Soil samples were collected from Zhangshi Wastewater Irrigation Area in the suburb of Shenyang City,China,an area with a 30-year irrigation history with heavy metal-containing wastewater.The chemical properties and mi...Soil samples were collected from Zhangshi Wastewater Irrigation Area in the suburb of Shenyang City,China,an area with a 30-year irrigation history with heavy metal-containing wastewater.The chemical properties and microbial characteristics of the soils were examined to evaluate the present situation of heavy metal pollution and to assess the soil microbial characteristics under long-term heavy metal stress.In light of the National Environmental Quality Standards of China,the soil in the test area was heavily polluted by Cd and to a lesser degree by Zn and Cu,even though wastewater irrigation ceased in 1993.Soil metabolic quotient (qCO_2) had a significant positive correlation,while soil microbial quotient (qM) had a negative correlation with content of soil heavy metals.Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) had significantly negative correlation with Cd,but soil substrate-induced respiration (SIR),dehydrogenase activity (DHA),cellulase activity, and culturable microbial populations had no persistent correlations with soil heavy metal content.Soil nutrients,except for phosphorous,showed positive effects on soil microbial characteristics,which to a certain degree obscured the adverse effects of soil heavy metals.Soil Cd contributed more to the soil microbial characteristics,but qM and qCO_2 were more sensitive and showed persistent responses to heavy metals stress.It could be concluded that qM and qCO_2 can be used as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution in soils.展开更多
Soil contamination with heavy metals has become a world-wide problem, leading to the loss in agricultural productivity. Plants have a remarkable ability to take up and accumulate heavy metals from their external envir...Soil contamination with heavy metals has become a world-wide problem, leading to the loss in agricultural productivity. Plants have a remarkable ability to take up and accumulate heavy metals from their external environment and it is well known that high levels of heavy metals affect different physiological and metabolic processes. Brassinosteroids are considered as the sixth class of plant hormones and they are essential for plant growth and development. These compounds are able of inducing abiotic stress tolerance in plants. In this paper, information about brassinosteroids and plant responses to heavy metal stress is reviewed.展开更多
In order to improve the efficiency of bioleaching heavy metal from the contaminated soil using Penicillium chrysogenum(P.chrysogenum),experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of heavy metal stress on P.chrys...In order to improve the efficiency of bioleaching heavy metal from the contaminated soil using Penicillium chrysogenum(P.chrysogenum),experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of heavy metal stress on P.chrysogenum during bioleaching.The morphology and physiology of P.chrysogenum were observed.Assuming that the heavy metals are all leached out from the experiment soil,heavy metals are added into the agar medium by simulating the heavy metal content in the soil.It is concluded that the survivable heavy metal contaminated soil mass range for P.chrysogenum is 2.5-5.0 g.As for biomass determination,the contaminated soil is added into the liquid medium directly.The soil mass that P.chrysogenum can be survivable is in the range of 2.5-8.75 g.In this mass range,the biomass of P.chrysogenum is bigger than that of the control sample.10 g soil mass is the threshold of the growth of P.chrysogenum.102.2 mg/L gluconic acid,156.4 mg/L oxalic acid,191.6 mg/L pyruvic acid,0.02 mg/L citric acid,0.03 mg/L malic acid and 70.6 mg/L succinic acid are determined after 15 d bioleaching.The mycelium is broken into fragments,and heavy metals are adsorbed on the cell wall or transported into the cytoplasm during bioleaching.The GOD activity declines from 1.08 U/mL to 0.2 U/mL under 400 mg/L of multi-metal stress.The influence of Pb on GOD activity is bigger than that of Cr and Cd,and the GOD activity is not influenced apparently by Mn,Zn and Cu.展开更多
[Objectives]This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different heavy metal stresses on seed germination,in order to provide a theoretical basis for phytoremediation of soil heavy metal pollution.[Methods...[Objectives]This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different heavy metal stresses on seed germination,in order to provide a theoretical basis for phytoremediation of soil heavy metal pollution.[Methods]With the seeds of A.julibrissin as an experimental material,the germination test of A.julibrissin seeds under different concentrations of Cu^(2+),Zn^(2+) and Pb^(2+) was carried out.The germination potential,germination rate,germination index,radicle length,embryo length and other indexes were measured.[Results]①Different heavy metals had different effects on the germination of A.julibrissin seeds.Low concentrations of Cu^(2+),Zn^(2+) and Pb^(2+) stresses had certain promotion effects on the germination of A.julibrissin seeds,but high concentrations of Cu^(2+),Zn^(2+),Pb^(2+) stresses had obvious inhibitory effects on the germination of A.julibrissin seeds.②There were obvious differences in the tolerance of A.julibrissin seeds to different metal ion stresses.According to the comparison of the average values of membership functions,the order of their tolerance to different heavy metal ions was:Zn^(2+)>Cu^(2+)>Pb^(2+).[Conclusions]In the case of light pollution,the germination of A.julibrissin seeds was not inhibited,and the use of this plant for the remediation of lightly contaminated soil with heavy metals can also be considered.展开更多
Heavy metal contamination in the environment,resulting from human activities or natural processes,poses a significant and widespread challenge.L-glutamic(L-glu)and L-aspartic acid(L-asp)treatments have been reported t...Heavy metal contamination in the environment,resulting from human activities or natural processes,poses a significant and widespread challenge.L-glutamic(L-glu)and L-aspartic acid(L-asp)treatments have been reported to improve plant metabolism of heavy metal-exposed plants,but the role of these amino acids in the resistance to lead(Pb^(2+)),cadmium(Cd^(2+)),arsenic(As^(3+))and nickel(Ni^(2+))treated-bean are unclear when applied together.This study investigated the L-glu and L-asp supplementation-induced changes in some physio-biochemical parameters and some stress-related gene expression levels in Pb^(2+),Cd^(2+),As^(3+),and Ni^(2+)-stressed Phaseolus vulgaris(Elkoca and Gina)grown in nutrient solution.The combination of two L-glu and L-asp(1.5 and 3 mM)and Cd^(2+)(1 mM),Pb^(2+)(1 mM),As^(3+)(2 mg/L^(−1)),and Ni^(2+)(1 mM)concentrations were used.The physio-biochemical parameters of the leaves were determined based on the chlorophyll content(SPAD),relative water content(RWC),hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2)),malondialdehyde(MDA),and electrolyte conductivity(EC)contents,and superoxide dismutase(SOD),peroxidase(POD)and ascorbate peroxidase(APX)enzyme activities.Additionally,the metal tolerance protein(MTP)genes,known for their role in heavy metal detoxification,and as PvSOD,PvPOD,and PvAPX antioxidant enzyme genes were analyzed for their temporal expression patterns in leaves.Preliminary results indicate a nuanced response of PvMTPs genes,highlighting potential variations in genotype-specific expression.Among the analyzed PvMTP7,PvMTP8,PvMTP9,PvMTP10,PvMTP11,and PvMTP13 genes,PvMTP10 exhibited particularly higher expression values in all treatments.In heavy metal-exposed beans,there was a concurrent decrease in SPAD,RWC,H_(2)O_(2),and MDA contents,coupled with an increase in EC values.In turn,L-glu and L-asp pretreatments decreased the harmful effects of heavy metals by increasing the SPAD and RWC values and decreasing the EC,H_(2)O_(2),and MDA contents and they reached these values close to control.Also,they improved the expressions of the above-mentioned genes.The 3 mM L-glu and L-asp appear to be more effective than 1.5 mM L-glu and L-asp in alleviation of the heavy metal’s toxic effects on two genotypes of bean.The findings contribute to our understanding of some stress-related gene expression levels and physio-biochemical responses under heavy metal stresses and offer insights into the potential application of L-glu and L-asp in enhancing stress tolerance in plants.展开更多
