Effect of acetone fraction of Ottelia alismoides on the G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in the human carcinoma cell lines.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The North-eastern parts of India have immense therapeutic floras, Ottelia alismoides is an aquatic plant that has been in use for a long time in traditional medicine for treating diseases like cancer, tuberculosis, diabetes, febrifuge, hemorrhoids, and rubefacient. In lung and skin carcinoma cells with a high rate of proliferation and metastasis including drug resistance and non-specific target activity, generates important challenges towards their treatment strategy. Thus, finding novel therapeutic targets to treat lung and skin cancer progression is essential to enhance the patients' survival with treatment. AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the apoptotic potential of acetone extract of O. alismoides (L.) Pers. (OA-AC) and to identify the compounds responsible for this effect, HRLC-MS-QTOF analysis of the extract has been undertaken along with in-silico molecular docking analysis of the identified compounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A549 and A431 cells were treated with acetone extract of O. alismoides (OA-AC) at 24 h and 48 h exposure and cell cycle phase distribution was evaluated and also apoptosis induction activity was evaluated by OA-EtBr staining and Mitochondrial outer membrane potential assay. Western blotting was performed for the evaluation of apoptotic protein expression. At last, the HR-LCMS of OA-AC was analyzed to identify the compounds responsible for the apoptotic activity of the extract. RESULTS: The cell cycle phase distribution analysis in A549 and A431 cells at 24hrs exposure with 10 µg/mL and 25 µg/mL of OA-AC showed a potent arrest or blockage at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle with reduced expression of cyclin B and p-Cdc2. At 48 h exposure, apoptosis was observed in these cancer cells with elevated expression of Bax, p21 and cleaved caspase 3 and reduced expression of the Bcl2. CONCLUSION: AO-EtBr staining of these cancer cells reveals that the death induced by OA-AC was apoptotic in nature with depolarization of mitochondrial membrane due to loss or damage of the mitochondrial membrane. The HRLC-MS-QTOF analysis of OA-AC depicted 14 major isolable compounds and molecular docking analysis displayed 4 compounds that might act as an inhibitor of cyclin B for G2/M phase arrest that leads to apoptotic induction in the cells.

Sand supplementation favors tropical seagrass Thalassia hemprichii in eutrophic bay: implications for seagrass restoration and management.

BACKGROUND: Sediment is crucial for the unique marine angiosperm seagrass growth and successful restoration. Sediment modification induced by eutrophication also exacerbates seagrass decline and reduces plantation and transplantation survival rates. However, we lack information regarding the influence of sediment on seagrass photosynthesis and the metabolics, especially regarding the key secondary metabolic flavone. Meanwhile, sulfation of flavonoids in seagrass may mitigate sulfide intrusion, but limited evidence is available. RESULTS: We cultured the seagrass Thalassia hemprichii under controlled laboratory conditions in three sediment types by combining different ratios of in-situ eutrophic sediment and coarse beach sand. We examined the effects of beach sand mixed with natural eutrophic sediments on seagrass using photobiology, metabolomics and isotope labelling approaches. Seagrasses grown in eutrophic sediments mixed with beach sand exhibited significantly higher photosynthetic activity, with a larger relative maximum electron transport rate and minimum saturating irradiance. Simultaneously, considerably greater belowground amino acid and flavonoid concentrations were observed to counteract anoxic stress in eutrophic sediments without mixed beach sand. This led to more positive belowground stable sulfur isotope ratios in eutrophic sediments with a lower Eh. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that coarse beach sand indirectly enhanced photosynthesis in T. hemprichii by reducing sulfide intrusion with lower amino acid and flavonoid concentrations. This could explain why T. hemprichii often grows better on coarse sand substrates. Therefore, it is imperative to consider adding beach sand to sediments to improve the environmental conditions for seagrass and restore seagrass in eutrophic ecosystems.

Re-modeling of foliar membrane lipids in a seagrass allows for growth in phosphorus-deplete conditions.

