Phytotoxicity and oxidative effects of typical quaternary ammonium compounds on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The large-scale use of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) in medicines or disinfectants can lead to their release into the environment, posing a...     

Screening of Bangladeshi winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars for sensitivity to ozone

The sensitivity to ozone of ten Bangladeshi wheat cultivars was tested by exposing plants to eight ozone exposure regimes (50, 60, 80, 100, 120, 135, 150, and 200 ppb for 14, 11, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 1 days, respectively, for 8 h/day) in controlled environment chambers. Visible leaf injury, dry weight, chlorophyll, carotenoid content, leaf greenness (SPAD value), quantum yield of photosynthesis, and stomatal resistance were measured to evaluate response. Shoot biomass, total chlorophyll, leaf greenness, and carotenoid content were reduced in ozone-exposed plants. Based on the results of principal component analysis (PCA)-biplot analysis, the order of sensitivity to ozone was: Akbar?>>?Sufi?≥?Bijoy?≥?Shatabdi?>?Bari-26?≥?Gourab?>?Bari-25?≥?Prodip?≥?Sourav?>>?Kanchan. The most important parameters to discriminate cultivars with respect to ozone sensitivity were visible injury and chlorophyll b/a ratio, whereas quantum yield of photosynthesis was less important. Differences in stomatal resistance were not a significant factor in ozone response. Regression of cultivars’ PCA scores against year of release revealed no trend, suggesting that ozone tolerance was not incorporated during cultivar breeding.     

Effects of ozone on 14C translocation velocity and growth of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) exposed in open-top chambers

Growth and yield were reduced but (14)C translocation velocity was not affected by increasing levels of ozone in spring wheat exposed in open top chambers to the following treatments: charcoal filtered air (CF), non-filtered ambient air (NF), or NF with addition of 30 microl litre(-1) ozone, 8 h daily (NFO). Destructive harvests were performed at anthesis and at maturity. Parts of the flag leaf or the second leaf were exposed to (14)CO(2) in small cuvettes for 5 min before, during and after anthesis. The translocation velocity was followed by autoradiography and scintillation counting of the plants frozen and lyophilized at different times after labelling. The label was transported at the same velocity in all the treatments. Ozone induced changes in carbon allocation or partitioning should probably be explained as amounts of carbon transported (mg s(-1)), rather than as transportation velocity (mm s(-1)). The amount translocated may be governed by source conditions under O(3) stress: reduced healthy green biomass and photosynthesis, but perhaps also by impairment of phloem loading because of membrane damage.     

Bioaccumulation of lanthanum and cerium and their effects on the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings

Through short-term exposure (7-d exposure), long-term exposure (16-d exposure) and exposure-recovery (7-d exposure + 9-d recovery), the bioaccumulation and distribution of La and Ce and their effects on growth of wheat seedlings were studied. Addition of La (0.5-25 mg/l) and Ce (0.5-25 mg/l) to the culture medium individually and in combination inhibited primary root elongation, reduced the dry weight of roots and shoots and the content of mineral elements (Ca, Mg, K, Cu, Zn). The damage increased with an increase in the concentrations of La and Ce in culture medium. Relative damage ratio increased with an increase in concentrations of La and Ce in the culture medium and with exposure time. Comparing exposure-recovery groups with long-term exposure groups, primary root lengths, dry weight of roots and shoots and the content of five mineral elements were higher. The accumulation of La and Ce in the seedlings was positively correlated with the concentrations of La and Ce in the culture medium and with exposure time. Bioaccumulation factors of La and Ce in roots were much higher than those of shoots. The uptake rates of La and Ce by the plants were much higher than the translocation rates from roots to shoots. The accumulation and distribution of La and Ce in the seedlings in exposure-recovery groups showed that there was very little excretion through metabolism during the recovery period, but redistribution occurred throughout the whole plant. No apparent selective uptake was found between La and Ce by the plants when they were applied in combination.     