In this article,the effect of heavy metals Cd and Pb on seed germination,seedling growth and yield of wheat is investigated,and the effect of related conditioners on improving soil and alleviating Cd and Pb stress is ...In this article,the effect of heavy metals Cd and Pb on seed germination,seedling growth and yield of wheat is investigated,and the effect of related conditioners on improving soil and alleviating Cd and Pb stress is explored.展开更多
Many of the abandoned mining and industrial land in villages and towns are seriously polluted by heavy metals in China,it is necessary for sustainable development to adopt efficient and economical ways to restore the ...Many of the abandoned mining and industrial land in villages and towns are seriously polluted by heavy metals in China,it is necessary for sustainable development to adopt efficient and economical ways to restore the ecology of abandoned mining and industrial land.Pollution level of topsoil contaminated with metallurgical slag from nonferrous metal smelting waste site in Baoding,North China and the heavy metals(HMs)accumulation behavior of Bidens pilosa L.(B.pilosa,native pioneer plant)were studied.Two selected study sites were mainly contaminated by As(270~434 mg/kg),Cd(63~95 mg/kg),Pb(5496~24504 mg/kg)and Zn(4500~21300 mg/kg),which exceed the national standard severely.Investigation of multi-metal accumulation in different parts of B.pilosa indicated that the absorption of toxic metals varied by types,concentration and species of HMs under stress conditions,soil property and plant tissues.The results showed that B.pilosa had excellent ability to accumulate HMs under different HMs stress condition,with the highest accumulation concentration of 85 mg/kg for As,380 mg/kg for Cd,4000 mg/kg for Pb,and 7500 mg/kg for Zn in roots under experimental conditions,respectively.The growth trend of B.pilosa declined with the increase of HMs stress concentration in tested soils.HMs stress led to different degrees of plant toxicity and obstruction of physiological metabolism.Among the plant physiological index,Chla and ChlT decreased 28.0%and 28.1%,37.3%and 35.5%under different stress treatments,respectively.Indicators related to physiological metabolic strength and stress resistance of plant,such as MDA(Malondiadehyde),CAT(catalase),SOD(superoxide dismutase)and SP(soluble protein),all increased with the increase of HMs stress concentration.展开更多
Soil metal pollution is a global issue due to its toxic nature affecting ecosystems and human health. This has become a concern since metals are non-biodegradable and toxic. Most of the reclamation methods currently u...Soil metal pollution is a global issue due to its toxic nature affecting ecosystems and human health. This has become a concern since metals are non-biodegradable and toxic. Most of the reclamation methods currently used for soils rely on the use of physical and chemical means, which tend to be very expensive and result in secondary environmental damage. However, microbe-aided phytoremediation is gaining attention as it is an eco-friendly, affordable, and technically advanced method to restore the ecosystem. It is essential to understand the complex interaction between plants and microbes. The primary function of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) is to stimulate plant development, aid in metal elimination, and reduce their bioavailability in the soil. These microbes regulate phytohormones, stimulate processes such as phytoextraction and phyto-stabilization, and improve the uptake of essential nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus. PGPBs secrete a range of enzymes and chemicals, fix nitrogen, solubilize minerals, increase the bioavailability of nutrients under diverse biological environments with high salinities, excessive metal-contaminated soil, and organic pollutants, increase the soil fertility and help in the reclamation of agriculture and regenerate the native flora. The integration of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology with microbial-aided phytoremediation and the use of genetically modified microbes with nanomaterials further enhance the efficacy of the approaches in polluted environments for sustainable restoration of the soil.展开更多
Heavy metal pollution in aquatic system is becoming a serious problem worldwide. In this study, responses of Sargassum thunbergii to dif ferent concentrations(0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 mg/L) of zinc(Zn) and cadmium(Cd)...Heavy metal pollution in aquatic system is becoming a serious problem worldwide. In this study, responses of Sargassum thunbergii to dif ferent concentrations(0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 mg/L) of zinc(Zn) and cadmium(Cd) exposure separately were studied for 15 days in laboratory-controlled conditions. The results show that the specifi c growth rates increased slightly under the lower Zn concentration treatment(0.1 mg/L) at the first 5 d and then decreased gradually, which were significantly reduced with the exposure time in higher Zn concentrations and all Cd treatments compared to respective control, especially for 1.0 and 5.0 mg/L Cd. Chlorophyll a contents showed significant increase in 0.1 mg/L Zn treatment, whereas the gradually reduction were observed in the other three Zn treatments and all Cd treatments. The oxygen evolution rate and respiration rate presented distinct behavior in the Zn-treated samples, but both declined steadily with the exposure time in Cd treatments. The P/R value analyses showed similar variation patterns as chlorophyll a contents. Real-time PCR showed that lower Zn concentration(0.1 mg/L) increased mRNA expression of rbcL gene, whereas higher Zn concentrations and Cd reduced the rbcL expression. Taken together, these findings strongly indicate that Zn and Cd had different effects on S. thunbergii both at the physiological and gene transcription levels, the transcript level of photosynthesis-related gene rbcL can be used as an useful molecular marker of algal growth and environment impacts.展开更多
Cadmium(Cd)and Mercury(Hg)is among the heavy metals most hazardous for plant and human health.Known to induce oxidative stress in plants and disbalance equilibrium in the antioxidant defence system,these metals alter ...Cadmium(Cd)and Mercury(Hg)is among the heavy metals most hazardous for plant and human health.Known to induce oxidative stress in plants and disbalance equilibrium in the antioxidant defence system,these metals alter plant growth and cause damage at the cellular and molecular levels.Soybean is an important oilseed crop that is raised in soils often contaminated by Cd and Hg.The comparative studies on the deleterious effect of Cd and Hg and the defence system of antioxidants were not studied earlier in soybean plant.In this study,soybean plants were exposed to Cd(100μM CdCl_(2))and Hg(100μM HgCl_(2))and studied for physiological,biochemical and molecular responses.Both Cd and Hg treatment increased the magnitude of oxidative stress.Activities of antioxidant enzymes were significantly upregulated in response to Cd and Hg stress.Quantitative and qualitative assessment of isolated RNA showed significant differences in RNA under stress.Integrity values of RNA confirmed alterations.Transcript level of the Actin gene,involved in the morphogenesis of plants and also used as referenced gene in expression studies was analyzed using qRT-PCR just to check its stability and response under heavy metal stress.Results showed significant upregulation of the gene in the presence of Cd.It can be concluded that both Cd and Hg caused oxidative damage to plants,and adversely affected the quality of RNA.However,soybean tried to limit the adverse impacts of Cd and Hg stress by elevating the antioxidant system and upregulating Actin gene.展开更多
