Gomphrena claussenii, the first South-American metallophyte species with indicator-like Zn and Cd accumulation and extreme metal tolerance

Plant species with the capacity to tolerate heavy metals are potentially useful for phytoremediation since they have adapted to survive and reproduce under toxic conditions and to accumulate high metal concentrations. Gomphrena claussenii Moq., a South-American species belonging to the Amaranthaceae, is found at a zinc (Zn) mining area in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Through soil and hydroponic experiments, the metal tolerance and accumulation capacities of G. claussenii were assessed and the effects on physiological characteristics were compared with a closely related non-tolerant species, G. elegans Mart. G. claussenii plants grown in soil sampled at the Zn smelting area accumulated up to 5318µgg-1 of Zn and 287 µg g-1 of cadmium (Cd) in shoot dry biomass after 30 days of exposure. Plants were grown in hydroponics containing up to 3000 µM of Zn and 100 µM of Cd for G. claussenii and 100 µM of Zn and 5 µM of Cd for G. elegans. G. claussenii proved to be an extremely tolerant species to both Zn and Cd, showing only slight metal toxicity symptoms at the highest treatment levels, without significant decrease in biomass and no effects on root growth, whereas the non-tolerant species G. elegans showed significant toxicity effects at the highest exposure levels. Both species accumulated more Zn and Cd in roots than in shoots. In G. elegans, over 90% of the Cd remained in the roots, but G. claussenii showed a root:shoot concentration ratio of around 2, with shoots reaching 0.93% Zn and 0.13% Cd on dry matter base. In G. claussenii shoots, the concentrations of other minerals, such as iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn), were only affected by the highest Zn treatment while in G. elegans the Fe and Mn concentrations in shoots decreased drastically at both Zn and Cd treatments. Taking together, these results indicate that G. claussenii is a novel metallophyte, extremely tolerant of high Zn and Cd exposure and an interesting species for further phytoremediation studies Keywords: phytoremediation, Zn/Cd hypertolerance, hyperaccumulation, metal contamination, Gomphrena claussenii, Gomphrena elegan

Control of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp phaseoli in vitro and on seeds and growth promotion of common bean in early stages by Trichoderma harzianum

Este trabalho objetivou avaliar seis isolados de Trichoderma harzianum no controle de Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. phaseoli em sementes, e seu efeito no crescimento inicial do feijoeiro comum. Os isolados foram inicialmente confrontados in vitro com o patógeno em testes de cultura pareada e antibiose a 25ºC. Sementes sadias e artificialmente infectadas pelo patógeno foram microbiolizadas com 2 mL de suspensões dos antagonistas (2,5 x 10(8) conídios mL-1) para cada 100 g de sementes, em rolo de papel germtest a 20 e 25°C. Os percentuais de incidência do patógeno e de plântulas normais foram avaliados aos sete e nove dias, respectivamente. Em casa de vegetação, os isolados foram aplicados a 5 x 10(9) conídios 500 g-1 de substrato autoclavado, com avaliação do comprimento das raízes e parte aérea das plantas 11 dias após o semeio (12 plantas tratamento-1). Todos os isolados apresentaram antagonismo in vitro contra o patógeno. Os isolados CEN202, CEN234, CEN238, CEN240 foram superiores à testemunha no controle de F. oxysporum em sementes, reduzindo entre 35 e 51% da incidência do patógeno e proporcionando entre 73 e 81% de plântulas normais. O comprimento total das plantas com tratamento CEN239 (37,43 cm) foi superior aos demais, cujo comprimento variou entre 27,84 e 33,95 cm.The objective of this study was to evaluate the antagonistic capacity of six isolates of Trichoderma harzianum against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. phaseoli on infected seeds and its effect on the early stages of growth in bean plants. The isolates were also evaluated in dual culture assays and under in vitro antibiosis at 25ºC. Healthy and infected seeds were treated with 2 mL 100 g-1 seeds of the antagonist suspensions (2.5 x 10(8) conidia mL-1) for healthy evaluation using blotter method at 20 and 25°C. The percentages of pathogen incidence and normal seedlings were evaluated at seven and nine days, respectively. The isolates were applied at 5 x 10(9) conidia 500 g-1 of sterilized substrate in greenhouse. After 11 days, roots and shoots of the bean plants were measured (12 plants treatment-1). Every isolate of T. harzianum presented in vitro antagonism against the pathogen. The strains CEN202, CEN234, CEN238 and CEN240 offered better control of F. oxysporum on seeds than the positive check, causing a reduction between 35 and 51% in pathogen incidence and 73-81% of normal seedling emergence. The total length of the plants treated with CEN239 (37.43 cm) was longer than the other treatments, with length varying between 27.84 and 33.95 cm

