Evaluation of Allyl Isothiocyanate as a Soil Fumigant for Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Production.

Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici), root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), and purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) are among the most damaging soilborne pests for tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) production in the southeastern United States. Allyl isothiocyanate (allyl ITC) was evaluated as a potential fumigant alternative for control of soilborne pathogens, nematodes, and weeds. Shank- or drip-injected allyl ITC at rates ranging from 221 to 367 kg ha-1 exhibited excellent performance, reducing the recovery of total F. oxysporum from treated soils. Shank- or drip-injected allyl ITC at 367 kg ha-1 provided equivalent control of C. rotundus compared with 1,3-dichloropropene + chloropicrin and metam potassium, respectively. Totally impermeable film (TIF) did not further reduce the recovery of F. oxysporum and various nematodes from soil treated with allyl ITC compared with virtually impermeable film (VIF). However, TIF mulch significantly improved C. rotundus control versus shank- or drip-injected allyl ITC treatments under VIF mulch. Overall, allyl ITC is an effective methyl bromide alternative against F. oxysporum, C. rotundus, and plant-parasitic nematodes Criconemella spp. and Hoplolaimus spp. in plasticulture tomato production.

Effects of antibiotics on nitrogen uptake of four wetland plant species grown under hydroponic culture.

To investigate the effects of antibiotics on nitrogen removal and uptake by wetland plants, four typical macrophyte species, Cyperus alternifolius L., Typha angustifolia L., Lythrum salicaria L., and Acorus calamus L., were grown in hydroponic cultivation systems and fed wastewater polluted with 10 µg L-1 Ofloxacin (OFL) and Tetracycline (TET). Biomass production, nitrogen mass concentration, chlorophyll content, root exudates, and nitrogen removal efficiency of hydroponic cultivation were investigated. The results indicated that in all hydroponic systems, NH4+-N was entirely removed from the hydroponic substrate within 1 day and plant nitrogen accumulation was the main role of the removed NO3-. OFL and TET stimulated the accumulation of biomass and nitrogen of A. calamus but significantly inhibited the NO3--N removal ability of L. salicaria (98.6 to 76.2%) and T. augustifolia (84.3 to 40.2%). This indicates that A. calamus may be a good choice for nitrogen uptake in wetlands contaminated with antibiotics. OFL and TET improved the concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), organic acid, and soluble sugars in root exudates, especially for oxalic acid. Considering the significant correlation between TOC of root exudates and nitrogen removal efficiency, the TOC of root exudates may be an important index for choosing macrophytes to maintain nitrogen removal ability in wetlands contaminated with antibiotics.

Tomato tolerance and pest control following fumigation with different ratios of dimethyl disulfide and chloropicrin.

BACKGROUND: The phaseout of methyl bromide (MeBr) continues to stimulate research into the use of other soil fumigants for controlling soil-borne diseases and weeds. This research evaluated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) tolerance, weed emergence and the recovery of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (FOL) inoculum following fumigation with various combination ratios of dimethyl disulfide plus chloropicrin (DMDS + Pic). RESULTS: On its own, DMDS did not effectively control purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) compared with DMDS + Pic. Control of C. rotundus and fusarium wilt increased with Pic based on weed emergence throughout the growing season and FOL inoculum recovery from soil. In all three growing seasons, 159 kg ha-1 DMDS + 379 kg ha-1 Pic provided season-long control of C. rotundus. CONCLUSION: This research confirms that formulating DMDS + Pic containing a high percentage of Pic offers an effective alternative to MeBr for tomato production. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Terpenoids from Weedy Ricefield Flatsedge (Cyperus iria L.) Are Developmentally Regulated and Stress-Induced, and have Antifungal Properties.

Ricefield flatsedge (Cyperus iria L.), a troublesome weed in rice production, actively adapts to ecological niches. In this study, terpenoids were identified as the dominant compounds from organic extracts of C. iria leaves. To understand the role of terpenoid production in plant development and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, the dynamics of terpenoid production at different developmental stages, and the regulation of these compounds by stresses were determined. Terpenoid production exhibited temporal and spatial specificity. During vegetative growth, the total concentration of sesquiterpenoids increased and reached a maximum at 70 d after germination, and then decreased until the emergence of inflorescence. Monoterpenoids were only detected from leaves 90 d after germination. During reproductive growth, the total concentration of sesquiterpenoids increased dramatically and mainly accumulated in inflorescences, indicating that the sesquiterpenoids were primarily produced in newly formed and actively growing tissues. The total amount of monoterpenoids, mostly accumulated in flowers, increased until 130 d after germination. Furthermore, accumulation of sesquiterpenoids in leaves was promoted significantly by methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and drought treatment. Infestation by beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua, BAW) promoted the emission of total sesquiterpenoids significantly and induced the production of more monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids specifically. Furthermore, volatiles from C. iria leaves had an anti-fungal effect on Fusarium graminearum. The implications of our findings on the biosynthetic pathways leading to the production of sesquiterpenoids in C. iria as well as their potential as fungicides are discussed.

