Screening of Amaranth Cultivars(Amaranthus mangostanus L.) for Cadmium Hyperaccumulation

The potential harm of soil cadmium pollution to ecological environment and human health has been increasingly widely concerned. Phytoremediation, as a kind of new and effective technology, has become an important method for cleaning up cadmium in contaminated sites. The amaranth （Amaranthus mangostanus L.） is widely distributed and has abundant varieties in China, its rapid growth and large biomass can be served as candidate for cadmium hyperaccumulators for phytoremediation. To obtain cadmium hyper-accumulator, Cd uptake in 23 amaranth cultivars from different ecological region was investigated under hydroponic culture condition. Meanwhile, pot experiment was established to probe phytoremediation potentiality of Cd contaminated soil by amaranth. Three treatment （Cd 5, 10, and 25 mg kg^-1） were imposed to red soil, yellow brown soil, and vegetable soil. The results showed that under hydroponic culture with Cd 3 mg L^-1, the cadmium concentration in the shoots of the cultivar Tianxingmi reached 260 mg kg^-1, and its total cadmium uptake was the highest among various cultivars. In the treatment Cd 25 mg kg^-1, the cadmium concentration in the shoots of the cultivar Tianxingmi reached 212 mg kg^-1, while bioaccumulation factor and shoot purification rate reached 8.50 and 3.8%, respectively. Further, the total biomass and shoot biomass were not decreased significantly under Cd exposure. These results suggested that cultivar Tianxingmi is a typical Cd hyperaccumulator, and can be expected to be used in phytoremediation of Cd contaminated soil.

Reactive oxygen species metabolism during the cadmium hyperaccumulation of a new hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii (Crassulaceae)

Sedum alfredii Hance, a newly discovered hyperaccumulator, could serve as a good material for phytoremediation of Cd polluted sites. Malondialdehyde （MDA）, reactive oxygen species （ROS） and antioxidases （catalase （CAT）; superoxide dismutase （SOD）; peroxidase （POD）） in the leaf were determined when S. alfredii was treated for 15 d with various CdC12 concentrations ranging from 0 to 800 μmol/L. The results showed that the production rate of 2＇,7＇-dichlorofluorescein （DCF）, which is an indicator of ROS level, reached up to the maximum at 400 μmol/L CdCl2 and then declined with the increase of CdCl2 concentration, while MDA accumulation tended to increase. CAT activity was significantly inhibited at all tested CdCl2 concentrations and SOD activity was sharply suppressed at 800 μmol/L CdCl2. However, the enhancement of POD activity was observed when CdCl2 concentration was higher than 400 μmol/L. In addition, its activity increased when treated with 600 μmol/L CdCl2 for more than 5 d. When sodium benzoate, a free radical scavenger, was added, S. alfredii was a little more sensitive to Cd toxicity than that exposed to Cd alone, and the Cd accumulation tended to decline with the increase of sodium benzoate concentration. It came to the conclusions that POD played an important role during Cd hyperaccumulation, and the accumulation of ROS induced by Cd treatment might be involved in Cd hyperaccumulation.

Zinc adsorption and desorption characteristics in root cell wall involving zinc hyperaccumulation in Sedum alfredii Hance

Radiotracer techniques were employed to characterize 65Zn adsorption and desorption in root-cell-wall of hyperac-cumulating ecotype (HE) and non-hyperaccumulating ecotype (NHE) species of Sedum alfredii Hance. The results indicated that at the end of a 30 min short time radioisotope loading period, comparable amounts of 65Zn were accumulated in the roots of the two ecotypes Sedum alfredii, whereas 2.1-fold more 65Zn remains in NHE root after 45-min desorption. At the end of 60 min uptake period, no difference of 65Zn accumulation was observed in undesorbed root-cell-wall of Sedum alfredii. However, 3.0-fold more 65Zn accumulated in desorbed root-cell-wall of NHE. Zn2+ binding in root-cell-wall preparations of NHE was greater than that in HE under high Zn2+ concentration. All these results suggested that root-cell-wall of the two ecotypes Sedum alfredii had the same ability to adsorb Zn2+, whereas the desorption characteristics were different, and with most of 65Zn binding on root of HE being available for loading into the xylem, as a result, more 65Zn was translocated to the shoot.

