Physiological Mechanism of Exogenous Selenium in Alleviating Mercury Stress on Pakchoi(Brassica campestris L.)

The objective of this study was to explain the physiological mechanisms through which Na_(2)SeO_(3) mitigates the growth and developmental inhibition of pakchoi under HgCl_(2)stress.The results showed that treatment with HgCl_(2)(40 mg L^(−1))led to reduced biomass,dwarfing,root shortening,and root tip necrosis in pakchoi.Compared to control(CK),the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and peroxidase(POD)in Hg treatment increased,and the content of malondialdehyde(MDA)also dramatically increased,which negatively impacted the growth of pakchoi.Low concentrations of Na_(2)SeO_(3)(0.2 mg L^(−1))significantly increased the content of soluble sugars compared with control,while chlorophyll,soluble proteins,free amino acids,and vitamin C had no significant changes.The results of the mixed treatments with HgCl_(2)and Na_(2)SeO_(3) suggested that selenium may be able to reduce the toxicity of mercury in pakchoi.The biomass,plant height,root length,chlorophyll content,soluble protein,other physiological indicators,and proline showed significant increases compared with the HgCl_(2)treatment.Additionally,the MDA content and mercury accumulation in pakchoi decreased.Our results revealed the antagonistic effects of selenium and mercury in pakchoi.Thus,a theoretical basis for studying pakchoi’s mercuryexcreted and selenium-rich cultivation technology was provided.

Effect of Water Control before Transplanting and Rooting Powder Treatment on Tobacco Seedling Quality and Physiological Properties at Green Stage

Cultivating strong seedlings is an important guarantee for the production of high-quality flue-cured tobacco, while there are many disadvantages in tobacco floating system that is commonly adopted in China. To improve the tobacco floating system, with Xiangyan No.3 as experimental material, the effects of water control before transplanting and rooting powder treatment on tobacco seedling quality and physiological properties at green stage were investigated. The results showed that： （1） water control showed small influence on tobacco seedling quality, while rooting powder treatment and water control ＋ rooting powder treatment showed great influence on tobacco seedling quality, mainly represented by reduced plant height, thickened stem and increased dry matter accumulative amount; （2） water control before transplanting and rooting powder treatment all improved leaf chlorophyll content and root vigor of tobacco seedlings, and the effect of water control ＋ rooting powder treatment was best, followed by rooting powder treatment and water control; （3） all treatments increased the nitrate reductase and invertase activity, and reduced the MDA content of tobacco seedlings, and the effect of water control ＋ rooting powder treatment was best, followed by rooting powder treatment and water control. Mean- while, the treatment effect 10 d before the transplanting was better than that 5 d before the transplanting. In overall, the improvement effects of water control 10 d before transplanting ＋ rooting powder treatment on tobacco seedling quality and physiological properties at green stage were the best.

Effects of Crown Ether on Some Physiological Properties and Economic Characteristics of Spikes of Wheat and Panicles of Rice

The seeds of wheat and the young roots of rice were treated with SU15-C-5 and B15-C-5.The effects of crown ether on economic characters of the spike and some physiological properties in both crops were studied.The results showed that crown ethers could promote the growth of wheat seedling, improve the contents of chlorophyll (a+b), reduce the ratio of chlorophyll a to b in the leaves of rice,thus bring about good effects of economic characters of the spike. Especially, it suggests that SU15-C-5 showed better physiological effects than B15-C-5.

