Biotransfer of persistent organic pollutants from a large site in China used for the disassembly of electronic and electrical waste

Samples of groundwater, river water, river sediment, paddy soil, rice seeds, hen eggs, fish, umbilical cord blood, and newborn meconium were collected from October 2002 to October 2003 near a large site in China used for the disassembly of obsolete transformers and other electronic or electrical waste. Six indicator PCB congeners, three non-ortho dioxin-like PCB congeners, and six organochlorine pesticides were determined in the samples by GC with electron capture detector. The results demonstrated that the local environment and edible foods had been seriously polluted by toxic PCBs and organochlorine pesticides. The actual daily intakes (ADIs) of these pollutants were estimated for local residents living in the area. The intake data showed that the contents of PCBs in these local residents were substantial, as the ADI estimates greatly exceed the reference doses set by the World Health Organization and the United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The presence of the indicator PCB congeners in the cord blood and the meconium samples, as well as significant correlations (r(2) > 0.80, p < 0.05) between these levels, suggests a potential biotransfer of these indicators from mothers to their newborns. This preliminary study showed that obsolete transformers and other electronic or electrical waste can be an important source for the emission of persistent organic pollutants into the local environment, such as through leakage, evaporation, runoff, and leaching. Contamination from this source appears to have reached the level considered to be a serious threat to environmental and human health around the disassembly site.

Selective control of toxic Microcystis water blooms using lysine and malonic acid: An enclosure experiment

Three enclosures (10 x 10 x 1.5-1.3 m in depth) were set beside Dianch Lake, Kunming, People's Republic of China, for the period from July 28 to August 26, 2002. The enclosures were filled with cyanobacterial (Microcystis aeruginosa) water bloom-containing lake water. Lake sediment that contained macrophytes and water chestnut seeds was spread over the entire bottom of each enclosure. Initially, 10 g/m(2) of lysine was sprayed in Enclosure B, and 10 g/m(2) each of lysine and malonic acid were sprayed together in Enclosure C. Enclosure A remained untreated and was used as a control. The concentrations of lysine, malonic acid, chlorophyll a, and microcystin as well as the cell numbers of phytoplankton such as cyanobacteria, diatom, and euglena were monitored. On day 1 of the treatment, formation of cyanobacterial blooms almost ceased in Enclosures B and C, although Microcystis cells in the control still formed blooms. On day 7 Microcystis cells in Enclosure B that had been treated with lysine started growing again, whereas growth was not observed in Microcystis cells in Enclosure C, which had been treated with lysine and malonic acid. On day 28 the surface of Enclosure B was covered with water chestnut (Trapa spp.) and the Microcystis blooms again increased. In contrast, growth of macrophytes (Myriophllum spicatum and Potamogeton crispus) was observed in Enclosure C; however, no cyanobacterial blooms were observed. Lysine and malonic acid had completely decomposed. The microcystin concentration on day 28 decreased to 25% of the initial value, and the pH shifted from the initial value of 9.2 to 7.8. We concluded that combined treatment with lysine and malonic acid selectively controlled toxic Microcystis water blooms and induced the growth of macrophytes. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effects of microcystins on the growth and the activity of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase of rape (Brassica napus L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Microcystins are naturally occurring hepatotoxic cyclic heptapeptides produced by some toxic freshwater cyanobacterial species. In this study, crude extract of toxic cyanobacterial blooms from Dianchi Lake in southwestern China was used to determine the effects of microcystins on rape (Brassica napus L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.). Experiments were carried out on a range of doses of the extract (equivalent to 0, 0.024, 0.12, 0.6 and 3 mug MC-LR/ml). Investigations showed that exposure to microcystins inhibited the growth and development of both rice and rape seedlings, however, microcystins had more powerful inhibition effect on rape than rice in germination percentage of seeds and seedling height. Microcystins significantly inhibited the elongation of primary roots of rape and rice seedlings. Determination of the activities of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase demonstrated that microcystin stress was manifested as an oxidative stress. Using ELISA, microcystins were examined from the extract of exposed rape and rice seedlings, indicating that consumption of edible plants exposed to microcystins via irrigation route may have health risks. Significantly different levels of recovered microcystins between exposed rice and rape seedlings Suggested that there might be different tolerant mechanisms toward microcystins. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Kentucky bluegrass

Embryogenic calli of Kentucky bluegrass, named Md, were induced from mature seeds and embryos, and proliferated on medium K3 containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D, 10.0 mumol/L), 6-benzylaminopurine (BAR, 0.5 mumol/L) and K5 which was the K3 medium supplemented with cupric sulfa (0.5 mumol/L) under dim-light condition (20-30 mumol.m(-2).s-1, 16 h light) at 24 degreesC. Embryogenic calli were transformed with plasmids pDM805 Carring bar and gus genes, Which was mediated by an Agrobacterium strain AGL1, four transgenic lines were obtained. The important factors that affect the transformation efficiency and obtain desirable number of transgenic plants included: (1) the quality of embryogenic calli; (2) light condition and time of co-cultivation; (3) concentration of antibiotics used for suppressing the overgrowth of Agrobacterium in the course of transformed plant regeneration; (4) selection pressure, etc. The micro nutrient of cupric had significant influence on the quality of embryogenic calli. This presentation is the first successful protocol of Kentucky bluegrass transformation mediated by Agrobacterium.

