Ecotoxicity evaluation of Cu- and Fe-CNT complexes based on the activity of bacterial bioluminescence and seed germination

The toxic effects of the composites of Fe~0 and Cu~0 with different percentages of CNTs were examined based on the activity of bacterial bioluminescence and seed germination. In terms of the EC_50 values, the toxic effects of Cu~0 on bacterial bioluminescence and seed germination were approximately 2 and 180 times greater than that of Fe~0, respectively. The toxicity increased with increasing CNT content in the Cu-CNT mixtures for both organisms,whereas opposite results were observed with Fe-CNT mixtures. The mean toxic effects of Cu-CNT(6%) were approximately 1.3–1.4 times greater than that of Cu-CNT(0%), whereas the toxic effects of Fe-CNT(6%) were approximately 2.1–2.5 times lower than that of Fe-CNT(0%) for both the bioluminescence activity and seed germination. The causes of this phenomenon are unclear at this point. More research will be needed to elucidate the mechanism of the toxicity of nano-mixture materials and the causes of the different patterns of toxicity with Cu-and Fe-CNT mixtures.     

干旱区2种猪毛菜萌发过程对水盐胁迫的生态响应

在实验室内模拟研究的基础上,运用生理生态学的原理,研究了水盐胁迫对钠猪毛菜(salsola nitraria)和散枝猪毛菜(salsola brachiata)种子萌发的影响,结果显示,钠猪毛菜与散枝猪毛菜种子萌发的最适温度分别为25 ℃和15 ℃.在盐溶液和PEG溶液中,2种种子的萌发规律相似,即随着水势的降低,萌发率和萌发速率下降.在盐胁迫下钠猪毛菜和散枝猪毛菜种子萌发的最低水势接近-7.2 MPa;在水分胁迫下2种种子萌发的最低水势均未超过-2.0 MPa,其中,钠猪毛菜种子表现出较强的耐水分胁迫能力.在相同水势条件下,PEG对2种猪毛菜种子萌发的抑制程度显著大于等渗NaCl,说明渗透胁迫是影响2种植物种子萌发的主要因素.     

酸雨对种子萌发影响的实验研究

采用ＰＨ值２．５、３．０、３．５、４．５的酸雨处理小麦种子，观察种子的萌发率、平均萌发天数和萌发势。结果表明：酸雨对种子的萌发率和平均萌发无显著影响，但对种子萌发势有显著影响。     

钒对水稻种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响

通过室内培养的方法,研究了不同浓度钒处理对金优63、T优259两个不同品种水稻种子萌发、幼苗生长及部分生理生化指标的影响。结果表明:低浓度的钒处理能在一定程度上促进两种水稻种子的萌发及幼苗的生长,但随着钒污染浓度的增高,逐渐受到抑制,且根长受影响的程度大于芽长。从生长和生理生化各指标变化情况来看,不同浓度钒处理下,两种水稻幼苗根系脱氢酶活性与叶绿素含量均呈先升后降的变化趋势。T优259对钒污染的抗性大于金优63。     

The response of soil Arthrobacter agilis lush13 to changing conditions: Transition between vegetative and dormant state

This work was aimed at studying the response of soil non-spore-forming actinobacterial strain Arthrobacter agilis Lush 13 to changing natural conditions, such as nutrient availability and the presence of degradable and recalcitrant aliphatic and aromatic substrates. The A. agilis strain Lush13 was able to degrade octane, nonane, hexadecane, benzoate, phenol, and 2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6-dichlorophenols, but not grew on 3,4-dichlorophenol, 2,3,4-, 2,4,5-, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP), pentachlorophenol (PCP), 2-chlorobenzoate, 3-chlorobenzoate, 3,5-dichlorobenzoate, 2,4-dichlorobenzoate. Under growth-arresting conditions due to nitrogen- or multiple starvation or recalcitrant (non-utilizable) carbon source, the studied strain preserved viability for prolonged periods (4–24 months) due to transition to dormancy in the form of conglomerated small and ultrasmall cyst-like dormant cells (CLC). Dormant cells were shown to germinate rapidly (30 min or later) after removal of starvation stress, and this process was followed by breakdown of conglomerates with the eliberation and further division of small multiple actively growing daughter cells. Results of this study shed some light to adaptive capabilities of soil arthrobacters in pure and polluted environments.     