In this study, we used liquid chromatography high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry to analyze the lipidome of turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) leaves with either extremely high phosphorus content or extremely low phosphorus content. Most species of phospholipids were significantly down-regulated in phosphorus-deplete leaves, whereas diacylglyceryltrimethylhomoserine (DGTS), triglycerides (TG), galactolipid digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG), certain species of glucuronosyldiacylglycerols (GlcADG), and certain species of sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol (SQDG) were significantly upregulated, accounting for the change in phosphorus content, as well as structural differences in the leaves of plants growing across regions of varying elemental availability. These data suggest that seagrasses are able to modify the phosphorus content in leaf membranes dependent upon environmental availability.

[Effect of Nutrient Loadings on the Regulation of Water Nitrogen and Phosphorus by Vallisneria natans and Its Photosynthetic Fluorescence Characteristics].

Submerged macrophytes are an important component of aquatic ecosystems. During the growing period, submerged macrophytes can absorb nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients to reduce pollution loadings. Shoots of submerged macrophytes can also promote the adhesion of suspended substances in water, reducing the turbidity. The release of nutrients in sediments can be suppressed by its root system, and the resuspension of sediments caused by disturbance of winds and waves can also be resisted. The role of submerged macrophytes in ecological restoration of eutrophic lakes has attracted widespread attention. In 1960, the submerged plants Vallisneria natans and Potamogeton malaianus had been the dominant species in East Taihu. However after 2002, Nymphoides peltatum, Elodea nattalii, P. malaianus, etc. have gradually taken over the dominant roles along with significant elevations of nitrogen and phosphorus levels. Nutrients in water are not the only key factors causing eutrophication of water bodies; the nutrient source for submerged plant growth affect both the purification efficiency and the photosynthetic characteristics of submerged macrophytes. Excessive nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations can inhibit the photosynthetic physiological activities of submerged macrophytes, affecting the succession of aquatic vegetation. In addition, under high nutrient conditions, the competition from periphytic algae and planktonic algae may also directly poison submerged macrophytes, leading to its degradation and disappearance. Systematic studies on the regulation and photosynthetic fluorescence response mechanism of submerged macrophytes to varied nutrient loadings are helpful in revealing their relationships. The seedlings of submerged macrophyte V. natans were transplanted in a laboratory mesocosm to study the effect of nutrient loadings on its regulation of water nitrogen and phosphorus. Three nitrogen and phosphorus loadings from low, medium, and high levels derived from nitrate, ammonium, and phosphate were setup as the aquatic medium for the plant growth. Twelve harvests were carried out to determine the evolution of nutrient removal performance of V. natans. Its photosynthetic fluorescence characteristics were measured by a pulse-amplitude modulated fluorometer (Diving-PAM). Results showed that the nitrogen and phosphorus adsorption abilities of V. natans were gradually enhanced with the increase of nutrient concentrations in the range of TN ≤ 12 mg·L-1 and TP ≤ 1.0 mg·L-1. In the treatment of high nutrient concentrations (TN=12 mg·L-1 and TP=1.0 mg·L-1), the removal rates of nitrogen and phosphorus reached more than 95%. V. natans preferentially absorbed ammonium nitrogen when its concentration was high. The medium nutrient concentrations (TN:8-12 mg·L-1 and TP:0.6-1.0 mg·L-1) did not significantly affect the Fv/Fm ratio of leaves. However, the low nutrient concentrations (TN=3 mg·L-1 and TP=0.3 mg·L-1) could improve the Fv/Fm ratio of leaves and were beneficial for the growth of V. natans. The inhibition of photosynthetic activity and light tolerance were enhanced with the increase in nutrient concentrations. The photosynthetic activity of V. natans gradually recovered with no significant changes in the capacity for light harvesting, when the nutrient concentrations gradually decreased in the water. Our results indicate that the high nitrogen and phosphorus loadings indeed hamper the photosynthetic capacity, which may subsequently restrain the maintenance of the dominance of V. natans in the submerged macrophyte communities.

[Purification Effect of Submerged Macrophyte System with Different Plants Combinations and C/N Ratios].

