Alfalfa was planted and irrigated with nutrient solution containing 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 or 3.0 mg Se L^‐1 as Na₂SeO₃ or Na₂SeO_l4. The solution pH was maintained at 7.0 ± 0.2 or 4.5±0.2. Three harvests were made and the shoots and roots weighed and analyzed for total Se. At the levels tested, additions of Se to the treatment solutions increased the tissue Se concentrations and depressed alfalfa shoot growth regardless of Se oxidation state or pH. Root growth was reduced in the presence of Se(VI) but was unaffected by Se(IV). Selenium was accumulated to higher concentrations in the shoot when supplied as Se(VI) compared to Se(IV) and accumulated to higher concentrations in the root when added as Se(IV) compared to Se(VI). Relative shoot yields were depressed more by Se(IV) then Se(VI) at pH 7, but there was no difference between Se(IV) and Se(VI) at pH 4.5. Relative root yields were depressed by Se(VI) but not by Se(IV).     

Interactive effects of sodium chloride,sodium sulfate,calcium sulfate,and calcium chloride on snapbean growth,photosynthesis, and ion uptake

Excessive sodium (Na) accumulation in soil, which can be a problem for production agriculture in arid and semiarid regions, may be ameliorated by calcium (Ca). The mechanisms of Ca amelioration of Na stress in plants have received much more attention than has the effect of the anion of the Ca salt. Our objective was to determine the relative effects of the chloride (Cl^‐) and sulfate (SO₄ ^2‐) anions on Ca amelioration of Na stress. We exposed Phaseolus vulgaris L., cv. Contender seedlings growing in 1‐L styrofoam pots under greenhouse conditions to sodum chloride (NaCl) or sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄) at concentrations of 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 mmol/L combined with either 15 and 30 mmol/L of calcium sulfate (CaSO₄) or calcium chloride (CaCl₂). Plants in each styrofoam pot were irrigated with 300 mL of salt solution (leaching fraction = 0.25) every fourth day for four weeks. Increasing Na concentration decreased shoot dry weight, number and weight of pods, and number of nodules. The photo‐ synthesis rate was affected by all levels and types of Na salts. Calcium sulfate treatments ameliorated Na‐induced salinity in snapbeans more than did comparable CaCl₂ treatments. The thermodynamic activity of Ca, Na, and Cl was linearly related to the tissue content of each ion.     

Phytotoxic Effects of Residual Glufosinate on the Nitrogen Assimilation of Transplanted Rapeseed Seedlings

Herbicide application is an efficient method to control weed growth in modern agriculture production, but there is concern about the ecological impact of unwanted herbicide residues in the soil. Rapeseed varieties ZS11 and D148 were used to evaluate the phytotoxic effects of residual glufosinate on the assimilation of nitrogen (N) in rapeseed seedlings transplanted to untreated [0 g hm^?2 glufosinate] or treated [450 g hm^?2 and 900 g hm^?2 glufosinate] soils. Glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activities, the contents of ammonium (NH₄⁺), free amino acids (FAA), and soluble protein (SP), and seedling dry weight (DW) were determined at 5, 8, 11, 20, 40, and 70 d post-transplant. Both concentrations of glufosinate induced physiological phytotoxicity on the N assimilation of transplanted seedlings of both varieties, as their leaves and roots presented reduced GS activities and SP contents, and increased GDH activities, and NH₄⁺ and FAA content. Glufosinate phytotoxicity on the N assimilation of transplanted seedlings reached a plateau at 11 to 20 d. further, GDH in roots and GS in leaves were still significantly different at 70 d. Meanwhile, ZS11 might be more sensitive to glufosinate than D148 since ZS11 had more variation than D148 at the same treatment, and the overdose of glufosinate more strongly inhibited N assimilation than the recommended dose. Therefore, it is essential to apply a suitable glufosinate dose to the transplanted variety, to minimize adverse effects on crops and the environment.

Abbreviations: N, Nitrogen; GS, Glutamine synthetase; GDH, glutamate dehydrogenase; NH₄⁺, ammonium; FAA, free amino acids; SP, soluble proteins; DW, Dry weight; ANOVA, one-way analysis of variance; NO₃^?, nitrate; OECD, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; PPT, phosphinothricin; USEPA, United States Environmental Protection Agency     

Alleviation effects of calcium and potassium on cadmium rhizotoxicity and absorption by soybean and wheat roots

The objectives of the present study were to investigate the root responses of soybean (Glycine max L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings to cadmium (Cd) stress and to investigate the alleviation effects of Ca and K on rhizotoxicity and absorption of Cd by roots. Soybean and wheat seedlings in a hydroponic system were exposed to Cd‐spiked solutions (0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 μM) with different Ca (0.5, 1, and 10 mM) and K (0.3, 1.2, and 9.6 mM) levels for 7 d. The results showed a dramatic reduction in root elongation of soybean due to increased Cd, but increasing Ca and K levels alleviated this reduction in soybean. The amelioration of Cd toxicity by the addition of Ca may be associated with reduced Cd absorption. However, the addition of K in reducing Cd toxicity might not be dependent upon Cd absorption. Compared with soybean, wheat showed a relatively high tolerance to Cd. The alleviation of Cd rhizotoxicity in wheat was more apparent by K than by Ca. We found that the addition of K promoted root elongation but not directly prevent Cd stress, and that the addition of Ca minimized acute rhizotoxicity of Cd in wheat. Moreover, the addition of Ca reduced Cd absorption by soybean and wheat roots. However, the addition of K only reduced Cd absorption by wheat roots.     