Microbial removal and plant uptake of nitrogen in constructed wetlands: mesocosm tests on influencing factors.

Macrophytes and bacteria are key drivers of nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands. Through mesocosm experiments with vegetated submerged beds and free water surface wetlands in various operational modes, wetland configurations, and system layouts, this study developed empirical models for non-destructive estimation of plant biomass growth and associated nitrogen assimilation and explored the combined effects of multiple factors that influence microbial nitrogen removal. The above-ground biomass of individual plants was a power function of plant height for both Cyperus alternifolius and Typha angustifolia. Below- to above-ground biomass ratio was 0.38 for C. alternifolius and 2.73 for T. angustifolia. Because of greater tolerance to ammonia stress, C. alternifolius and C. papyrus grew faster than T. angustifolia. There were no significant effects of wetland type, vegetation, and plant species on microbial nitrogen removal. Microbial nitrogen removal was inhibited by free ammonia at 13.3-16.2 mg N/L. Denitrification and anammox were suppressed at dissolved oxygen greater than 1.9 mg/L. Microbial removal of ammonia in vegetated submerged beds was sensitive mainly to dissolved oxygen, pH, and influent ammonia concentration, while in free water surface wetlands, it was sensitive to influent ammonia concentration, pH, and temperature.

Effects of pharmaceuticals on microbial communities and activity of soil enzymes in mesocosm-scale constructed wetlands.

Cyperus alternifolius based mesocosm-scale constructed wetland was employed to remove pharmaceuticals. We investigated the microbial community composition using phosphor lipid fatty acids (PFLAs) analysis and substrate enzyme activity during long-term exposure to pharmaceuticals in mesocosm-scale constructed wetlands. The results showed that there was no visible inhibition effect of pharmaceuticals on CW substrate enzymes activities in the experimental range (0-500 µg/L). Microbial communities, as revealed by PFLAs, were enhanced by the presence of plants, while the PFLAs content was highest when the pharmaceutical concentration was 10 µg/L or 30 µg/L at CWs. Except for anaerobic bacteria and Saturated fatty acids, the maximum PLFAs levels were reached when the pharmaceuticals were 10 µg/L or 30 µg/L, while Bacteria, G (-), fungal bacteria, Aerobic bacteria and Monounsaturated fatty acids were remarkably affected by high pharmaceuticals (100-500 µg/L). However, the main microbial florae were not changed among the treatments. In this study, the removal efficiencies of the studied pharmaceuticals in Planted (30) was greatest, which could be attributed to the higher microbial biomass. These results indicate that C. alternifolius can phytoremediate pharmaceutical-contaminated waters in CWs. Individual fatty acid cannot be used to represent specific species; therefore, more approaches to species identification such as rRNA-based methods must be included in future studies to better understand the metabolic mechanisms of microorganisms involved in the removal of studied pharmaceuticals and improve the performance of CWs.

Concentration effects of the UV filter oxybenzone in Cyperus alternifolius: assessment of tolerance by stress-related response.

Phytoremediation has been proposed to reduce the load of the sunscreen oxybenzone (OBZ) in the aquatic environment. Despite the proven removal efficiency of this compound, little is known about its influence, particularly oxidative stress on plants. In this study, a short-term incubation of macrophytic Cyperus alternifolius was performed to prove the plant's ability to withstand the stress. Detached shoots were immersed in medium spiked with different concentrations of OBZ (50, 100, and 500 µM) for 2, 4, and 7 days, respectively. Increased formation of O2- and H2O2 in Cyperus treated with OBZ was characterized by intense colorization following histochemical staining. Alterations of enzyme activities involved in the antioxidative defense system indicate an adaptive response of C. alternifolius to this xenobiotic stress. Quantification of lipid peroxidation reveals that no significant membrane damage occurred during incubation with OBZ. Overall, 50 µM OBZ (tenfold higher than the amount frequently detected in the environment) exhibited low toxic effects. Accordingly, this pilot study provides information on the potential use of Cyperus to remove emerging sunscreen contaminants from water bodies.

