Atmospheric NH3 as plant nutrient: a case study with Brassica oleracea

Nutrient-sufficient and nitrate- or sulfate-deprived plants of Brassica oleracea L. were exposed to 4 microl l(-1) NH3 (2.8 mg m(-3)), and effects on biomass production and allocation, N-compounds and root morphology investigated. Nitrate-deprived plants were able to transfer to atmospheric NH3 as nitrogen source, but biomass allocation in favor of the root was not changed by exposure to NH3. NH3 reduced the difference in total root length between nitrate-sufficient and nitrate-deprived plants, and increased the specific root length in the latter. The internal N status, therefore, might be involved in controlling root length in B. oleracea. Root surface area, volume and diameter were unaffected by both nitrate deprivation and NH3 exposure. In sulfate-deprived plants an inhibitory effect of NH3 on root morphological parameters was observed. These plants, therefore, might be more susceptible to atmospheric NH3 than nitrate-deprived plants. The relevance of the present data under field conditions is discussed.     

Low toxicant concentrations decrease the frequency of fast-growing seedlings at high densities of annual baby's breath (Gypsophila elegans)

Very low toxicant concentrations reduce the frequency of most vital seedlings in dense stands in vitro.     

Naturally-assisted metal phytoextraction by Brassica carinata: Role ofroot exudates

Due to relatively high chelant dosages and potential environmental risks it is necessary to explore different approaches in the remediation of metal-contaminated soils. The present study focussed on the removal of metals (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) from a multiple metal-contaminated soil by growing Brassica carinata plants in succession to spontaneous metallicolous populations of Pinus pinaster, Plantago lanceolata and Silene paradoxa. The results showed that the growth of the metallicolous populations increased the extractable metal levels in the soil, which resulted in a higher accumulation of metals in the above-ground parts of B. carinata. Root exudates of the three metallicolous species were analysed to elucidate their possible role in the enhanced metal availability. The presence of metals stimulated the exudation of organic and phenolic acids as well as flavonoids. It was suggested that root exudates played an important role in solubilising metals in soil and in favouring their uptake by roots.     

7种人工湿地植物根系扩展能力比较研究

以芦苇、美人蕉，香根草、灯心草、旱伞草、香蒲、芦竹7种植物为对象。通过盆载试验，研究它们在水分诱导方式下根系扩展情况。比较它们的根系极限长度，达到极限长度所用的时间、根系形态和密度、病虫害发生情况。结果表明，水分诱导方式是一种效果显著的促进根系快速增长的技术：文章所选用的7种植物中。旱伞草和香根草的分蘖及根系伸展能力最强，并且没有病虫害发生：其次是芦苇、芦竹，芦竹较少发生病虫害，但芦苇病虫害发生频繁：香蒲、美人蕉和灯心草根系生长较为缓慢．伸展较浅。较少发生病虫害。     

亚热带东部壳斗科6种常绿植物叶的生态解剖

选取亚热带东部替代分布明显的壳斗科6种常绿树种（青冈，小叶青冈，细叶青冈，苦槠，甜槠和石乐）的11个种群叶片进行生态解剖，并用SPSS，DCA和TWINSPAN比较分析，结果表明：（1）尽管6种11个种群叶的结构仍属中生叶型，但有着不同程度的趋旱适应；（2）叶的解剖性状在属间，种间和种群间均存在着不同程度的差异，这是它们适应各自生境的结果，青冈和石栎的种内差异较大，反映出它们对环境变化有较强响应能力；（3）叶片的不同解剖性状在属，种类和种群间的变化并不同步，其中叶片和栅栏组织厚度等性状差异突出，反映它们更易受环境的饰变，是生态适应性状，而海,上角质膜，特别是下表皮厚度等性状差异较小，显示出这些性状的稳定性，可以认为是系统演化性状；（4）苦槠，青冈具有较厚的叶片，栅栏组织，角质膜和发达输导和机械组织，苦槠还具有复表皮，表现出对旱化生境的适应；甜槠尽管具有复表皮和较厚的叶片，但这是海绵组织增厚的结果，是对中生生境的适应；小叶青冈和细叶青冈具有较垢叶片和栅栏组织，角质膜厚度居中等特点，可能是对中山凉湿生境的。图版1图2表2参24     