A submerged macrophyte pond can effectively remove nitrogen and phosphorus from water, with the removal efficiencies for pollutants depending on combinations of submerged macrophytes. Moreover, the material structure of sewage also has a significant impact on the purification effect of the submerged macrophyte system. This experiment selected three submerged plants (Vallisneris spiralis, Hydrilla verticillata, and Myriophyllum spicatum) to examine the purification effect of their combinations on sewage, including nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies. In addition, the effect of influent C/N ratio on the submerged macrophyte pond was also tested and discussed. The results showed the following. ① All plant combinations can decrease concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in water, resulting from nutrient deposition along with sedimentation of suspended particles. The combinations of Vallisneris spiralis and Hydrilla verticillata showed the highest purification efficiency for total nitrogen and total phosphorus with an average removal rate of 32.71% and 22.13%, respectively. ② The purification effects of three C/N ratio (1.89, 5.93, and 12.09) for Vallisneris spiralis and Hydrilla verticillate system were different. The removal efficiency was highest when the C/N ratio was 5.93, with removal rates for total nitrogen and total phosphorus and a reduction in permanganate index of 81.34%, 68.26%, and 88.65%, respectively. The C/N ratio affected the degradation of nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter by influencing the dissolved oxygen concentration of water and changing the anaerobic and aerobic environment of the water. In conclusion, different submerged macrophyte combinations showed better purification effect than a single type of plant in the submerged plant pond system. Changing the influent C/N ratio by placing carbon source materials into the water can greatly increase the removal efficiency of submerged plant pond, providing a practical reference for the use of submerged plant ponds to treat sewage.

Characterization of phosphorus availability in response to radial oxygen losses in the rhizosphere of Vallisneria spiralis.

The viewpoint that radial oxygen loss (ROL) of submerged macrophytes induces changes in redox conditions and the associated phosphorus (P) availability has been indirectly confirmed at larger spatial scales using conventional, destructive techniques. However, critical information about microniches has largely been overlooked due to the lack of satisfactory in situ mapping technologies. In this study, we deployed a recently developed hybrid sensor in the rhizosphere of Vallisneria spiralis (V. spiralis) during two vegetation periods to provide 2-D imaging of the spatiotemporal co-distribution of oxygen (O2) and P from a fixed observation point. Overall, the images of O2 and P showed a high degree of spatiotemporal heterogeneity throughout the rhizosphere at the sub-mm scale. A clear decrease in the P mobilization corresponded well to the steep O2 enhancement within a 2-mm-thick zone around younger V. spiralis root, indicating a significant coupling relationship between ROL and P availability. Surprisingly, despite significant diurnal shifts in ROL along the older V. spiralis roots, P availability did not fluctuate in a substantial part of the rhizosphere throughout the day; however, ROL increased the P immobilization significantly by changing the redox gradients at the outer rhizosphere. This study clearly demonstrates how continuous ROL of V. spiralis can play a major role in regulating P availability within the rhizosphere. The premise behind this statement is the discovery of how this continuous ROL can lead to the formation of three distinctive redox landscapes in the rooting sediment (oxic, suboxic, or anaerobic layers).

Phosphate alleviation of glyphosate-induced toxicity in Hydrocharis dubia (Bl.) Backer.

Glyphosate, as a broad-spectrum herbicide, is frequently detected in water, and phosphorus widely enters the water due to the extensive use of phosphorus-containing substances in agriculture, industries and daily life. Thus, aquatic ecosystems are exposed to both glyphosate and phosphorus, which may affect aquatic organisms. In the present research, we studied the physiological responses of the floating aquatic plant species H. dubia to different concentrations of glyphosate (0, 1, 5, 15 mg/L) with different levels of phosphate (0, 50, 100 mg/L) after 14 days (d) of treatment. We explored glyphosate toxicity in H. dubia and investigated whether phosphate addition mitigates glyphosate toxicity in this species, which will provide a theoretical basis for the ecotoxicological study of aquatic plants. The results show that glyphosate significantly reduced the chlorophyll content, leaf number and root length of H. dubia, while it significantly increased the malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), shikimate, proline, and soluble protein content and enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO)) in H. dubia. After phosphate supplement, the MDA, H2O2, proline, and soluble protein contents and enzyme activities in the plants treated with glyphosate decreased. These results indicate that the concentration of glyphosate investigated in our study can cause oxidative stress and affect the growth of H. dubia. Phosphate can alleviate glyphosate-induced oxidative stress in H. dubia.

