Diagnosis of abiotic and biotic stress factors using the visible symptoms in foliage

Visible symptoms in the foliage of trees are recorded to monitor the effects of abiotic and biotic stress. Difficulties are reported in diagnosing the origin of stress. The present paper discusses several diagnostic criteria which are usable in different species for a better determination of the stress factor type. A new diagnosis scheme to differentiate between classes of abiotic and biotic stress factors is supplied. Abiotic stress generates gradients of symptoms. The symptom specificity is determined by the degree of interaction between the stress factor and plant defense system. Symptoms caused by abiotic stress and natural autumnal senescence can be morphologically different or undistinguishable according to the stress and plant species. With biotic stress, the class of parasitic is generally recognizable on the basis of the visible symptoms. Structurally and physiologically based explanations of the symptom morphology are still missing for many stress factors.     

Induction of steroidal hydroxylase activity by plant defence compounds in the filamentous fungus Cochliobolus lunatus

We investigated the hypothesis that the endogenous role of the commercially important inducible steroid hydroxylase cytochrome P450s of fungi was in defense against plant toxophores/secondary metabolites. Two plant defense compounds, the aglycones tomatidine and solanidine, the steroidal glycoalkaloid alpha-tomatine and the triterpene saponin beta-escin were tested as inducers of 11beta/14alpha-steroid hydroxylase in the filamentous fungus Cochliobolus lunatus. The extracts of saponins from the roots of Primula veris and green oat leaves were also tested as inducers of 11beta/14alpha-hydroxylation activity in progesterone biotransformation with the same fungus. Induction of steroid hydroxylase and inhibition of activity in some cases support our hypothesis that their endogenous function is in biochemical defence against secondary metabolites. 4-Pregnene-3,11,20-trione was added as a substrate for biotransformation with C. lunatus. We isolated from culture broth 14alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,11,20-trione, and the hitherto unreported compounds, 7alpha,14alpha-dihydroxy-4-pregnene-3,11,20-trione and 7alpha-hydroxy-pregna-4,8(14)-diene-3,11,20-trione.     

Tributyltin (TBT) induces oxidative stress and modifies lipid profile in the filamentous fungus Cunninghamella elegans

To investigate the response of the tributyltin-degrading fungal strain Cunninghamella elegans to the organotin, a comparative lipidomics strategy was employed using an LC/MS-MS technique. A total of 49 lipid species were identified. Individual phospholipids were then quantified using a multiple reaction monitoring method. Tributyltin (TBT) caused a decline in the amounts of many molecular species of phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylserine and an increase in the levels of phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine. In the presence of TBT, it was observed that overall unsaturation was lower than in the control. Lipidome data were analyzed using principal component analysis, which confirmed the compositional changes in membrane lipids in response to TBT. Additionally, treatment of fungal biomass with butyltin led to a significant increase in lipid peroxidation. It is suggested that modification of the phospholipids profile and lipids peroxidation may reflect damage to mycelium caused by TBT.     

Biodegradation of aromatic compounds by white rot and ectomycorrhizal fungal species and the accumulation of chlorinated benzoic acid in ectomycorrhizal pine seedlings

The capability of different white rot (WR, Heterobasidion annosum, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trametes versicolor) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM, Paxillus involutus, Suillus bovinus) fungal species to degrade different aromatic compounds and the absorption of 3-chlorobenzoic acid (3-CBA) by ECM pine seedlings was examined. The effect of aromatic compounds on the fungal biomass development varied considerably and depended on (a) the compound, (b) the external concentration, and (c) the fungal species. The highest effect on the fungal biomass development was observed for 3-CBA. Generally the tolerance of WR fungi against aromatic compounds was higher than that of the biotrophic fungal species. The capability of different fungi to degrade aromatic substances varied between the species but not generally between biotrophic and saprotrophic fungi. The highest degradation capability for aromatic compounds was detected for T. versicolor and H. annosum, whereas for Phanerochaete chrysosporium and the ECM fungi lower degradation rates were found. However, Paxillus involutus and S. bovinus showed comparable degradation rates at low concentrations of benzoic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. In contrast to liquid cultures, where no biodegradation of 3-CBA by S. bovinus was observed, mycorrhizal pines inoculated with S. bovinus showed a low capability to remove 3-CBA from soil substrates. Additional X-ray microanalytical investigations showed, that 3-CBA supplied to mycorrhizal plants was accumulated in the root cell cytoplasm and is translocated across the endodermis to the shoot of mycorrhizal pine seedlings.     