Growth Response and Metal Accumulation of Sedum alfredii to Cd/Zn Complex-Polluted Ion Levels

Sedum alfredii Hance has been identified as a new Zn-hyperaccumulator native to China. In this study, responses and metal accumulation of S alfredii were examined under Zn/Cd complex polluted conditions. The results showed that optimal growth of S alfredii in terms of the maximum dry matter yield was observed at Zn/Cd complex level of 500/100 mumol/L. Plant cadmium (Cd) or zinc (Zn) concentrations increased with increasing Cd or Zn supply. During the 20 d treatment, the highest Cd concentration in the leaves reached 12.1 g/kg at Zn/Cd level of 50/400 mumol/L and that of Zn in the stems was 23.2 g/kg at Zn/Cd level of 1000/50 mumol/L. The distribution of Cd in different plant parts decreased in the order: leaf > stem greater than or equal to root, whereas that of Zn was: stem > leaf greater than or equal to root. The accumulation of Cd and Zn in the shoots and roots of S. alfredii increased with the increasing of Zn/Cd supply levels, peaked at Zn/Cd levels of 250/400 and 500/100 mumol/L, respectively. The highest Cd and Zn uptake by the shoots was approximately 5 and 11 mg/plant, and was over 20 and 10 times higher than those in the roots, respectively. Zn supply at levels less than or equal to 500 mumol/L increased plant Cd concentrations, whereas high Zn supply decreased root Cd but did not affect leaf Cd concentrations in S alfredii Low Cd supply increased Zn concentration in the leaves, but Cd supply higher than 50 mumol/L considerably reduced root Zn concentrations, especially at low Zn level. These results indicate that S. alfredii can tolerate high Zn/Cd complex levels and has an extraordinary ability to hyperaccumulate not only Zn but also Cd. It could provide a new valuable plant material for understanding the mechanisms responsible for co-hyperaccumulation of Zn and Cd as well as for phytoremediation of the Cd/Zn complex polluted soils.

Differences of Uptake and Accumulation of Zinc in Four Species of Sedum

Four species of Sedum L. were grown in nutrient solution for the comparison of their Zn uptake and accumulation. S. alfredii Hance showed much greater tolerance to Zn than the other three species. Shoot and root yields of S. sarmentosum Bunge, S. bulbiferum Makino, and S. emarginatum Migo decreased with increasing Zn concentration in the solution, while shoot and root yields of S. alfredii increased when Zn concentration was ≤80 mg·L -1. At 80 mg·L -1 Zn, Zn concentration in shoots of S. alfredii reached 19.09 mg·g -1. S. alfredii was also more efficient in Zn translocation from roots to shoots, while Zn concentration in shoots was much higher than in roots. However, this was not the case for the other three species. The results showed that S. alfredii is a Zn hyperaccumulator and could be useful for the phytoremediation of Zn-contaminated soils.

关于hyperaccumulator中文译名的探讨

植物修复技术是环境科学与技术的热点和前沿领域,hyperaccumulator作为植物修复技术的核心和关键而受到广泛关注.近年来,我国涉及hyperaccumulator内容的文献也增长迅速,但从已发表的文献来看,国内对“hyperaccumulator”的中文翻译很不统一.这种“一词多译”的现象很不利于学术交流.为了规范和统一hyperaccumulator的中文译名,本文从hyperaccumulator的定义和科学内涵探讨其中文译名的准确性.

Research Progress of Phytoremediation Technology on Soils Polluted by Heavy Metals in Mining Areas

Phytoremediation is an efficient and economic ecological technology. It includes phytostabilization, phytovolatilization, and plant absorption. In the research, status quo and progress of Phytostabilization and plant absorption in soils polluted with heavy metals in metal mines were summarized, including the characteristics and status quo of phytoremediation and selection method of hyperaccumulator. In addition, further research was proposed as well.

Potential of weed species applied to remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals

To screen out a series of ideal plants that can effectively remedy contaminated soils by heavy metals is the main groundwork of phytoremediation engineering and the first step of its commercial application on a large scale. In this study, accumulation and endurance of 45 weed species in 16 families from an agricultural site were in situ examined by using the pot-culture field experiment, and the remediation potential of some weed species with high accumulation of heavy metals was assayed. The results showed that Solanum nigrum and Conyza canadensis can not only accumulate high concentration of Cd, but also strongly endure to single Cd and Cd-Pb-Cu-Zn combined pollution. Thus 2 weed species can be regarded as good hyperaccumulators for the remediation of Cd-contaminated soils. Although there were high Cd-accumulation in Artemigia selengensis, Znula britannica and Cephalanoplos setosum, their biomass was adversely affected due to action of heavy metals in the soils. If the problem of low endurance to heavy metals can be solved by a reinforcer, 3 weed species can be perhaps applied commercially.