Glomalin,an extensively secreted glycoprotein produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF),plays a crucial role in heavy metal sequestration,though its functionality is highly susceptible to various environmental fac...Glomalin,an extensively secreted glycoprotein produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF),plays a crucial role in heavy metal sequestration,though its functionality is highly susceptible to various environmental factors.Due to the limitations in purification techniques,glomalin is often assessed indirectly as glomalin-related soil proteins(GRSP).Although the effect of elevated carbon dioxide(eCO_(2))on GRSP under heavy metal stress has been widely investigated,the quantitative contribution of eCO_(2)to GRSP is still unclear.Here,we employed a^(13)CO_(2)isotopic labeling approach to assess the contribution of eCO_(2)(285μL L^(-1)above ambient CO_(2))to GRSP in the bulk and rhizosphere soils of black locust seedlings colonized by Funneliformis mosseae under cadmium(Cd)exposure.The contribution of eCO_(2)to easily extractable GRSP(EE-GRSP)in the rhizosphere soil was 8.3μg g^(-1)soil under F.mosseae colonization.The contribution of eCO_(2)to total GRSP(T-GRSP)in the rhizosphere soil reached 26.1μg g^(-1)soil under F.mosseae colonization.However,eCO_(2)showed negative contribution to EE-GRSP in the bulk soil,and its contribution to T-GRSP in the bulk soil under F.mosseae colonization was 7.6μg g^(-1)soil.Additionally,the highest contribution of eCO_(2)to Cd sequestration in the rhizosphere soil was 0.93 mg kg^(-1)soil under F.mosseae colonization.The results suggest that F.mosseae enhances Cd sequestration in soil through glomalin release,highlighting its potential role in heavy metal stabilization under eCO_(2)conditions in AMF-colonized soils.展开更多
Excessive accumulation of cadmium (Cd) impairs crop growth by inducing oxidative damage through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, a biocompatible ferruginated carbon quantum dots (Fe-CQDs...Excessive accumulation of cadmium (Cd) impairs crop growth by inducing oxidative damage through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, a biocompatible ferruginated carbon quantum dots (Fe-CQDs) nanozyme is developed to target ROS, thereby reducing oxidative damage and improving the absorption and transfer of Cd ions in wheat. Notably, Fe-CQDs exhibit multi-enzyme activities mimicking peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), enabling effective neutralization of active species such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH), hydrogen peroxide (H_(2)O_(2)), and superoxide anions (O_(2)•^(-)). Importantly, root application of 10 mg L^(-1) Fe-CQDs alleviates Cd stress and promotes wheat growth in both hydroponic and soil cultures. Specifically, the levels of O_(2)•^(-), H_(2)O_(2), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in leaf tissues decrease, whereas the non-enzyme antioxidant, reduced glutathione (GSH), increases. Cell wall thickness in the Fe-CQDs-treated group is reduced by 42.4% compared with the Cd group. Moreover, Fe-CQDs enhance the expression of genes related to antioxidants, stress resistance, Cd detoxification, and nutrient transport. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses show that Fe-CQDs stimulate the production of flavonoids and regulate the activity of metal transporter genes (YSL, ABC, ZIP) to maintain ROS homeostasis. These findings highlight the potential of Fe-CQDs nanozyme platforms in mitigating oxidative damage and enhancing crop growth, offering new insights into the application of nanobiotechnology in agriculture.展开更多
Cadmium(Cd)contamination is amajor environmental stressor that adversely affects crop germination and early development.This study assessed the impact of increasing Cd concentrations(0.125 to 1 g/L)on seed germination...Cadmium(Cd)contamination is amajor environmental stressor that adversely affects crop germination and early development.This study assessed the impact of increasing Cd concentrations(0.125 to 1 g/L)on seed germination and early seedling growth in three bread wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)cultivars:Achtar,Lina,and Snina.The results revealed a clear dose-dependent inhibitory effect of Cd.Germination percentage(GP)significantly declined with increasing Cd levels,while mean germination time was progressively delayed,particularly at higher concentrations.Vigor index(VI)also showed significant reductions,reflecting compromised seedling establishment.Morphological traits,especially shoot and root lengths,were negatively affected,with root systems exhibiting greater sensitivity.Growth inhibition indices indicated a stronger suppression in roots than in shoots,and tolerance index(TI)values demonstrated clear intervarietal differences,with Achtar displaying the highest tolerance and Lina the greatest susceptibility.Pearson correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships among GP,VI,TI,and seedling length,and negative correlations with shoot and root growth inhibition.Principal component analysis further supported these patterns,effectively separating cultivar responses across treatments.Overall,this study highlights the phytotoxic effects of Cd on early wheat development and underscores the role of genetic variability in determining cultivar tolerance to heavy metal stress.展开更多
Dark septate endophytic （DSE） fungi are ubiquitous and cosmopolitan, and occur widely in association with plants in heavy metal stress environment. However, little is known about the effect of inoculation with DSE f...Dark septate endophytic （DSE） fungi are ubiquitous and cosmopolitan, and occur widely in association with plants in heavy metal stress environment. However, little is known about the effect of inoculation with DSE fungi on the host plant under heavy metal stress. In this study, Gaeumannomyces cylindrosporus, which was isolated from Pb-Zn mine railings in China and had been proven to have high Pb tolerance, was inoculated onto the roots of maize （Zea mays L.） seedlings to study the effect of DSE on plant growth, photosynthesis, and the translocation and accumulation of Pb in plant under stress of different Pb concentrations. The growth indicators （height, basal diameter, root length, and biomass） of maize were detected. Chlorophyll content, photosynthetic characteristics （net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and intercellular CO2 concentration）, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in leaves of the inoculated and non-inoculated maize were also determined. Inoculation with G. cylindrosporus significantly increased height, basal diameter, root length, and biomass of maize seedlings under Pb stress. Colonization of G. cylindrosporus improved the efficiency of photosynthesis and altered the translocation and accumulation of Pb in the plants. Although inoculation with G. cylindrosporus increased Pb accumulation in host plants in comparison to non-inoculated plants, the translocation factor of Pb in plant body was significantly decreased. The results indicated that Pb was accumulated mainly in the root system of maize and the phytotoxicity of Pb to the aerial part of the plant was alleviated. The improvement of efficiency of photosynthesis and the decrease of translocation factor of Pb, caused by DSE fungal colonization, were efficient strategies to improve Pb tolerance of host plants.展开更多
Agricultural production systems are immensely exposed to different environmental stresses in which heavy metal stress receives serious concerns. This study was conducted to explore the deleterious effects of different...Agricultural production systems are immensely exposed to different environmental stresses in which heavy metal stress receives serious concerns. This study was conducted to explore the deleterious effects of different chromium （Cr） stress levels, i.e., O, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 μmol L^-1, on two maize genotypes, Wandan 13 and Runnong 35. Both genotypes were evaluated by measuring their growth and yield characteristics, Cr accumulation in different plant tissues, alterations in osmolyte accumulation, generation of reactive oxygen species （ROS）, and anti-oxidative enzyme activity to scavenge ROS. The results showed that Cr stress decreased the leaf area, cob formation, 100-grain weight, shoot fresh biomass, and yield formation, while Cr accumulation in different maize tissues was found in the order of roots 〉 leaves 〉 stem ~ seeds in both genotypes. The increased Cr toxicity resulted in higher free proline, soluble sugars and total phenolic contents, and lower soluble protein contents. However, enhanced lipid peroxidation was noticed in the forms of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide （H2O2） and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance accumulation, and electrolyte leakage. The hyperactivity of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, especially glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase indicated that these anti-oxidative enzymes had a central role in protecting maize from Cr toxicity, especially for Wandan 13. Moreover, higher uptake and less translocation of Cr contents into the grains of Wandan 13 implied its importance as a potential candidate against soil Cr pollution.展开更多