喹诺酮抗性基因在城市污水处理系统中的分布及去除

城市污水处理厂是耐药细菌和抗生素抗性基因进入自然环境的主要途径之一。对污水处理厂不同工艺采集7组样品,重点考察污水处理系统中喹诺酮类耐药细菌和7种喹诺酮类抗性基因污染分布及其去除效率。结果显示,在不同处理工艺阶段均检测到耐环丙沙星细菌,最高浓度为(6.65±0.19)×106CFU/m L,耐药率为0.87%~7.24%。污水处理系统受抗生素抗性基因严重污染,入水样品中抗性基因总浓度为(1.28±0.12)×107copies/m L。污水处理工艺对抗环丙沙星细菌和喹诺酮类抗性基因具有有效的去除作用,除qnr C去除效率为75%,其余均在98%以上,但是仍有浓度为2.77×104CFU/m L的耐环丙沙星细菌和3.98×104copies/m L的抗性基因进入自然环境。表明污水处理系统已成为耐药细菌和抗生素抗性基因的储存库和污染源。     

再生水中溶解性有机质和双酚A对浮水植物的复合胁迫效应

以景观水体中常见的莲属水生植物作为受试生物,通过静态水培实验考察了不同浓度溶解性有机质(DOM,以溶解性有机碳(DOC)浓度表征)的再生水中双酚A(BPA)污染对植物叶片中丙二醛(MDA)含量和过氧化物酶(POD)活性的影响。结果表明,再生水中有16.5mg/L DOM时,其与不同浓度BPA的混合溶液暴露均使植物叶片MDA含量急剧上升,同时POD活性受到显著抑制,植物组织表现出强烈的抗逆性。推测再生水中较高浓度DOM和BPA在联合作用下对浮水植物表现为复合胁迫效应。     

Effects of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae on growth and metal uptake by four plant species in copper mine tailings

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in encouraging revegetation of copper (Cu) mine tailings. Two native plant species, Coreopsis drummondii and Pteris vittata, together with a turf grass, Lolium perenne and a leguminous plant Trifolium repens associated with and without AMF Glomus mosseae were grown in Cu mine tailings to assess mycorrhizal effects on plant growth, mineral nutrition and metal uptake. Results indicated that symbiotic associations were successfully established between G. mosseae and all plants tested, and mycorrhizal colonization markedly increased plant dry matter yield except for L. perenne. The beneficial impacts of mycorrhizal colonization on plant growth could be largely explained by both improved P nutrition and decreased shoot Cu, As and Cd concentrations. The experiment provided evidence for the potential use of local plant species in combination with AMF for ecological restoration of metalliferous mine tailings.     

ELISA detection of multixenobiotic resistance transporter induction in indigenous freshwater Chironomidae larvae (Diptera): A biomarker calibration step for in situ monitoring of xenobiotic exposure

A new simple and sensitive method to distinguish chemically polluted from unpolluted situations in freshwater ecosystems is reported. For this purpose, Chironomus gr thumni larvae were collected from a polluted urban river downstream a sewage treatment plant. For the first time, ELISA assay was used to semi-quantify the multixenobiotic resistance transporters (MXR) in these small pertinent bioindicators. The use of samples immediately fixed in the field gives a delay to isolate larvae and allows multi-sampling along a longitudinal transect in a river at a given time. Results exhibit an induction of MXR proteins in larvae from the polluted river and a deinduction in larvae maintained 11days in unpolluted water. They show new evidences to use midge larvae in biomonitoring environmental programs. They answer to first biomarker calibration steps for the ongoing development of MXR transporters as a detection tool of xenobiotic impacts on bioindicator invertebrates in their freshwater habitats.     