Ability of Agrogyron elongatum to accumulate the single metal of cadmium, copper, nickel and lead and root exudation of organic acids

Agrogyron elongatum were grown in nutrient solution containing moderate to high amounts of separate heavy metal of Cd, Cu, Ni and Ph in a greenhouse for a 9 - day. Cd, Cu, Ni and Ph generally led to decrease in the elongation of roots although the length of seedlings exposed to Cd and Ph at 0.05 and 0.5 mg/L showed to be slightly greater than that of controls. Of the four metals in the experiment, Ph was absorbed and accumulated to the highest level, with the concentrations of 92754 mg/kg dry weight (DW) in roots and 11683 mg/kg DW in shoots. Cd was moderately accumulated in Agrogyron elongatum, but the maximum bioaccumulation coefficients (BCs) for roots and shoots were observed. The patterns for Cu and Ni uptake and distribution in plants differed from those of Ph and Cd, as it was showed that the shoot accumulation of Cu and Ni was significantly higher than in roots. A. elongation had the highest Ni concentration in shoots (30261 mg/kg DW) at the external concentration of 250 mg/L. Cu ranked second, with a shoot concentration of 12230 mg/kg DW when 50 mg/L Cu in solution was applied. For the four trace elements tested, the highest concentrations in shoots decreased by the order of Ni > Cu > Ph > Cd (mg/kg DW), and those in roots were Ph > Cd > Ni > Cu (mg/kg DW). Malic, oxalic and citric acids exuded by roots exposed to 1 and 50 mg/L of the metals were detected. Release of organic acids from plants significantly differed among the metal treatments. Cu was most effectively in inducing root exudation of the three types of organic acids. Cd, and Ni were also the inducers of secretion of malic and oxalic acids. With reference of Pb, a small amounts of malic and oxalic acids were detected in the root exudates, but few quantities, of citric acid were. found. However, no correlation between alternations in root exudation of organic acids and metal accumulation could be established.

Response of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense systems of Polygonum hydropiper to Mn stress

The response of enzyme and non-enzymatic antioxidants of Mn hyperaccumuator, Polygonum hydropiper （P. hydropiper）, to Mn stress was studied using hydroponics culture experiments to explore the mechanism of Mn tolerance in this species. Results showed that both chlorophyll and carotenoid contents significantly （p〈0.05） decreased with increasing Mn treatment levels （0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 mg/L） in hydroponics. The concentrations of malondialdehyde （MDA） and hydrogen peroxide （H202） in the root and shoot of P hydropiper were accumulated under Mn stress. Meanwhile, the anti-oxidative functions of several important enzymes, including superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalase （CAT）, ascorbate peroxidase （APX） and peroxidase （POD） in plants were stimulated by Mn spike in leaves and roots, especially at low Mn stress; while sulfhydryl group （--SH） and glutathion （GSH） were likely involved in Mn detoxification ofP. hydropiper under high Mn stress.

Tissue culture tools for selenium hyperaccumulator Neptunia amplexicaulis for development in phytoextraction

Neptunia amplexicaulis is an herbaceous legume endemic to the Richmond area in central Queensland,Australia and is one of the strongest known Selenium hyperaccumulators on earth,showing significant potential to be utilised in Se phytoextraction applications.Here a protocol was established for in vitro micropropagation of Se hyperaccumula-tor N.amplexicaulis using nodal segments from in vitro-germinated seedlings.Shoot multiplication was achieved on Murashige and Skoog(MS)basal media supplemented with various concentrations of 6-Benzylaminopurine(BA)(1.0,2.0,3.0 mg L^(−1))alone or in combination with low levels of Naphthaleneacetic acid(NAA)(0.1,0.2,0.3 mg L^(−1)),with 2.0 mg L^(−1) BA+0.2 mg L^(−1) NAA found to be most effective.Elongated shoots were rooted in vitro using NAA,with highest root induction rate of 30%observed at 0.2 mg L^(−1) NAA.About 95%of the in vitro rooted shoots survived acclimatization.Clonally propagated plantlets were dosed with selenate/selenite solution and assessed for Se tissue concentrations using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy(ICP-AES)and found to retain their ability to hyperaccumulate.The protocol developed for this study has potential to be optimised for generating clonal plants of N.amplexicaulis for use in research and phytoextraction industry applications.