Evaluation of Rice Genotypes under Propionate Stress

Abstract

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the response of 25 rice genotypes to propionate, a compound largely produced in low‐drainage and high‐organic matter‐content soils. The work was performed in hydroponics with four doses and a random block design with three replications. The variables measured were root (RL) and shoot (SL) length, number of roots (NR), and root (RDM) and shoot (SDM) dry matter. Analyses of variance, relative performance, and regression fitting were performed, showing significance for most variables. The variable RL was the most affected by propionate, and the use of this variable for screening genotypes indicated 6 tolerant and 19 sensitive genotypes. Most tolerant genotypes belonged to irrigated japonica.     

Determination of Zinc Phytoavailability in Soil by Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films

Assessment of zinc (Zn) phytoavailability by the newly developed technique of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) has started gaining more importance because of some advantages over routine soil extractants. A greenhouse study was conducted to determine Zn phytotoxicity thresholds and the phytoavailability of Zn to sorghum sudan (Sorghum vulgare var. sudanese) grass by DGT, compared with calcium chloride (CaCl₂) extraction. Treatments were five Zn levels and two soil pH (6.5 and 6). To obtain various amounts of Zn phytoavailability, soils having two different pH values were amended with zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) at rates of 0, 150, 300, 600, and 1200 mg Zn kg^?1. Control soil (pH = 6.5) was treated with predetermined elemental sulfur to create different soil pH values (6). Shoot and root Zn concentrations ranged from 27 to 827 mg kg^?1 and 101 to 2858 mg kg^?1, respectively. In general, the Zn concentrations in shoots and roots were increased by increasing Zn concentrations and soil pH. Increasing applied Zn to soil decreased the plant biomass yield and increased adsorption of Zn by DGT. Calcium (Ca) to Zn ratios for all treatments except controls were <26 for shoots and <13 for roots. The CaCl₂‐extractable Zn and effective concentration (C_E) correlated well with plant Zn concentration. A critical shoot Zn concentration for 90% of the control yield was chosen as an indicator of Zn toxicity. The performance of DGT, CaCl₂ extraction, Ca/Zn ratio and plant Zn concentrations were similar for assessing Zn phytoavailability.     

Organic Amendment,Fertilizer, and Lime Effects on Bareroot Jeffrey Pine Outplanted on a Sierra Nevada Surface Mine

Abstract

Composted organic matter, controlled release fertilizer, and dolomitic lime soil amendments were evaluated for their effectiveness in facilitating the reforestation of an acidic, semiarid Sierra Nevada surface mine with bareroot Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.). Single application rates were used for the organic matter (2.0 L) and lime (28 g) amendments while low and high rates (8 g and 16 g, respectively) of the chemical fertilizer, High N 22-4-6 + Minors, were employed. All amendments were administered at outplanting using the minisite application method. The organic and lime amendments suppressed seedling survival, more so with the former than the latter, but this result did not extend to the High N fertilizer. Growth was also suppressed by the organic and lime amendments, although there was some evidence that these responses were waning late in the study, while High N was exceedingly stimulatory, especially with the high application rate. Annual assessment of seedling nutrition during this three-year study revealed numerous High N and organic matter treatment influences. Among them, increases in foliar N, P, and K and reductions in Fe, Mn, Zn, and Al were prominent within the High N treatments, but particularly so at the high application rate. For the organic matter treatment, the above increases and decreases in elemental concentrations were again noted, although the nutritional responses to this treatment were generally more subdued and somewhat ephemeral in comparison with those to High N. Calculation of base cation/metallic element molar ratios revealed that the organic matter treatment had the highest Ca/Al, Ca/Mn, Mg/Al, Mg/Mn, K/Al, K/Mn, and K/Cu during the initial season, but exerted little influence on these ratios thereafter. The High N treatments produced the highest Ca/Cu and Mg/Cu in the first season, the highest Ca/Al, Mg/Al, K/Al, and K/Mn in the second, and the highest Ca/Al, Mg/Al, Mg/Mn, K/Al, and K/Mn in the third season, with the high application rate especially prominent. Seedling nutrition was, at best, minimally affected by liming, with perhaps its most notable influence that of counteracting the positive responses indicated above with regard to the organic amendment effects on molar ratios. Overall, these results indicate that in the reforestation of difficult sites such as eastern Sierra Nevada surface mines, the favorable responses to controlled release fertilization can not be duplicated using composted organic amendments, and furthermore, dolomitic lime applications by the method used here are likely to prove exceedingly detrimental to seedling establishment.