EDTA reduces lead accumulation in Symphytum officinale L. (comfrey) roots

The addition of EDTA in phytoextraction studies has been reported to increase heavy metal accumulation in above-ground parts or to have no negative impact on the overall (root/shoot) accumulation levels in terrestrial plants. At a purely quantitative level, this study assessed the phytoextraction potential of a previously untested high-biomass terrestrial plant, Symphytum officinale L. (comfrey), in the presence of Pb and EDTA. In this hydroponic-based study, we report a small increase in shoot accumulation of Pb with EDTA but, conversely, the presence of EDTA in the nutrient medium markedly reduced the overall quantity of Pb in the plant root by at least 80%. The loss does not appear to be explained by EDTA acting alone, increased transport of Pb to the shoots, or anionic charge repulsion of the [PbEDTA]^2? complex. The elusive action and negative effect of EDTA on Pb accumulation in S. officinale provides additional reasons towards a growing trend away from the use of EDTA as a chelating agent in phytoextraction.     

Repellent scent-marking of flowers by a guild of foraging bumblebees (Bombus spp.)

We have found that foraging bumblebees (Bombus hortorum, B. pascuorum, B. pratorum and B.␣terrestris) not only avoid flowers of Symphytum officinale that have recently been visited by conspecifics but also those that have been recently visited by heterospecifics. We propose that the decision whether to reject or accept a flower is influenced by a chemical odour that is left on the corolla by a forager, which temporarily repels subsequent foragers. Honeybees and carpenter bees have previously been shown to use similar repellent forage-marking scents. We found that flowers were repellent to other bumblebee foragers for approximately 20 min and also that after this time nectar levels in S. officinale flowers had largely replenished. Thus bumblebees could forage more efficiently by avoiding flowers with low rewards. Flowers to which extracts of tarsal components were applied were more often rejected by wild B. terrestris workers than flowers that had head extracts applied, which in turn were more often rejected than flowers that had body extracts applied. Extracts from four Bombus species were equally repellent to foragers. The sites of production of the repellent scent and its evolutionary origins are discussed. Received: 24 November 1997 / Accepted after revision: 8 March 1998     

Effect of ultra-micro powder Dendrobium officinale on the molecular diversity of intestinal bacteria in mice with spleen-deficiency constipation北大核心CSCD

This research aimed to study the effect of ultra-micro powder Dendrobium officinale on the molecular diversity of intestinal bacteria in mice with spleen-deficiency constipation, in order to provide scientific basis for ultra-micro D. officinale therapy. The mice with spleen-deficiency constipation in treatment groups were respectively given the traditional decoction of D. officinale and 50% dose ultra-micro powder D. officinale. The metagenome DNA of intestinal flora was extracted from intestinal contents. Then ARDRA analysis was made after PCR by universal primer of bacteria. The results showed that OTUs, Shannon index and Brillouin index were the same between the normal group and the 50% dose ultra-micro powder group, and between the model group and the traditional decoction group, but greater in the former two groups than the latter ones. The similarity coefficient (0.500 0) was bigger between the 50% dose ultra-micro powder group and the normal group than between the model group and the traditional decoction group, which was 0.181 8. Both cluster analysis and principal components analysis showed that the molecular diversity of intestinal microbiotia in mice of 50% dose ultra-micro powder group was the closest to that in the normal group. The results showed that the weakened molecular diversity of intestinal bacteria in mice with spleen-deficiency constipation can be regulated by the two kinds of D. officinale treatments to different extent. The efficacy of 50% dose ultra-micro powder D. officinale is better than the traditional decoction.     

Studies on the Drying Characteristics of Zingiber Officinale Under Open Sun and Solar Biomass (Hybrid) Drying

Drying characteristics of Zingiber officinale (Ginger) under the open sun and direct type natural convection solar biomass (hybrid) drying were studied. It has been observed that under open sun drying conditions, the drying rate depends on the product thickness and climatic conditions. The results have been drawn for both the summer (April-May, 2004) and winter (November-January, 2003–04) months of Delhi, in India. In the hybrid drier, the ginger, with a thickness of 0.008 m, dried in 33 hours in comparison to 96 hours in open-sun drying. The overall drying efficiency of the hybrid drier was found to be 18% and 13% under summer and winter climatic conditions respectively. The loss of volatile oil content of the ginger is less in hybrid drier in comparison to open sun drying. It was found that the average drying air temperature of 60°C with average air velocity of 0.6m/sec was sufficient for the drying of ginger in the hybrid drier. Ginger quality after drying is better and drying time is less in the hybrid drier in comparison to open-sun drying. The hybrid drier is a simple device, which can be manufactured with locally available materials and can be used for drying of other spices, vegetables and fruits etc.     

