Active proton efflux, nutrient retention and boron-bridging of pectin are related to greater tolerance of proton toxicity in the roots of two <i>Erica </i>species

36 páginas.-- 6 figuras.-- 2 tablas.-- 50 referencias.-- Appendix A. The supplementary data related to this article is https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.02.029Background and aims: Tolerance to soil acidity was studied in two species of Ericaceae that grow in mine-contaminated soils (S Portugal, SW Spain) to find out if there are interspecific variations in H+ tolerance which might be related to their particular location. Methods: Tolerance to H+ toxicity was tested in nutrient solutions using seeds collected in SW Spain. Plant growth and nutrient contents in leaves, stems and roots were determined. Viability tests and proton exchange were studied in roots exposed, short-term, to acidic conditions. Membrane ATPase activity and the cell-wall pectic polysaccharide domain rhamnogalacturonan-II (RG-II) were analysed to find out interspecific differences. Results: Variation in survival, growth and mineral composition was found between species. The H+-tolerant species (Erica andevalensis) showed greater concentration of nutrients than E. australis. Very low pH (pH 2) produced a significant loss of root nutrients (K, P, Mg) in the sensitive species. Root ATPase activity was slightly higher in the tolerant species with a correspondingly greater H+ efflux capacity. In both species, the great majority of the RG-II domains were in their boron-bridged dimeric form. However, shifting to a medium of pH 2 caused some of the boron bridges to break in the sensitive species. Conclusions: Variation in elements linked to the cell wall-membrane complex and the stability of their components (RG-II, H+-ATPases) are crucial for acid stress tolerance. Thus, by maintaining root cell structure, active proton efflux avoided toxic H+ build-up in the cytoplasm and supported greater nutrient acquisition in H+-tolerant species.This work was partially granted by MICINN contract CGL2006/02860 and by Fundación Areces. SCF thanks the BBSRC (UK; grant reference BB/H000690/1) and DS thanks the Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológia (Conicyt; Chile) for financial support.Peer reviewe

Dissipation of insecticides in a Mediterranean soil in the presence of wastewater and surfactant solutions. A kinetic model approach

The simultaneous disappearance of four organophosphorous insecticides in a Mediterranean calcareous soil was evaluated in the presence of surfactant solutions and municipal wastewater. A cationic, an anionic and a non-ionic surfactant were used at a low (0.75 mg L(-1)) and at a high (twice the critical micelle concentration) concentration level. The cationic surfactant was also studied at a higher concentration. Dissipation in control soil was rapid for malathion (half-life 4 days), intermediate for dimethoate and methidathion (ca. 6 days) and slow for diazinon (29 days). Wastewater did either not modify (diazinon, dimethoate and methidathion) or slightly enhance (malathion) insecticide decay. The increase in concentration of the non-ionic surfactant Tween 80 resulted in enhanced dissipation rates for all the pesticides except diazinon. The addition of the anionic surfactant did not show a clear trend. At the highest cationic surfactant concentration a reduction of pesticide disappearance occurred linked with a reduced availability, since the insecticides were retained on the surfactant-modified soil (final residual concentration of 85% for diazinon and approximately 55% for methidathion and dimethoate). Soil microbial activity, estimated by measuring dehydrogenase activity, was low in wastewater- and surfactant-treated soil at the high levels. Fitting of the experimental data to commonly used mathematical models was poor and alternatives were looked for.status: publishe

Response surface methodology for the microwave-assisted extraction of insecticides from soil samples

The extraction of two pyrethroid insecticides (deltamethrin and α-cypermethrin) together with three organophosphorus insecticides (dimethoate, diazinon and malathion) from soil samples was carried out with microwave-assisted technology. Experimental designs showed that extraction temperature, addition of water to the extractant and solvent/soil ratio were the variables that affected the recoveries of the pesticide the most. Response surface methodology was applied to find the optimum values of the variables involved in the extractions of the analytes. In addition, in order to achieve near-optimal extraction conditions, a desirability function was used to optimize the five pesticides simultaneously. The optimized conditions were applied to different types of soils