Soils and ecosystems contaminated with cadmium (Cd) threaten human health and adversely affect morphological,physiological,and biochemical parameters of plants.The symbiotic association of endophytic fungi with their ...Soils and ecosystems contaminated with cadmium (Cd) threaten human health and adversely affect morphological,physiological,and biochemical parameters of plants.The symbiotic association of endophytic fungi with their host plants is the best strategy to improve various plant characteristics and remediate soils polluted with heavy metal(loid)s (HMs).Being a well-known plant growth-promoting fungus,Piriformospora indica confers resistance against a number of abiotic stresses,including HM stress.This pot experiment explored the potential and ameliorative effects of P.indica on Artemisia annua L.plants treated with different concentrations (0,40,80,and 120 mg kg-1) of Cd.Inoculation with P.indica significantly increased plant performance,especially by enhancing chlorophyll concentration and water potential and by decreasing electrolytic leakage,when compared with un-inoculated plants,despite the high Cd levels.Similarly,P.indica enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities,thereby reducing the drastic effects of Cd in inoculated plants.In addition,P.indica accumulated Cd in the roots of colonized plants,as revealed by atomic absorption spectroscopy,and restricted Cd translocation to aerial parts.Furthermore,P.indica showed in vitro resistance (up to a certain level) to Cd stress;however,fungus growth was inhibited at very high Cd concentrations,proving it an excellent candidate for use as a potential phytoremediator in fields affected by Cd contamination.The transcriptional analysis showed that the signaling genes and artemisinin and flavonoid biosynthetic pathway genes were significantly upregulated in P.indica-co-cultivated plants when compared with un-inoculated plants,suggesting a fine collaboration between primary and secondary metabolisms to modulate resistance capacity and to enhance the phytoremediation capability of A.annua against Cd toxicity.展开更多
Maintenance of ion homeostasis in plant cells is an essential physiological requirement for sustainable growth,development,and yield of crops.Plants respond to high levels of heavy metals such as copper(Cu)and cadmium...Maintenance of ion homeostasis in plant cells is an essential physiological requirement for sustainable growth,development,and yield of crops.Plants respond to high levels of heavy metals such as copper(Cu)and cadmium(Cd)to avoid irreversible damage at the structural,physiological and molecular levels.Our previous study found that rice germin-like proteins(OsGLPs)are a type of Cu-responsive proteins.The deletion of 10 tandem OsGLP genes on chromosome 8 led to more severe heavy metal toxicity in rice.In this study,we show that rice WRKY transcription factor OsWRKY72 negatively regulates OsGLP8-7transcription.Overexpression of OsWRKY72 weakens the Cu/Cd tolerance of rice when exposed to Cu and Cd.OsWRKY72 suppressed expression of OsGLP8-7 and lignin synthesis genes,resulting in reduced lignin polymerization and consequently lower lignin accumulation in cell walls,thereby increasing the Cu and Cd accumulation.In addition,OsWRKY53 bound to OsWRKY72 to alleviate the transcriptional inhibition of OsGLP8-7.These results revealed that OsWRKY72-OsGLP8-7 is an important module response of rice to heavy metal stress,and that transcription factor OsWRKY72 acts upstream of OsGLP8-7 to regulate Cu/Cd toxicity.展开更多
Heavy metal pollution is common in resource-based regions.However,the morphological,physiological and biochemical mechanisms of plants transmitting environmental information to their offspring in environments polluted...Heavy metal pollution is common in resource-based regions.However,the morphological,physiological and biochemical mechanisms of plants transmitting environmental information to their offspring in environments polluted by heavy metals have not been studied yet.Taking soybean,an annual self-pollinated plant in Huang-Huai-Hai region,as the research object,the morphological,physiological and biochemical indexes and heavy metal enrichment and distribution characteristics of plants under heavy metal stress were monitored continuously for about three generations,and the trans-generational differences of soybean reproduction,vegetative growth,stress resistance and life cycle in heavy metal stress environment were elucidated.The results will be helpful to better understand the long-term adaptive strategy of plants to heavy metal stress and provide the theory basis for ecological security of soybean and other crops under heavy metal stress.展开更多
Soil cadmium(Cd)and lead(Pb)pollution is becoming increasingly serious;heavy metals are accumulating in soil and agricultural products,and vegetables,as an indispensable part of people’s daily diet,affect human healt...Soil cadmium(Cd)and lead(Pb)pollution is becoming increasingly serious;heavy metals are accumulating in soil and agricultural products,and vegetables,as an indispensable part of people’s daily diet,affect human health through the food chain.This study investigated the effects of different concentrations of Cd and Pb stress on growth root length,above-ground/below-ground biomass,chlorophyll,osmoregulatory substances(soluble proteins,soluble sugars,proline)content,and antioxidant enzymes(malondialdehyde(MDA),peroxidase(POD),superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT))activities of four Cd and Pb highand low-accumulating varieties of Chinese cabbage in hydroponic mode.The results showed that under Cd and Pb stress,Chinese cabbage could resist heavy metal stress by increasing the contents of osmoregulatory substances and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the leaves.However,with the increase of heavy metal concentration,the physiological metabolic activities of Chinese cabbage leaf cells were affected,and the activities of POD,CAT,SOD,and osmoregulators decreased,while the osmoregulators of low Cd and Pb accumulating varieties were more stable,and the activities of POD,CAT,and SOD reached the peak value first compared with those of the high accumulating varieties.This study analyzed the physiological functions of different accumulating types of Chinese cabbage under Cd and Pb stress,in order to provide a theoretical basis for cultivating low Cd and Pb accumulating varieties.展开更多
Neuropeptides are crucial in regulation of a rich variety of developmental,physiological,and behavioral functions throughout the life cycle of insects.Using an integrated approach of multiomics,we identified neuropept...Neuropeptides are crucial in regulation of a rich variety of developmental,physiological,and behavioral functions throughout the life cycle of insects.Using an integrated approach of multiomics,we identified neuropeptide precursors in the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella,which is a harmful pest of honeybee hives with a worldwide distribution.Here,a total of 63 and 67 neuropeptide precursors were predicted and annotated in the G.mellonella genome and transcriptome,in which 40 neuropeptide precursors were confirmed in the G.mellonella peptidome.Interestingly,we identified 12 neuropeptide precursor genes present in G.mellonella but absent in honeybees,which may be potential novel pesticide target sites.Honeybee hives were contaminated with heavy metals such as lead,enabling its bioaccumulation in G.mellonella bodies through the food chain,we performed transcriptome sequencing to analyze the effects of Pb stress on the mRNA expression level of G.mellonella neuropeptide precursors.After treatment by Pb,the expression of neuropeptide F1 was found to be significantly downregulated,implying that this neuropeptide might be associated with responding to the heavy metal stress in G.mellonella.This study comprehensively identified neuropeptide precursors in G.mellonella,and discussed the effects of heavy metals on insect neuropeptides,with the example of G.mellonella.The results are valuable for future elucidation of how neuropeptides regulate physiological functions in G.mellonella and contribute to our understanding of the insect's environmental plasticity and identify potential new biomarkers to assess heavy metal toxicity in insects.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Key Basic Research Support Foundation of China (No.2004CB418503).