Chromium removal capability and photosynthetic characteristics of Cyperus alternifolius and Coix lacryma-jobi L. in vertical flow constructed wetland treated with hexavalent chromium bearing domestic sewage.

In this study, the chromium removal capability and photosynthetic capacity response of plants were investigated in vertical flow wetland microcosms (VFWM) treated with Cr(VI) bearing domestic sewage. Two plants, Cyperus alternifolius (C. alternifolius) and Coix lacryma-jobi L. (C. lacryma-jobi L.) grown in the VFWM enhanced the purification of Cr(VI) enriched domestic sewage. Cr concentration in the effluent fell below detection limit (<0.03 mg L-1), except for the C. alternifolius wetland treated with 40 mg L-1 Cr(VI). The biomasses of both plants species were increased at 10 and 20 mg L-1 Cr(VI) exposure but inhibited at 40 mg L-1 Cr(VI). The photosynthetic capacities of both plants were not affected at 10-40 mg L-1 Cr(VI) exposure during the days 20-60. However, they were inhibited significantly (P < 0.05) at 40 mg L-1 Cr(VI) exposure during days 80-100. These results demonstrated that a VFWM with C. alternifolius and/or C. lacryma-jobi L. was capable of maintaining its efficiency and recovering its vegetation. VFWM with C. alternifolius and/or C. lacryma-jobi L. was promising for purifying wastewater which contains low to medium concentrations of Cr(VI) (<20 mg L-1).

Multiple metrics quantify and differentiate responses of vegetation to composition B.

Quantifying vegetation response to explosive compounds has focused predominantly on morphological impacts and uptake efficiency. A more comprehensive understanding of the total impacts of explosives on vegetation can be gained using a multivariate approach. We hypothesized that multiple variables representing morphological and physiological responses will more clearly differentiate species and treatments than any single variable. Individuals of three plant species were placed in soils contaminated with Composition B, which comprises 60% hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and 40% 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), and grown for 2 months. Response metrics used included photosynthetic operation, water relations, growth characteristics, as well as nitrogen and carbon concentrations and isotopic compositions. Individual metrics showed high variability in response across the three species tested. Water relations and nitrogen isotopic composition exhibited the most consistent response across species. By comparing multiple variables simultaneously, better separation of both species and exposure was observed. The inclusion of novel metrics can reinforce previously established concepts and provide a new perspective. Additionally, the inclusion of various other metrics can greatly increase the ability to identify and differentiate particular groups. By using multivariate analyses and standard vegetation metrics, new aspects of the vegetation response to explosive compounds can be identified.

Insights into the molecular mechanism of the responses for Cyperus alternifolius to PhACs stress in constructed wetlands.

Cyperus alternifolius has been widely reported to be an effective phytoremediation plant in constructed wetland systems (CWs). In this context, an integrated biochemical and proteomic analysis of C. alternifolius leaves exposed to pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in CWs was conducted to understand the mechanism of phytoremediation. The obtained results showed the antioxidant enzyme activities were induced throughout the experiment; however over time, the malondialdehyde content is not significantly different from the control and the photosynthetic pigment contents in plant were subsequently slowly recovered. Therefore, we concluded that reactive oxygen species could be effectively counteracted by the enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, and therefore the photosynthetic pigments were ultimately restored. Leaf extract proteome maps were obtained through 2-DE, and an average of 55, 49, and 24 spots were significantly altered by 30, 100, and 500 µg/L of PhACs over the control, respectively. Protein expression patterns showed that proteins in C. alternifolius leaves are associated with photosynthesis, energy metabolism, defense, and protein synthesis. Moreover, the most relevant pathways modulated by PhACs were photosynthesis and energy metabolism. The protein expression involved in antioxidant defense and stress response generally increased in all the PhAC treatments. The regulated proteins may favor PhAC degradation in CWs; however, the role of these proteins in degrading PhACs remains unknown; further biochemical studies should be conducted. This study indicated that C. alternifolius can tolerate multiple PhACs.

