Possible cause of inhibition of seed germination in two rice cultivars by heavy metals Pb2+ and Hg2+

Seeds of two rice cultivars (Oryza sativa) cv. PR-116 and Pant Dhan-12 subjected to heavy metal lead (Pb²⁺) and mercury (Hg²⁺) exposure showed an inhibition in germination percentage, shoot and root length, and lower fresh and dry weight after 7 days. Both Pb²⁺ and Hg²⁺ inhibited the solubilization process of starch due to reduction in α-amylase activity, which is also evident from greater starch content and reduced soluble carbohydrate content of endosperms of treated seeds of the two cultivars. Mercury was more tolerated by Pant Dhan-12 when grown under in vitro culture medium containing 2% sucrose. The inhibitory effect of Pb²⁺ on embryo growth was not only abolished but also accelerated by 2% sucrose. The inhibitory effect, however, was not significantly blocked in Hg²⁺-treated embryos grown in vitro in sucrose containing medium. Embryos did not grow normally in a medium devoid of sucrose in either case. Data indicated that Pb²⁺ inhibited germination and seedling growth by impairing the solubilization of endosperm starch without markedly affecting the embryo, while Hg²⁺ inhibited germination and seedling growth by damaging the embryo itself.     

Arsenic bioaccumulation in rice and edible plants and subsequent transmission through food chain in Bengal basin: a review of the perspectives for environmental health

Arsenic (As) is a metalloid that poses serious environmental threats due to its behemoth toxicity and wide abundance. The use of arsenic-contaminated groundwater for irrigation purpose in crop fields elevates arsenic concentration in surface soil and in the plants. In many arsenic-affected countries, including Bangladesh and India, rice is reported to be one of the major sources of arsenic contamination. Rice is much more efficient at accumulating arsenic into the grains than other staple cereal crops. Rice is generally grown in submerged flooded condition, where arsenic bioavailability is high in soil. As arsenic species are phytotoxic, they can also affect the overall production of rice, and can reduce the economic growth of a country. Once the foodstuffs are contaminated with arsenic, this local problem can gain further significance and may become a global problem, as many food products are exported to other countries. Large-scale use of rainwater in irrigation systems, bioremediation by arsenic-resistant organisms and hyperaccumulating plants, and the aerobic cultivation of rice are some possible ways to reduce the extent of bioaccumulation in rice. Investigation on a complete food chain is urgently needed in the arsenic-contaminated zones, which should be our priority in future researches.     

Distribution,removal and chemical forms of heavy metals in polluted rice seed

In this paper, the distribution, removal and binding forms of heavy metals in polluted seeds of rice were studied using the methods of histochemistry and biochemistry. The results indicate that the distribution of heavy metals in rice grains was very uneven. The heavy metals in rice grains chiefly exist in association with the parts of high protein. Separation of proteins by Sephadex chromatography and subsequent analysis by atomic absorption spectroscopy revealed that Cd, Pb and As were mainly bound to protein of 54.5 and 5.50 kD molecular weights. During the rice processing, the concentrations of heavy metals in the edible rice decrease greatly, for some heavy metals in these parts of chaff, coarse rice bran and fine rice bran were removed.     

田间小气候对水稻产量的影响

在中科院桃源农业生态试验站,选择了3个不同类型水稻品种(常规稻、一般杂交稻和超级杂交稻)为材料,利用稻田中部(距稻田边界6 m)和近边界(距稻田边界1 m)小气候的差异,研究了田间小气候对水稻产量和生物量的影响.稻田中部与近边界相比,在光合盛期(10:00-14:00),CO2含量低10~15μmol·mol-1,日平均温度低0.081℃,日平均相对湿度高10%.近边界水稻产量和生物量均显著高于稻田中部.稻田中部和近边界0.081℃的温度差异对光合速率的影响微小.稻田中部较高的相对湿度有利于缓解光合“午休”,促进光合作用.因此,温度和湿度差异均不是近边界水稻产量和生物量均显著高于稻田中部的原因.通过Li-6400光合仪测定发现水稻叶片光合速率与250~400μmol·mol-1的CO2含量内成线性正相关.在1200μmol·m-2·s-1光强下,如果 CO2含量增加10~15μmol·mol-1,水稻光合速率将增加0.6523~0.9785μmol·m-2·s-1.所以 CO2含量差异是近边界产量和生物量高于稻田中部的主要原因.最后建议通过一些栽培措施,改善群体通风状况,增加冠层内CO2含量,从而增加水稻产量和生物量.     

砷-铅交互作用对水稻根表铁膜富集及根系吸收砷铅的影响

采用土-砂联合培养方法诱导水稻根表自然形成铁氧化物膜,研究了As-Pb交互作用对水稻根表铁膜吸附砷铅及根系吸收As和Pb的影响.结果表明,As和Pb的添加显著地影响水稻根表铁膜对As和Pb的吸附,并且As-Pb交互作用显著地影响水稻根系对两元素的吸收及根表铁膜对As的吸附.添加Pb可促进水稻根系对As的吸收.当As浓度为25μmol.L-1时,浓度为25μmol.L-1Pb处理与对照相比导致水稻根系吸收As提高了53.3%.同样,施用As也可以促进水稻根系对Pb的吸收,当Pb的浓度为25μmol.L-1和50μmol.L-1时,50μmol.L-1As处理与对照相比,水稻根系吸收Pb分别提高20.2%和28.6%.添加As显著地促进Pb由铁膜向根系中转运,而添加Pb对As由铁膜向根系中的转运影响不大.因此,在重金属复合污染情况下,水稻根表铁膜对重金属的吸附及根系对重金属的吸收均存在着复杂的交互作用.     