文摘Soil samples were collected from Zhangshi Wastewater Irrigation Area in the suburb of Shenyang City,China,an area with a 30-year irrigation history with heavy metal-containing wastewater.The chemical properties and microbial characteristics of the soils were examined to evaluate the present situation of heavy metal pollution and to assess the soil microbial characteristics under long-term heavy metal stress.In light of the National Environmental Quality Standards of China,the soil in the test area was heavily polluted by Cd and to a lesser degree by Zn and Cu,even though wastewater irrigation ceased in 1993.Soil metabolic quotient (qCO_2) had a significant positive correlation,while soil microbial quotient (qM) had a negative correlation with content of soil heavy metals.Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) had significantly negative correlation with Cd,but soil substrate-induced respiration (SIR),dehydrogenase activity (DHA),cellulase activity, and culturable microbial populations had no persistent correlations with soil heavy metal content.Soil nutrients,except for phosphorous,showed positive effects on soil microbial characteristics,which to a certain degree obscured the adverse effects of soil heavy metals.Soil Cd contributed more to the soil microbial characteristics,but qM and qCO_2 were more sensitive and showed persistent responses to heavy metals stress.It could be concluded that qM and qCO_2 can be used as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution in soils.
文摘Soil contamination with heavy metals has become a world-wide problem, leading to the loss in agricultural productivity. Plants have a remarkable ability to take up and accumulate heavy metals from their external environment and it is well known that high levels of heavy metals affect different physiological and metabolic processes. Brassinosteroids are considered as the sixth class of plant hormones and they are essential for plant growth and development. These compounds are able of inducing abiotic stress tolerance in plants. In this paper, information about brassinosteroids and plant responses to heavy metal stress is reviewed.
基金Project(50925417)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China for Distinguished Young ScholarsProject(51074191)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(2012BAC09B04)supported by the National Key Technology Research and Development Program of China
文摘In order to improve the efficiency of bioleaching heavy metal from the contaminated soil using Penicillium chrysogenum(P.chrysogenum),experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of heavy metal stress on P.chrysogenum during bioleaching.The morphology and physiology of P.chrysogenum were observed.Assuming that the heavy metals are all leached out from the experiment soil,heavy metals are added into the agar medium by simulating the heavy metal content in the soil.It is concluded that the survivable heavy metal contaminated soil mass range for P.chrysogenum is 2.5-5.0 g.As for biomass determination,the contaminated soil is added into the liquid medium directly.The soil mass that P.chrysogenum can be survivable is in the range of 2.5-8.75 g.In this mass range,the biomass of P.chrysogenum is bigger than that of the control sample.10 g soil mass is the threshold of the growth of P.chrysogenum.102.2 mg/L gluconic acid,156.4 mg/L oxalic acid,191.6 mg/L pyruvic acid,0.02 mg/L citric acid,0.03 mg/L malic acid and 70.6 mg/L succinic acid are determined after 15 d bioleaching.The mycelium is broken into fragments,and heavy metals are adsorbed on the cell wall or transported into the cytoplasm during bioleaching.The GOD activity declines from 1.08 U/mL to 0.2 U/mL under 400 mg/L of multi-metal stress.The influence of Pb on GOD activity is bigger than that of Cr and Cd,and the GOD activity is not influenced apparently by Mn,Zn and Cu.
基金Guangxi Natural Science Foundation(GKZ 0832273)Laboratory for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Rocky Desertification in Karst Areas in Northwest Guangxi(XZF[2016]91)Hechi University Master s Professional Degree Construction Fund(2016HJA007).
文摘[Objectives]This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different heavy metal stresses on seed germination,in order to provide a theoretical basis for phytoremediation of soil heavy metal pollution.[Methods]With the seeds of A.julibrissin as an experimental material,the germination test of A.julibrissin seeds under different concentrations of Cu^(2+),Zn^(2+) and Pb^(2+) was carried out.The germination potential,germination rate,germination index,radicle length,embryo length and other indexes were measured.[Results]①Different heavy metals had different effects on the germination of A.julibrissin seeds.Low concentrations of Cu^(2+),Zn^(2+) and Pb^(2+) stresses had certain promotion effects on the germination of A.julibrissin seeds,but high concentrations of Cu^(2+),Zn^(2+),Pb^(2+) stresses had obvious inhibitory effects on the germination of A.julibrissin seeds.②There were obvious differences in the tolerance of A.julibrissin seeds to different metal ion stresses.According to the comparison of the average values of membership functions,the order of their tolerance to different heavy metal ions was:Zn^(2+)>Cu^(2+)>Pb^(2+).[Conclusions]In the case of light pollution,the germination of A.julibrissin seeds was not inhibited,and the use of this plant for the remediation of lightly contaminated soil with heavy metals can also be considered.
文摘Heavy metal contamination in the environment,resulting from human activities or natural processes,poses a significant and widespread challenge.L-glutamic(L-glu)and L-aspartic acid(L-asp)treatments have been reported to improve plant metabolism of heavy metal-exposed plants,but the role of these amino acids in the resistance to lead(Pb^(2+)),cadmium(Cd^(2+)),arsenic(As^(3+))and nickel(Ni^(2+))treated-bean are unclear when applied together.This study investigated the L-glu and L-asp supplementation-induced changes in some physio-biochemical parameters and some stress-related gene expression levels in Pb^(2+),Cd^(2+),As^(3+),and Ni^(2+)-stressed Phaseolus vulgaris(Elkoca and Gina)grown in nutrient solution.The combination of two L-glu and L-asp(1.5 and 3 mM)and Cd^(2+)(1 mM),Pb^(2+)(1 mM),As^(3+)(2 mg/L^(−1)),and Ni^(2+)(1 mM)concentrations were used.The physio-biochemical parameters of the leaves were determined based on the chlorophyll content(SPAD),relative water content(RWC),hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2)),malondialdehyde(MDA),and electrolyte conductivity(EC)contents,and superoxide dismutase(SOD),peroxidase(POD)and ascorbate peroxidase(APX)enzyme activities.Additionally,the metal tolerance protein(MTP)genes,known for their role in heavy metal detoxification,and as PvSOD,PvPOD,and PvAPX antioxidant enzyme genes were analyzed for their temporal expression patterns in leaves.Preliminary results indicate a nuanced response of PvMTPs genes,highlighting potential variations in genotype-specific expression.Among the analyzed PvMTP7,PvMTP8,PvMTP9,PvMTP10,PvMTP11,and PvMTP13 genes,PvMTP10 exhibited particularly higher expression values in all treatments.In heavy metal-exposed beans,there was a concurrent decrease in SPAD,RWC,H_(2)O_(2),and MDA contents,coupled with an increase in EC values.In turn,L-glu and L-asp pretreatments decreased the harmful effects of heavy metals by increasing the SPAD and RWC values and decreasing the EC,H_(2)O_(2),and MDA contents and they reached these values close to control.Also,they improved the expressions of the above-mentioned genes.The 3 mM L-glu and L-asp appear to be more effective than 1.5 mM L-glu and L-asp in alleviation of the heavy metal’s toxic effects on two genotypes of bean.The findings contribute to our understanding of some stress-related gene expression levels and physio-biochemical responses under heavy metal stresses and offer insights into the potential application of L-glu and L-asp in enhancing stress tolerance in plants.
