Source Identification and Speciation of Metals in the Topsoil of the Khli Ti Watershed, Thailand

The enrichment factor, multivariate analysis and metal speciation studies were used to identify degree, source and dispersal of metal contamination in Khli Ti watershed, Thailand. Topsoil samples were collected throughout the watershed, analyzed for total metal concentration. Sequential extraction was also carried out to determine geochemical phases of metals which were identified as exchangeable and bound to carbonates, Fe–Mn oxides, organic matter and residuals. Soil characteristics including pH, total organic carbon, redox potential, cation exchange capacity and texture were also analyzed. Principal component analysis yielded three metal groups which explained 83% of the variance. The concentrations of metals which were derived from lithogenic origin, such as Co, Cr, Fe, Ni and V were in natural background levels and were mostly bound to the residual phase. The remaining elements (i.e. Ba, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb and Zn) were associated with the contamination from previous activities of the Pb-ore concentrator and Zn–Pb mining. Anthropogenic contamination mainly increased Pb and Zn bound to Fe–Mn oxides at the expense of residual fraction. Even though low exchangeable Pb contents in Khli Ti soils indicated low availability to plants, Pb bound to Fe–Mn oxides fraction might increase its mobility under reducing conditions.     

Differential Proteins Expressed in Rice Leaves and Grains in Response to Salinity and Exogenous Spermidine Treatments

Exogenous application of spermidine(Spd) has been reported to modulate physiological processes and alleviate salt-induced damage to growth and productivity of several plants including rice. Employing a proteomic approach, we aimed at identifying rice leaf and grain proteins differentially expressing under salt stress, and in response to Spd prior to Na Cl treatment. A total of 9 and 20 differentially expressed protein spots were identified in the leaves of salt-tolerant(Pokkali) and saltsensitive(KDML105) rice cultivars, respectively. Differential proteins common to both cultivars included a photosynthetic light reaction protein(oxygen-evolving complex protein 1), enzymes of Calvin cycle and glycolysis(fructose-bisphosphate aldolase and triose-phosphate isomerase), malate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase and a hypothetical protein(Os I_18213). Most proteins were present at higher intensities in Pokkali leaves. The photosynthetic oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 2 was detected only in Pokkali and was up-regulated by salt-stress and further enhanced by Spd treatment. All three spots identified as superoxide dismutase in KDML105 were up-regulated by Na Cl but down-regulated when treated with Spd prior to Na Cl, indicating that Spd acted directly as antioxidants. Important differential stress proteins detected in mature grains of both rice cultivars were late embryogenesis abundant proteins with protective roles and an antioxidant protein, 1-Cys-peroxiredoxin. Higher salt tolerance of Pokkali partly resulted from higher intensities and more responsiveness of the proteins relating to photosynthesis light reactions, energy metabolism, antioxidant enzymes in the leaves, and stress proteins with protective roles in the grains.