Differences of Physiological and Biochemical Indexes of Upper Fresh Leaves and Post-growth Roots in Different Quality Stages

In order to explore the physiological and biochemical characteristics of fresh upper leaves and roots of different qualities of tobacco, the malonaldehyde （MDA）, superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity, chlorophyllase activity, amylase activity, medium trace element content, chemical component content, root fresh weight, dry weight and activity in the normal tobacco leaves, tobacco leaves rich in nutrients and premature grey tobacco leaves were studied. The results showed that compared with the normal tobacco leaves, the root fresh weight, dry weight and activity in the premature grey tobacco leaves decreased by 41.22%, 14.44% and 60.29% respectively, while malonaldehyde content increased by 34.82%, and chlorophyllase, α-amylase, β-amylase and SOD activity declined by 89.55%, 65.71%, 71.26% and 37.25% respectively. Chlorophyllase, co-amylase and 13-amylase activity in the tobacco leaves rich in nutrients decreased by 58.76%, 36.19% and 41.93% respectively. The content of medium trace elements in the tobacco leaves rich in nutrients and premature grey tobacco leaves was lower than that of the normal tobacco leaves. Starch, total sugar, reducing sugar and potassium content in the normal tobacco leaves were higher than that of the tobacco leaves rich in nutrients and premature grey tobacco leaves.

Key physiological traits and chemical properties of extracellular polymeric substances determining colony formation in a cyanobacterium

Colony formation of cyanobacteria is crucial for the formation of surface blooms in lakes.However,the underlying mechanisms of colony formation involving in physiological and cell surface characteristics remain to not well be established.Six cyanobacterial Microcystis strains(including both unicellular and colonial ones)were employed to estimate the influences of their physiological traits and the composition of extracellular polymeric substances(EPS)on colony or aggregate formation.Results show that raising the number of the photosynthetic reaction center and light-harvesting antenna in the PSII and reducing the growth rate were the major physiological strategies of Microcystis to produce excess EPS enhancing colony formation.Tightly bound EPS(T-EPS)was responsible for colony formation,which approximately accounted for 50%of the total amount of EPS.Five fluorescent components(protein-,tryptophan-,and tyrosine-like components and two humic-like components)were found in the T-EPS,although the amounts of these components varied with strains.Importantly,colonial strains contained much higher tyrosine-like substances than unicellular ones.We suggest that tyrosine-like substances might serve as a crosslinking agent to connect other polymers in EPS(e.g.,proteins or polysaccharides)for colony formation.Our findings identified key physiological traits and chemical components of EPS for colony formation in Microcystis,which can contribute to a better understanding on the formation of Microcystis blooms.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Alleviates Salt-Alkali Stress Demage on Syneilesis aconitifolia

Syneilesis aconitifolia is a potential ground cover and decorative material in gardens,which exhibits a strong salt-alkali tolerance,and also has medicinal value.In this study,the arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM)fungi community in the soil surrounding S.aconitifolia roots in the Songnen saline-alkali grassland was used as the inoculation medium for a pot cultivation experiment.After normal culture for 90 days,NaCl and NaHCO_(3) solutions were applied to subject plants to salt or alkali stress.Solution concentrations of 50,100,and 200 mmol/L were applied for 10 days,and mycorrhizal colonization,biomass,relative water content(RWC),chlorophyll concentration,malondialdehyde(MDA)concentration,antioxidant system activity,and osmomodulator concentration were determined to identify the effects of AM fungi on root colonization status and salinity tolerance in S.aconitifolia.There were three key results.(1)Compared to the controls,the intensity and rate of colonization decreased under saline-alkali stress,and the adaptability of AM fungi under low concentration alkali stress was higher than that under salt stress.(2)The AM fungi could increase the biomass,RWC,and chlorophyll concentration,and decrease the MDA concentration of S.aconitifolia to some extent.With an increase in the salt or alkali solution concentration,AM fungi not only upregulated the activity of the antioxidant system,but also increased the concentration of osmotic regulatory substances.(3)A multivariate analysis of variance(ANOVA)and radar map analysis showed that the mechanisms of resistance to salt and alkali stress were not the same in S.aconitifolia.In the salt treatment,AM fungi mainly regulated salt stress through osmotic regulatory substances such as soluble sugars,soluble proteins,and proline.In the alkali treatment,AM fungi mainly regulated alkali stress through glutathione(GSH),soluble sugars,and MDA.The results showed that the colonization rate of S.aconitifolia under low concentration alkali stress was higher than that under salt stress,and the inoculation of AM fungi could significantly reduce the MDA concentration of S.aconitifolia plants under salinity and alkali stress,and improve the antioxidant enzyme activity and osmoregulatory substance accumulation,thereby improving the salinity tolerance of S.aconitifolia.