Zn Accumulation and Subcellular Distribution in the Zn Hyperaccumulator Sedurn alfredii Hance

Zn accumulation and subcellular distribution in leaves of the hyperaccumulating ecotype （HE） and non-hyperaccumulating ecotype （NHE） of Sedum alfredii Hance were studied using radiotracer and gradient centrifugation techniques. Leaf Zn accumulation in the HE of S. alfredii was 18.5-26.7 times greater than that in the NHE when the plants were grown at 1-500μmol Zn L-1. Leaf section uptake of 65Zn was highly dependent on external Zn levels. Greater 65Zn uptake in HE was noted only at external Zn levels 〉 100μmol L-1. Zinc subcellular distribution in the leaves of the two ecotypes of S. alfredii was： cell wall 〉 soluble fraction 〉 cell organelle. However, more Zn was distributed to the leaf cell wall and soluble fractions for HE than for NHE. In the leaf of HE, 91%-94% of the Zn was found in the cell walls and the soluble fraction and only 6%-9% Zn was distributed in the cell organelle fraction. For NHE, about 20%-26% Zn was recovered in the cell organelle fraction. In stems, Zn distribution to the ceil wail fraction was approximately two fold greater in the HE than that in the NHE. For the hyperaccumulating ecotype of S. alfredii, the cell wall and the vacuole played a very important role in Zn tolerance and hyperaccumulation.

Commelina communis L.: Copper Hyperaccumulator Found in Anhui Province of China

Commelina communis L. growing over some new copper mining wastelands at Bijiashan, Tongling City of Anhui Province, China, was found to be a copper hyperaccumulator. Its copper concentrations were 2707-6159 (4439±2434) mg kg-1, 369-831 (731±142) mg kg-1, and 429-587 (547±57) mg kg-1, respectively, in the roots, stems, and leaves. The soils supporting the growth of the species had a copper concentration ranging from 4620 to 5020 mg kg-1 and averaging 4835±262 mg kg-1, suggesting that the species could not only grow on heavily copper-contaminated soils but also accumulate extraordinarily high concentration of copper. Thus, it shows great potential in the phytoremediation of copper-contaminated soils,the restoration of mined land, geochemical prospecting, and the study of environmental pollution changes.

Potential of Pteris vittata L. for phytoremediation of sites co-contaminated with cadmium and arsenic: The tolerance and accumulation

Field investigation and greenhouse experiments were conducted to study the tolerance of Pteris vittata L. （Chinese brake） to cadmium （Cd） and its feasibility for remediating sites co-contaminated with Cd and arsenic （As）. The results showed that P. vittata could survive in pot soils spiked with 80 mg/kg of Cd and tolerated as great as 301 mg/kg of total Cd and 26.8 mg/kg of diethyltriaminepenta acetic acid （DTPA）-extractable Cd under field conditions. The highest concentration of Cd in fronds was 186 mg/kg under a total soil concentration of 920 mg As/kg and 98.6 mg Cd/kg in the field, whereas just 2.6 mg/kg under greenhouse conditions. Ecotypes of P. vittata were differentiated in tolerance and accumulation of Cd, and some of them could not only tolerate high concentrations of soil Cd, but also accumulated high concentrations of Cd in their fronds. Arsenic uptake and transportation by P. vittata was not inhibited at lower levels （〈20 mg/kg） of Cd addition. Compared to the treatment without addition of Cd, the frond As concentration was increased by 103.8% at 20 mg Cd/kg, with the highest level of 6434 mg/kg. The results suggested that the Cd-tolerant ecotype of P. vittata extracted effectively As and Cd from the site co-contaminated with Cd and As, and might be used to remediate and revegetate this type of site.

An investigation of cellular distribution of manganese in hyperaccumlator plant Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. using SRXRF analysis

Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. （P acinosa） is a recently discovered manganese hyperaccumulator plant from southern China. It is a good candidate for phytoremediation of manganese（Mn） polluted soil for its high biomass and fast growth. Knowledge of the tissue localization and identification of heavy metals can provide essential information on metal toxicity and bioaccumulation mechanisms. Synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy （SRXRF） microprobe was used in this study to investigate the cellular distributions of Mn and other elements in root, stem, leaf, petiole and midrib of P. acinosa. The highest Mn content was found in the vascular tissues of root, stem, petiole and midrib. Cortex in root played a key role in Mn absorption and Mn was limited in the vascular bundle during the process of transportation in stem. Moreover, Mn content in leaf epidermis was higher than that in mesophyll, which suggested that the sequestration of Mn in leaf epidermis might be one of the detoxification mechanisms of P. acinosa. The significance of other elemental （such as P, S, K, Ca, Fe, Zn and Cu） distribution patterns and the correlation with Mn were also discussed.