Influence Of Spin Reorientation On Magnetocaloric Effect In Nd Al2: A Microscopic Model

We report a theoretical investigation about the influence of the spin reorientation from easy magnetic direction 001 to the applied magnetic field direction 111 on the magnetocaloric properties of Nd Al2. This compound was fully investigated using a model Hamiltonian which includes the Zeeman-exchange interactions and the crystalline electrical field, which are responsible for the magnetic anisotropy. All theoretical results were obtained using the proper model parameters for Nd Al2, found in the literature. The existence of a minimum in magnetic entropy change below the phase transition was predicted and ascribed to the strong jump on the spin reorientation. © 2006 The American Physical Society.745Tishin, A.M., Spichkin, Y.I., (2003) The Magnetocaloric Effect and Its Applications, , Institute of Physics, BristolPecharsky, V.K., Gschneidner Jr., K.A., (1997) Phys. Rev. Lett., 78, p. 4494. , PRLTAO 0031-9007 10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.4494Tegus, O., Brück, E., Buschow, K.H.J., De Boer, F.R., (2002) Nature, 415, p. 150. , NATUAS 0028-0836 10.1038/415150AWada, H., Tanabe, Y., (2001) Appl. Phys. Lett., 79, p. 3302. , APPLAB 0003-6951Wada, H., Morikawa, T., Taniguchi, K., Shibata, T., Yamada, Y., Akishige, Y., (2003) Physica B, 328, p. 114. , PHYBE3 0921-4526 10.1016/S0921-4526(02)01822-7Hu, F., Shen, B., Sun, J., Cheng, Z., Rao, G., Zhang, X., (2001) Appl. Phys. Lett., 78, p. 3675. , APPLAB 0003-6951Fujita, A., Fujieda, S., Hasegawa, Y., Fukamichi, K., (2003) Phys. Rev. B, 67, p. 104416. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.67.104416Brown, G.V., (1976) J. Appl. Phys., 47, p. 3673. , JAPIAU 0021-8979 10.1063/1.323176Von Ranke, P.J., De Oliveira, N.A., Gama, S., (2004) J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 277, p. 78. , JMMMDC 0304-8853 10.1016/j.jmmm.2003.10.013Von Ranke, P.J., De Oliveira, N.A., Gama, S., (2004) Phys. Lett. a, 320, p. 302. , PYLAAG 0375-9601 10.1016/j.physleta.2003.10.067Von Ranke, P.J., De Campos, A., Caron, L., Coelho, A.A., Gama, S., De Oliveira, N.A., (2004) Phys. Rev. B, 70, p. 094410. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.70.094410Gama, S., Coelho, A.A., De Campos, A., Carvalho, A.M., Gandra, F.C.G., Von Ranke, P., De Oliveira, N.A., (2004) Phys. Rev. Lett., 93, p. 237202. , PRLTAO 0031-9007 10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.237202Von Ranke, P.J., De Oliveira, N.A., Mello, C., Carvalho, A.M., Gama, S., (2005) Phys. Rev. B, 71, p. 054410. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.71.054410Von Ranke, P.J., Gama, S., Coelho, A.A., De Campos, A., Carvalho, A.M., Gandra, F.C.G., De Oliveira, N.A., (2006) Phys. Rev. B, 73, p. 014415. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.73.014415Von Ranke, P.J., Pecharsky, V.K., Gschneidner, K.A., Korte, B.J., (1998) Phys. Rev. B, 58, p. 14436. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.58.14436Von Ranke, P.J., Mota, M.A., Grangeia, D.F., Carvalho, A.M., Gandra, F.C.G., Coelho, A.A., Caldas, A., Gama, S., (2004) Phys. Rev. B, 70, p. 134428. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.70.134428Lima, A.L., Tsokol, A.O., Gschneidner Jr., K.A., Pecharsky, V.K., Lograsso, T.A., Schlagel, D.L., (2005) Phys. Rev. B, 72, p. 024403. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.72.024403Von Ranke, P.J., De Oliveira, I.G., Guimaraes, A.P., Da Silva, X.A., (2000) Phys. Rev. B, 61, p. 447. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.61.447Lea, K.R., Leask, M.J.M., Wolf, W.P., (1962) J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 33, p. 1381. , JPCSAW 0022-3697Stevens, K.W.H., (1952) Proc. Phys. Soc., London, Sect. a, 65, p. 209. , PPSAAM 0370-1298 10.1088/0370-1298/65/3/308Purwins, H.G., Leson, A., (1990) Adv. Phys., 39, p. 309. , ADPHAH 0001-8732 10.1080/00018739000101511Bak, P., (1974) J. Phys. C, 7, p. 4097. , JPSOAW 0022-3719 10.1088/0022-3719/7/22/014Nereson, N., Olsen, C., Arnold, G., (1996) J. Appl. Phys., 37, p. 4575. , JAPIAU 0021-8979 10.1063/1.1708083Deenadas, C., Thompson, A.W., Graig, R.S., Wallace, W.E., (1971) J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 32, p. 1843. , JPCSAW 0022-3697Inoue, T., Sankar, S.G., Graig, R.S., Wallace, W.E., Gschneidner Jr., K.A., (1997) J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 38, p. 487. , JPCSAW 0022-3697Barbara, B., Boucherle, J.X., Michelutti, B., Rossignol, M.F., (1979) Solid State Commun., 31, p. 477. , SSCOA4 0038-1098Barbara, B., Rossignol, M.F., Boucherle, J.X., (1975) Phys. Lett., 55, p. 321. , PYLAAG 0375-9601 10.1016/0375-9601(75)90489-