Arsenate (As) uptake by and distribution in two cultivars of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Two cultivars of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Jing 411 and Lovrin 10) were used to investigate arsenate (As) uptake and distribution in plants grown in hydroponic culture and in the soil. Results showed that without As addition, Lovrin 10 had higher biomass than Jing 411 in the soil pot experiment; in the hydroponic experiment Lovrin 10 had similar root biomass to and lower shoot biomass than Jing 411. Increasing P supply from 32 to 161 microM resulted in lower tissue As concentrations, and increasing As supply from 0 to 2,000 microM resulted in lower tissue P concentrations. Increasing P supply tended to increase shoot-to-root ratios of As concentrations, and increasing As supply tended to decrease shoot-to-root ratios of As concentrations. Both cultivars invested more in root production under P deficient conditions than under P sufficient conditions. Lovrin 10 invested more biomass production to roots than Jing 411, which might be partly responsible for higher shoot P and As concentrations and higher shoot-to-root ratios of As concentrations. Moreover, Lovrin 10 allocated less As to roots than Jing 411 and the difference disappeared with decreasing P supply.     

Exploring natural colorant behavior of husk of durum (Triticum durum Desf.) and bread (Triticum aestivum L.) wheat species for sustainable cotton fabric dyeing

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Revival of natural colorants in textile dyeing is one of the important strategies to reduce synthetic chemical-based environmental pollution. The...     

Effects of exogenous organic chelators on phytochelatins production and its relationship with cadmium toxicity in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under cadmium stress

Phytochelatins (PCs) have been proposed as a potential biomarker for metal toxicity. In this study, cadmium (Cd) toxicity, PCs production and their relationship in wheat under Cd stress were examined using various exogenous organic chelator-buffered nutrient solutions. Single Cd stress produced strong toxic effects, as indicated by decreases of growth parameters, high level of lipid peroxidation in leaf and overproduction of PCs in root. Exogenous organic chelators with proper dose more or less reduced Cd toxicity by increasing growth parameters and decreasing lipid peroxidation in leaves. Of organic chelators (EDTA, DTPA, citric acid, malic acid and oxalic acid), EDTA was the most effective in decreasing Cd toxicity in plants, followed by DTPA and citric acid. Simultaneously, the concentrations of Cd-induced PCs in roots decreased, and the greatest decrease was caused by application of EDTA and DTPA. Linearly positive relationships were observed between Cd toxicity and root PCs concentrations under the influences of organic chelators, particularly EDTA, DTPA and citric acid. Furthermore, present results provide stronger evidence that PCs synthesis in plant cells was related to free Cd ion concentrations, not total Cd, and demonstrate that the levels of PCs production in plants correlated well with toxic effects caused by the bioavailable Cd levels.     

Effects of tetrabromobisphenol A as an emerging pollutant on wheat (Triticum aestivum) at biochemical levels

Biochemical responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum) to the stress of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) as an emerging pollutant were examined. The results indicated that reduction of the chlorophyll (CHL) content in wheat leaves could be observed. However, the changes in the CHL content with the increasing TBBPA concentration from 50 to 5000 mg kg(-1) were insignificant (p>0.05). Increased malondialdehyde levels were detected in wheat leaves after both 7-d and 12-d exposures. The changes in the activity of superoxide dismutases (SOD), peroxidases (POD) and catalases (CAT) in wheat leaves irregularly fluctuated with time as the TBBPA concentration increased. However, significant (p<0.05) decrease in the activity of POD and CAT treated with 500 and 5000 mg kg(-1) TBBPA could be observed. Our data also showed that the plant has the capacity to tolerate the oxidative stress, but the capacity would be lost with prolonged exposure and increasing TBBPA concentration. There were no dose-response effects in the changes between the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD and CAT) and the concentration of TBBPA. The decrease in the activity of POD and CAT could be considered as good biomarkers of serious stress by TBBPA in soil environment.     