Investigating the Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Cyperus rotundus L. on the Expression of Bcl-x1 Antiapoptotic Gene in Rats' Hippocampus Tissue Following Global Ischemic-Reperfusion Injury.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury is the tissue damage happened when blood supply returns to the tissue after a period of ischemia or shortage of oxygen. This brain injury initiates an inflammatory response involving the expression of adhesion molecules and cytokines. The aim of this study is investigating the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Cyperus rotundus L. on the expression of the Bcl-x1 antiapoptotic gene in rats' hippocampus tissue following global ischemic-reperfusion injury. In the present study, attempts were made to investigate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Cyprus rotundus L. on the expression of the Bcl-x1 antiapoptotic gene in rats' hippocampus tissue following global ischemic-reperfusion. To this end, eighteen male Wistar rats (250-300 g body wt) were used in this study. The animals were divided into three classes, each including 6 rats, I: Control class without ischemia-reperfusion, II: Ischemia-reperfusion class that was subjected to all surgical procedures, III: extract injection class that received Cyperus rotundus L. after ischemia. Seventy two hours after ischemia-reperfusion, the hippocampus was derived for studying the changes in bcl-xl gene expression. Q real-time PCR was employed for the detection of bcl-xl gene expression in ischemia and extract groups, and then their results were compared with normal samples. The results showed the generations of 0.6233, 0.23, and 0.9933 for control, ischemia, and ischemic extract groups, respectively. Moreover, it was found that the bcl-xl gene expression declined in ischemia group as compared to the extract group. A significant difference in the bcl-xl gene expression was observed in ischemia group when compared with the groups which had both injection and ischemia. These findings are consistent with anti-apoptotic properties of the bcl-xl gene. It can be concluded that this method creates a powerful tool for the investigators to study brain ischemia and the responses to the treatment which are caused by the injection of Cyprus rotundus L.

A psbA mutation (Val219 to Ile) causes resistance to propanil and increased susceptibility to bentazon in Cyperus difformis.

BACKGROUND: Propanil-resistant (R) Cyperus difformis populations were recently confirmed in California rice fields. To date, propanil resistance in other weed species has been associated with enhanced aryl acylamidase (AAA)-mediated propanil conversion into 3,4-dichloroaniline. Our objectives were to determine the level of propanil resistance and cross-resistance to other PSII inhibitors in C. difformis lines, and to elucidate the mechanism of propanil resistance. RESULTS: The propanil-R line had a 14-fold propanil resistance and increased resistance to bromoxynil, diuron and metribuzin, but not to atrazine. The R line, however, displayed a fourfold increased susceptibility to bentazon. Interestingly, susceptible (S) plants accumulated more 3,4-dichloroaniline and were more injured by propanil and carbaryl (AAA-inhibitor) applications than R plants, suggesting that propanil metabolism is not the resistance mechanism. psbA gene sequence analysis indicated a valine-219-isoleucine (Val219 Ile) amino acid exchange in the propanil-R chloroplast D1 protein. CONCLUSION: The D1 Val219 Ile modification in C. difformis causes resistance to propanil, diuron, metribuzin and bromoxynil but increased susceptibility to bentazon, suggesting that the Val219 residue participates in binding of these herbicides. This is the first report of a higher plant exhibiting target-site propanil resistance. Tank mixing of bentazon and propanil, where permitted, can control both propanil-R and propanil-S C. difformis and prevent the spread of the resistant phenotype. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Removal of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and toxicological response of Cyperus alternifolius exposed to PhACs in microcosm constructed wetlands.

This study investigated the effects of selected four pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) (carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole, ofloxacin, and roxithromycin) on the photosynthesis and antioxidant enzymes of Cyperus alternifolius in constructed wetlands (CWs). Moreover, the removal and kinetics of PhACs in CWs were evaluated to explore the related removal mechanisms. Results showed that C. alternifolius can uptake and withstand certain PhACs. The PhAC tolerance of C. alternifolius might be attributed to their capacity to maintain relatively normal photosynthetic activity and elevated antioxidative defense. CWs offered comparable or even higher removal efficiencies for the selected PhACs compared with conventional WWTPs. The removal of the target PhACs was enhanced in the planted CWs versus the unplanted CWs mostly because of plant uptake and rhizosphere effects. In particular, carbamazepine, which is considered the most recalcitrant of the PhACs, was significantly reduced (p<0.05). The removal of target PhACs fitted into two distinct periods. The initial fast step (within the first 2 h) was essentially attributed to the adsorption onto the CW medium surface. The subsequent slow process (2-12 h) closely followed first-order kinetics probably because of the interaction between microorganisms and plants. The obtained results indicate that C. alternifolius can phytoremediate PhAC-contaminated waters in CWs.