Recent research progress in geochemical properties and restoration of heavy metals in contaminated soil by phytoremediation

Heavy metals are widely distributed contaminants in natural environments and their potential threats to human health have attracted worldwide concerns due to the food chain. Therefore, great efforts have been made to reduce them to a safe level in soil. Compared with the traditional methods, the method using plants to remove them has been accepted as a feasible and efficient way. Herein, the geochemical behavior of heavy metals and the restoration methods with phytoremediation were reviewed. In addition, issues on heavy metal speciation as well as its influencing factors, phytoremediation mechanism, phytoremediation effect and vegetation selection principle used for phytoremediation were discussed.

Arsenic Stress Responses and Tolerance in Rice: Physiological, Cellular and Molecular Approaches

Arsenic （As）, a potentially toxic metalloid released in the soil environment as a result of natural as well as anthropogenic processes, is subsequently taken up by crop plants. In rice grains, As has been reported in Asia, North America and Europe, suggesting a future threat to food security and crop production. As3＋ by dint of its availability, mobility and phytotoxicity, is the most harmful species of As for the rice crop. Specific transporters mediate the transport of different species of As from roots to the aboveground parts of the plant body. Accumulation of As leads to toxic reactions in plants, affecting its growth and productivity. Increase in As uptake leads to oxidative stress and production of antioxidants to counteract this stress. Cultivars tolerant to As stress are efficient in antioxidant metabolism compared to sensitive ones. Iron and selenium are found to have ameliorating effect on the oxidative stress caused by As. Microbes, even many indigenous ones, in the plant rhizosphere are also capable of utilizing As in their metabolism, both independently and in association. Some of these microbes impart tolerance to As-stress in plants grown in As contaminated sites.

Differential generation of hydrogen peroxide upon exposure to zinc and cadmium in the hyperaccumulating plant specie(Sedum alfredii Hance)

Sedum alfredii Hance has been identified as zinc(Zn) and cadmium(Cd) co-hyperaccumulator.In this paper the relationships of Zn or Cd hyperaccumulation to the generation and the role of H2O2 in Sedum alfredii H.were examined.The results show that Zn and Cd contents in the shoots of Sedum alfredii H.treated with 1000 μmol/L Zn2+ and/or 200 μmol/L Cd2+ increased linearly within 15 d.Contents of total S,glutathione(GSH) and H2O2 in shoots also increased within 15 d,and then decreased.Total S and GSH contents in shoots were higher under Cd2+ treatment than under Zn2+ treatment.However,reverse trends of H2O2 content in shoots were obtained,in which much higher H2O2 content was observed in Zn2+-treated shoots than in Cd2+-treated shoots.Similarly,the microscopic imaging of H2O2 accumulation in leaves using H2O2 probe technique showed that much higher H2O2 accumulation was observed in the Zn2+-treated leaf than in the Cd2+-treated one.These results suggest that there are different responses in the generation of H2O2 upon exposure to Zn2+ and Cd2+ for the hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii H.And this is the first report that the generation of H2O2 may play an important role in Zn hyperaccumulation in the leaves.Our results also imply that GSH may play an important role in the detoxification of dissociated Zn/Cd and the generation of H2O2.

Examination of Correlation between Histidine and Cadmium Absorption by Eleagnus angustifolia L.,Vitisvinifera L.and Nerium oleander L.Using HPLC-MS and ICP-MS

In this study,HPLC-MS and ICP-MS methods wereused for the determination of histidine and cadmiumin Eleagnusangustifolia L.,Vitisvinifera L.and Nerium oleander L.leaves taken from industrial area including Gaziantep and Bursa cities.To histidine determination by HPLC-MS,flow rate of mobile phase,fragmentor potential,injection volume and column temperature were optimized as 0.2mL·min^(-1),70V,15μL and 20℃,respectively.For extraction of histidine from plants,distilled water was used by applying on 90℃and 30min.The concentrations(as mg·kg^(-1))of histidine were found to be in range of 8~22for Eleagnusangustifolia L.,10~33for Vitisvinifera L.and 6~11for Nerium oleander L.The concentrations of cadmium were found to be in ranges of 6~21μg·kg^(-1) for Vitisvinifera L.15~110μg·kg^(-1) for Eleagnusangustifolia L.and 63~218μg·kg^(-1) for Nerium oleander L.

Research Trends in Rare Earth Element Hyperaccumulator

A brief introduce to environmental and ecological characteristics, hyperaccumulators of rare earth elements （REEs）, as well as the scientific significance of REE hyperaccumulators were presented. Based on this introduce, the achievements in REE hyperaccumulator research, which were ： （ 1 ） The species and regional distribution of REE hyperaccumulators,