Seasonal and inter-annual variation of Beryllium-7 deposition in birch-tree leaves and grass in the northeast upland area of the Czech Republic

The activity concentrations of Beryllium-7 (⁷Be), a naturally occurring radioisotope produced in the atmosphere, were measured in leaves of birch-trees, above-ground parts of grass, soil and rainwater in the mountain massive Kralicky Sneznik (the northeast of the Czech Republic, altitude about 750 m) in the years of 2005, 2006 and 2007. Dried and ground samples of the plants and soils, and water samples from wet deposition were used to determine the ⁷Be content using a semiconductor gamma spectrometer. The ⁷Be values ranged from 147.0 to 279.6 Bq kg⁻¹, from 48.7 to 740.8 Bq kg⁻¹, from 2.1 to 8.7 Bq kg⁻¹, and from 0.6 to 1.9 Bq kg⁻¹ in birch-tree leaves, grass samples, soils, and rainwater, respectively. Insignificant inter-annual variations but significant increase in the ⁷Be activity concentrations during the spring and summer months were observed in birch-tree leaves and grass samples. The seasonal variation of the ⁷Be concentrations in grass samples correlated (R² = 0.4663 and 0.6489) with precipitation. No similar correlation was found for ⁷Be in birch-tree leaves. Beryllium-7 content in birch-tree leaves and in aerial parts of grass was mainly caused by direct transport of ⁷Be from wet deposition into aerial parts of the observed plants.     

Uptake of cadmium into cells in culture∗

Cadmium has been recognized as pollutant of the environment for many years and numerous studies on its toxic effects have been carried out. Little, however, is known about its metabolic behaviour e.g. why the metal is accumulated so extremely rapidly into the organs of men and animals. Since the study of the individual metabolic steps is very difficult in vivo cell cultures may be used to obtain first indications of what happens in the whole animal.

We used CHO cells in monolayer culture to study the conditions under which the uptake of cadmium occurs. From serumfree medium the metal is accumulated rapidly in the cells. The uptake is inhibited very strongly by the presence of serum or albumin. Accumulation occurs against a concentration gradient and is dependent on the incubation temperature. Below 10°C no cadmium uptake is seen. Several substances which are known to affect cell metabolism have been used to influence cadmium accumulation. Neither inhibitors of energy production nor microtubule or microfilament disruptors showed any substantial effect. In contrast SH‐group blocking agents markedly reduced cadmium uptake.

The results show that cadmium uptake does not occur by passive diffusion but by some active mechanism.     

硝酸盐对反硝化除磷过程的影响分析

在厌氧/缺氧间歇反应器内考察了硝酸盐进水浓度及进水方式对反硝化除磷过程的影响。结果表明：在缺氧阶段，反硝化除磷菌(DPBs)可将硝酸盐转化为亚硝酸盐，当硝酸盐浓度较低时，DPBs以亚硝酸盐为电子受体吸磷。进水COD浓度为220 mg/L，正磷浓度为6.8 mg/L，硝酸盐初始浓度为26 mg/L时，系统达到最佳脱氮除磷效果，期间亚硝酸盐浓度积累至10.71 mg/L。采用连续流投加硝酸盐的方式更利于氮磷的高效去除。     

Ammonium and nitrate tolerance in lichens

Since lichens lack roots and take up water, solutes and gases over the entire thallus surface, these organisms respond more sensitively to changes in atmospheric purity than vascular plants. After centuries where effects of sulphur dioxide and acidity were in the focus of research on atmospheric chemistry and lichens, recently the globally increased levels of ammonia and nitrate increasingly affect lichen vegetation and gave rise to intense research on the tolerance of lichens to nitrogen pollution. The present paper discusses the main findings on the uptake of ammonia and nitrate in the lichen symbiosis and to the tolerance of lichens to eutrophication. Ammonia and nitrate are both efficiently taken up under ambient conditions. The tolerance to high nitrogen levels depends, among others, on the capability of the photobiont to provide sufficient amounts of carbon skeletons for ammonia assimilation. Lowly productive lichens are apparently predisposed to be sensitive to excess nitrogen.     

青萍(Lemna minor L.)对氮磷的吸收特征

以西部地区优势浮萍品种青萍为实验对象,研究了青萍对不同浓度硝态氮和磷酸盐的吸收特征。结果表明,硝态氮浓度在1～10 mg/L范围内,青萍对硝态氮有较好的吸收效果,M-M方程可以较好地描述硝态氮浓度与青萍对硝态氮的吸收速率之间的关系,通过M-M方程拟合得到青萍对硝态氮的最大吸收速率为0.1167 mg/(g FW.h),亲和力常数为6.9274。磷酸盐浓度在0.1～1.0 mg/L范围内,青萍对磷酸盐也有较好的吸收效果,二次多项式回归可以较好地描述青萍吸收速率与磷酸盐浓度的关系,回归方程得到青萍对磷酸盐的最大吸收速率为0.0193 mg/(g FW.h),对应磷酸盐浓度为0.6 mg/L。     

Biomass and nutrient concentration of sweet corn roots and shoots under organic amendments application

