Kinetics of the PO4-P adsorption onto soils and sediments from the Mondego estuary (Portugal).

In order to assess the status of a North Atlantic Ocean Ecoregion (Mondego system, Portugal) after the implementation of a management programme, a study on PO4-P sorption was carried out. Considering that sorption velocity markedly determines the systems promptness to phosphorus external loading, the kinetics of the sorption of PO4-P onto estuarine sediments and the upstream agricultural soils was studied. The pseudo-second order kinetic equation gave an appropriate description of PO4-P sorption onto these soils and sediments, allowing for a quantitative comparison. For soils, the kinetic constants (k2*, µg(-1) g h(-1)) ranged between 0.007 and 0.017 µg(-1) g h(-1) while, in the case of sediments these ranged between 0.008 and 0.012 µg(-1) g h(-1). Results showed that the reduction of water residence time after the management action was relevant for the system status, affecting its reaction capacity to phosphorus loading.

Mercury bioaccumulation in the spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) from the Atlantic Ocean.

The annual and life-cycle mercury bioaccumulation pattern in selected tissues of the economically relevant Elasmobranchii species Scyliorhinus canicula was studied, and the risks associated with its consumption evaluated. Preferential mercury bioaccumulation occurred in muscle tissue, and followed the order muscle>heart>liver>gills>pancreas. Total mercury in muscle tissue ranged from 0.13mgkg(-1) (wwt) in 1+year old males to 0.8mgkg(-1) (wwt) in 8+ year old mature females, with no significant differences found between genders, and no clear lifespan bioaccumulation pattern observed, except for mature females. Organic mercury in the muscle ranged from 0.05mgkg(-1) (wwt) to 0.52mgkg(-1) (wwt), corresponding to an average of 70% of total mercury content. In mature females, a significant correlation (R=0.99, P=0.01) was found between size and organic mercury fraction, suggesting reproduction as an important factor controlling organic mercury bioaccumulation in the spotted dogfish.

Espaçamentos entre plantas e cobertura do solo com cama-de-frango na produção da bardana (Arctium lappa L. ) / Spacing among plants and soil covering with poultry litter in burdock (Arctium lappa L. ) production

O objetivo do trabalho foi estudar o crescimento, o desenvolvimento e a produção da bardana em resposta a cinco espaçamentos entre plantas (40,0; 47,5; 55,0; 62,5 e 70,0 cm) e ao uso (CCF) ou não (SCF) de cobertura de solo com cama-de-frango semidecomposta. Os dez tratamentos foram arranjados como fatorial 5x2, no delineamento experimental blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. As plantas foram propagadas inicialmente em berços de isopor e, posteriormente, em canteiros, arranjadas em fileiras duplas, espaçadas de 0,50 m entre fileiras simples e 1,0 m entre fileiras duplas. As avaliações de altura foram feitas a partir de 30 dias até 180 dias quando foi feita a colheita. As médias de altura (172 cm) e área foliar (20.704 cm-2) das plantas e as médias de comprimento (23,6 cm) e diâmetro das raízes (16,2 mm) não foram influenciadas significativamente pelos espaçamentos nem pela cobertura ou não do solo. Os maiores e menores valores para massas fresca (25.676 kg ha-1 e 15.217 kg ha-1) e seca (1.941,02 kg ha-1 e 1.104,61 kg ha-1) de folhas, para o número de raízes (490.750 ha-1 e 272.120 ha-1) e para as massas fresca (5.080,35 kg ha-1 e 3.546,25 kg ha-1) e seca (1.448,91 kg ha-1 e 1.051,31 kg ha-1) de raízes foram encontrados com os espaçamentos de 40,0 cm e de 70,0 cm entre plantas, respectivamente, mostrando decréscimo linear na medida em que aumentaram os espaçamentos. Os teores de nitrogênio (N) e de fósforo (P), respectivamente, nas massas secas de folhas (12,84 g kg-1 e 0,33 g kg-1) e de raízes (4,11 g kg-1 e 0,13 g kg-1) de bardana não foram influenciados significativamente pelos espaçamentos, mas sim pela cobertura ou não do solo com cama-de-frango.

The aim of this work was to study the growth, development and production of burdock in response to five spacing levels among plants (40.0; 47.5; 55.0; 62.5; and 70.0 cm) and to the use (CCF) or not (SCF) of soil covering with semi-decomposed poultry litter. Experimental design was in randomized blocks, with four replicates, in a 5x2 factorial arrangement, with ten treatments. Plants were initially propagated in polystyrene plates; then, they were placed in flower beds and displayed in double rows, with 0.50m spacing between simple rows and 1.0m between double rows. Height was evaluated from 30 to 180 days, when harvest was performed. Mean height (172 cm), leaf area (20,704 cm²), root length (23.6 cm) and diameter (16.2 mm) were not significantly influenced by spacing or soil covering. The highest and lowest values of leaf fresh (25,676 kg ha-1 and 15,217 kg ha-1) and dry matter (1,941.02 kg ha-1 and 1,104.61 kg ha-1), root number (490,750 ha-1and 272,120 ha-1) and fresh (5,080.35 kg ha-1 and 3,546.25 kg ha-1) and dry matter (1,448.91 kg ha-1 and 1,051.31 kg ha-1) were obtained at 40.0 and 70.0cm spacing between plants, respectively, which shows a linear decrease with spacing increase. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) levels, in dry matter of leaves (12.84 g kg-1 and 0.33 g kg-1) and roots (4.11 g kg-1 and 0.13 g kg-1) of burdock, respectively, were not significantly influenced by spacing but by soil covering with poultry litter.

Occurrence of plant-uncoupling mitochondrial protein (PUMP) in diverse organs and tissues of several plants.

The presence of plant-uncoupling mitochondrial protein (PUMP), previously described by Vercesi et al. (1995), was screened in mitochondria of various organs or tissues of several plant species. This was done functionally, by monitoring purine nucleotide-sensitive linoleic acid-induced uncoupling, or by Western blots. The following findings were established: (1) PUMP was found in most of the higher plants tested; (2) since ATP inhibition of linoleic acid-induced membrane potential decrease varied, PUMP content might differ in different plant tissues, as observed with mitochondria from maize roots, maize seeds, spinach leaves, wheat shoots, carrot roots, cauliflower, broccoli, maize shoots, turnip root, and potato calli. Western blots also indicated PUMP presence in oat shoots, carnation petals, onion bulbs, red beet root, green cabbage, and Sedum leaves. (3) PUMP was not detected in mushrooms. We conclude that PUMP is likely present in the mitochondria of organs and tissues of all higher plants.