Enhanced nitrogen deposition exacerbates the negative effect of increasing background ozone in Dactylis glomerata, but not Ranunculus acris

The combined impacts of simulated increased nitrogen (N) deposition (75 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and increasing background ozone (O₃) were studied using two mesotrophic grassland species (Dactylis glomerata and Ranunculus acris) in solardomes, by means of eight O₃ treatments ranging from 15.5 ppb to 92.7 ppb (24 h average mean). A-C_i curves were constructed for each species to gauge effects on photosynthetic efficiency and capacity, and effects on biomass partitioning were determined after 14 weeks. Increasing the background concentration of O₃ reduced the healthy above ground and root biomass of both species, and increased senesced biomass. N fertilisation increased biomass production in D. glomerata, and a significantly greater than additive effect of O₃ and N on root biomass was evident. In contrast, R. acris biomass was not affected by high N. The study shows the combined effects of these pollutants have differential implications for carbon allocation patterns in common grassland species.     

Assisted phytoremediation of mixed metal(loid)-polluted pyrite waste: effects of foliar and substrate IBA application on fodder radish

Exogenous application of plant-growth promoting substances may potentially improve phytoremediation of metal-polluted substrates by increasing shoot and root growth. In a pot-based study, fodder radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. oleiformis Pers.) was grown in As-Zn-Cu-Co-Pb-contaminated pyrite waste, and treated with indolebutyric acid (IBA) either by foliar spraying (10 mg L⁻¹), or by direct application of IBA to the substrate (0.1 and 1 mg kg⁻¹) in association, or not, with foliar spraying. With the exception of foliar spraying, IBA reduced above-ground biomass, whilst direct application of IBA to the substrate surface reduced root biomass (−59%). Trace element concentrations were generally increased, but removals (mg per plant) greatly reduced with IBA application, together with greater metal leaching from the substrate. It is concluded that, in our case, IBA had a negative effect on plant growth and phytoextraction of trace elements, possibly due to unsuitable root indoleacetic acid concentration following soil IBA application, the direct chelating effect of IBA and the low microbial activity in the pyrite waste affecting its breakdown.     

The nitrate leached below maize root zone is available for deep-rooted wheat in winter wheat-summer maize rotation in the North China Plain

In winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-summer maize (Zea mays L.) rotation system in the North China Plain, maize roots do not extend beyond 1.2 m in the vertical soil profile, but wheat roots can reach up to 2.0 m. Increases in soil nitrate content at maize harvest and significant reductions after winter wheat harvest were observed in the 1.4-2.0 m depth under field conditions. The recovery of 15N isotope (calcium nitrate) from various (1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 m) soil depths showed that deep-rooting winter wheat could use soil nitrate up to the 2.0 m depth. This accounted partially, for the reduced nitrate in the 1.4-2.0 m depth of the soil after harvest of wheat in the rotation system.     

Allocation plasticity and plant-metal partitioning: meta-analytical perspectives in phytoremediation

In this meta-analysis of plant growth and metal uptake parameters, we selected 19 studies of heavy metal (HM) phytoremediation to evaluate trends of allocation plasticity and plant-metal partitioning in roots relative to shoots. We calculated indexes of biomass allocation and metal distribution for numerous metals and plant species among four families of interest for phytoremediation purposes (e.g. Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Solanaceae). We determined that plants shift their biomass and distribute metals more to roots than shoots possibly to circumvent the challenges of increasing soil-HM conditions. Although this shift is viewed as a stress-avoidance strategy complementing intrinsic stress-tolerance, our findings indicate that plants express different levels of allocation plasticity and metal partitioning depending on their overall growth strategy and status as ‘fast-grower’ or ‘slow-grower’ species. Accordingly, we propose a conceptual model of allocation plasticity and plant-metal partitioning comparing ‘fast-grower’ and ‘slow-grower’ strategies and outlining applications for remediation practices.