Tolerance of Birch Stands of the Northern Transural Forest Steppe to Abiotic and Biotic Stress Factors

It is shown that both diffuse and complete drying of birch stands is due to the additive effects of meteorological factors (hydrothermal parameters of the first and second halves of the growing period) and tree defoliation by phyllophagous insects, with the former being of primary importance.     

The influence of application of biochar and metal-tolerant bacteria in polluted soil on morpho-physiological and anatomical parameters of spring barley

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - The paper presents the results of the model experiment on spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grown in polluted soil. The influence of separate and combined...     

Effects of benzo[a]pyrene toxicity on morphology and ultrastructure of Hordeum sativum

Many studies have been devoted to investigation of toxic benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) compound, but studies involving changes at the cellular level are insufficient to understand the mechanisms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) effect on plants. To study the toxicity of BaP, a model vegetation experiment was conducted on cultivation of spring barley (Hordeum sativum distichum) on artificially polluted BaP soil at different concentrations. The article discusses the intake of BaP from the soil into the plant and its effect on the organismic and cellular levels of plant organization. The BaP content in the organs of spring barley was determined by the method of saponification. With an increase in the concentration of BaP in the soil, its content in plants also rises, which leads to inhibition of growth processes. The BaP content in the green part of Hordeum sativum increased from 0.3 µg kg^?1 in control soil up to 2.6 µg kg^?1 and 16.8 µg kg^?1 under 20 and 400 ng/g BaP applying in soil, as well as in roots: 0.9 µg kg^?1, 7.7 µg kg^?1, 42.8 µg kg^?1, respectively. Using light and electron microscopy, changes in the tissues and cells of plants were found and it was established that accumulation of BaP in plant tissues caused varying degrees of ultrastructural damage depending on the concentration of pollutant. BaP had the greatest effect on the root, significant changes were found in it both at histological and cytological levels, while changes in the leaves were observed only at the cytological level. The results provide significant information about the mechanism of action of BaP on agricultural plants.

     

The toxic effect of CuO of different dispersion degrees on the structure and ultrastructure of spring barley cells (Hordeum sativum distichum)

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Nowadays, nanotechnology is one of the most dynamically developing and most promising technologies. However, the safety issues of using metal nanoparticles,...     

Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by sensitized room temperature phosphorescence

Direct and selective simultaneous determination of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by sensitized room temperature phosphorescence in sodium dodecylsulphate micellar solutions was studied. This approach improved, for example, the selectivity factor in determining pyrene in the presence of fluoranthene by a factor of 350, and determined benz[a]anthracene and anthracene in the presence of pyrene with the selectivity factors as high as 200–220. Triphaflavine and acridine orange as triplet energy donors, thallium (I) nitrate as a heavy atom, and sodium sulphite were used as scavengers of oxygen. A comparative study of linear concentration ranges, detection limits and selectivity factors is presented here for pyrene, benz[a]anthracene and anthracene determination by fluorescence, phosphorescence and sensitized phosphorescence. Electronic Publication     

Bioindication of soil pollution in the delta of the Don River and the coast of the Taganrog Bay with heavy metals based on anatomical,morphological and biogeochemical studies of macrophyte (Typha australis Schum. & Thonn)

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - The results of biogeochemical and bioindication studies on the resistance of natural populations of macrophyte plant—cattail (Typha australis Schum....