Iron Status Affects the Zinc Accumulation in the Biomass Plant Szarvasi-1.

Thinopyrum obtusiflorum (syn. Elymus elongatus subsp. ponticus) cv. Szarvasi-1 (Poaceae, Triticeae) is a biomass plant with significant tolerance to certain metals. To reveal its accumulation capacity, we investigated its Zn uptake and tolerance in a wide range: 0.2 to 1000 µM Zn concentration. The root and shoot weight, shoot length, shoot water content and stomatal conductance proved to be only sensitive to the highest applied Zn concentrations, whereas the concentration of malondialdehyde increased only at the application of 1 mM Zn in the leaves. Although physiological status proved to be hardy against Zn exposure, shoot Zn content significantly increased in parallel with the applied Zn treatment, reaching the highest Zn concentration at 1.9 mg g-1 dry weight. The concentration of K, Mg and P considerably decreased in the shoot at the highest Zn exposures, where that of K and P also correlated with a decrease in water content. Although the majority of microelements remained unaffected, Mn decreased in the root and Fe content had a negative correlation with Zn both in the shoot and root. In turn, the application of excessive EDTA maintained a proper Fe supply for the plants but lowered Zn accumulation both in roots and shoots. Thus, the Fe-Zn competition for Fe chelating phytosiderophores and/or for root uptake transporters fundamentally affects the Zn accumulation properties of Szarvasi-1. Indeed, the considerable Zn tolerance of Szarvasi-1 has a high potential in Zn accumulation.

S-Methylmethionine Effectively Alleviates Stress in Szarvasi-1 Energy Grass by Reducing Root-to-Shoot Cadmium Translocation.

S-methylmethionine (SMM) is a universal metabolite of higher plants derived from L-methionine that has an approved priming effect under different types of abiotic and biotic stresses. Szarvasi-1 energy grass (Elymus elongatus subsp. ponticus cv. Szarvasi-1) is a biomass plant increasingly applied in phytoremediation to stabilize or extract heavy metals. In this study, Szarvasi-1 was grown in a nutrient solution. As a priming agent, SMM was applied in 0.02, 0.05 and 0.1 mM concentrations prior to 0.01 mM Cd addition. The growth and physiological parameters, as well as the accumulation pattern of Cd and essential mineral nutrients, were investigated. Cd exposure decreased the root and shoot growth, chlorophyll concentration, stomatal conductance, photosystem II function and increased the carotenoid content. Except for stomatal conductance, SMM priming had a positive effect on these parameters compared to Cd treatment without priming. In addition, it decreased the translocation and accumulation of Cd. Cd treatment decreased K, Mg, Mn, Zn and P in the roots, and K, S, Cu and Zn in the shoots compared to the untreated control. SMM priming changed the pattern of nutrient uptake, of which Fe showed characteristic accumulation in the roots in response to increasing SMM concentrations. We have concluded that SMM priming exerts a positive effect on Cd-stressed Szarvasi-1 plants, which retained their physiological performance and growth. This ameliorative effect is suggested to be based on, at least partly, the lower root-to-shoot Cd translocation by the upregulated Fe uptake and transport.

Responses of Szarvasi-1 energy grass to sewage sludge treatments in hydroponics.

Sewage sludge (SS) originating from communal wastewater is a hazardous material but have a potentially great nutritive value. Its disposal after treatment in agricultural lands can be a very economical and safe way of utilization once fast growing, high biomass, perennial plants of renewable energy production are cultivated. Szarvasi-1 energy grass (Elymus elongatus subsp. ponticus cv. Szarvasi-1), a good candidate for this application, was grown in hydroponics in order to assess its metal accumulation and tolerance under increasing SS amendments. The applied SS had a composition characteristic to SS from communal wastes and did not contain any toxic heavy metal contamination from industrial sludge in high concentration. Toxic effects was assessed in quarter strength Hoagland nutrient solution and only the two highest doses (12.5-18.75 g dm-3) caused decreases in root growth, shoot water content and length and stomatal conductance whereas shoot growth, root water content, chlorophyll concentration and the maximal quantum efficiency of photosystem II was unaffected. Shoot K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Zn and Cu content decreased but Na and Ni increased in the shoot compared to the unamended control. The nutritive effect was tested in 1/40 strength Hoagland solution and only the highest dose (12.5 g dm-3) decreased root growth and stomatal conductance significantly while lower doses (1.25-6.25 g dm-3) had a stimulative effect. Shoot K, Na, Fe and Ni increased and Ca, Mg, Mn, Zn and Cu decreased in this treatment. It was concluded that SS with low heavy metal content can be a potentially good fertilizer for high biomass non-food crops such as Szarvasi-1 energy grass.

Heavy metal accumulation and tolerance of energy grass (Elymus elongatus subsp. ponticus cv. Szarvasi-1) grown in hydroponic culture.

Phytoremediation is a plant based, cost effective technology to detoxify or stabilise contaminated soils. Fast growing, high biomass, perennial plants may be used not only in phytoremediation but also in energy production. Szarvasi-1 energy grass (Elymus elongatus subsp. ponticus cv. Szarvasi-1), a good candidate for this combined application, was grown in nutrient solution in order to assess its Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn accumulation and tolerance. Its shoot metal accumulation showed the order Pb < Ni < Cu ∼ Cd < Zn. In parallel with this, Pb and Ni had no or very little influence on the growth, dry matter content, chlorophyll concentration and transpiration of the plants. Cu and Cd treatment resulted in significant decreases in all these parameters that can be attributed to Fe plaque formation in the roots suggested by markedly increased Fe and Cu accumulation. This came together with decreased shoot and root Mn concentrations in both treatments while shoot Cu and Zn concentrations decreased under Cd and Cu exposure, respectively. Zn treatment had no effect or even slightly stimulated the plants. This may be due to a slight stimulation of Fe translocation and a very efficient detoxification mechanism. Based on the average 300 mg kg⁻¹ (dry mass) Zn concentration which is 0.03% of the shoot dry mass the variety is suggested to be classified as Zn accumulator.

Efficacy and tolerability of liposomal heparin spraygel as an add-on treatment in the management of superficial venous thrombosis.

Superficial venous thrombosis usually resolves spontaneously in a few weeks. In most cases, treatment includes peroral analgesics or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs accompanied by the recommendation to wear elastic stockings and perform regular mild ambulation. In contrast to this "standard treatment," a recent ACCP guideline has recommended that patients affected by spontaneous superficial thrombophlebitis be treated with intermediate doses of unfractionated or low-molecular-weight heparin. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of topically applied heparin spraygel in terms of reduction of local symptoms and signs of superficial venous thrombosis.