外源Cd对不同利用方式红壤脲酶活性的影响

采用室内培养实验,通过将外源Cd添加到同一母质、全镉含量相近的不同利用方式的红壤中(林地、水稻土和菜园土),研究了外源Cd污染对不同利用方式红壤脲酶活性的影响。结果表明:整个培养过程中,Cd污染对3种红壤脲酶活性都有抑制作用,且随重金属浓度的增强而增强。同剂量Cd污染对3种红壤脲酶活性的抑制效应不同,大小为林地>水稻土>菜园土。实验设定的Cd处理水平下,对林地、水稻土和菜园土脲酶活性产生显著抑制作用(p<0.05)的Cd浓度分别为5、30和50 mg/kg土。     

Cadmium stress alters gene expression of DNA mismatch repair related genes in Arabidopsis seedlings

Cadmium (Cd) is a non essential element, and is a widespread environmental pollutant. Exposure to Cd can result in a variety of adverse health effects in plant and humans. In the current study, Arabidopsis seedlings were used as a bio-indicator of Cd pollution. Seedlings were grown on MS media containing 0-6.0 mg L(-1) Cd for 18 days, and the gene expression patterns were used to link increased Cd exposure with progressive biological effects. Reduction of total soluble protein content in shoots of the Arabidopsis seedlings occurred with increase in Cd concentrations. For the gene expression patterns, seven genes known to be involved in cell division and DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system were investigated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and normalized using 18S rRNA gene expression. Expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen 2 (atPCNA 2), MutS 3 homolog (atMSH 3) and MutL1 homolog (atMLH1) genes in shoots of Arabidopsis was strongly induced by exposure to 0.75 mg L(-1) Cd, but were repressed by other Cd concentrations whereas exposure to 0.75-6 mg L(-1) of Cd resulted in a decreased expression of atPCNA1, atMSH 2, 6 and 7 genes independently of any observable biological effects, including survival, fresh weight and chlorophyll level of shoots. This work demonstrated that specific gene expression changes could serve as useful molecular biomarkers indicative of Cd exposure and related biological effects.     

Effects of cadmium exposure on digestive enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, and lipid peroxidation in the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense

In this study, the effects of cadmium (Cd) stress on the activities of disaccharidases (sucrase, lactase, and maltase), amylase, trypsin, pepsase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the alimentary system of freshwater crabs Sinopotamon henanense were studied. Results showed that the enzyme activities in the stomach, intestine, and hepatopancreas changed with Cd concentration. In terms of digestive enzymes, Cd exposure had an inhibitory effect on the activities of the disaccharidases, amylase, and pepsase (only in the stomach). Significant induction of trypsin activity by Cd at a lower concentration was observed, but as Cd concentration increased, trypsin activity decreased. Maltase activity showed a slight recovery after inhibition by Cd. The activities of SOD and CAT increased initially and decreased subsequently. Cd significantly inhibited the activity of GPx. MDA content increased with increasing concentration of Cd. These results showed that acute Cd exposure led to harmful effects on the alimentary system of crabs, which are likely linked to Cd induced oxidative stress.     

Effects of environmental biomass-producing factors on Cd uptake in two Swedish ecotypes of Pinus sylvestris

A factorial design was used to study direct effects of external biomass-producing factors such as light, temperature and photoperiod on cadmium (Cd) uptake and indirect effects, via change in biomass production in two ecotypes of Scots pine (Pinus silvestris). The aim was to find out if the external factors affect the Cd uptake directly or via change in biomass production, and if the effect differs between ecotypes. Seedlings were grown under 10 combinations of external factors, i.e. temperature (15 and 20 degrees C), light intensity (50 and 200 micromol photons m(-2) S(-1)), photoperiod (18 h light/8 h darkness and continuous light) and external Cd concentration (totally 1.88 and 7.50 micromol). The treatment lasted for 18 days and Cd concentrations in roots and shoots were determined by AAS. The results showed that an increased biomass production increased the total Cd uptake but had a dilution effect on the Cd concentration, especially in the root tissues. The external factors tested did not have any direct effects on the Cd untake, only in the case of Cd translocation to the shoot did the higher temperature show a direct increase, but only in the southern ecotype. The two ecotypes reacted differently in Cd uptake and translocation to the external factors studied. The relative Cd uptake creased with increasing photoperiod in the northern but not in the southern ecotype. The southern ecotype decreased the Cd concentration in the shoot with increased light intensity caused by a dilution effect due to extensive shoot growth of this ecotype. The conclusion is that the uptake in pine seedlings is mainly regulated via biomass production, and not directly by light and temperature and that resulting plant Cd contents to a certain extent depend on plant origin.     

