Eichhornia crassipes capability to remove naphthalene from wastewater in the absence of bacteria

The aim of the current study was to investigate the potential of an aquatic plant, the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) devoid rhizospheric bacteria, to reduce naphthalene (a polyaromatic hydrocarbon) present in wastewater and wetlands.The capability of sterile water hyacinth plants to remove naphthalene from water and wastewater was studied in batch systems. Water hyacinths enhance the removal of pollutants through their consumption as nutrients and also through microbial activity of their rhizospheric bacteria.Experimental kinetics of naphthalene removal by water hyacinth coupled with natural rhizospheric bacteria was 100% after 9 d. Plants, decoupled of rhizospheric bacteria, reduced naphthalene concentration up to 45% during 7 d. Additionally, naphthalene uptake by water hyacinth revealed a biphasic behavior: a rapid first phase completed after 2.5 h, and a second, considerably slower rate, phase (2.5-225 h). In conclusion, water hyacinth devoid rhizospheric bacteria reduced significantly naphthalene concentration in water, revealing a considerable plant contribution in the biodegradation process of this pollutant.     

Accumulation and biological cycling of heavy metal in four salt marsh species, from Tagus estuary (Portugal)

Pools of Zn, Cu, Cd and Co in leaf, stem and root tissues of Sarcocornia fruticosa, Sarcocornia perennis, Halimione portulacoides and Spartina maritima were analyzed on a bimonthly basis, in a Tagus estuary salt marsh. All the major concentrations were found in the root tissues, being the concentrations in the aboveground organs neglectable for sediment budget proposes, as seen by the low root-aboveground translocation. Metal annual accumulation, root turnovers and cycling coefficients were also assessed. S. maritima showed the higher root turnovers and cycling coefficients for most of the analyzed metals, making this a phytostabilizer specie. By contrast the low root turnover, cycling coefficient and low root necromass generation makes S. perennis the most suitable specie for phytoremediation processes. Although the high amounts of metal return to the sediments, due to root senescence, salt marshes can still be considered sinks of heavy metals, cycling heavy metals mostly between sediment and root.     

Effects of landfill gas on subtropical woody plants

An account is given of the influence of landfill gas on tree growth in the field at Gin Drinkers' Bay (GDB) landfill, Hong Kong, and in the laboratory. Ten species (Acacia confusa, Albizzia lebbek, Aporusa chinensis, Bombax malabaricum, Castanopsis fissa, Liquidambar formosana, Litsea glutinosa, Machilus breviflora, Pinus elliottii, andTristania conferta), belonging to eight families, were transplanted to two sites, one with a high concentration of landfill gas in the cover soil (high-gas site, HGS) and the other with a relatively low concentration of gas (low-gas site, LGS). Apart from the gaseous composition, the general soil properties were similar. A strong negative correlation between tree growth and landfill gas concentration was observed. A laboratory study using the simulated landfill gas to fumigate seedlings of the above species showed that the adventitious root growth ofAporusa chinensis, Bombax malabaricum, Machilus breviflora, andTristania confera was stimulated by the gas, with shallow root systems being induced.Acacia confusa, Albizzia lebbek, andLitsea glutinosa were gas-tolerant, while root growth ofCastanopsis fissa, Liquidambar formosana, andPinus elliottii was inhibited. In most cases, shoot growth was not affected, exceptions beingBombax malabaricum, Liquidambar formosana, andTristania conferta, where stunted growth and/or reduced foliation was observed. A very high CO₂ concentration in cover soil limits the depth of the root system. Trees with a shallow root system become very susceptible to water stress. The effects of low O₂ concentration in soil are less important than the effects of high CO₂ concentration.Acacia confusa, Albizzia lebbek, andTristania conferta are suited for growth on subtropical completed landfills mainly due to their gas tolerance and/or drought tolerance.     

Woody plant roots fail to penetrate a clay-lined landfill: Managment implications

In many locations, regulatory agencies do not permit tree planting above landfills that are sealed with a capping clay, because roots might penetrate the clay barrier and expose landfill contents to leaching. We find, however, no empirical or theoretical basis for this restriction, and instead hypothesize that plant roots of any kind are incapable of penetrating the dense clays used to seal landfills. As a test, we excavated 30 trees and shrubs, of 12 species, growing over a clay-lined municipal sanitary landfill on Staten Island, New York. The landfill had been closed for seven years, and featured a very shallow (10 to 30-cm) soil layer over a 45-cm layer of compacted grey marl (Woodbury series) clay. The test plants had invaded naturally from nearby forests. All plants examined—including trees as tall as 6 m—had extremely shallow root plates, with deformed tap roots that grew entirely above and parallel to the clay layer. Only occasional stubby feeder roots were found in the top 1 cm of clay, and in clay cracks at depths to 6 cm, indicating that the primary impediment to root growth was physical, although both clay and the overlying soil were highly acidic. These results, if confirmed by experimental research should lead to increased options for the end use of many closed sanitary landfills.     