Investigation into ammonia stress on Cyperus alternifolius and its impact on nutrient removal in microcosm experiments.

Ammonia stress on plants has been investigated at discrete ammonia concentrations in constructed wetlands. This study introduced a Gaussian model to simulate the kinetics of ammonia stress and investigated reversible and irreversible ammonia stress on Cyperus alternifolius in wetland-like microcosms. Ammonia stress on plant weight increase and oxygen release potential started at weekly ammonia concentrations of 27 and 28 mg N/L, reached 50% inhibition at 178 and 158 mg N/L, and resulted in lethal effects at 311 and 303 mg N/L, respectively. The stress of one-time ammonia concentrations up to 400 mg N/L could be reversible. Ammonia concentrations constantly above 219 mg N/L exerted irreversible stress. In the microcosms with ammonia concentrations above the 50% inhibition levels, plants played a minor role in nitrogen removal. Nitrogen removal performance was not affected considerably by ammonia stress. Orthophosphate removal was suppressed by ammonia stress due to less plant uptake. Design and operation of constructed wetlands should consider wastewater ammonia concentration so that the integrity of constructed wetland ecosystems can be maintained.

Phytodegradation of Ethanolamines by Cyperus alternifolius: Effect of Molecular Size.

Our screening of plants showed that Cyperus alternifolius (Umbrella papyrus) had the highest efficiency removal in real wastewater containing monoethanolamine-higher than Echinodorus cordifolius (Creeping Burrhead), Thalia geniculata (Alligator Flag), Acorus calamus (Sweet Flag), and Dracaena sanderiana (Lucky Bamboo). Therefore, this research studied the degradation of monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), and triethanolamine (TEA) by C. alternifolius. Plants could degrade TEA into DEA, then into MEA, and then further into acetic acid. The accumulation of ethanolamines was found mainly in plant stems, which had the highest biomass. This demonstrated that the molecular size is closely related to a diffusion coefficient that affects the removal rate through plant bodies. A smaller molecular weight-MEA (MW = 61.08 g mol(-1))-was taken up the fastest, followed by DEA (MW = 105.14 g mol(-1)) and TEA (MW = 149.19 g mol(-1)), the highest molecular weight. The plants' toxicity when exposed to ethanolamines elucidated that MEA had the highest toxicity, followed by DEA and TEA. In addition, the application of C. alternifolius in monoethanolamine-contaminated wastewater revealed that plant could completely uptake MEA at day 5 from an initial MEA concentration of 18 mM. The result indicated that C. alternifolius has the potential to remove ethanolamines and can be applied to ethanolamine-contaminated wastewater.

First report of resistance to acetolactate-synthase-inhibiting herbicides in yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus): confirmation and characterization.

BACKGROUND: Yellow nutsedge is one of the most problematic sedges in Arkansas rice, requiring the frequent use of halosulfuron (sulfonylurea) for its control. In the summer of 2012, halosulfuron at 53 g ha(-1) (labeled field rate) failed to control yellow nutsedge. The level of resistance to halosulfuron was determined in the putative resistant biotype, and its cross-resistance to other acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors from four different herbicide families. ALS enzyme assays and analysis of the ALS gene were used to ascertain the resistance mechanism. RESULTS: None of the resistant plants was killed by halosulfuron at a dose of 13 568 g ha(-1) (256× the field dose), indicating a high level of resistance. Based on the whole-plant bioassay, the resistant biotype was not controlled by any of the ALS-inhibiting herbicides (imazamox, imazethapyr, penoxsulam, bispyribac, pyrithiobac-sodium, bensulfuron and halosulfuron) tested at the labeled field rate. The ALS enzyme from the resistant biotype was 2540 times less responsive to halosulfuron than the susceptible biotype, and a Trp574 -to-Leu substitution was detected by ALS gene sequencing using the Illumina HiSeq. CONCLUSION: The results suggest a target-site alteration as the mechanism of resistance in yellow nutsedge, which accounts for the cross-resistance to other ALS-inhibiting herbicide families.

Effect of crude oil contamination on the chlorophyll content and morpho-anatomy of Cyperus brevifolius (Rottb.) Hassk.