改良剂对Cd污染土壤中小白菜品质的影响

通过小白菜盆栽试验,以啤酒污泥、草木灰及其混合物作为土壤改良剂,以生物量、可溶性糖、维生素C和叶绿素含量为指标,研究了改良剂对小白菜品质的影响,并分析了土壤中Cd赋存形态的变化。结果表明,不同改良剂在性质和改良机制上存在差异,因此改良效果各不相同,其中啤酒污泥和草木灰的混合物的改良效果最好,其次是啤酒污泥,最后是草木灰。虽然3种改良剂均能降低小白菜茎叶中Cd含量和土壤中有效态(水溶态和可交换态)Cd含量,提高小白菜品质,但小白菜茎叶中Cd含量仍超过《食品中污染物限量》(GB 2762—2005)规定的蔬菜中Cd限量值。     

Phytoextraction with Brassica napus L.: a tool for sustainable management of heavy metal contaminated soils

Phytoextraction is a promising tool to extract metals from contaminated soils and Brassica napus L. seems to be a possible candidate species for this purpose. To select accessions with the ability to accumulate cadmium, hydroponically grown 21 day old seedlings of 77 B. napus L. accessions were exposed to 0.2 microM CdSO(4) for an additional 10 days. The effects of Cd on several parameters were quantified i.e.; shoot Cd concentration ([Cd](shoot)), total amount of Cd in shoots (Total Cd) and the shoot to root Cd concentration ratio (S/R ratio). Though generally natural variation was low for [Cd](shoot), Total Cd and S/R ratio, a number of accessions could be selected. Our results indicated that Total Cd and S/R ratio are independent parameters for Cd accumulation and translocation. The selected varieties were then tested in field experiments on two locations nearby metal smelters. The two locations differed in extractable soil Cd, Zn, Ca concentration and pH levels. On both locations B. napus L. accessions showed significant differences in [Cd](shoot) and Total Cd. Furthermore we found significant correlations between Cd and Zn accumulation in shoots. There were site-specific effects with respect to Cd accumulation in the B. napus L. accessions, however, two accessions seem to perform equally well on both sites. The results of the field experiment suggest that certain B. napus L. accessions are suitable for phytoextraction of moderately heavy metal contaminated soils.     

Effects of cadmium on the activities of photosystems of Chlorella pyrenoidosa and the protective role of cyclic electron flow

Cadmium (Cd) shows high toxicity to aquatic microalgae. Many studies showed that Cd inhibited activities of photosystem II (PSII) but the effects of heavy metals on photosystem I (PSI) and cyclic electron flow (CEF) were still controversial and unclear. The effects of CdCl₂ on the activities of PSI, PSII and CEF in Chlorella pyrenoidosa was measured simultaneously in the present study. In presence of 200 μM of Cd, ultrastructure of some cells was strongly modified. Cd exposure led to decrease of the activities of photosynthetic oxygen evolution and respiration. PSII was more sensitive to Cd treatment than PSI. Cd treatment showed significant inhibition on the photochemical quantum yield and electron transport rate of PSII. Cd increased the quantum yield of non-light-induced non-photochemical fluorescence quenching, indicating the damage of PSII. The activity of PSI showed tolerance to Cd treatment with concentration less than 100 μM in the experiment. Linear electron flow (LEF) made significant contribution to the photochemical quantum yield of PSI of the untreated cells, but decreased with increasing Cd concentration. The contribution of CEF to the yield of PSI increased with increasing Cd concentration. The activation of CEF after exposure to Cd played an essential role for the protection of PSI.     

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.     