挺水植物水田芥对镉的积累特性研究

通过前期的初步研究发现,挺水植物水田芥(Nasturtium officinale R.Br.)地上部分镉含量超过了超富集植物的临界值(100mg/kg),可能是镉超富集植物。为进一步了解水田芥在不同镉浓度梯度条件下的镉积累特性,通过盆栽试验研究了不同土壤镉浓度(0、25、50、75、100mg/kg)对水田芥生长特性、镉耐性和镉积累特性的影响。结果表明:随土壤镉浓度的增加,水田芥根系和地上部分镉含量增大,分枝数量、根系生物量、地上部分生物量、抗性系数及叶绿素SPAD值均呈降低的趋势。当土壤镉浓度大于0mg/kg时,随着土壤镉浓度的增加,水田芥的根冠比呈增加的趋势。土壤镉浓度为50~100mg/kg时,水田芥地上部分镉含量均大于100mg/kg,最大值为214.84mg/kg(土壤镉浓度为100mg/kg),地上部分富集系数(BCF)大于1,但转运系数(TF)小于1。在土壤镉浓度为50mg/kg时,水田芥地上部分镉积累量达到最大值,为192.233μg/株。因此,水田芥是一种镉富集植物,适合用于土壤镉污染浓度在50mg/kg以内的水田修复。     

温度对植物浮床净化富营养化水体能力的影响

利用生态浮床系统研究了温度对豆瓣菜和水芹净化富营养化水体能力的影响.结果表明,不同温度(10、22和35℃)处理明显影响植物浮床系统对NH4+-N、TN、TP、Chla、CODMn、BOD5的去除效率;植物浮床系统在22℃时对TN、NH4+-N,Chla的去除率分别达79%、82%、76%以上,在35℃时对TP、COD...     

Pb、Zn和Cd复合重金属潜在超富集植物的筛选与胁迫响应特征

为了筛选Pb、 Zn和Cd复合重金属超富集植物,对宝鸡市典型铅锌矿和冶炼厂区优势植物进行调查、采样和分析,初步筛选出一种潜在的Pb、 Zn和Cd复合重金属超富集植物,并采用土培盆栽试验观测其在Pb、 Zn和Cd复合重金属胁迫下叶绿素（叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素、总叶绿素）、抗氧化酶（SOD、 CAT、 POD）和其他生理指标（MDA、脯氨酸）的响应特征,再通过大田试验,进一步验证并确定了其对Pb、 Zn和Cd复合重金属的富集能力,以期为Pb、 Zn和Cd复合重金属污染土壤修复提供科学依据和技术支撑.结果表明,野外调查发现聚合草对Pb、 Zn和Cd的富集量、富集系数（BCF）和转移系数（TF）均满足国际上超富集植物指标限值要求,是一种潜在的Pb、 Zn和Cd复合重金属超富集植物;土培盆栽试验显示,随着Pb、 Zn和Cd复合重金属胁迫梯度的提高,聚合草叶片中叶绿素a、叶绿素b和总叶绿素含量逐渐降低,直至胁迫梯度大于等于Ⅳ时,导致植物光合系统紊乱;蓖麻叶片中的叶绿素含量呈现“低促高抑”现象,而胁迫过高则激发了自身其他保护系统使得毒害减轻而升高;另外,与CK相比,聚合草和蓖麻的叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素和总叶绿素各自均存在显著性差异（P < 0.05）.聚合草和蓖麻叶片中的SOD酶活性均呈现先增加后降低再增加的趋势;聚合草叶片中CAT酶活性先升后降的趋势,呈现“低促高抑效应”,而蓖麻叶片中CAT酶活性呈现持续降低的趋势;聚合草叶片中POD酶活性总体呈现增加趋势,而蓖麻叶片中POD酶活性先升后降低再升高;聚合草叶片中MDA含量总体呈现下降趋势,而蓖麻叶片中MDA含量总体呈上升特征;此外,各胁迫梯度之间,聚合草和蓖麻的SOD、 CAT、 POD、 MDA及脯氨酸均存在显著性差异（P < 0.05）.大田试验结果表明,聚合草对Pb、 Zn和Cd的富集量、 BCF和TF均可以达到超富集植物指标限值要求,是一种潜在的Pb、 Zn和Cd复合重金属超富集植物种质资源,能作为Pb、 Zn和Cd复合重金属污染土壤修复的优选植物.     

铁皮石斛种质资源的低温离体保存

研究了在低温条件下保存铁皮石斛种质资源的方法和影响因素。结果表明,铁皮石斛苗在４℃黑暗条件下可连续保存１２个月,并能恢复下正常生长。１／２ＭＳ和１／４ＭＳ培养基上的存活率高于ＭＳ。蔗糖深度以２０－４０ｇ／Ｌ为宜。添加低浓度活性炭可明显改善保存材料的状态。甘露醇对铁皮石斛试管苗的保存效果不佳。