Effect of the exogenous anthocyanin extract on key metabolic pathways and antioxidant status of Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa (Planch.) Casp.) exposed to cadmium and manganese.

Present study deals with the effect of 24 h pre-incubation with exogenous anthocyanins (ANTH), extracted from red cabbage leaves, on key metabolic processes (photosynthesis and respiration) and pro-/antioxidant balance in the aquatic macrophyte Egeria densa (Planch.) Casp., Hydrocharitaceae family, treated with Cd and Mn (in sulfate form) at a concentration of 100 µmol. After five days of metal treatments, Cd was accumulated and the damage caused to metabolic processes was stronger than Mn. In Cd-treated leaves, the protein level, chlorophyll concentration and maximal photochemical efficiency of PS II decreased twofold, and net-photosynthesis was significantly inhibited, whereas lipid peroxidation and H2O2 production increased. In turn, protective responses developed, including an increase in the total soluble thiols, alternative respiratory pathway capacity and the activity of superoxide dismutase and peroxidases. Pre-incubation in the ANTH-enriched extract caused an increase in foliar ANTH content, enhanced Cd and reduced Mn uptake into the tissue. A decrease in the level of oxidative reactions, an increase in the protein and chlorophyll concentration compared to the control values and a partial improvement of the photosynthetic parameters confirmed the ability of ANTH to reduce Cd-induced damage effects and to mitigate ROS-driven stress reactions. Stimulation of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activity, an alternative respiration capacity and non-enzymatic antioxidant (carotenoids, ascorbate and proline) synthesis by ANTH were also revealed. These data suggest that ANTH-enriched extract from red cabbage leaves has a protective action against metal toxicity in Egeria plants.

Synergistic removal effect of P in sediment of all fractions by combining the modified bentonite granules and submerged macrophyte.

The removal efficiency of sediment phosphorus (P) with the in-situ synergistic effect of modified bentonite granules (MBG) and Vallisneria spiralis (V. spiralis) in West Lake, Hangzhou, China was investigated for the first time in the study. CMBG-Na10-450 (nitrification (10% Na2CO3)-calcination (450 °C) combined modification) was prepared and characterized, and the removal effects of sediment P of all fractions with CMBG-Na10-450 and V. spiralis in combination and separately were evaluated in batch experiments. Results showed that CMBG-Na10-450 could promote the growth of V. spiralis, and the residual P of the sediment not adsorbed on CMBG-Na10-450 was changed through root oxygenation and nutrition allocation, and then enhanced the extra P adsorption on CMBG-Na10-450. The combination of MBG and V. spiralis exhibited a synergistic removal effect higher than the summation of MBG and V. spiralis applied separately. The results of microcosm experiments showed that the combination of CMBG-Na10-450 and V. spiralis enhanced the function of P metabolism by increasing the special genus that belongs to the family Erysipelotrichaceae.

Nutrient release and uptake by littoral macrophytes during water level fluctuations.

Water level drawdown followed by rewetting in reservoirs/lakes can shift macrophytes from a nutrient sink to a source, thus changing nutrient dynamics and causing water quality problems. However, there is limited understanding of the effect of macrophyte growth versus decomposition on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) dynamics during water level fluctuations (WLFs). This study examined nutrient release versus uptake by two submerged macrophytes, the invasive Cabomba caroliniana (Cabomba) and the native Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrilla), compared to bare sediments, after drying then rewetting. Overall, we examined the nutrient dynamics in treatments comparing 1) two macrophyte species, 2) macrophyte nutrient uptake versus release, and 3) the presence of macrophytes versus bare sediments. Our study showed that Cabomba litter had a higher nutrient release rate and resulted in higher water column chlorophyll a concentrations compared with Hydrilla litter. The decomposition impact of both species on water column P concentrations was greater than that for N, and proportionally less P was assimilated than released by macrophytes compared with N. This resulted in P accumulation and a decreased N:P ratio in the water column compared to bare sediments without macrophytes. Phosphorus accumulation in the water column during macrophyte decomposition increased phytoplankton growth in our study, highlighting the potential for phytoplankton blooms, especially in P-deficient lakes. Regrown Hydrilla had a higher potential for assimilating sediment N compared to Cabomba. In contrast, regrown Cabomba was more efficient at reducing water column N compared with Hydrilla, suggesting different pathways of assimilation. Neither regrown Cabomba nor Hydrilla significantly reduced water column P concentrations. This study highlights different nutrient impacts of macrophyte beds compared to bare sediments during WLFs, and the role of regrown macrophytes in assimilating the released nutrients from macrophyte decomposition. However, the scale of their role is dependent on macrophyte species, forms of nutrients and drying-wetting regimes.