Effects of Controlled Atmospheres with High_O_2 or High_CO_2 Concentrations on Postharvest Physiology and Storability of "Napoleon" Sweet Cherry

Sweet cherries ( Prunus avium L. cv. Napoleon) were stored in controlled atmospheres (CA) of high O(2) (70% O(2) + 0% CO(2)) or high CO(2) (5% O(2) + 10% CO(2)), in modified atmosphere package (MAP, (13% - 18%) O(2) + (2% -4%) CO(2)) and in air (control) at 1 degreesC to investigate the effects of different O(2) and CO(2) concentrations on physiological properties, quality and storability of the fruits during storage. The results indicated that compared with other treatments, CA with high O(2) concentration decreased fruit decay and ethanol content, but increased the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and stimulated browning. CA with high CO(2) concentration inhibited polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, reduced MDA content, maintained vitamin C content and firmness, decreased fruit decay and browning. Soluble solids contents (SSC) were not significantly affected by different atmosphere treatments. 'Napoleon' fruits stored in 5% O(2) + 10% CO(2) for as long as 80 d were of good quality, but only 40, 20 and 30 d stored in MAP, 70% O(2) + 0% CO(2) and air, re-spectively.

Effects of Heavy Metals and Saline-alkali on Growth,Physiology and Biochemistry of Orychophragmus violaceus

[Objective] The aim was to study on effects of heavy metals and saline-alkali on growth, physiology and biochemistry of Orychophragmus violaceus. [Method] Taken Orychophragmus violaceus as materials, growth, physiology and biochemistry were explored under stress of saline-alkali and heavy metals (light, moderate and severe saline-alkali, Pb, Pb + Cd, light saline-alkali + Pb, moderate saline-alkali + Pb, severe saline-alkali + Pb, light saline-alkali + Pb + Cd, moderate saline-alkali + Pb + Cd and severe saline-alkali + Pb + Cd) with control group set. [Result] Light stress of saline-alkali had little effect on membrane permeability, as follows: MDA contents in leaves and root systems declined by 25.6% and 9.0% compared with control group; Pb (500 mg/L) stress promoted synthetization of photosynthetic pigments, as follows: chlorophyll a and b and carotenoid increased by 0.86%, 0.69% and 6.25% than those of control group; combined stresses of Pb and Cd destroyed synthetization of photosynthetic pigments, among which carotenoid was more sensitive; under combined stresses of saline-alkali, Pb and Cd, POD and SOD activities, soluble saccharides and Pro content all increased and activities of POD and SOD in root system were both higher than those in leaves. [Conclusion] Orychophragmus violaceus is with resistance against light combined stresses of saline-alkali and Pb (500 mg/L).

Changes in the physiological properties and kinetics of citric acid accumulation via carbon ion irradiation mutagenesis of Aspergillus niger

The objective of this work was to produce citric acid from corn starch using a newly isolated mutant of Aspergillus niger, and to analyze the relationship between changes in the physiological properties of A. niger induced by carbon ion irradiation and citric acid accumulation. Our results showed that the physiological characteristics of conidia in A. niger were closely related to citric acid accumulation and that lower growth rate and viability of conidia may be beneficial to citric acid accumulation. Using corn starch as a raw material, a high-yielding citric acid mutant, named HW2, was obtained. In a 10-L bioreactor, HW2 can accumulate 118.9 g/L citdc acid with a residual total sugar concentration of only 14.4 g/L. This represented an 18% increase in citric acid accumulation and a 12.5% decrease in sugar utilization compared with the original strain.