A simple approach to modeling microbial biomass in the rhizosphere

Microorganisms make an important contribution to the degradation of contaminants in bioremediation as well as in phytoremediation. An accurate estimation of microbial concentrations in the soil would be valuable in predicting contaminant dissipation during various bioremediation processes. A simple modeling approach to quantify the microbial biomass in the rhizosphere was developed in this study. Experiments were conducted using field column lysimeters planted with Eastern gamagrass. The microbial biomass concentrations from the rhizosphere soil, bulk soil, and unplanted soil were monitored for six months using an incubation–fumigation method. The proposed model was applied to the field microbial biomass data and good correlation between simulated and experimental data was achieved. The results indicate that plants increase microbial concentrations in the soil by providing root exudates as growth substrates for microorganisms. Since plant roots are initially small and do not produce large quantities of exudates when first seeded, the addition of exogenous substrates may be needed to increase initial microbial concentrations at the start of phytoremediation projects.     

根系分泌物与根际微生物相互作用研究综述

对几种主要根系分泌物与根际微生物之间的相互作用关系和影响机理的研究进行了综述，同时提出了今后在根系分泌物及根际微生态方面需要深入研究的几个问题。     

大豆根系分泌物和根细胞壁对难溶性磷的活化

探讨了不同磷效率大豆品种根系细胞壁和根分泌物对难溶性铝磷的活化与吸收能力。结果表明，砂培条件下，磷高效品种(巴西10号)对难溶性铝磷的吸收显著高于磷低效品种(本地2号)。铝磷处理条件下，根系总表面积巴西10号是本地2号的131％，而钾磷处理二者没有明显差异。根系细胞壁对铝磷的活化表明，大豆苗期根系细胞壁对铝磷的活化量显著高于成熟期。苗期、成熟期巴西10号对铝磷的活化量为本地2号的119％、176％。不同栽培方式根系细胞壁对铝磷的活化量表现为水培大于砂培，水培条件下两个大豆基因型对铝磷的活化量没有差异。不同生育时期、栽培方式根分泌物对铝磷的活化量表现为，成熟期大于苗期，砂培大于水培。巴西10号根分泌物对铝磷的活化量比本地2号分别高出69．3％(成熟期)和40．1％(砂培)。上述研究结果表明，大豆根分泌物和根细胞壁对难溶性铝磷的溶解具有促进作用，有利于大豆对铝磷的吸收。     

Influence of Indian mustard （Brassicajuncea） on rhizosphere soil solution chemistry in long-term contaminated soils： A rhizobox study

This study investigated the influence of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) root exudation on soil solution properties (pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), metal solubility) in the rhizosphere using a rhizobox. Measurement was conducted following the cultivation of Indian mustard in the rhizobox filled four di erent types of heavy metal contaminated soils (two alkaline soils and two acidic soils). The growth of Indian mustard resulted in a significant increase (by 0.6 pH units) in rhizosphere soil solution pH of acidic soils and only a slight increase (< 0.1 pH units) in alkaline soils. Furthermore, the DOC concentration increased by 17–156 mg/L in the rhizosphere regardless of soil type and the extent of contamination, demonstrating the exudation of DOC from root. Ion chromatographic determination showed a marked increase in the total dissolved organic acids (OAs) in rhizosphere. While root exudates were observed in all soils, the amount of DOC and OAs in soil solution varied considerably amongst di erent soils, resulting in significant changes to soil solution metals in the rhizosphere. For example, the soil solution Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations increased in the rhizosphere of alkaline soils compared to bulk soil following plant cultivation. In contrast, the soluble concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn in acidic soils decreased in rhizosphere soil when compared to bulk soils. Besides the influence of pH and DOC on metal solubility, the increase of heavy metal concentration having high stability constant such as Cu and Pb resulted in a release of Cd and Zn from solid phase to liquid phase.     

根系分泌物调控对人工湿地去除雌激素的影响

通过在所构建的3组垂直流人工湿地(CW1、CW2、CW3)中添加不同ρ(DOC)(0、14、28 mg/L,DOC为溶解性有机碳)的美人蕉根系浸出液来模拟根系分泌物浓度变化,考察其对2种SEs(steroidal estrogens,类固醇雌激素)去除效果的影响. 结果表明:①虽然根系浸出液和根系分泌物中的ρ(DOC)存在差异,但二者成分比例类似,均含有多种小分子化合物(如氨基酸、多糖、有机酸、脂肪酸、醇、烷等),并且甘油含量均为最高. ②各组湿地对SEs的去除率表现为CW2>CW3≈CW1,CW2对E1(Estrone,雌酮)、EE2(17α-Ethinylestradiol,17α-乙炔基雌二醇)的去除率最高可分别达到86.9%、72.7%. ③各组湿地全细菌和AOB(ammonia oxidizing bacteria, 氨氧化细菌)平均密度大小表现为CW3>CW2>CW1,NOB(nitrite oxidation bacteria, 亚硝酸氧化细菌)平均密度大小表现为CW2>CW3>CW1,DNB(denitrifying bacteria, 反硝化细菌)平均密度大小表现为CW3>CW1≈CW2,各组湿地基质上生物膜的脱氢酶活性表现为CW2>CW1>CW3.研究显示,适量添加根系浸出液有利于SEs的去除,但根系浸出液中ρ(DOC)过高,可能会对植物根系和特定根系微生物(如NOB)的生长造成毒害作用,并抑制微生物活性,从而影响SEs的去除效果.