Direct evidence for the enhanced acquisition of phosphorus in the rhizosphere of aquatic plants: A case study on Vallisneria natans.

There are few studies about the processes and mechanisms for aquatic plants to take up phosphorus (P) in wetland soils and sediments. Direct observation of P mobilization in rhizosphere is lacking. In this study, high-resolution dialysis (HR-Peeper) and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) techniques were used to capture the small-scale changes of soluble reactive P (SRP) and soluble Fe, and labile P in the rhizosphere of Vallisneria natans (V. natans), respectively. The results showed 5.92- and 3.12-fold enrichments of P and Fe in the Fe plaques formed on the root surfaces, respectively, in comparison with the P and Fe concentrations in the non-rhizosphere sediments. Moreover, simultaneous releases of P and Fe appeared in rhizosphere and the SRP concentration showed up to 114-fold increases compared to the non-rhizosphere sediments. Five kinds of low-molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs) were detected in the root exudates; oxalic acid accounted for 87.5% of the total. Extraction of Fe and P in the Fe plaques was greatly enhanced by root exudates compared to deionized water, and oxalic acid contributed to 67% and 75% of the total extracted Fe and P, respectively. The coupling processes of Fe plaque enrichment of P and oxalic acid complexation of Fe(III) led to significantly enhanced P acquisition in the rhizosphere of V. natans.

Factors affecting palatability of four submerged macrophytes for grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella.

Grass carp can weaken the growth and reproductive capacity of submerged macrophytes by consuming valuable tissues, but factors affecting palatability of submerged macrophytes for grass carp rarely are considered. In this study, relative consumption rate of grass carp with regard to submerged macrophytes was in the following order: Hydrilla verticillata > Vallisneria natans > Ceratophyllum demersum > Myriophyllum spicatum. Firmness of macrophytes was in the following order: M. spicatum > C. demersum > H. verticillata = V. natans, whereas shear force was M. spicatum > C. demersum > H. verticillata > V. natans. After crude extracts of M. spicatum were combined with H. verticillata, grass carp fed on fewer macrophyte pellets that contained more plant secondary metabolites (PSMs). This indicated that structure and PSMs affected palatability of macrophytes.PSMs do not contribute to reduction in palatability through inhibition of intestinal proteinases activity, but they can cause a decrease in the abundance of Exiguobacterium, Acinetobacter-yielding proteases, lipases, and cellulose activity, which in turn can weaken the metabolic capacity of grass carp and adversely affect their growth. Thus, the disadvantages to the growth and development of grass carp caused by PSMs may drive grass carp to feed on palatable submerged macrophytes with lower PSMs.

Bio-accumulation of lanthanum from lanthanum modified bentonite treatments in lake restoration.