Tolerance to high Zn in the metallophyte Erica andevalensis Cabezudo & Rivera

The tolerance to high Zn was studied in the metallophyte Erica andevalensis Cabezudo & Rivera grown in nutrient solutions at different Zn concentrations (5, 500, 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000 οM Zn). Plant growth and nutrient uptake were determined. Metabolic changes were assessed by the analysis of peroxidase activity, organic metabolites related to metal chelation (amino acids, organic acids (malate, citrate) or protection (polyamines). While plants tolerated up to 1,500 lM Zn, despite presenting of low growth rates, the concentration of 2,000 lM Zn was toxic producing high mortality rates. Roots accumulated high Zn concentration (11,971 mg/kg) at 1,500 lM external Zn) apparently avoiding metal transfer into shoots. After 30 days of treatment with high Zn (1,000 and 1,500 lM Zn), the leaves accumulated high levels of glutamine. Shortterm treatment with 500 lM Zn, significantly increased the concentration of asparagine and glutamine in roots. Citrate concentration was also considerably increased when exposing roots to Zn excess. Metal immobilization in the root system, low interference with the uptake of nutrients and an increased production of putative organic ligands (amino acids, citrate) might have provided the Zn tolerance displayed by Erica andevalensis.This research was supported by Spanish Ministry of Science and Education (MEC) (CGL2006-1,418 and José Castillejo Program) and Ramón Areces Foundation.Peer Reviewe

Retention of organophosphorous insecticides on a calcareous soil modified by organic amendments and a surfactant

Pesticides may affect soil quality since they are applied either directly to the soil or transported from the treated crops. Although the soil is able to partially retain environmental contaminants, the use of organic amendments, such as sewage sludge, peat or surfactants, may increase the retention in the upper soil layers, where the contaminants can be degraded and thus diminish their environmental fate. The effect of adding sewage sludge, peat and humic acids, together with a cationic surfactant to the soil, on the adsorption and desorption of organophosphorous insecticides has been studied. The results indicate that humic acids induce an adsorption increment of the pesticides, while peat and sewage sludge do not significantly affect pesticide adsorption at the dosage applied. The use of a cationic surfactant considerably enhances the insecticide retention. The increase was highest for the combined application of the surfactant and the humic acids. Desorption isotherms are inversely related to the adsorption behaviour, being higher for only soil, lower for soil added with carbon-rich amendments, and drastically reduced when the cationic surfactant is present. Concerning the insecticides, adsorption and desorption are related to their physicochemical properties

Effects of silicon on copper toxicity in Erica andevalensis Cabezudo and Rivera: a potential species to remediate contaminated soils

The influence of silicon on responses to copper excess was studied in plants of Erica andevalensis. Plantlets were grown in nutrient solutions containing two Cu (1 and 500 M) and three Si concentrations (0, 0.5 and 1 mM). Plant growth, water content, and mineral nutrient concentration were determined. Plants grown with 500 M Cu showed differences in growth and shoot water content depending on Si supply. The addition of 1 mM Si in high-Cu nutrient solutions significantly improved plant growth and reduced water loss preventing plant death related to Cu-excess. Silicon supply reduced significantly leaf Cu concentration (up to 32%) and increased Cu concentration in roots. Phytoliths isolated from leaves were analysed by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Such phytoliths consisted in silica deposits associated with Cu and other elements (K, Ca, P). Improvement by Si of Cu tolerance in E. andevalensis was clearly related to the inhibition of Cu upward transport. The leaf phytoliths formed in Si-treated plants might have some contribution to tolerance by Cu immobilisation and inactivation.Peer Reviewe

Release of metals from metal-amended soil treated with a sulfosuccinamate surfactant: effects of surfactant concentration, soil/solution ratio, and pH

Anionic surfactants, mainly sulfosuccinamates, can be found in soils as the result of sludge application, wastewater irrigation, and remediation processes Relatively high concentrations of surfactants together with multimetals can represent an environmental risk A study was performed to assess the potential of the anionic surfactant Aerosol 22 (A22) for release of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn from a metal-amended soil representative of a Mediterranean area Metal desorption was performed by batch experiments and release kinetics were assessed. Response surface methodology was applied to determine the Influence of A22 concentration and the surfactant/soil ratio, as extraction key factors. An increase in solution/soil rario to 100 (mL g(-1)) caused higher metal release. Leaching predictions found Pb to have the lowest and Cd the highest hazard. Metal release was highly dependent on pH When extraction was made at pH less than 7, low or negligible amounts of metals were leached, whereas an increase to pH 7 caused desorption rates of 50 to 55% for Cd, Cu, and Zn hut only 35% for Pb. Complexed metal-carboxylic groups from A22 were mainly responsible for us higher extractive capacity, especially of Cd and Cu.status: publishe