Magnetocaloric Effect Due To Spin Reorientation In The Crystalline Electrical Field: Theory Applied To Dy Al2

We report a way of obtaining the magnetocaloric effect due to the crystal electrical-field quenching of the total angular momentum in a magnetic system where a strong spin reorientation is present. The theoretical model is applied to Dy Al2 and the results predict a considerable magnetic entropy change by rotating a single crystal in a fixed magnetic field. The obtained temperature and magnetic-field dependencies of the magnetization component along the 111-crystallographic direction are in good agreement with the recently reported experimental data. © 2007 The American Physical Society.7518Pecharsky, V.K., Gschneidner Jr., K.A., (1997) Phys. Rev. Lett., 78, p. 4494. , PRLTAO 0031-9007 10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.4494Choe, W., Pecharsky, V.K., Pecharsky, A.O., Gschneidner Jr., K.A., Young Jr., V.G., Miller, G.J., (2000) Phys. Rev. Lett., 84, p. 4617. , PRLTAO 0031-9007 10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.4617Provenzano, V., Shapiro, A.J., Shull, R.D., (2004) Nature (London), 429, p. 853. , NATUAS 0028-0836 10.1038/nature02657Tegus, O., Brück, E., Buschow, K.H.J., De Boer, F.R., (2002) Nature (London), 415, p. 150. , NATUAS 0028-0836 10.1038/415150AWada, H., Tanabe, Y., (2001) Appl. Phys. Lett., 79, p. 3302. , APPLAB 0003-6951 10.1063/1.1419048Wada, H., Morikawa, T., Taniguchi, K., Shibata, T., Yamada, Y., Akishige, Y., (2003) Physica B, 328, p. 114. , PHYBE3 0921-4526 10.1016/S0921-4526(02)01822-7Hu, F., Shen, B., Sun, J., Cheng, Z., Rao, G., Zhang, X., (2001) Appl. Phys. Lett., 78, p. 3675. , APPLAB 0003-6951 10.1063/1.1375836Fujita, A., Fujieda, S., Hasegawa, Y., Fukamichi, K., (2003) Phys. Rev. B, 67, p. 104416. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.67.104416Von Ranke, P.J., De Oliveira, N.A., Gama, S., (2004) J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 277, p. 78. , JMMMDC 0304-8853 10.1016/j.jmmm.2003.10.013Von Ranke, P.J., De Campos, N.A., Caron, L., Coelho, A.A., Gama, S., De Oliveira, N.A., (2004) Phys. Rev. B, 70, p. 094410. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.70.094410Von Ranke, P.J., De Oliveira, N.A., Gama, S., (2004) Phys. Lett. a, 320, p. 302. , PYLAAG 0375-9601 10.1016/j.physleta.2003.10.067Gama, S., Coelho, A.A., De Campos, A., Carvalho, A.M., Gandra, F.C.G., Von Ranke, P.J., De Oliveira, N.A., (2004) Phys. Rev. Lett., 93, p. 237202. , PRLTAO 0031-9007 10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.237202Von Ranke, P.J., De Oliveira, N.A., Mello, C., Carvalho, A.M., Gama, S., (2005) Phys. Rev. B, 71, p. 054410. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.71.054410Von Ranke, P.J., Gama, S., Coelho, A.A., De Campos, A., Carvalho, A.M., Gandra, F.C.G., De Oliveira, N.A., (2006) Phys. Rev. B, 73, p. 014415. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.73.014415Von Ranke, P.J., Pecharsky, V.K., Gschneidner, K.A., Korte, B.J., (1998) Phys. Rev. B, 58, p. 14436. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.58.14436Von Ranke, P.J., Mota, M.A., Grangeia, D.F., Carvalho, A.M., Gandra, F.C.G., Coelho, A.A., Caldas, A., Gama, S., (2004) Phys. Rev. B, 70, p. 134428. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.70.134428Lima, A.L., Oliveira, I.S., Gomes, A.M., Von Ranke, P.J., (2002) Phys. Rev. B, 65, p. 172411. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.65.172411Von Ranke, P.J., Lima, A.L., Nobrega, E.P., Da Silva, X.A., Guimarães, A.P., Oliveira, I.S., (2000) Phys. Rev. B, 63, p. 024422. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.63.024422Lima, A.L., Tsokol, A.O., Gschneidner Jr., K.A., Pecharky, V.K., Lograsso, T.A., Schlagel, D.L., (2005) Phys. Rev. B, 72, p. 024403. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.72.024403Von Ranke, P.J., De Oliveira, I.G., Guimarães, A.P., Da Silva, X.A., (2000) Phys. Rev. B, 61, p. 447. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.61.447Bak, P., (1974) J. Phys. C, 7, p. 4097. , JPSOAW 0022-3719 10.1088/0022-3719/7/22/014Hutchings., M.T., (1964) Solid State Phys., 16, p. 227. , SSPHAE 0081-1947Lea, K.R., Leask, M.J.M., Wolf, W.P., (1962) J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 33, p. 1381. , JPCSAW 0022-3697Stevens, K.W.H., (1952) Proc. Phys. Soc., London, Sect. a, 65, p. 209. , PPSAAM 0370-1298 10.1088/0370-1298/65/3/308Purwins, H.G., Leson, A., (1990) Adv. Phys., 39, p. 309. , ADPHAH 0001-8732 10.1080/00018739000101511Kuz'Min, M.D., Tishin, A.M., (1991) J. Phys. D, 24, p. 2039. , JPAPBE 0022-3727 10.1088/0022-3727/24/11/02