Chlorophyll plays a pivotal role in the plant physiology and its productivity. Cultivation of plants in crude oil contaminated soil has a great impact on the synthesis of chlorophyll pigment. Morpho-anatomy of the experimental plant also shows structural deformation in higher concentrations. Keeping this in mind, a laboratory investigation has been carried out to study the effect of crude oil on chlorophyll content and morpho-anatomy of Cyperus brevifolius plant. Fifteen-day-old seedling of the plant was planted in different concentrations of the crude oil mixed soil (i.e., 10,000, 20,000, 30,000, 40,000, and 50,000 ppm). A control setup was also maintained without adding crude oil. Results were recorded after 6 months of plantation. Investigation revealed that there is a great impact of crude oil contamination on chlorophyll content of the leaves of the experimental plant. It also showed that chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll content of leaves grown in different concentrations of crude oil were found to be lower than those of the control plant. Further, results also demonstrated that chlorophyll content was lowest in the treatment that received maximum dose of crude oil. It also showed that chlorophyll content was decreased with increased concentration of crude oil. Results also demonstrated that there was a reduction in plant shoot and root biomass with the increase of crude oil concentration. Results also revealed that the shoot biomass is higher than root biomass. Morphology and anatomy of the experimental plant also show structural deformation in higher concentrations. Accumulation of crude oil on the cuticle of the transverse section of the leaves and shoot forms a thick dark layer. Estimation of the level of pollution in an environment due to oil spill is possible by the in-depth study of the harmful effects of oil on the morphology and anatomy and chlorophyll content of the plants grown in that particular environment.

Field note: phytoremediation of petroleum sludge contaminated field using sedge species, Cyperus rotundus (Linn.) and Cyperus brevifolius (Rottb.) Hassk.

The aim of this study was to degrade total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in a petroleum sludge contaminated site (initial TPH concentration of 65,000-75,000 mg kg(-1)) with two native sedge species namely Cyperus rotundus (Linn.) and Cyperus brevifolius (Rottb.) Hassk. Fertilized and unfertilized treatments were maintained separately to record the influence of fertilizer in TPH degradation. The average biomass production (twenty plants from each treatment) of C. rotundus was 345.5 g and that of C. brevifolius was 250.6 g in fertilized soil during 360 days. Decrease in soil TPH concentration was higher in fertilized soil (75% for C. rotundus and 64% for C. brevifolius) than in unfertilized soil (36% for C. rotundus and 32% for C. brevifolius). In unvegetated treatments, decrease in soil TPH concentration in fertilized (12%) and unfertilized soil (8%) can be attributed to natural attenuation and microbial degradation. TPH accumulation in roots and shoots was significantly higher in fertilized soil in comparison to unfertilized soils (p < 0.05). Most probable number (MPN) in planted treatments was significantly higher than in unplanted treatments (p < 0.05).

Short-term effects of diesel fuel on rhizosphere microbial community structure of native plants in Yangtze estuarine wetland.

PURPOSE: In this work, short-term effects of diesel fuel on Huangpu-Yangtze estuarine wetland soil microbial community structure were studied under simulated conditions through phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) analysis. Four native plant species, bulrush (Scirpus tripueter), galingale (Cyperus rotundus), wildrice (Zizania latifolia), and reed (Phragmites australis) were tested in the experiments. METHOD: In the pot experiment, 20 g rhizosphere soils were mixed with 20 g diesel-blended soils. The concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbon was 16,000 mg/kg. All pots were incubated for 14 days in dark at 28°C and watered with 12 mL sterile distilled water to keep a liquid level. Microbial activity of the samples was assessed by hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate. Measurements of soil PLFAs and analysis on gas chromatography were performed. RESULTS: The microbial activity in the samples of reed was highest after the exposure. In all samples, the common PLFA was straight-chain saturated fatty acid (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA). After the exposure the relative abundance of MUFA and polyunsaturated fatty acid decreased by 20%, and the relative abundance of straight-chain SFA increased by 20%. The results of diversity and PCA indicated that the effect of diesel pollutant on the microbial community was far stronger than the root effect and the reed roots enhanced the tolerance of soil microorganisms to diesel significantly. CONCLUSIONS: All results showed that the soil microbial community structure differed significantly with the exposure to diesel. In reed rhizosphere, the soil microorganisms exhibited a strong resistance to diesel fuel. It confirmed that the root of reed improved the biodegradation ability of soil microorganisms for diesel pollutants and they could be reasonably matched to cure and restore the ecological environment of oil-contaminated wetlands.