Environmental hazard of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in metal-contaminated soils remediated by sulfosuccinamate formulation

Accumulation of metals in soil at elevated concentrations causes risks to the environmental quality and human health for more than one hundred million people globally. The rate of metal release and the alteration of metal distribution in soil phases after soil washing with a sulfosuccinamate surfactant solution (Aerosol 22) were evaluated for four contaminated soils. Furthermore, a sequential extraction scheme was carried out using selective extractants (HAcO, NH2OH$HCl, H2O2 + NH4AcO) to evaluate which metal species are extracted by A22 and the alteration in metal distribution upon surfactant-washing. Efficiency of A22 to remove metals varied among soils. The washing treatment released up to 50% of Cd, 40% of Cu, 20% of Pb and 12% of Zn, mainly from the soluble and reduction soil fractions, therefore, greatly reducing the fraction of metals readily available in soil. Metal speciation analysis for the solutions collected upon soil washing with Aerosol 22 further confirmed these results. Copper and lead in solution were mostly present as soluble complexes, while Cd and Zn 2 were present as free ions. Besides, redistribution of metals in soil was observed upon washing. The ratios of Zn strongly retained in the soil matrix and Cd complexed with organic ligands increased. Lead was mobilized to more weakly retained forms, which indicates a high bioavailability of the remaining Pb in soil after washing. Comprehensive knowledge on chemical forms of metals present in soil allows a feasible assessment of the environmental impact of metals for a given scenario, and possible alteration of environmental conditions, and a valuable prediction for potential leaching and groundwater contamination.The rate of metal release and the alteration of metal distribution in soil phases after soil washing with a sulfosuccinamate surfactant solution (Aerosol 22) were evaluated for four contaminated soils.status: publishe

Evaluation of lead toxicity in Erica andevalensis as an alternative species for revegetation of contaminated soils

Although revegetation using native flora is a low cost way to stabilize soil and restore the landscape contaminated with metals, little is known regarding the Pb-tolerance of many of these species. For this purpose, we evaluated the tolerance of Erica andevalensis to Pb by growing plants in nutrient solutions with increasing concentrations of Pb (up to 100μM). Plant growth and different physiological parameters were determined to ascertain tolerance to metal stress. Additionally, an electron microscopy study coupled with EDX analysis was performed to get clues on the Pb uptake and translocation from roots into stem and leaves. The LOEC (the lowest observed effect concentration) of Pb was 40μM while the IC50 (inhibition concentration) was 80μM Pb. Chemical analysis revealed a root>stem>leaf accumulation pattern. There was a severe reduction in fresh biomass and chlorophyll concentration at the highest Pb dose. The SEM-EDX study indicated that Pb was mostly located in root epidermal tissues. The blockage of Pb on the root probably avoided its toxic effects by limiting Pb transport to other tissues.Peer Reviewe

Uptake, localisation and physiological changes in response to copper excess in Erica andevalensis

Copper uptake, localisation and biochemical and physiological traits were studied in hydroponically-grown Erica andevalensis plants at different increasing concentrations of Cu (1 μM, 50 μM, 100 μM, 250 μM, and 500 μM). Increasing Cu concentration in the nutrient medium led to a significative reduction in plant growth rate, an increase in root Cu concentration, leaf photosynthetic pigments and root peroxidase activity. Copper accumulation followed the pattern roots>stems>leaves, a typical behaviour of metal-excluders. Copper treatments led to significant changes in the free amino acid composition in shoots and roots and the concentration of polyamines in shoots. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy coupled with elemental X-ray analysis (SEM–EDX) showed a partial restriction of upward Cu transport by root vascular tissues. In leaf tissues, Cu mostly accumulated in the abaxial epidermis, suggesting a mechanism of compartmentalization to restrict mesophyll accumulation. The toxic effects of excess Cu were avoided to a certain extent by root immobilization, tissue compartmentalization, synthesis of complexing amino acids and induction of enzymes to prevent oxidative damage are among mechanisms adopted by Erica andevalensis to thrive in acidic-metalliferous soils.This research was supported by Spanish Ministry of Science and Education (MEC) (CGL2006-1418 and José Castillejo Program) and Ramón Areces Foundation. The authors thank Manlio Colella and Sergio Sorbo from CISME (Naples, Italy), for their technical assistance in SEM–EDX analysis and the techniques from the Greenhouse of Seville University for their technical assistance in plant cultivation.Peer reviewe