文摘In this article,the effect of heavy metals Cd and Pb on seed germination,seedling growth and yield of wheat is investigated,and the effect of related conditioners on improving soil and alleviating Cd and Pb stress is explored.
基金funded by National Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.42177236)Taishan Scholars Project Foundation(tsqn202211185)+1 种基金Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(Grant No.2020A1515011077)Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(Grant No.ZR2020MD119)。
文摘Many of the abandoned mining and industrial land in villages and towns are seriously polluted by heavy metals in China,it is necessary for sustainable development to adopt efficient and economical ways to restore the ecology of abandoned mining and industrial land.Pollution level of topsoil contaminated with metallurgical slag from nonferrous metal smelting waste site in Baoding,North China and the heavy metals(HMs)accumulation behavior of Bidens pilosa L.(B.pilosa,native pioneer plant)were studied.Two selected study sites were mainly contaminated by As(270~434 mg/kg),Cd(63~95 mg/kg),Pb(5496~24504 mg/kg)and Zn(4500~21300 mg/kg),which exceed the national standard severely.Investigation of multi-metal accumulation in different parts of B.pilosa indicated that the absorption of toxic metals varied by types,concentration and species of HMs under stress conditions,soil property and plant tissues.The results showed that B.pilosa had excellent ability to accumulate HMs under different HMs stress condition,with the highest accumulation concentration of 85 mg/kg for As,380 mg/kg for Cd,4000 mg/kg for Pb,and 7500 mg/kg for Zn in roots under experimental conditions,respectively.The growth trend of B.pilosa declined with the increase of HMs stress concentration in tested soils.HMs stress led to different degrees of plant toxicity and obstruction of physiological metabolism.Among the plant physiological index,Chla and ChlT decreased 28.0%and 28.1%,37.3%and 35.5%under different stress treatments,respectively.Indicators related to physiological metabolic strength and stress resistance of plant,such as MDA(Malondiadehyde),CAT(catalase),SOD(superoxide dismutase)and SP(soluble protein),all increased with the increase of HMs stress concentration.
基金supported by the Yibin Science and Technology Plan(2022NY011).
文摘Soil metal pollution is a global issue due to its toxic nature affecting ecosystems and human health. This has become a concern since metals are non-biodegradable and toxic. Most of the reclamation methods currently used for soils rely on the use of physical and chemical means, which tend to be very expensive and result in secondary environmental damage. However, microbe-aided phytoremediation is gaining attention as it is an eco-friendly, affordable, and technically advanced method to restore the ecosystem. It is essential to understand the complex interaction between plants and microbes. The primary function of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) is to stimulate plant development, aid in metal elimination, and reduce their bioavailability in the soil. These microbes regulate phytohormones, stimulate processes such as phytoextraction and phyto-stabilization, and improve the uptake of essential nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus. PGPBs secrete a range of enzymes and chemicals, fix nitrogen, solubilize minerals, increase the bioavailability of nutrients under diverse biological environments with high salinities, excessive metal-contaminated soil, and organic pollutants, increase the soil fertility and help in the reclamation of agriculture and regenerate the native flora. The integration of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology with microbial-aided phytoremediation and the use of genetically modified microbes with nanomaterials further enhance the efficacy of the approaches in polluted environments for sustainable restoration of the soil.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41306122)the National Special Research Fund for Non-Profit Marine Sector(Nos.201405040,201505022)+1 种基金the Scientific Funds for Outstanding Young Scientists of Shandong Province Award(No.BS2012HZ013)the Shandong Agricultural Application Technology Innovation of Research Project
文摘Heavy metal pollution in aquatic system is becoming a serious problem worldwide. In this study, responses of Sargassum thunbergii to dif ferent concentrations(0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 mg/L) of zinc(Zn) and cadmium(Cd) exposure separately were studied for 15 days in laboratory-controlled conditions. The results show that the specifi c growth rates increased slightly under the lower Zn concentration treatment(0.1 mg/L) at the first 5 d and then decreased gradually, which were significantly reduced with the exposure time in higher Zn concentrations and all Cd treatments compared to respective control, especially for 1.0 and 5.0 mg/L Cd. Chlorophyll a contents showed significant increase in 0.1 mg/L Zn treatment, whereas the gradually reduction were observed in the other three Zn treatments and all Cd treatments. The oxygen evolution rate and respiration rate presented distinct behavior in the Zn-treated samples, but both declined steadily with the exposure time in Cd treatments. The P/R value analyses showed similar variation patterns as chlorophyll a contents. Real-time PCR showed that lower Zn concentration(0.1 mg/L) increased mRNA expression of rbcL gene, whereas higher Zn concentrations and Cd reduced the rbcL expression. Taken together, these findings strongly indicate that Zn and Cd had different effects on S. thunbergii both at the physiological and gene transcription levels, the transcript level of photosynthesis-related gene rbcL can be used as an useful molecular marker of algal growth and environment impacts.