Lanthanum (La) modified bentonite (LMB) is one of the available mitigating agents used for the reduction of the phosphorus (P) recycling in eutrophic lakes. The potential toxicity of the La from LMB to aquatic organisms is a matter of concern. In this study the accumulation of La was investigated in the macrophyte Elodea nuttallii, in chironomid larvae and in several fish species during periods up to five years following in situ LMB applications. The application of LMB increased the La concentration of exposed plants and animals. During the first growing season following LMB applications, the La content of E. nuttallii increased 78 fold (3.98-310.68 µg La g-1 DW) to 127 fold (2.46-311.44 µg La g-1). During the second growing season following application, the La content decreased but was still raised compared to plants that had not been exposed. The La content of chironomids was doubled in the two years following LMB application, although the increase was not significant. Raised La concentrations in fish liver, bone, muscle and skin were observed two and five years following to LMB application. Liver tissues showed the highest La increase, ranging from 6 fold (0.046-0.285 µg La g-1 DW) to ∼20 fold (0.080-1.886 µg La g-1, and 0.122-2.109 µg La g-1) two years following application and from 6 fold (0.046-0.262 µg La g-1) to 13 fold (0.013-0.167 µg La g-1) after five years in pelagic and littoral fish. The La content of the liver from Anguilla anguilla (eel) had increased 94 fold (0.034-3.176 µg La g-1) two years and 133 fold (0.034-4.538 µg La g-1) five years following LMB application. No acute and chronic effects of La accumulation were observed and human health risks are considered negligible. We advocate the long-term study of effects of La accumulation following future LMB applications.

Uranium biosorption from aqueous solution by the submerged aquatic plant Hydrilla verticillata.

The biosorption characteristics of U(VI) from aqueous solution onto a nonliving aquatic macrophyte, Hydrilla verticillata (dry powder), were investigated under various experimental conditions by using batch methods. Results showed that the adsorption reached equilibrium within 60 min and the experimental data were well fitted by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. U(VI) adsorption was strongly pH dependent, and the optimum pH for U(VI) removal was 5.5. Isotherm adsorption data displayed good correlation with the Langmuir model, with a maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 171.52 mg/g. Thermodynamic studies suggested that U(VI) adsorption onto H. verticillata was an exothermic and spontaneous process in nature. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that the amino and hydroxyl groups on the algal surface played an important role in U(VI) adsorption. The mechanisms responsible for U(VI) adsorption could involve electrostatic attraction and ion exchange. In conclusion, H. verticillata biomass showed good potential as an adsorption material for the removal of uranium contaminants in aqueous solution.

Phytochelatin 2 accumulates in roots of the seagrass Enhalus acoroides collected from sediment highly contaminated with lead.

Phytochelatins (PCs), the heavy metal-binding peptides of plants, play a main function in heavy metal detoxification. In this study, Enhalus acoroides samples collected at six distinct seagrass beds from the coast of Khanh Hoa province, Viet Nam, were evaluated for their PCs. The contents of different PCs in each organ including leaf, rhizome, and root were determined by using HPLC analysis. Significant differences of PC2 contents among specific organs and their relation were tested by ANOVA, Tukey test, and Pearson's correlation. The results showed that higher PC2, appearance of PC3 and a strong correlation between PC2 and Pb concentration were found in the root organ collected from a Pb contaminated area. We conclude that high Pb in the sediment induce high PC2 and PC3 production in the root. This first report on in situ detection of PCs of seagrass encourages future investigation on the ability to use seagrass for phytoremediation and as a bioindicator of heavy metals based on PC contents.

Mn accumulation in a submerged plant Egeria densa (Hydrocharitaceae) is mediated by epiphytic bacteria.

Many aquatic plants act as biosorbents, removing and recovering metals from the environment. To assess the biosorbent activity of Egeria densa, a submerged freshwater macrophyte, plants were collected monthly from a circular drainage area in Lake Biwa basin and the Mn concentrations of the plants were analysed. Mn concentrations in these plants were generally above those of terrestrial hyperaccumulators, and were markedly higher in spring and summer than in autumn. Mn concentrations were much lower in plants incubated in hydroponic medium at various pH levels with and without Mn supplementation than in field-collected plants. The precipitation of Mn oxides on the leaves was determined by variable pressure scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis and Leucoberbelin blue staining. Several strains of epiphytic bacteria were isolated from the field-collected E. densa plants, with many of these strains, including those of the genera Acidovorax, Comamonas, Pseudomonas and Rhizobium, found to have Mn-oxidizing activity. High Mn concentrations in E. densa were mediated by the production of biogenic Mn oxide in biofilms on leaf surfaces. These findings provide new insights into plant epidermal bacterial flora that affect metal accumulation in plants and suggest that these aquatic plants may have use in Mn phytomining.

