1.
Molecular binding mechanisms of manganese to the root cell wall of Phytolacca americana L. using multiple spectroscopic techniques.
Xu, X, Yang, J, Zhao, X, Zhang, X, Li, R
Journal of hazardous materials. 2015;:185-191
Abstract
The root cell wall (RCW) of Mn hyperaccumulator Phytolacca americana L. (P. americana) plays an important role in immobilizing and detoxifying excessive Mn, but the molecular binding mechanism of Mn to RCW has been little studied. This study investigated the effect of varied pH on Mn adsorption by the isolated RCW from P. americana in batch experiments, and explored the binding mechanisms of Mn to RCW using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), synchrotron-based X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), and extended X-ray fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS). Results showed that Mn binding capacity depends on solution pH, with an optimal pH of 5.0-6.0. Experimental isotherm data could be successfully modeled by the Langmuir and Freundlich equations; the estimated maximum Mn adsorption capacity was 5.446 mg g(-1) according to the established Langmuir isotherm. FTIR spectroscopy demonstrated hydroxyl and carboxyl groups were probably involved in the Mn binding process. XANES results showed that Mn remained as Mn(II) after adsorption on RCW, without any change of oxidation state; EXAFS analysis further revealed that Mn was complexed to RCW via bidentate inner-sphere coordination with carboxyl, which provides new structure information of Mn adsorbed on biomaterials and accounted for high Mn accumulation on RCW of P. americana.
2.
Understanding plant-microbe interactions for phytoremediation of petroleum-polluted soil.
Nie, M, Wang, Y, Yu, J, Xiao, M, Jiang, L, Yang, J, Fang, C, Chen, J, Li, B
PloS one. 2011;(3):e17961
Abstract
Plant-microbe interactions are considered to be important processes determining the efficiency of phytoremediation of petroleum pollution, however relatively little is known about how these interactions are influenced by petroleum pollution. In this experimental study using a microcosm approach, we examined how plant ecophysiological traits, soil nutrients and microbial activities were influenced by petroleum pollution in Phragmites australis, a phytoremediating species. Generally, petroleum pollution reduced plant performance, especially at early stages of plant growth. Petroleum had negative effects on the net accumulation of inorganic nitrogen from its organic forms (net nitrogen mineralization (NNM)) most likely by decreasing the inorganic nitrogen available to the plants in petroleum-polluted soils. However, abundant dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) was found in petroleum-polluted soil. In order to overcome initial deficiency of inorganic nitrogen, plants by dint of high colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi might absorb some DON for their growth in petroleum-polluted soils. In addition, through using a real-time polymerase chain reaction method, we quantified hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial traits based on their catabolic genes (i.e. alkB (alkane monooxygenase), nah (naphthalene dioxygenase) and tol (xylene monooxygenase) genes). This enumeration of target genes suggests that different hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria experienced different dynamic changes during phytoremediation and a greater abundance of alkB was detected during vegetative growth stages. Because phytoremediation of different components of petroleum is performed by different hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, plants' ability of phytoremediating different components might therefore vary during the plant life cycle. Phytoremediation might be most effective during the vegetative growth stages as greater abundances of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria containing alkB and tol genes were observed at these stages. The information provided by this study enhances our understanding of the effects of petroleum pollution on plant-microbe interactions and the roles of these interactions in the phytoremediation of petroleum-polluted soil.
3.
Genotypic variations in the accumulation of Cd exhibited by different vegetables.
Yang, J, Guo, H, Ma, Y, Wang, L, Wei, D, Hua, L
Journal of environmental sciences (China). 2010;(8):1246-52
Abstract
It is an important approach to use the Cd-contaminated soils properly by growing low accumulator or excluder plants for Cd to produce safe foods. To find the suitable vegetable species for growing in Cd-contaminated soils, in the present study the variations in the Cd accumulation for twenty eight vegetable species and several cultivars of five common vegetables (cowpea, kidney pea, bitter gourd, cucumber and squash) were investigated in two soil Cd levels (1 and 2 mg/kg Cd). Experimental results showed that highly significant differences in Cd concentration were evident among 28 vegetables. For example, spinach Cd concentrations were 110-fold and 175-fold higher than that of sweet pea under the 1 and 2 mg/kg Cd exposures, respectively. For Cd accumulation, the order of vegetable species was: leafy vegetables > solanaceous vegetables > kale vegetables > root vegetables > allimus > melon vegetables > legumes. Distinctive differences were also identified when comparing different cultivars of the five common vegetables with an average range of 0.003-0.094 mg/kg Cd. Our results indicated that a large genotypic variation existed among vegetable species or cultivars when subjected to Cd exposure. Therefore, it is important and feasible to elect/breed vegetable species/cultivars with low accumulation of Cd, especially in mildly Cd-contaminated soils.