Effects of ozone on the yield of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Albis) grown in open-top field chambers

Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Albis) was grown in the field at a site located in central Switzerland, and exposed to chronic doses of ozone (O(3)) in open-top chambers to study impacts on yield. The experiment was carried out in 1986, 1987 and 1988. The treatments used included charcoal-filtered air (CF), non-filtered air (NF) and non-filtered air to which constant amounts of O(3) (two levels, O(3)-1 and O(3)-2) were added daily from 09.00 until 17.00 local time. Mean solar radiation-weighted O(3) concentrations during the fumigation period were in the range 0.016-0.022 microl litre(-1) (CF), 0.036-0.039 microl litre(-1) (NF), 0.057-0.058 microl litre(-1) (O(3)-1, used in 1987 and 1988 only) and 0.078-0.090 microl litre(-1) (O(3)-2). Fumigation was maintained from the three-leaf stage until harvest. Ambient plots were used as a reference. Plant characteristics examined included straw yield, grain yield, number of grains per head, number of heads per surface area, weight of individual grains and harvest index (ratio of grain weight to total dry weight). Pollutant concentrations and other environmental parameters were monitored continuously inside and outside the chambers. In 1986 and 1987, enclosure mostly increased the values of different parameters, while in 1988, they were decreased. The negative enclosure effect was due to extremely turbulent winds, which caused lodging inside the chambers. In all 3 years, increasing O(3) concentrations negatively affected the parameters studied, except for the number of heads per surface area, which showed no treatment response. Grain yield showed a very sensitive response to O(3). The effect of O(3) on grain yield was due to an effect primarily on grain size and secondarily on grain number. The relative response of grain yield to O(3) was similar in all 3 years, despite year-to-year differences in climatic conditions and enclosure effects. The analysis of the data for combined years revealed an increase of about 10% in grain yield due to air filtration. The corresponding increase in straw yield was only about 3.5%. Exposure-response models were developed for individual years and combined years. It is concluded that, in the study area, ambient O(3) may affect grain yield in spring wheat.     

Responses of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to ozone produced by either electric discharge and dry air or by UV-lamps and ambient air

The aim of the present study was to examine if ozone produced similar effects on spring wheat growth with and without small amounts of nitrogen oxides. Two methods were used to produce ozone: the first method consisted of dry pressurized air fed to an electric discharge generator generating the byproducts, N2O5 and N2O, the second method consisted of ambient air fed to UV-lamps. Two spring wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L. cvs Minaret and Eridano) were exposed in small open-top chambers to charcoal-filtered air, non-filtered ambient air, and non-filtered ambient air with the addition of ozone for 8 h (0900 to 1700 h) daily, for five weeks. Plants were harvested every week. The growth of Minaret was shown to be more sensitive to O3 than that of Eridano. Leaf senescence increased with increasing ozone level in both cultivars. The total above-ground biomass dry weight decreased with increasing ozone concentration in Minaret, but not in Eridano. The Minaret plants reacted with more damaged leaf dry weight and inhibition of growth when O3 was produced by UV-lamps than when O3 was produced by air fed to an electric discharge generator. This could be explained by more nitrogen content per plant but not by increased nitrogen concentration in plant tissue in plants exposed to increased O3 and small amounts of incidental nitrogen oxides.     

Inoculation of Azospirillum brasilense and exogenous application of trans-zeatin riboside alleviates arsenic induced physiological damages in wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Due to increased industrialization, arsenic (As) in the soil has become a serious issue for wheat production since past few decades. We investigated...     

Active carbon-pools in rhizosphere of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration in a Typic Haplustept in sub-tropical India

Study on active and labile carbon-pools can serve as a clue for soil organic carbon dynamics on exposure to elevated level of CO2. Therefore, an experimental study was conducted in a Typic Haplustept in sub-tropical semi-arid India with wheat grown in open top chambers at ambient (370 micromol mol-1) and elevated (600 micromol mol-1) concentrations of atmospheric CO2. Elevated atmospheric CO2 caused increase in yield and carbon uptake by all plant parts, and their preferential partitioning to root. Increases in fresh root weight, volume and length have also been observed. Relative contribution of medium-sized root to total root length increased at the expense of very fine roots at elevated CO2 level. All active carbon-fractions gained due to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration, and the order followed their relative labilities. All the C-pools have recorded a significant increase over initial status, and are expected to impart short-to-medium-term effect on soil carbon sequestration.     

Cold plasma can alleviate cadmium stress by optimizing growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through changes in physio-biochemical properties and fatty acid profile

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Cold plasma (CP) application has increasing interest due to its environmental-friendly, high efficient, and low cost aspects to mitigate deletion...     