汞污染及人体负荷研究进展

汞污染是个全球性的问题,汞在一些厌氧微生物的作用下会生成毒性较大的甲基汞,对人体健康产生威胁.本文综述了汞污染以及人体负荷的一些研究进展,包括汞对人体的危害、生物学指标、普通人群甲基汞暴露的两条主要途径等.之前普遍认为食用鱼贝类等水产品是造成人体甲基汞暴露的主要途径,但最近有研究发现大米中甲基汞含量偏高,食用大米会造成潜在甲基汞暴露风险.目前大米甲基汞暴露研究大多集中在我国贵州地区,未来非常有必要在更多的地区开展大米中甲基汞水平的调查,评价大米中低剂量甲基汞长期暴露的风险,以保障大米的安全性.     

不同虫压下转Bt基因水稻与非转基因水稻生态适合度差异

为了解转基因水稻的基因扩散效率和潜在生态风险,以转Bt抗虫水稻Bt63、R1、R2和非转基因常规水稻Ⅱ优838为试材,采用高、低两个不同虫害胁迫水平和转基因与非转基因水稻相间种植方式,通过观察水稻植株营养生长、结实以及对螟虫危害的抗性表现等差异,研究比较了Bt外源基因插入后对水稻植株适合度的影响.结果表明:在低虫害胁迫条件下,转Bt基因水稻在植株分蘖数、生物量鲜重等营养生长指标方面与非转基因对照品系间无明显差异,但株高、穗长、穗重等指标不及对照,且R2和Bt63与对照间差异显著;在高虫害胁迫条件下,3个转Bt基因水稻品系的分蘖数、穗长、穗重等指标明显高于对照.而不同转基因品系株高适合度效应不同,这可能与受体本身的特性相关.3种转基因水稻的单株结实粒数、千粒重与对照在两种虫害胁迫条件下均无显著性差异,Bt基因对受体植株的结实影响不明显.在高虫害胁迫条件下,3种转Bt基因水稻的抗虫能力均显著优于非转基因水稻,表明Bt基因对受体植株的抗虫性影响显著.同时,本研究结果还表明转Bt基因水稻的适合度代价较小,预示了抗虫转基因水稻外源Bt基因在一定环境条件下具有逃逸的可能,但这种风险比较小.     

水稻秸秆沟埋还田对麦田土壤环境的影响

通过大田试验,采用秸秆沟埋还田方式,设置沟埋深度分别为20、30、40、50 cm及对照5个处理,将上季作物秸秆进行全量还田(秸秆沟埋量为2 kg.m-1),研究水稻秸秆沟埋还田对麦田土壤含水量、温度、容重和孔隙度等的影响。结果表明,降水结束后12 d内,沟埋深度20和30 cm处理土壤含水量(与埋草沟边水平距离10 cm处)显著下降(P<0.05);而沟埋深度40和50 cm处理土壤含水量(与埋草沟边水平距离10 cm处)与对照差异未达显著水平。埋草沟秸秆下层土壤温度变化较小,秸秆对下层土壤具有保温作用;除沟埋深度20 cm处理外,其他不同沟埋深度处理均能明显降低秸秆上层土壤容重,增加土壤总孔隙度,使耕层土壤疏松。     

稻田样品中丁虫腈及其代谢产物的残留分析方法

建立了固相萃取-气相色谱法同时测定稻田环境样品中丁虫腈及其代谢产物的残留分析方法,即:稻田水样品以二氯甲烷萃取,水稻土样品以丙酮提取后再经乙酸乙酯萃取,稻株样品以乙腈提取后用CarbonNH2固相萃取小柱净化,然后均用气相色谱-电子捕获检测器(GC-ECD)检测。结果表明,稻田水中丁虫腈及其代谢产物的最低检测质量浓度均为0.01 mg·L-1,土壤和水稻植株中目标物最低检测质量含量为0.015 mg·kg-1。在该方法条件下,当添加水平为0.05～1.0 mg·L-1(或mg·kg-1)时,稻田水、土壤和水稻植株中丁虫腈及其代谢产物的平均回收率为75.1%～109.2%,变异系数为1.0%～7.9%。     

气候变化背景下四川省单季稻水分盈亏的变化特征

研究利用四川稻区109 个气象台站1961-2010 年的地面气象资料和16 个农业气象站 1981-2010 年的单季稻生育期资料,计算了研究区水稻不同生育期的有效降水量和需水量,并探讨了水稻不同生育阶段内的缺水量和缺水率。结果表明,1961-2010 年四川水稻年均缺水率在孕穗到开花期最高,移栽到孕穗期次之,开花到成熟期最低。近50 a 来,水稻全生育期年有效降水量、需水量和缺水量总体表现为减少趋势,而缺水率在稻区中、西部总体呈升高趋势; 有效降水量在移栽到孕穗期和开花到成熟期以减小为主,而在孕穗到开花期总体呈升高趋势; 需水量在水稻不同生育期内总体均表现为减小趋势;缺水量和缺水率在孕穗到成熟期以减小为主,而在移栽到孕穗期稻区中、西部地区呈升高趋势。研究可为四川稻区的农业用水及合理灌溉提供依据。