Arsenic uptake and speciation and the effects of phosphate nutrition in hydroponically grown kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst).

BACKGROUND: This work focuses on the accumulation and mobility properties of arsenic (As) and the effects of phosphate (P) on its movement in Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst (kikuyu grass), grown hydroponically under increasing arsenate (As(V)) concentrations. The uptake of both ions and the relative kinetics show that phosphate is an efficient competitive inhibitor of As(V) uptake. The P/As uptake rate ratios in roots indicate that P is taken up preferentially by P/As transporters. An arsenite (As(III)) efflux from roots was also found, but this decreased when the arsenate concentration in the solution exceeded 5 µM. METHODS: Increases in both arsenite and arsenate concentrations in roots were observed when the arsenate concentration in the solution was increased, and the highest accumulation of As(III) in roots was found when plants were grown at 5 µM As(V). The low ratios of As accumulated in shoots compared to roots suggest limited mobility of the metalloid within Kikuyu plants. RESULTS: The results indicate that arsenic resistance in kikuyu grass in conditions of moderate exposure is mainly dependent on the following factors: 1) phosphate nutrition: P is an efficient competitive inhibitor of As(V) uptake because of the higher selectivity of membrane transporters with respect to phosphate rather than arsenate; and 2) a detoxification mechanism including a reduction in both arsenate and arsenite root efflux. CONCLUSIONS: The As tolerance strategy of Kikuyu limits arsenate uptake and As translocation from roots to shoots; therefore, this plant cannot be considered a viable candidate for use in the phytoextraction of arsenic from contaminated soils or water.

Cadmium adsorption on vermiculite, zeolite and pumice: batch experimental studies.

Batch experiments were performed to evaluate the combined effects of ionic activity, pH, and contact time on the cadmium sorption in three different minerals, vermiculite, zeolite, and pumice, commonly employed as substrata in nurseries and recently considered for their potential use in remediation methods. The extent of cadmium sorption was vermiculite>zeolite>pumice, as shown by the Langmuir and Freundlich parameters, and it was highly dependent on mineral characteristics. The percentage of cadmium sorption in zeolite and vermiculite did not depend on cadmium concentration, while in pumice this percentage was positively correlated to the initial cadmium concentration. At low cadmium concentrations (30-120 microM), the metal sorbed on zeolite was mainly present in the nonexchangeable form (70%) at levels much higher than those found for vermiculite and pumice. The primary variable responsible for determination of cadmium mobility in these minerals was confirmed to be pH. The ionic concentrations of Hoagland nutrient solution were significantly modified by both pH and mineral composition, while the presence of cadmium caused no changes. With vermiculite and zeolite, the time-course of cadmium sorption was related to mineral composition to a greater extent than to cadmium concentration. While with pumice, the percentage of cadmium sorbed after 6 weeks was lower than with the other two minerals, and it was inversely correlated to the initial cadmium concentration.

Adsorption of nutrients and cadmium by different minerals: experimental studies and modelling.

This work analyses cadmium sorption by natural vermiculite, zeolite, and pumice, which have been recently considered for their potential use in remediation of contaminated soils. Batch experiments were performed to investigate the interactions between the mineral surfaces and the main nutritive cations of Hoagland solution. In addition to their ameliorative effect of reducing metal mobility, these minerals are able to interact to different extents with various components of the nutrient solution and can change the availability of essential nutrients in solution. Therefore, the minerals were also exposed to a range of cadmium doses to compare their different affinities for this element and to analyse the cadmium-nutrient interactions. The results showed that the nutrient solution composition was significantly modified by contact with zeolite and vermiculite, and to a minor extent with pumice. The ionic equilibrium between the solid and aqueous phases was attained at several time points depending on the cation. Ammonium and potassium ions were almost entirely absorbed by zeolite, while in vermiculite endogenous magnesium ions were exchanged with the liquid phase calcium ions. The amount of cadmium adsorbed on mineral surfaces equilibrated with the nutrient solution showed the following sequence zeolite>vermiculite>pumice, and the cation concentrations of the fluid phase were sensitive to cadmium addition.

Comparing morphological plasticity of root orders in slow- and fast-growing citrus rootstocks supplied with different nitrate levels.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Studies of the plasticity of functional root traits involved in resource acquisition have focused mainly on root length without considering such 'morphological components' as biomass allocation, specific root length, root fineness, and tissue density that affect root length. The plasticity of the above components in response to nitrate supply was studied in each root order of two co-generic citrus rootstocks, namely the fast-growing Citrus jambhiri 'Rough Lemon' (RL) and the slow-growing Citrus reshni 'Cleopatra Mandarin' (CM). METHODS: Morphological traits of individual root orders of CM and RL, grown at different nitrate levels (NO(3)-N at 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 10 mm) were examined by using an image-specific analysis system. KEY RESULTS: At high nitrate levels, the root length ratio, root mass ratio and, to a lesser degree, specific root length, root fineness and tissue density of tap and 1st-order laterals in both CM and RL were reduced. In 2nd-order laterals, however, the same treatment led to increased values of each morphological trait in CM but decreased values of the same traits in RL. At low nitrate supply, CM exhibited longer tap roots whereas RL developed longer 2nd-order laterals. These effects were due to root mass ratio and, to a lesser extent, specific root length. CONCLUSIONS: Biomass allocation was the main component of nitrate-induced changes in root length ratio. The 2nd-order laterals were more sensitive to nitrate availability than the tap root and 1st-order laterals. At low nitrate availability, RL displayed longer 2nd-order lateral roots and lower root plasticity than CM. This suggests a different root growth strategy among citrus rootstocks for adapting to nitrate availability: RL invests in 2nd-order laterals, the preferred zone for acquiring the nutrient, whereas CM responds with longer tap roots.

Coumarin differentially affects the morphology of different root types of maize seedlings.

The effects of coumarin on the length, diameter, and branching density of different root types in maize seedlings (Zea mays L. cv. Cecilia) were investigated. The maize root system represents a useful model for morphological studies, as it consists of radicle, seminal, and nodal roots whose origin and development are quite different. Maize seedlings were grown in a hydroponic culture for 6 days, and then coumarin (at concentrations of 0, 25, 100, and 400 microM) was added to the nutrient solution. Coumarin inhibited root length, but effects differed depending on the root type. C 1/2 values, representing the coumarin concentration causing a 50% inhibition of the root length, were calculated by nonlinear regression. Six, 1, and 0.25 mM coumarin were sufficient to reduce the radicle, seminal, and nodal root lengths by 50%, respectively. At the highest coumarin concentration, the subapical root zone showed swelling. The degree recorded by average diameter was higher in nodal roots than in seminal and radicle roots. Furthermore, coumarin decreased the number of lateral roots and branching density more in the seminal than in the radicle roots. These results suggest the following order of sensitivity to coumarin: nodal > seminal > radicle roots. The observed spatial effects of coumarin could be ecologically significant, since taprooted species could benefit at the disadvantage of fibrous-rooted species and could modify community composition.

Effects of copper on Sambucus nigra L. seedlings studied by electron paramagnetic resonance and atomic absorption spectroscopies.

We present in this work preliminary results on the translocation of copper, manganese and iron from soil to leaves of Sambucus nigra L. seedlings in the presence of increasing copper concentrations in the growth medium. The use of electron spin resonance spectroscopy and the comparison with atomic absorption spectroscopy is not presently common in the study of metal absorption in plants. This approach gave promising results both on the detection of some metal ions, as well as of radical species related to the presence of Cu2+ in plant tissues. Copper was found to act synergistically in manganese uptake.