基金The authors would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the researchers supporting Project Number RSP2023R186,King Saud University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
文摘Cadmium(Cd)and Mercury(Hg)is among the heavy metals most hazardous for plant and human health.Known to induce oxidative stress in plants and disbalance equilibrium in the antioxidant defence system,these metals alter plant growth and cause damage at the cellular and molecular levels.Soybean is an important oilseed crop that is raised in soils often contaminated by Cd and Hg.The comparative studies on the deleterious effect of Cd and Hg and the defence system of antioxidants were not studied earlier in soybean plant.In this study,soybean plants were exposed to Cd(100μM CdCl_(2))and Hg(100μM HgCl_(2))and studied for physiological,biochemical and molecular responses.Both Cd and Hg treatment increased the magnitude of oxidative stress.Activities of antioxidant enzymes were significantly upregulated in response to Cd and Hg stress.Quantitative and qualitative assessment of isolated RNA showed significant differences in RNA under stress.Integrity values of RNA confirmed alterations.Transcript level of the Actin gene,involved in the morphogenesis of plants and also used as referenced gene in expression studies was analyzed using qRT-PCR just to check its stability and response under heavy metal stress.Results showed significant upregulation of the gene in the presence of Cd.It can be concluded that both Cd and Hg caused oxidative damage to plants,and adversely affected the quality of RNA.However,soybean tried to limit the adverse impacts of Cd and Hg stress by elevating the antioxidant system and upregulating Actin gene.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31870582 and 31270665)the Innovation Capability Support Program of Shaanxi,China(No.2024RS-CXTD-55)the Project of Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Land Consolidation of China(No.2019TD-01)。
文摘Glomalin,an extensively secreted glycoprotein produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF),plays a crucial role in heavy metal sequestration,though its functionality is highly susceptible to various environmental factors.Due to the limitations in purification techniques,glomalin is often assessed indirectly as glomalin-related soil proteins(GRSP).Although the effect of elevated carbon dioxide(eCO_(2))on GRSP under heavy metal stress has been widely investigated,the quantitative contribution of eCO_(2)to GRSP is still unclear.Here,we employed a^(13)CO_(2)isotopic labeling approach to assess the contribution of eCO_(2)(285μL L^(-1)above ambient CO_(2))to GRSP in the bulk and rhizosphere soils of black locust seedlings colonized by Funneliformis mosseae under cadmium(Cd)exposure.The contribution of eCO_(2)to easily extractable GRSP(EE-GRSP)in the rhizosphere soil was 8.3μg g^(-1)soil under F.mosseae colonization.The contribution of eCO_(2)to total GRSP(T-GRSP)in the rhizosphere soil reached 26.1μg g^(-1)soil under F.mosseae colonization.However,eCO_(2)showed negative contribution to EE-GRSP in the bulk soil,and its contribution to T-GRSP in the bulk soil under F.mosseae colonization was 7.6μg g^(-1)soil.Additionally,the highest contribution of eCO_(2)to Cd sequestration in the rhizosphere soil was 0.93 mg kg^(-1)soil under F.mosseae colonization.The results suggest that F.mosseae enhances Cd sequestration in soil through glomalin release,highlighting its potential role in heavy metal stabilization under eCO_(2)conditions in AMF-colonized soils.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (3237152 and 22104102)Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province (2025ZNSFSC0155)+1 种基金Open Project Program (SKL-KF202416) of State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest ChinaTwo-Way Support Programs of Sichuan Agricultural University (P202105)
文摘Excessive accumulation of cadmium (Cd) impairs crop growth by inducing oxidative damage through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, a biocompatible ferruginated carbon quantum dots (Fe-CQDs) nanozyme is developed to target ROS, thereby reducing oxidative damage and improving the absorption and transfer of Cd ions in wheat. Notably, Fe-CQDs exhibit multi-enzyme activities mimicking peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), enabling effective neutralization of active species such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH), hydrogen peroxide (H_(2)O_(2)), and superoxide anions (O_(2)•^(-)). Importantly, root application of 10 mg L^(-1) Fe-CQDs alleviates Cd stress and promotes wheat growth in both hydroponic and soil cultures. Specifically, the levels of O_(2)•^(-), H_(2)O_(2), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in leaf tissues decrease, whereas the non-enzyme antioxidant, reduced glutathione (GSH), increases. Cell wall thickness in the Fe-CQDs-treated group is reduced by 42.4% compared with the Cd group. Moreover, Fe-CQDs enhance the expression of genes related to antioxidants, stress resistance, Cd detoxification, and nutrient transport. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses show that Fe-CQDs stimulate the production of flavonoids and regulate the activity of metal transporter genes (YSL, ABC, ZIP) to maintain ROS homeostasis. These findings highlight the potential of Fe-CQDs nanozyme platforms in mitigating oxidative damage and enhancing crop growth, offering new insights into the application of nanobiotechnology in agriculture.
文摘Cadmium(Cd)contamination is amajor environmental stressor that adversely affects crop germination and early development.This study assessed the impact of increasing Cd concentrations(0.125 to 1 g/L)on seed germination and early seedling growth in three bread wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)cultivars:Achtar,Lina,and Snina.The results revealed a clear dose-dependent inhibitory effect of Cd.Germination percentage(GP)significantly declined with increasing Cd levels,while mean germination time was progressively delayed,particularly at higher concentrations.Vigor index(VI)also showed significant reductions,reflecting compromised seedling establishment.Morphological traits,especially shoot and root lengths,were negatively affected,with root systems exhibiting greater sensitivity.Growth inhibition indices indicated a stronger suppression in roots than in shoots,and tolerance index(TI)values demonstrated clear intervarietal differences,with Achtar displaying the highest tolerance and Lina the greatest susceptibility.Pearson correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships among GP,VI,TI,and seedling length,and negative correlations with shoot and root growth inhibition.Principal component analysis further supported these patterns,effectively separating cultivar responses across treatments.Overall,this study highlights the phytotoxic effects of Cd on early wheat development and underscores the role of genetic variability in determining cultivar tolerance to heavy metal stress.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41671268, 31270639, and 31400435)the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University of China (No. IRT1035)+1 种基金the Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 2015CFB596)the Shaanxi Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Project Plan of China (No. 2016KTCL02-07)
文摘Dark septate endophytic （DSE） fungi are ubiquitous and cosmopolitan, and occur widely in association with plants in heavy metal stress environment. However, little is known about the effect of inoculation with DSE fungi on the host plant under heavy metal stress. In this study, Gaeumannomyces cylindrosporus, which was isolated from Pb-Zn mine railings in China and had been proven to have high Pb tolerance, was inoculated onto the roots of maize （Zea mays L.） seedlings to study the effect of DSE on plant growth, photosynthesis, and the translocation and accumulation of Pb in plant under stress of different Pb concentrations. The growth indicators （height, basal diameter, root length, and biomass） of maize were detected. Chlorophyll content, photosynthetic characteristics （net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and intercellular CO2 concentration）, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in leaves of the inoculated and non-inoculated maize were also determined. Inoculation with G. cylindrosporus significantly increased height, basal diameter, root length, and biomass of maize seedlings under Pb stress. Colonization of G. cylindrosporus improved the efficiency of photosynthesis and altered the translocation and accumulation of Pb in the plants. Although inoculation with G. cylindrosporus increased Pb accumulation in host plants in comparison to non-inoculated plants, the translocation factor of Pb in plant body was significantly decreased. The results indicated that Pb was accumulated mainly in the root system of maize and the phytotoxicity of Pb to the aerial part of the plant was alleviated. The improvement of efficiency of photosynthesis and the decrease of translocation factor of Pb, caused by DSE fungal colonization, were efficient strategies to improve Pb tolerance of host plants.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31271673)the Special Fund for Agro-Scientific Research in the Public Interest of China (No. 201503127)
文摘Agricultural production systems are immensely exposed to different environmental stresses in which heavy metal stress receives serious concerns. This study was conducted to explore the deleterious effects of different chromium （Cr） stress levels, i.e., O, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 μmol L^-1, on two maize genotypes, Wandan 13 and Runnong 35. Both genotypes were evaluated by measuring their growth and yield characteristics, Cr accumulation in different plant tissues, alterations in osmolyte accumulation, generation of reactive oxygen species （ROS）, and anti-oxidative enzyme activity to scavenge ROS. The results showed that Cr stress decreased the leaf area, cob formation, 100-grain weight, shoot fresh biomass, and yield formation, while Cr accumulation in different maize tissues was found in the order of roots 〉 leaves 〉 stem ~ seeds in both genotypes. The increased Cr toxicity resulted in higher free proline, soluble sugars and total phenolic contents, and lower soluble protein contents. However, enhanced lipid peroxidation was noticed in the forms of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide （H2O2） and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance accumulation, and electrolyte leakage. The hyperactivity of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, especially glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase indicated that these anti-oxidative enzymes had a central role in protecting maize from Cr toxicity, especially for Wandan 13. Moreover, higher uptake and less translocation of Cr contents into the grains of Wandan 13 implied its importance as a potential candidate against soil Cr pollution.
