UPTAKE AND DISTRIBUTION OF RADIOSTRONTIUM IN TOMATO TREATED WITH ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were inoculated into the root system of edible tomato plants to investigate their effect on the uptake and distribution of strontium radionuclide in the tissues of plants grown under laboratory conditions. The experiments were carried out in a sterile mixture of topsoil and sand, where in one series of experiments contaminated soil with 85Sr was used. Seeds were inoculated with a mixture of AMF at sowing, the second, control series was without application of AMF. Determination of radioactivity in soil and in different parts of tomato plants was carried out by gamma-spectrometric measurement. The obtained results and statistical analysis indicated a significant association between AMF inoculation of plants and the change in the distribution of 85Sr. The presence of AMF reduced the translocation of 85Sr from the root system to the aerial parts of tomato plants.

The impact of sewage sludge on the fungal communities in the rhizosphere and roots of barley and on barley yield.

Current problems with sewage sludge (SS) disposal could be solved by application to agricultural land considering its fertilizer properties and ability to improve soil condition. However, SS may contain heavy metals as well as pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, molecular analysis of partial 18S rRNA gene was used to study the impact of SS application into the soil on the genetic diversity of fungal communities, especially arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere and roots of barley. These samples were collected on three dates from the control soil without SS and from the soil with the addition of SS at the concentrations of 5 and 15 t ha-1. Fungal alpha diversity in the rhizosphere of barley was affected by SS differently than in barley roots. In addition, principal component analysis and cluster analysis revealed that fungal communities were strongly influenced by the SS addition into the soil, sample type, and the sampling date. This approach was complemented by an evaluation of the basic parameters of barley production and the response of these parameters to the presence of SS in the soil. The plant height increased with increasing SS concentration and the thousand seed weight significantly increased at the concentration of 5 t ha-1 SS but significantly decreased in 15 t ha-1.

Magnetically Functionalized Moss Biomass as Biosorbent for Efficient Co2+ Ions and Thioflavin T Removal.

Microwave synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles and microparticles were used to prepare a magnetically responsive biosorbent from Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus moss for the rapid and efficient removal of Co2+ ions and thioflavin T (TT). The biocomposite was extensively characterized using Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR), XRD, SEM, and EDX techniques. The magnetic biocomposite showed very good adsorption properties toward Co2+ ions and TT e.g., rapid kinetics, high adsorption capacity (218 µmol g-1 for Co and 483 µmol g-1 for TT), fast magnetic separation, and good reusability in four successive adsorption-desorption cycles. Besides the electrostatic attraction between the oxygen functional moieties of the biomass surface and both Co2+ and TT ions, synergistic interaction with the -FeOH groups of iron oxides also participates in adsorption. The obtained results indicate that the magnetically responsive biocomposite can be a suitable, easily separable, and recyclable biosorbent for water purification.

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction of polyphenols and antioxidants from Picea abies bark.

Spruce bark represents a reservoir of bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of independent variables (temperature, liquid to solid ratio, time and methanol content) and their interaction within the extraction process by the response surface methodology (RSM). The effect of conventional (solvent extraction; SE) and modern (ultrasound-assisted extraction; UAE) methods for the extraction of antioxidants (antioxidant capacity; AC) and polyphenols (total polyphenol content; TPC) was compared. Maximum yields of AC and TPC by SE and UAE were obtained at modified optimal conditions of 63 °C, methanol content of 53 % (v/v) and 38 mL of extraction solvent per gram of dry material. Two-step extraction process consisting of the fast washing and slow diffusion steps was suitable described by Peleg and Patricelli mathematic models. The HPLC fingerprints of both extracts did not show significant differences while the content of phenolic compounds extracted by UAE was 1.1- to 7.1-times higher than that obtained by SE, quantified by HPLC.

Responses of Rhizosphere Fungal Communities to the Sewage Sludge Application into the Soil.

Due to the increasing sewage sludge production in the world and problems with its disposal, an application of sludge to the soil appears to be a suitable solution considering its fertilizer properties and ability to improve the soil physical conditions. On the other hand, the sludge may also contain undesirable and toxic substances. Since soil microorganisms are sensitive to environmental changes, they can be used as indicators of soil quality. In this study, we used sewage sludge (SS) from two municipal wastewater treatment plants (SS-A and SS-B) in the dose of 5 t/ha and 15 t/ha in order to determine possible changes in the fungal community diversity, especially arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), in the rhizosphere of Arundo donax L. Rhizosphere samples were collected in summer and autumn for two consecutive years and the fungal diversity was examined using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and 18S rDNA sequencing. Fungal alpha diversity was more affected by SS-A than SS-B probably due to the higher heavy metal content. However, based on principal component analysis and ANOSIM, significant changes in overall fungal diversity were not observed. Simultaneously, 18S rDNA sequencing showed that more various fungal taxa were detected in the sample with sewage sludge than in the control. Glomus sp. as a representative of AMF was the most represented. Moreover, Funneliformis in both samples and Rhizophagus in control with Septoglomus in the sludge sample were other representatives of AMF. Our results indicate that the short-term sewage sludge application into the soil does not cause a shift in the fungal community composition.

Imaging and analysis of thin structures using positron emission tomography: Thin phantoms and in vivo tobacco leaves study.

In this work, a novel approach utilizing the designed phantoms imitating the plant tissues was applied for the evaluation of the relationships between the parameters of the prepared phantoms and/or quantitative variables obtained within the PET analysis. The microPET system developed for animal objects and approaches used made it possible to obtain the quantitative data in the form of (18)F radioactivity as well as the glucose (in µg) accumulated in leaf tissues within the dynamic in vivo study.

Biosorption of Cadmium, Cobalt and Zinc by Moss Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus in the Single and Binary Component Systems.

Biomass of moss Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus was studied as a potential biosorbent for cadmium, cobalt and zinc removal from single and binary solutions. It was shown that solution pH significantly influenced Cd, Co and Zn biosorption. Maximum uptake was reached at pH 5.0-6.0 and negligible biosorption was observed at pH 2.0. Experimental equilibrium biosorption data for cadmium, cobalt and zinc were analysed by the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The Langmuir isotherm was found to well represent the measured sorption data in single metal systems. The maximum sorption capacities Qmax onto moss biomass were 186 µmol/g for Zn, 173 µmol/g for Cd and 123 µmol/g for Co. Results revealed that the presence of Cd more significantly decreased the sorption of Co in binary Cd-Co mixtures than vice versa. In Cd-Zn binary system, both cadmium and zinc were sorbed with equal efficiency. The competitive Langmuir equations were used to fit the experimental data from the Zn-Cd and Cd-Co binary systems and simple two-dimensional isotherm curves were replaced by three-dimensional sorption isotherm surfaces.