Contrasting effects of silicates on cadmium uptake by three dicotyledonous crops grown in contaminated soil

The effects of several silicates (talcum powder (TP), calcium silicate (CS), sodium silicate (SS), and potassium silicate (PS)), in comparison with other amendments (quicklime (QL) and potassium dihydrogen phosphate (PDP)) on cadmium (Cd) uptake by three dicotyledonous crops (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. Cv. ‘K112’, Amaranthus tricolor L., and Brassica oleracea var. albiflora Kuntze) were investigated in Cd–contaminated soil. The effects of both application methods of amendments (singly and combined) and timing of application were also evaluated. Sodium silicate was the most effective in reducing crop Cd uptake and translocation, which was diminished by 51 % in roots, 53 % in stems, and 72 % in leaves on average. Application of CS amendment showed greater efficiency than PDP amendment in decreasing Cd uptake by crops and resulted in increased biomass. Potassium silicate only slightly decreased shoot Cd concentration. Combination of PDP and SS was able to overcome the inhibitory effect of SS on crop yield while decreasing Cd concentrations in roots, stems and leaves of the tested crops by average rates of 52, 65, and 68 % respectively. Applications of SS and PS significantly reduced the root-to-shoot Cd transfer factor. We found that Si accumulation in crops was not associated with lower Cd concentration, indicating that Si in crops may play a major role in alleviating metal stress rather than inhibiting crop Cd accumulation. We suggested that the inhibitive effect of silicates on crops Cd uptake was majorly attributed to the properties of the silicates, those were their specific effects on soil pH and cations, which increased Cd adsorption by soil and suppressed Cd uptake from soil solution by increasing the relative dissolved concentrations of competing cations.     

柠檬酸对褐土中DTPA提取态铜、镉含量及对紫花苜蓿吸收铜、镉的影响

为了阐述有机酸对土壤中重金属生物有效性的影响,通过盆栽实验,研究了Cu、Cd复合污染下柠檬酸对褐土中二乙基三胺五乙酸(DTPA)提取态铜和镉含量的影响,并探讨了柠檬酸对植物吸收铜、镉的影响。结果表明,土壤中DT-PA-Cu含量随柠檬酸添加量的增加而减小,添加高浓度铜(Cu 1 000)处理中,DTPA-Cu含量减小更明显。在添加低铜浓度(Cu600)处理下,柠檬酸添加量为2和12 mmol/kg时,土壤DTPA-Cu含量随土壤镉含量的增加而增加,而柠檬酸含量为5mmol/kg时,DTPA-Cu含量在低镉处理(Cd 1)时含量最低。紫花苜蓿中铜含量随柠檬酸添加量的增加明显降低。土壤中DTPA-Cd含量随柠檬酸添加量的增加而减小,且随铜添加量的增加而降低。紫花苜蓿中的镉含量随柠檬酸添加量的增加先增加后减小;在相同柠檬酸添加量处理时,紫花苜蓿中镉的含量随镉含量的增加而增加;在低镉处理下,铜的加入对较低柠檬酸浓度时紫花苜蓿镉含量影响不明显,但柠檬酸浓度为12 mmol/kg时,紫花苜蓿中镉含量随铜添加量的增加而明显增加。     

Transfer and effects of cadmium in an experimental food chain involving the snail Helix aspersa and the predatory carabid beetle Chrysocarabus splendens

The transfer and the toxic effects of Cd were studied in an experimental food chain involving the snail Helix aspersa as prey organism and one of its natural predators, the carabid beetle Chrysocarabus splendens. Juvenile snails were fed plant-based food enriched with 0, 10, 50 and 100 microg g(-1) of Cd, then were offered as prey to beetle larvae from egg hatching to pupation stage. Cd concentrations in snail tissues increased with increasing Cd concentration in food and with duration of exposure. Bioaccumulation factors ranged from 1.87 to 3.39, showing that H. aspersa snails, even in their early life stages, belong to macroconcentrator species for Cd. No significant reduction of snail consumption by beetles was found in exposed groups. Cd concentrations in beetle larvae remained very low (lower than 1 microg g(-1) for all groups), demonstrating a very effective regulation capacity in beetle larvae. However, Cd concentrations in highest exposed groups were higher than those found in control groups. Cd contents in adult beetles were lower than in larvae, showing a loss of Cd during metamorphosis. Despite the low Cd concentrations found in beetles, their exposure to Cd contaminated snails led to 31% of mortality, which occurred only during pupation and for the highest exposure level. No clear sublethal effects were found. These results showed that snails inhabiting heavily polluted areas may represent a risk of secondary poisoning for predatory invertebrates and provided quantitative data on the transfer of Cd between two compartments of a terrestrial food chain.     