外源钙对镉胁迫下苎麻生长及生理代谢的影响

以苎麻为实验材料,采取营养液栽培方式,研究了不同浓度的钙(0、1、5和10 mmol·L-1)在5 mg·L-1 氯化镉胁迫下,对苎麻幼苗生长及植物体内重金属的积累、光合作用、抗氧化作用等的影响。研究结果显示,中浓度钙处理(5 mmol·L-1)能明显缓解镉胁迫对苎麻的毒害作用。与单独镉处理相比,外源5 mmol·L-1钙处理苎麻地上部分和根部的生物量分别为单独镉胁迫下的1.21倍和1.32倍,叶绿素含量增加了19.77%,丙二醛和过氧化氢含量分别下降了19.09%和29.02%,抗氧化酶的活性也发生了相应变化;低浓度钙处理(1 mmol·L-1)显著提高了苎麻茎叶中镉的含量,分别为单独镉胁迫下的2.54倍和3.59倍。由此表明,外源钙和镉的交互作用与外源钙的浓度密切相关。     

Joint stress of chlorimuron-ethyl and cadmium on wheat Triticum aestivum at biochemical levels

Biochemical responses to joint stress of chlorimuron-ethyl and cadmium (Cd) in wheat Triticum aestivum were examined. The joint action of chlorimuron-ethyl and Cd weakened the inhibition of Cd or chlorimuron-ethyl on the formation of chlorophyll. It was deduced that wheat plants had the capability to protect themselves by increasing the activity of the antioxidant enzyme peroxidase (POD) with the exposure time. The joint effect of chlorimuron-ethyl and Cd on the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in leaves was additive, while the joint effect on the SOD activity in roots was determined by the interaction of chlorimuron-ethyl and Cd in wheat. It was also concluded that the change of malondialdehyde (MDA) content in wheat might not be a good biomarker in the oxidative damage by chlorimuron-ethyl, while a decrease in the soluble protein content and POD activity in roots could be considered as a biomarker in the damage of wheat by chlorimuron-ethyl and Cd.     

Protective role of a methanolic extract of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) against Pb toxicity in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings: beneficial effects for a plant of a nutraceutical used with animals

Spinach extracts contain powerful natural antioxidants and have been used to improve the response of animal cells to various stress factors. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of a methanolic extract of spinach (SE) used at two concentrations (21.7 and 217 ppm) on the growth, certain enzymes and antioxidant systems in wheat seedlings under lead stress. When wheat seedlings were grown for 7 days in a solution containing Pb(NO₃)₂ (3 mM), germination and growth were impaired, while signs of oxidative stress were observed. SE (217 ppm) pretreatment was able to protect seedlings from Pb toxicity by both reducing Pb uptake and Pb-induced oxidative stress. As a consequence, almost normal germination, elongation, biomass and α-amylase activity were restored by SE (217 ppm) pretreatment of wheat seedlings, in spite of the presence of Pb. Our results support the protective role and the antioxidant effect of SE against Pb. These results show an amazing similarity to the effects of SE in animals, which suggests that providing “nutraceuticals” to plants could improve their “health” status.     

Effects of fulvic acid on the bioavailability of rare earth elements and GOT enzyme activity in wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Fulvic acid (FA) was extracted and purified from natural soil and the effects of such FA on the bioaccumulation of rare earth elements (REEs, La3+, Gd3+ and Y3+) in wheat seedling were investigated. The results indicated that low concentration of FA (<0.4 mg C/l to root, <0.7 mg C/l to tops (stem and leaves)) could increase the bioaccumulation values of REEs in wheat, but when the concentration of FA was high (>0.4 mg C/l to root, >1.5 mg C/l to tops) the bioaccumulation values were decreased. Kinetic experimental results suggested that bioaccumulation values of REEs in roots for 30 days were correlated with the kinetic linear growth equation, and correlation coefficients were higher than 0.861. The kinetic bioaccumulation pattern of REEs in tops was different from that in root. The bioaccumulation values of REEs in wheat root were much higher than in wheat tops. Variations of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) enzyme activities in wheat root and tops were determined. A good correlation existed between the bioaccumulation values of REEs and GOT enzyme activities, and the correlation coefficients were higher than 0.922. GOT is an important parameter influencing the bioavailability of REEs.     