Effects of organic matter on Leymus chinensis germination,growth, and urease activity and available nitrogen in coastal saline soil

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of three organic matters (stalk powder, microbial fertilizer, and manure) on Leymus chinensis germination, growth, and urease activity and available nitrogen (N) in coastal saline soil. The study was conducted in a completely randomized design with eight treatments: J₀V₀Y₀, J₁V₀Y₀, J₀V₁Y₀, J₀V₀Y₁, J₁V₁Y₀, J₁V₀Y₁, J₀V₁Y₁, J₁V₁Y₁. The notations were based on the quantities of each agent added to 1 kg of coastal saline soil: J₀ – no straw powder, J₁ – 0.2 kg straw powder, Y₀ – no manure, Y₁ – 0.3 kg manure, V₀ – no microbial fertilizer, V₁ – 0.2 L microbial fertilizer, each in quantic repeat. L. chinensis was sown as 50 seeds per pot. Results indicated that addition of organic agents exerted a significantly enhanced germination, increase in fresh weight and elevated soil urease activity. Soil available N levels were significantly positively correlated with soil urease activity and fresh weight, but not with germination rate. It is noteworthy that the halophyte L. chinensis showed improved characteristics when grown in coastal saline soil with addition of organic amendments.     

Pd-nanoparticles cause increased toxicity to kiwifruit pollen compared to soluble Pd(II)

In the present study, endpoints including in vitro pollen performance (i.e., germination and tube growth) and lethality were used as assessments of nanotoxicity. Pollen was treated with 5-10 nm-sized Pd particles, similar to those released into the environment by catalytic car exhaust converters. Results showed Pd-nanoparticles altered kiwifruit pollen morphology and entered the grains more rapidly and to a greater extent than soluble Pd(II). At particulate Pd concentrations well below those of soluble Pd(II), pollen grains experienced rapid losses in endogenous calcium and pollen plasma membrane damage was induced. This resulted in severe inhibition and subsequent cessation of pollen tube emergence and elongation at particulate Pd concentrations as low as 0.4 mg L⁻¹. Particulate Pd emissions related to automobile traffic have been increasing and are accumulating in the environment. This could seriously jeopardize in vivo pollen function, with impacts at an ecosystem level.     

Spore inhibition-based enzyme substrate assay for monitoring of aflatoxin M1 in milk

A spore germination-based concept and its transformation into a field level prototype for monitoring aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) in milk was developed. Initially, 15 strains of Bacillus spp. procured from different culture collection were screened for AFM₁ sensitivity using spot assay and marker strain showing inhibition at 0.5 ppb was selected based upon maximum zone of inhibition. The selected strain B. megaterium 2949 was further screened for different enzymes activities and subsequently its spores were produced to an extent of 73.13% ± 3.197% in newly developed sporulation medium containing beef extract (0.0075% ± 0.0004%), yeast extract (0.015% ± 0.001%), peptone (0.0375% ± 0.0016%), and sodium chloride (0.0375% ± 0.0018%). A spore germination-based concept/ assay was optimized by immobilizing spores in eppendorf with pretreated milk (80°C/15 min) containing germinant and chromogenic substrate followed by incubation at 37°C. The appearance of sky blue color within real time of 45 min indicated spores germination and release of specific marker enzyme such as acetyl esterase and its specific action on chromogenic substrate which demonstrates absence of AFM₁ in milk. However, if there was no color change, presence of AFM₁ at 0.5 ppb MRL was denoted by Codex. The developed concept on AFM₁ detection was validated and a correlation of 0.97 was established with AOAC approved Charm 6602 and ELISA at Codex MRL with minimal false positive and negative results. The cost effective test has potential application in dairy farms, manufacturing, and R&D units for routine monitoring of AFM₁ in milk.     

铜-磺胺嘧啶复合胁迫对蔬菜种子发芽的急性毒性效应

研究了黄潮土中常用兽药磺胺嘧啶(SD)与重金属铜(Cu)单一及复合污染对小白菜和西红柿种子发芽(发芽率、根伸长、芽伸长)的影响,分析了土壤中药物浓度与作物生长抑制的剂量-效应关系及复合污染的毒性效应。结果表明,无论是在Cu或SD单一污染物作用下,根伸长和芽伸长抑制率与污染物浓度显著相关(P0.01),发芽抑制率与污染物浓度不相关(P0.05);污染物对根伸长及芽伸长的抑制高于对种子发芽的抑制;SD对2种作物的毒性效应明显强于Cu,SD对小白菜和西红柿根伸长的ID50(抑制率为50%时污染物浓度)分别为1.7和33.6 mg·kg~(-1),而Cu为273.6和457.7 mg·kg~(-1)。Cu-SD复合污染,对西红柿的根和芽伸长的拮抗作用显著(P0.01);但对小白菜来说,在低浓度Cu(100 mg·kg~(-1))作用下,二者的联合拮抗作用不显著(P0.05),随Cu的增加,拮抗作用显著(P0.01)。     

Scotch Pine Pollen under Conditions of Environmental Stress

Environmental conditions causing stress have a significant effect on the generative organs of Scotch pine. The parameters characterizing pine pollen are subject to significant interannual variations and are closely connected with weather and climatic conditions in the period of pollen formation. Airborne pollutants affect the quality of pine pollen, which is especially apparent in the years favorable for the formation of microspores. The ability of Scotch pine pollen to germinate and form pollen tubes in the regions with different technogenic loads proved to be significantly lower than in tree stands of the background areas.