Genotypic differences in effects of cadmium exposure on plant growth and contents of cadmium and elements in 14 cultivars of bai cai

Fourteen cultivars of bai cai (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. communis) were grown in the nutrient solutions containing 0-0.5 microg mL(-1) of cadmium (Cd) to investigate genotypic differences in the effects of Cd exposure on the plant growth and uptake and distribution of Cd in bai cai plants. The Cd exposure significantly reduced the dry and fresh weights of roots and shoots, the dry weight ratio of shoot/root (S/R), total biomass, and chlorophyll content (SPAD value). Cd concentrations in bai cai ranged from 13.3 to 74.9 microg g(-1) DW in shoots and from 163.1 to 574.7 microg g(-1) DW in roots under Cd exposure, respectively. The considerable genotypic differences of Cd concentrations and accumulations in both shoots and roots were observed among 14 bai cai cultivars. Moreover, Cd mainly accumulated in the roots. Cd also caused the changes of uptake and distribution of nutrients in bai cai and under the influence of cadmium, the concentration of potassium (K) decreased in shoot and increased in root. However, the concentrations of magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), manganese (Mn), boron (B), and iron (Fe) increased in shoots and decreased in roots. In addition, Cd exposure resulted in an increase in calcium (Ca), sulphur (S), and zinc (Zn) concentrations in both shoots and roots but had no significant effects on the whole uptake of the examined mineral nutrients except for S.     

Interaction Effects of Metals and Salinity on Biodegradation of a Complex Hydrocarbon Waste

Abstract

The presence of high levels of salts because of produced brine water disposal at flare pits and the presence of metals at sufficient concentrations to impact microbial activity are of concern to bioremediation of flare pit waste in the upstream oil and gas industry. Two slurry-phase biotreatment experiments based on three-level factorial statistical experimental design were conducted with a flare pit waste. The experiments separately studied the primary effect of cadmium [Cd(II)] and interaction effect between Cd(II) and salinity and the primary effect of zinc [Zn(II)] and interactioneffect between Zn(II) and salinity on hydrocarbon biodegradation. The results showed 42–52.5% hydrocarbon removal in slurries spiked with Cd and 47–62.5% in the slurries spiked with Zn. The analysis of variance showed that the primary effects of Cd and Cd–salinity interaction were statistically significant on hydrocarbon degradation. The primary effects of Zn and the Zn-salinity interaction were statistically insignificant, whereas the quadratic effect of Zn was highly significant on hydrocarbon degradation. The study on effects of metallic chloro-complexes showed that the total aqueous concentration of Cd or Zn does not give a reliable indication of overall toxicity to the microbial activity in the presence of high salinity levels.     

Alleviation of Cd toxicity by composted sewage sludge in Cd-treated Schmidt birch (Betula schmidtii) seedlings

We investigated alleviation of Cd toxicity and changes in the physiological characteristics of Betula schmidtii seedlings following application of composted sewage sludge to Cd-treated plants. Plants were grown under four test conditions: control, Cd treatment, sludge amendment, and Cd treatment with sludge amendment. B. schmidtii treated with Cd only accumulated the greatest amount of Cd in the leaves, but absorbed Cd was also highly concentrated in the roots. In contrast, Cd concentrations in the Cd and sludge amendment treated seedlings were the lowest in the roots. Since sludge amendment increased the growth of seedlings, it may have alleviated toxicity by dilution of Cd. Additionally, the absorbed Cd was more widely distributed since it was transported from the roots and accumulated in the stems and leaves of Cd and sludge treated plants. Cd treatment inhibited the growth and physiological functions of B. schmidtii seedlings, but sludge amendment compensated for these effects and improved growth and physiological functions in both Cd-treated and control plants. SOD activity in the leaves of seedlings was increased in the Cd-treated plants, but not in the Cd and sludge amendment treated seedlings. In conclusion, alleviation of Cd toxicity in response to sludge amendment may be related to a dilution effect, in which the Cd concentration in the tissues was effectively lowered by the improved growth performance of the seedlings.     