Zinc and copper uptake by plants under two transpiration rates. Part I. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

To evaluate the environmental risk of irrigating crops with treated wastewater, an experiment was conducted using two growth chambers, each offering a different vapour pressure deficit (VPD) for high and low transpiration rates (TR), respectively. One of the two sets of 24 pots planted with 6 week old wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), was placed in each growth chamber, and irrigated in triplicates for 20 days with 8 Zn and Cu solutions (0 and 25 mg Zn/L combined with 0, 5, 15 and 30 mg Cu/L). Water losses from planted and non-planted pots served to measure evapo-transpiration and evaporation, respectively. Pots were monitored for Cu and Zn uptake by collecting three plants (shoot and grain)/pots after 0, 10 and 20 days, and roots in each pot after 20 days, and analyzing these plant parts for dry mass, and Cu and Zn levels. Transpiration rate was not affected by any Cu/Zn treatment, but Cu and Zn uptake increase with the time, irrigation solution level and higher TR, with the roots retaining most Cu and Zn, compared to the shoot followed by the grain. For the shoot and grain, Cu had a significant synergetic effect on Zn uptake, when Zn had slight but insignificant antagonistic effects on Cu uptake. For the roots, Cu and Zn had significant synergetic effect on each other. Regression equations obtained from the data indicate that Cu and Zn levels normally found in treated wastewater (0.08 mg/L) are 300 times lower than those used for the most concentrated experimental solutions (30 and 25 mg/L, respectively) and may, on a long term basis, be beneficial rather than toxic to wheat plants and do not acidify soil pH.     

Lead induced changes in antioxidant metabolism of horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.) and bengalgram (Cicer arietinum L.)

One-month old horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc. cv VZM1) and bengalgram (Cicer arietinum L. cv Annogiri) were exposed to different regimes of lead stress as Pb(NO3)2 at 0, 200, 500 and 800 ppm concentrations. The extent of oxidative damage as the rate of lipid peroxidation, antioxidative response and the accumulation of lead in roots and shoots of both plants were evaluated after 12 days of lead stress. Lead (Pb) treated plants showed increased levels of lipid peroxidation as evidenced from the increased malondialdehyde content coupled with the increase in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST) compared to control (untreated) plants. Lead stress caused significant changes in the activity of antioxidative enzymes. The effect of lead was found to be concentration dependent. Higher concentration of lead (800 ppm) resulted 2- to 3-fold increase in SOD, catalase and peroxidase activities, 3- to 5-fold increase in GR activity and 3- to 4-fold increase in GST activity in roots and leaves of both horsegram and bengalgram plants. Lead stress caused a significant increase in the rate of peroxidation as showed in the levels of malondialdehyde content in roots and leaves of both plant species. Horsegram registered lower Pb accumulation than bengalgram, however localization of Pb was greater in roots than leaves in both plants. In general, lipid peroxide levels and antioxidative enzyme activities were higher in horsegram than bengalgram and also more in roots than leaves which best concordance with the lead contents of both the plants and organs. These results suggest that Pb toxicity causes oxidative stress in plants and the antioxidative enzymes SOD, CAT, POD, GR, GST could play a pivotal role against oxidative injury.     

Assessing the impact of ambient ozone on growth and yield of a rice (Oryza sativa L.) and a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar grown in the Yangtze Delta, China, using three rates of application of ethylenediurea (EDU)

Foliar applications of ethylenediurea (abbreviated as EDU) were made at 0, 150, 300 or 450 ppm to field-grown rice and wheat in the Yangtze Delta in China. Rice and wheat responded differently to ambient ozone and EDU applications. For wheat, some growth characteristics, such as yield, seed number per plant, seed set rate and harvest index, increased significantly at 300 ppm EDU treatment, while for rice no parameters measured were statistically different regarding EDU application. The reason may be that the wheat cultivar used may be more sensitive to ozone than the rice cultivar. EDU was effective in demonstrating ozone effects on the wheat cultivar, but not on the rice cultivar. Cultivar sensitivity might be an important consideration when assessing the effects of ambient ozone on plants.