Synthesis of the DDT metabolite 2,4-dichloro-1-[2-chloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethenyl]benzene (o-Cl-DDMU) and its detection in abiotic and biotic samples

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Technical dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) has been used worldwide as a pesticide since the beginning of the 1940s. Due to its persistence, DDT...     

Aerobic and anaerobic abiotic oxidation of squalene in the presence of hydroperoxides

Abiotic oxidation of squalene in the presence of hydroperoxysterols was studied in seawater under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. This ubiquitous isoprenoid alkene is quickly degraded in the presence of oxygen and its oxidation results mainly in the production of tertiary alcohols and to a lesser extent of epoxides and secondary alcohols. Although the degradation of squalene logically slows down under anaerobic conditions, a significant oxidation affording similar products than in the case of aerobic degradation has been observed. These results show that hydroperoxysterols, which seem to be well preserved in Recent sediments, could contribute to the oxidation of unsaturated lipids (such as squalene) in sedimentary environments under oxic and anoxic conditions.     

Predictors of urinary bisphenol A and phthalate metabolite concentrations in Mexican children

Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates is prevalent among children and adolescents, but little is known regarding important sources of exposure at these sensitive life stages. In this study, we measured urinary concentrations of BPA and nine phthalate metabolites in 108 Mexican children aged 8–13 years. Associations of age, time of day, and questionnaire items on external environment, water use, and food container use with specific gravity-corrected urinary concentrations were assessed, as were questionnaire items concerning the use of 17 personal care products in the past 48-h. As a secondary aim, third trimester urinary concentrations were measured in 99 mothers of these children, and the relationship between specific gravity-corrected urinary concentrations at these two time points was explored. After adjusting for potential confounding by other personal care product use in the past 48-h, there were statistically significant (p < 0.05) positive associations in boys for cologne/perfume use and monoethyl phthalate (MEP), mono(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (MCPP), mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), and in girls for colored cosmetics use and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), MEHHP, MEOHP, and mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP), conditioner use and MEP, deodorant use and MEP, and other hair products use and MBP. There was a statistically significant positive trend for the number of personal care products used in the past 48-h and log-MEP in girls. However, there were no statistically significant associations between the analytes and the other questionnaire items and there were no strong correlations between the analytes measured during the third trimester and at 8–13 years of age. We demonstrated that personal care product use is associated with exposure to multiple phthalates in children. Due to rapid development, children may be susceptible to impacts from exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals; thus, reduced or delayed use of certain personal care products among children may be warranted.     

铀胁迫对植物光合特性的影响及植物对铀的吸收转移

在铀污染土壤的二次修复中,采用7科12种植物,研究铀胁迫对植物光合作用、叶绿素荧光特性的影响以及植物对铀的吸收、富集情况,为铀污染土壤的植物修复提供理论和方法依据。结果表明:(1)铀胁迫显著影响红圆叶苋、苍耳、美洲商陆、刺天茄和苘麻5种植物的光合效率,具体表现为叶片净光合速率(Pn)降低,胞间CO2浓度(Ci)增加,初始荧光(F0)增加,光系统II最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、光化学猝灭(qP)和最大相对电子传递速率(rETRmaxr)降低;而反枝苋、菊苣、鬼针草、向日葵和牛皮菜则对铀胁迫表现出较好的耐性。(2)酸模、鬼针草、苍耳和向日葵吸收富集铀的能力较强,在铀含量为485 mg/kg的二次修复土壤中生长3个月,体内积累的铀含量分别为363.57、91.87、75.80和65.42 mg/kg;而反枝苋、牛皮菜和美洲商陆吸收富集铀的能力较弱,体内的铀含量分别为16.20、15.11和12.36 mg/kg。(3)铀在植物体内的转移能力较差,器官间的铀富集能力一般表现为根叶茎果。综合比较而言,酸模、向日葵和鬼针草对铀的耐性较强、体内铀含量高,可作为铀污染土壤二次修复植物。     