Silicon-mediated enhancement of cadmium tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.) grown in cadmium contaminated soil

Pot experiments were performed to study the alleviative effects of exogenous silicon (Si) on cadmium (Cd) phytotoxicity in maize grown in an acid soil experimentally contaminated with Cd. Five treatments were investigated in the first trial consisting of a control (neither Cd nor Si added), Cd added at 20 or 40 mg kg(-1) Cd without or with Si added at 400 mg kg(-1) Si. A following-up trial was conducted with almost the same treatments as in the first trial except that Si was incorporated at 50 mg kg(-1) Si. The results showed that Cd treatment significantly decreased shoot and root dry weight, while addition of Si at both levels significantly enhanced biomass. Addition of Si at 400 mg kg(-1) Si significantly increased soil pH but decreased soil Cd availability, thus reducing Cd concentration in the shoots and roots and total Cd in the shoots. Moreover, more Cd was found to be in the form of specific adsorbed or Fe-Mn oxides-bound fraction in the Si-amended soil. In contrast, soil pH, available Cd and Cd forms were unaffected by addition of Si at 50 mg kg(-1) Si, but shoot Cd concentration in the Si-amended Cd treatments significantly decreased at both Cd levels used compared to the non-Si-amended Cd treatments. Total Cd in the shoots and roots was considerably and significantly higher in the Si-amended Cd treatments than in the non-Si-amended Cd treatments. The xylem sap significantly increased but Cd concentration in the xylem sap significantly decreased in the Si-amended Cd treatments compared with the non-Si-amended Cd treatments irrespective of Cd and Si levels used. The results suggest that Si-enhanced tolerance to Cd can be attributed not only to Cd immobilization caused by silicate-induced pH rise in the soils but also to Si-mediated detoxification of Cd in the plants.     

Cadmium in soil solutions from a transect of soils away from a fertiliser bin

The effects of high inputs of phosphate fertiliser on Cd concentrations were studied in soil solutions extracted from topsoils. Soils were sampled along a transect at distances of 1-100 m away from a fertiliser bin. The transect was sampled four times during 1 year. Soil solutions were analysed for Cd, pH, major cations and anions, and other heavy metals (As, Cr, Cu, Pb). For one of the transect samplings, soil total Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and P were also measured. Cd speciation in the soil solutions was calculated by the GEO-CHEM-PC computer program. Chemical composition varied substantially along the transect, and also between samplings, indicative of seasonal effects and the influence of a fresh application of superphosphate fertiliser during the year. Application of fertiliser decreased soil solution pH and increased the levels of heavy metals in soil solution. Generally, soil total Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and P decreased with increasing distance from the fertiliser bin. Correlations between P and the four heavy metals were: P and Cd (R2 = 0.978), P and Cr (R2 = 0.712), P and Pb (R2 = 0.538), P and Cu (R2 = 0.267). Less than 1% of the total Cd in the soil samples was found in the soil solution. The free metal ion Cd2+ accounted for 55-90% of solution Cd. Of the complexed species of Cd, the chloride and sulphate complexes were usually the most important, even when nitrate and phosphate concentrations were relatively high. The presence of As, Cr, Cu and Pb had no effect on Cd speciation.     