Two field experiments were conducted at the Waimanalo research station on the island of O'ahu, Hawaii to study the effect of chicken (CM) and dairy (DM) manures on biomass and nutrient concentration in sweet corn roots and shoots. Sweet corn (super sweet 10, Zea Mays L. subsp. mays) was grown for two consecutive growing seasons under four rates of application (0, 168, 337, and 672 kg ha^{? 1} total N equivalent) and one time (OTA) or two time (TTA) applications of organic manure types and rates. There were significant effects of types, rates, and number of manure applications on dry biomass and macro- and micro-nutrient concentration in roots and shoots tissues. Results of root tissue indicated a significant accumulation of N and C under CM and DM treatments compared with the control treatment. Manure application rates significantly increased the accumulation of N and C in root tissue. Dry weight of roots and shoots and both macro- and micro-nutrient contents in the plant tissues significantly increased under TTA treatment compared with OTA treatment. There was a significant correlation (r² = 0.46 to 0.81) between root biomass, macro-, and micro-nutrient contents during both growing seasons. The results of the study indicates that amending soils with CM at the highest application rate provided the best crop performance in terms of root and shoot biomass, crop N, C, and other macro- and micro-nutrients.     

Effect of microbial siderophore DFO-B on Cd accumulation by Thlaspi caerulescens hyperaccumulator in the presence of zeolite

Hyperaccumulators are grown in contaminated soil and water in order that contaminants are taken up and accumulated. Transport of metals from soil to plant is initially dependent on the solubility and mobility of metals in soil solution which is controlled by soil and metal properties and plant physiology. Complexation with organic and inorganic ligands may increase mobility and availability of metals for plants. In this work the influence of desferrioxamine-B (DFO-B), which naturally is produced in the rhizosphere, and zeolite on Cd accumulation in root and shoot of Thlaspi caerulescens (Cd hyperaccumulator) was investigated. Plants were grown in pots with clean quartz sand, amended with 1% zeolite; treatment solutions included 0, 10, and 100 μM Cd and 70 μM DFO-B. Addition of zeolite to the quartz sand significantly reduced Cd concentration in plant tissues and translocation from root to shoot. On contrary, DFO-B considerably enhanced Cd sorption by roots and translocation to aerial part of plants. Treating the plants with zeolite and DFO-B together at 10 μM Cd resulted in reduction of the bioaccumulation factor but enhancement of Cd translocation from root to shoot at the rate of 13%. In contrast, at 100 μM Cd in the solution both bioaccumulation and translocation factors decreased. Total metal accumulation as a key factor for evaluating the efficiency of phytoremediation was highly influenced by treatments. Presence of zeolite in pots significantly decreased total Cd accumulation by plants, whereas, DFO-B clearly enhanced it.     

土壤镉处理对棉花镉吸收及分布规律的影响

用CdCl2将盆栽土壤Cd浓度处理为1mg／kg、5mg／kg、10mg／kg、20mg,／kg、30mg／kg种植棉花，研究棉花对镉的吸收及镉在棉花体内的分布规律。结果表明，当土壤镉浓度小于30mg／kg时，镉在棉花体内的分布呈现不同的规律。当土壤镉浓度小于5mg／kg时，镉主要分布在棉花的地上部；当土壤镉浓度大于20mg／kg时，镉主要分布在棉花的叶片、根、茎中，其中叶片的镉含量最高，棉絮镉含量最低。不同镉污染水平下，棉花的镉富集系数均小于1。当土壤镉污染浓度为5mg／kg时，棉花叶片的镉富集系数为0．76。在同一镉污染水平下，棉花叶片的镉转运系数最高。当土壤镉含量小于20mg／kg时，棉花茎、叶、棉絮的转运系数平均为4．63。     

Uptake of 14C-atropine and/or its transformation products from soil by wheat (Triticum aestivum var Kronjet) and their translocation to shoots

Plant uptake of toxins and their translocation to edible plant parts are important processes in the transfer of contaminants into the food chain. Atropine, a highly toxic muscarine receptor antagonist produced by Solanacea species, is found in all plant tissues and can enter the soil and hence be available for uptake by crops. The absorption of atropine and/or its transformation products from soil by wheat (Triticum aestivum var Kronjet) and its distribution to shoots was investigated by growing wheat in soil spiked with unlabeled or ¹⁴C-labeled atropine. Radioactivity attributable to ¹⁴C-atropine and its transformation products was measurable in plants sampled at 15 d after sowing (DAS) and thereafter until the end of experiment. The highest accumulation of ¹⁴C-atropine and/or its transformation products by plants was detected in leaves (between 73 and 90% of the total accumulated) with lower amounts in stems, roots, and seeds (approximately 14%, 9%, and 3%, respectively). ¹⁴C-Atropine and/or its transformation products were detected in soil leachate at 30, 60, and 90 DAS and were strongly adsorbed to soil, with 60% of the applied dose adsorbed at 30 DAS, plateauing at 70% from 60 DAS. Unlabeled atropine was detected in shoots 30 DAS at a concentration of 3.9 ± 0.1 μg kg^?1 (mean ± SD). The observed bioconcentration factor was 2.3 ± 0.04. The results suggest a potential risk of atropine toxicity to consumers.