Adaptive alterations in the fatty acids composition under induced oxidative stress in heavy metal-tolerant filamentous fungus Paecilomyces marquandii cultured in ascorbic acid presence

The ability of the heavy metal-tolerant fungus Paecilomyces marquandii to modulate whole cells fatty acid composition and saturation in response to IC₅₀ of Cd, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Cu was studied. Cadmium and nickel caused the most significant growth reduction. In the mycelia cultured with all tested metals, with the exception of nickel, a rise in the fatty acid unsaturation was noted. The fungus exposure to Pb, Cu, and Ni led to significantly higher lipid peroxidation. P. marquandii incubated in the presence of the tested metals responded with an increase in the level of linoleic acid and escalation of electrolyte leakage. The highest efflux of electrolytes was caused by lead. In these conditions, the fungus was able to bind up to 100 mg?g^?1 of lead, whereas the content of the other metals in the mycelium was significantly lower and reached from 3.18 mg?g^?1 (Cu) to 15.21 mg?g^?1 (Zn). Additionally, it was shown that ascorbic acid at the concentration of 1 mM protected fungal growth and prevented the changes in the fatty acid composition and saturation but did not alleviate lipid peroxidation or affect the increased permeability of membranes after lead exposure. Pro-oxidant properties of ascorbic acid in the copper-stressed cells manifested strong growth inhibition and enhanced metal accumulation as a result of membrane damage. Toxic metals action caused cellular modulations, which might contributed to P. marquandii tolerance to the studied metals. Moreover, these changes can enhance metal removal from contaminated environment.     

Response of submerged plant (Vallisneria spinulosa) clones to lead stress in the heterogenous soil

In order to evaluate risk spreading among clones and antioxidant defence response of clonal ramets, turions of Vallisneria spinulosa, the dominant clonal plant of the submerged plant community in most of the lakes in Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze Rive, China, were planted in the heterogeneous soils contaminated with 40 and 160 microg g(-1) Pb (dry weight) in a greenhouse. After 100 d, the ranking order of tissue Pb concentrations in organs of the ortets (parental plants) was root>turion>rhizome>leaf, but that of tissue Pb quantities was leaf>turion>rhizome>root, due to their different biomass. Some of Pb was transferred from the ortets exposed in the Pb-supplied soil to leaves of the offspring growing in the favorable patch through rhizome (connective organ). A high foliar Pb concentration induced a significant decrease in superoxide dismutases, peroxidase and catalase activities. Catalase was more sensitive to Pb than the other two antioxidant enzymes. However, a low foliar Pb concentration, in the ortets exposed to 40 microg g(-1) Pb and in all of the offspring, slightly increased the activities of superoxide dismutases and peroxidase. The biomass accumulation per ortet and the biomasses percentages allocation to the roots and the leaves in Pb treatments decreased markedly. Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in biomass accumulation of the offspring between the low Pb level treatment and the control. The biomass percentage allocated to the root of the offspring was found to be larger than that of the ortets.     