Underlying mechanisms and effects of hydrated lime and selenium application on cadmium uptake by rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.) seedlings

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of selenium (Se) and hydrated lime (Lime), applied alone or simultaneously (Se+Lime), on growth and cadmium (Cd) uptake and translocation in rice seedlings grown in an acid soil with three levels of Cd (slight, mild, and moderate contamination). In the soil with 0.41 mg kg^?1 Cd (slight Cd contamination), Se addition alone significantly decreased Cd accumulation in the root and shoot by 35.3 and 40.1%, respectively, but this tendency weakened when Cd level in the soil increased. However, Se+Lime treatment effectively reduced Cd accumulation in rice seedlings in the soil with higher Cd levels. The results also showed that Se application alone strongly increased Cd concentration in the iron plaque under slight Cd contamination, which was suggested as the main reason underlying the inhibition of Cd accumulation in rice seedlings. Se+Lime treatment also increased the ability of the iron plaques to restrict Cd uptake by rice seedlings across all Cd levels and dramatically decreased the available Cd concentration in the soil. These results suggest that Se application alone would be useful in the soil with low levels of Cd, and the effect would be enhanced when Se application is combined with hydrated lime at higher Cd levels.     

海泡石及其复配材料钝化修复镉污染土壤

选取湖北大冶Cd污染土壤,采用室外盆栽实验,研究了海泡石、酸改性海泡石以及二者与石灰、磷酸盐配合使用对油菜生物量、体内Cd含量以及土壤pH和有效态Cd含量的影响。结果表明,不同钝化剂处理均能有效提高油菜地上部和根部生物量,最大分别提高1.03和1.43倍,复合处理以及改性海泡石单一处理的增产效果优于海泡石单一处理。不同钝化剂处理均能显著降低油菜地上部和根部Cd含量,最大分别降低66.40%和22.68%。钝化剂复合处理比单一处理对降低油菜Cd吸收的效果显著,6%的钝化剂添加量较为合适。钝化剂复合处理以及海泡石单一处理均能显著提高土壤pH。不同钝化剂处理均能显著降低土壤有效态Cd含量,钝化剂复合处理对土壤Cd有效性的影响要比单一处理显著。综合实验结果,海泡石与磷酸盐复合处理对土壤Cd污染的钝化修复效果最佳。     

Accumulation of Cd,Cu and Zn in shoots of maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.) exposed to 0.8 or 20 nM Cd during vegetative growth and the relation with xylem sap composition

This work focuses on the exposure of maize plants to nanomolar concentrations of Cd, which is relevant for agricultural soils cropped with food and feed plants. Maize plants were cultivated in nutrient solution at 0.8 or 20 nM Cd during the vegetative growth stages. No significant hormesis or toxic effects of Cd were observed on maize growth, but a decrease in the allocation of Cd to shoots between the 0.8 and 20 nM Cd exposures revealed that the plants already responded to these low concentrations of Cd according to a shoot Cd excluder strategy. The Cd, Cu and Zn concentrations in shoots decreased with time as the result of an early decrease in the root/shoot ratio and of a decrease in the coefficient of allocation to aboveground for Zn and Cd at 20 nM. As a consequence, shoots of young plants were richer in micronutrients Cu and Zn but also in toxic Cd. The rate of delivery of Cd, Cu and Zn from xylem sap was successfully used to predict the time course of concentrations of Cd, Cu and Zn in the shoot. However, it overestimated the actual concentrations of Cd in the shoot, presumably because the reallocation of this trace element from shoots back to roots was not taken into account.     

Effects of reciprocal hybridization on cadmium accumulation in F1 hybrids of two Solanum photeinocarpum ecotypes

In this study, farmland and mining ecotypes of Solanum photeinocarpum (a potential cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulator plant) were reciprocally hybridized each other, and the Cd accumulation characteristics of the F1 hybrids were studied. In pot experiments, higher biomasses and Cd extraction abilities were found for two S. photeinocarpum F1 hybrids than for the parents, but the Cd contents in various organs were lower in the hybrids than the parents. However, the differences between the Cd contents in the two hybrids were not significant. The antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) activities were higher for the S. photeinocarpum F1 hybrids than the parents. Less DNA methylation was found in the hybrids than the parents because more demethylation occurred in the hybrids than the parents. The biomass, Cd content, and Cd extraction ability effects in field experiments were similar to the effects in the pot experiments. It was concluded that reciprocally hybridizing different S. photeinocarpum ecotypes improved the ability of S. photeinocarpum to be used to phytoremediate contaminated land.