Zinc supplementation imparts tolerance to arsenite stress in Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle.

The present study was aimed to analyze the effects of external Zn supply on arsenic (As) toxicity in Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle. The plants were exposed to arsenite (AsIII; 10 µM) with or without 50 and 100 µM Zn. The level of As accumulation (µg g-1 dw) after 2 and 4 days was not significantly affected by Zn supply. The plants showed a significant stimulation of the thiol metabolism (nonprotein thiols, cysteine, glutathione-S-transferase activity) upon As(III) exposure in the presence of Zn as compared to As(III) alone treatment. Besides, they did not experience significant toxicity, measured in terms of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde accumulation, which are the indicators of oxidative stress. The minus Zn plants suffered from oxidative stress probably due to insufficient increase in thiols to counteract the stress. Stress amelioration by Zn supply was also evident from antioxidant enzyme activities, which came close to control levels with increasing Zn supply as compared to the increase observed in As(III) alone treatment. Variable Zn supply also modulated the level of photosynthetic pigments and restored them to control levels. In conclusion, an improved supply of Zn to plants was found to augment their ability to withstand As toxicity through enhanced thiol metabolism.

[Comparison of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Uptake and Water Purification Ability of Five Submerged Macrophytes].

Uptake of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and their purification capacity for five native submerged macrophytes were investigated in laboratory simulated hydrostatic conditions,including Hydrilla verticillata,Vallisneria natans,Ceratophyllum demersum,Myriophyllum spicatum,Potamogeton maackianus.The results indicated that the moisture contents of different submerged macrophytes were almost the same before and after the test,with the range of 89.8%-92.0%.The net accumulated biomass changed from 1.52 g·m-2 to 12.92 g·m-2 among different submerged macrophytes,and the highest net accumulated biomass of Hydrilla verticillata was 8.5 times higher than the lowest plant of Potamogeton maackianus.The N and P contents of five submerged macrophytes ranged from 26.54 to 34.44g·kg-1 and from 2.54 to 4.01g·kg-1,respectively,and the N and P contents of Ceratophyllum demersum were relatively high.Total N and P removal efficiency of different submerged macrophyte treatments had ranges of 63.8%-83.1% and 49.2%-70.8%,significantly higher than those of the CK treatment (39.9% and 36.9%),respectively,and the removal efficiency decreased in the order of Hydrilla verticillata >Ceratophyllum demersum >Vallisneria natans >Myriophyllum spicatum >Potamogeton maackianus.Total N and P removal efficiencies of different submerged macrophyte treatments were significantly correlated with net accumulated biomass,with correlation coefficients of 0.994(P<0.01) and 0.996(P<0.01).The contribution of direct N and P uptake to different submerged macrophytes had the ranges of 1.5%-13.3% and 2.2%-13.2%,and the synergism contribution (deducting self-purification capacity of water) of different submerged macrophytes ranged 22.5%-29.9% and 10.1%-20.6%,indicating that the synergistic effect of submerged macrophytes purification was much more significant than the direct uptake effect in the process of water purification.

Evaluation of uranium removal by Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle from low level nuclear waste under laboratory conditions.

The present study evaluated uranium (U) removal ability and tolerance to low level nuclear waste (LLNW) of an aquatic weed Hydrilla verticillata. Plants were screened for growth in 10%-50% waste treatments up to 3 d. Treatments of 20% and 50% waste imposed increasing toxicity with duration assessed in terms of change in fresh weight and in the levels of photosynthetic pigments and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. U concentration, however, did not show a progressive increase and was about 42 µg g(-1) dw from 20% to 50% waste at 3 d. This suggested that a saturation stage was reached with respect to U removal due to increasing toxicity. However, in another experiment with 10% waste and 10% waste+10 ppm U treatments, plants showed an increase in U concentration with the maximum level approaching 426 µg g(-1) dw at 3 d without showing any toxicity as compared to that at 20% and 50% waste treatments. Hence, plants possessed significant potential to take up U and toxicity of LLNW limited their U removal ability. This implies that the use of Hydrilla plants for U removal from LLNW is feasible at low concentrations and would require repeated harvesting at short intervals.