A fluctuating plume model for concentration fluctuations in a plant canopy

A one-particle Lagrangian model for continuous releases in the non-Gaussian inhomogeneous turbulence of a canopy layer is derived based on the fluctuating plume model of Franzese [2003. Lagrangian stochastic modeling of a fluctuating plume in the convective boundary layer. Atmos. Environ. 37, 1691–1701.]. The model equations are filtered by a time-dependent low-pass filter applied to the turbulent kinetic energy in order to obtain a fluctuating plume model able to simulate the vertical meandering of the cloud centroid through non-stationary Lagrangian equations. The model satisfies the well-mixed condition. The relative dispersion of particles and the concentration fluctuation statistics of a passive tracer inside a modeled vegetal canopy are studied. The probability density function of the concentration relative to the plume centroid is parameterized and the mean and variance fields of concentration are simulated and compared with wind-tunnel data and numerical simulations. A skewed, reflected probability density function for the vertical position of the plume centroid is considered.     

The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae can enhance arsenic tolerance in Medicago truncatula by increasing plant phosphorus status and restricting arsenate uptake

A pot experiment examined the biomass and As uptake of Medicago truncatula colonized by the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus mosseae in low-P soil experimentally contaminated with different levels of arsenate. The biomass of G. mosseae external mycelium was unaffected by the highest addition level of As studied (200 mg kg⁻¹) but shoot and root biomass declined in both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants, indicating that the AM fungus was more tolerant than M. truncatula to arsenate. Mycorrhizal inoculation increased shoot and root dry weights by enhancing host plant P nutrition and lowering shoot and root As concentrations compared with uninoculated plants. The AM fungus may have been highly tolerant to As and conferred enhanced tolerance to arsenate on the host plant by enhancing P nutrition and restricting root As uptake.     

Sorption and desorption of the diketonitrile metabolite of isoxaflutole in soils

Isoxaflutole is a new pre-emergence corn herbicide that undergoes rapid conversion to a diketonitrile derivative (DKN) in soils. Sorption-desorption studies were conducted in five different soils varying in physical and chemical properties. A batch equilibration technique was used with total initial aqueous solution concentrations of DKN at 0.25, 0.75, 2.0, 8.0, 25, 75, 150, and 250 mg l(-1). After the sorption process, two subsequent desorptions were conducted with an equilibration period of 7 days. A high correlation existed between the desorption coefficient, K(Fd) and the organic matter content of soils (r(2)=0.844 for the first desorption and r(2)=0.861 for the second desorption), while the clay content did not greatly influence the desorption of DKN. Although the sorption of DKN was generally reversible, a sorption-desorption hysteresis was apparent in all soils. The site energy distribution curves emphasized the fact that DKN binds tightly to soils with higher organic matter content and greater proportion of DKN was retained by those soils     

Nitrogen fertilizer improves boron phytoextraction by Brassica juncea grown in contaminated sediments and alleviates plant stress

In this study we evaluated the effect of different fertilizer treatments on Brassica plants grown on boron-contaminated sediments. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory and on the lysimeter scale. At laboratory scale (microcosm), five different fertilizers were tested for a 35-d period. On the lysimeter scale, nitrogen fertilization was tested at three different doses and plants were allowed to grow until the end of the vegetative phase (70 d). Results showed that nitrogen application had effectively increased plant biomass production, while B uptake was not affected. Total B phytoextracted increased three-fold when the highest nitrogen dose was applied. Phytotoxicity on Brassica was evaluated by biochemical parameters. In plants grown in unfertilized B-contaminated sediments, the activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and pyrogallol peroxidase (PPX) increased, whereas catalase (CAT) decreased with respect to control plants. Addition of N progressively mitigated the alteration of enzymatic activity, thus suggesting that N can aid in alleviating B-induced oxidative stress. SOD activity was restored to control levels just at the lowest N treatment, whereas the CAT inhibition was partially restored only at the highest one. N application also lowered the B-induced increase in APX and PPX activities. Increased glutathione reductase activity indicated the need to restore the oxidative balance of glutathione. Data also suggest a role of glutathione and phytochelatins in B defense mechanisms. Results suggest that the nitrogen fertilizer was effective in improving B phytoextraction by increasing Brassica biomass and by alleviating B-induced oxidative stress.