基金the School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China for providing financial support and experimental facilities。
文摘Soils and ecosystems contaminated with cadmium (Cd) threaten human health and adversely affect morphological,physiological,and biochemical parameters of plants.The symbiotic association of endophytic fungi with their host plants is the best strategy to improve various plant characteristics and remediate soils polluted with heavy metal(loid)s (HMs).Being a well-known plant growth-promoting fungus,Piriformospora indica confers resistance against a number of abiotic stresses,including HM stress.This pot experiment explored the potential and ameliorative effects of P.indica on Artemisia annua L.plants treated with different concentrations (0,40,80,and 120 mg kg-1) of Cd.Inoculation with P.indica significantly increased plant performance,especially by enhancing chlorophyll concentration and water potential and by decreasing electrolytic leakage,when compared with un-inoculated plants,despite the high Cd levels.Similarly,P.indica enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities,thereby reducing the drastic effects of Cd in inoculated plants.In addition,P.indica accumulated Cd in the roots of colonized plants,as revealed by atomic absorption spectroscopy,and restricted Cd translocation to aerial parts.Furthermore,P.indica showed in vitro resistance (up to a certain level) to Cd stress;however,fungus growth was inhibited at very high Cd concentrations,proving it an excellent candidate for use as a potential phytoremediator in fields affected by Cd contamination.The transcriptional analysis showed that the signaling genes and artemisinin and flavonoid biosynthetic pathway genes were significantly upregulated in P.indica-co-cultivated plants when compared with un-inoculated plants,suggesting a fine collaboration between primary and secondary metabolisms to modulate resistance capacity and to enhance the phytoremediation capability of A.annua against Cd toxicity.
基金financially supported by the Jiangsu Provincial Key Research and Development Program of China (BE2021717)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31672224)。
文摘Maintenance of ion homeostasis in plant cells is an essential physiological requirement for sustainable growth,development,and yield of crops.Plants respond to high levels of heavy metals such as copper(Cu)and cadmium(Cd)to avoid irreversible damage at the structural,physiological and molecular levels.Our previous study found that rice germin-like proteins(OsGLPs)are a type of Cu-responsive proteins.The deletion of 10 tandem OsGLP genes on chromosome 8 led to more severe heavy metal toxicity in rice.In this study,we show that rice WRKY transcription factor OsWRKY72 negatively regulates OsGLP8-7transcription.Overexpression of OsWRKY72 weakens the Cu/Cd tolerance of rice when exposed to Cu and Cd.OsWRKY72 suppressed expression of OsGLP8-7 and lignin synthesis genes,resulting in reduced lignin polymerization and consequently lower lignin accumulation in cell walls,thereby increasing the Cu and Cd accumulation.In addition,OsWRKY53 bound to OsWRKY72 to alleviate the transcriptional inhibition of OsGLP8-7.These results revealed that OsWRKY72-OsGLP8-7 is an important module response of rice to heavy metal stress,and that transcription factor OsWRKY72 acts upstream of OsGLP8-7 to regulate Cu/Cd toxicity.
基金Supported by Project of Education Department of Henan Province(18A180026)Project of Science and Technology Department of Henan Province(182102110166)+1 种基金Carry-over Project of Pingdingshan University(JZ2017009)Research Project of Education and Teaching Reform of Pingdingshan University(2017-JY03)。
文摘Heavy metal pollution is common in resource-based regions.However,the morphological,physiological and biochemical mechanisms of plants transmitting environmental information to their offspring in environments polluted by heavy metals have not been studied yet.Taking soybean,an annual self-pollinated plant in Huang-Huai-Hai region,as the research object,the morphological,physiological and biochemical indexes and heavy metal enrichment and distribution characteristics of plants under heavy metal stress were monitored continuously for about three generations,and the trans-generational differences of soybean reproduction,vegetative growth,stress resistance and life cycle in heavy metal stress environment were elucidated.The results will be helpful to better understand the long-term adaptive strategy of plants to heavy metal stress and provide the theory basis for ecological security of soybean and other crops under heavy metal stress.
基金supported by the Yunnan Science and Technology Talents and Platform Program(202405AM340004)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)Joint Fund Project(U2002210).
文摘Soil cadmium(Cd)and lead(Pb)pollution is becoming increasingly serious;heavy metals are accumulating in soil and agricultural products,and vegetables,as an indispensable part of people’s daily diet,affect human health through the food chain.This study investigated the effects of different concentrations of Cd and Pb stress on growth root length,above-ground/below-ground biomass,chlorophyll,osmoregulatory substances(soluble proteins,soluble sugars,proline)content,and antioxidant enzymes(malondialdehyde(MDA),peroxidase(POD),superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT))activities of four Cd and Pb highand low-accumulating varieties of Chinese cabbage in hydroponic mode.The results showed that under Cd and Pb stress,Chinese cabbage could resist heavy metal stress by increasing the contents of osmoregulatory substances and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the leaves.However,with the increase of heavy metal concentration,the physiological metabolic activities of Chinese cabbage leaf cells were affected,and the activities of POD,CAT,SOD,and osmoregulators decreased,while the osmoregulators of low Cd and Pb accumulating varieties were more stable,and the activities of POD,CAT,and SOD reached the peak value first compared with those of the high accumulating varieties.This study analyzed the physiological functions of different accumulating types of Chinese cabbage under Cd and Pb stress,in order to provide a theoretical basis for cultivating low Cd and Pb accumulating varieties.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32202295)Guizhou Provincial Science and Technology Projects(Qian Ke He Ji Chu-ZK[2022]General 051)+1 种基金Scientific Research Foundation for Talent Introduced in Guizhou University(Gui Da Te Gang He Zi[2021]22)Guizhou Provincial Science and Technology Projects(Qian Ke He Support[2019]2292,Qian Ke He NY[2013]3040).
文摘Neuropeptides are crucial in regulation of a rich variety of developmental,physiological,and behavioral functions throughout the life cycle of insects.Using an integrated approach of multiomics,we identified neuropeptide precursors in the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella,which is a harmful pest of honeybee hives with a worldwide distribution.Here,a total of 63 and 67 neuropeptide precursors were predicted and annotated in the G.mellonella genome and transcriptome,in which 40 neuropeptide precursors were confirmed in the G.mellonella peptidome.Interestingly,we identified 12 neuropeptide precursor genes present in G.mellonella but absent in honeybees,which may be potential novel pesticide target sites.Honeybee hives were contaminated with heavy metals such as lead,enabling its bioaccumulation in G.mellonella bodies through the food chain,we performed transcriptome sequencing to analyze the effects of Pb stress on the mRNA expression level of G.mellonella neuropeptide precursors.After treatment by Pb,the expression of neuropeptide F1 was found to be significantly downregulated,implying that this neuropeptide might be associated with responding to the heavy metal stress in G.mellonella.This study comprehensively identified neuropeptide precursors in G.mellonella,and discussed the effects of heavy metals on insect neuropeptides,with the example of G.mellonella.The results are valuable for future elucidation of how neuropeptides regulate physiological functions in G.mellonella and contribute to our understanding of the insect's environmental plasticity and identify potential new biomarkers to assess heavy metal toxicity in insects.