Growth of ZnO single crystal by chemical vapor transport method

ZnO crystals were grown by CVT method in closed quartz tube under seeded condition. Carbon was used as a transport agent to enhance the chemical transport of ZnO in the growth process. ZnO single crystals were grown by using GaN/sapphire and GaN/Si wafer as seeds. The property and crystal quality of the ZnO single crystals was studied by photoluminescence spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction technique.

Growth of ZnO single crystal by chemical vapor transport method

ZnO crystals were grown by CVT method in closed quartz tube under seeded condition. Carbon was used as a transport agent to enhance the chemical transport of ZnO in the growth process. ZnO single crystals were grown by using GaN/sapphire and GaN/Si wafer as seeds. The property and crystal quality of the ZnO single crystals was studied by photoluminescence spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction technique.

A New Discrimination Method of Maize Seed Varieties Based on Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

A new discrimination method for the maize seed varieties based on the near-infrared spectroscopy was proposed. The reflectance spectra of maize seeds were obtained by a FT-NIR spectrometer (12 000-4 000 cm(-1)). The original spectra data were preprocessed by first derivative method. Then the principal component analysis (PCA) was used to compress the spectra data. The principal components with the cumulate reliabilities more than 80% were used to build the discrimination models. The model was established by Psi-3 neuron based on biomimetic pattern recognition (BPR). Especially, the parameter of the covering index was proposed to assist to discriminating the variety of a seed sample. The authors tested the discrimination capability of the model through four groups of experiments. There were 10, 18, 26 and 34 varieties training the discrimination models in these experiments, respectively. Additionally, another seven maize varieties and nine wheat varieties were used to test the capability of the models to reject the varieties not participating in training the models. Each group of the experiment was repeated three times by selecting different training samples at random. The correct classification rates of the models in the four-group experiments were above 91. 8%. The correct rejection rates for the varieties not participating in training the models all attained above 95%. Furthermore, the performance of the discrimination models did not change obviously when using the different training samples. The results showed that this discrimination method can not only effectively recognize the maize seed varieties, but also reject the varieties not participating in training the model. It may be practical in the discrimination of maize seed varieties.

高产抗旱优质谷子新品种辐谷7号的选育与推广利

利用400Gy 60Co γ射线处理87070谷子品系干种子,选育出辐谷7号新品种。该品种具有株型紧凑、茎秆矮、高产抗旱优质并且适应种植地区广等特点。2002年2月通过陕西省农作物品种审定委员会审定,截止2008年在黄土高原地区累计推广10.8万hm2。

不同年代冬小麦品种根际土浸提液诱导小列当种子发芽的化感作用研究

为筛选在根寄生植物小列当多发地进行诱捕发芽的小麦品种,研究了不同品种冬小麦根分泌的化感物质对小列当(Orobanche minor)种子的诱导发芽率。以冬小麦根际土蒸馏水和甲醇浸提液刺激小列当种子发芽,结果表明,冬小麦品种间化感作用差异显著。20世纪70年代宁冬1号和90年代小偃22号在4个生育期都有较强的发芽刺激作用,而其余3个品种则在个别生育期有非常微弱化感作用。宁冬1号品种刺激小列当发芽率达到最高为42.8%,化感作用最强,可作为抑除小列当的首选品种。

子午岭60年辽东栎林种子质量与森林更新

辽东栎是我国暖温带落叶阔叶林地带的优势乔木树种之一。通过26年的定位监测,对子午岭辽东栎林种子质量消减、种子萌发与环境条件、实生苗时空分布动态以及对其森林更新的影响等方面进行了初步探讨。结果表明:辽东栎林在子午岭半阳坡、半阴坡和阴坡3种类型中,平均完好种子占种子总数的26.65%;霉变种子占18.72%;动物取食虫蛀种子在阴坡远高于半阴坡和半阳坡,占到种子总数的26.32%;已发芽的种子占其总数的28.31%,且半阴坡>半阳坡>阴坡。每年均有大量种子生产,但在生境与动物的共同作用下,种子数量和质量受到很大影响,多达73.35%的种子失去生命力,直接影响实生苗的形成;地表覆盖物虽能促进种子的快速发芽,但对成苗却是一个物理障碍,影响是负作用的,主要影响因子是地表覆盖物的厚度和含水量;在辽东栎林下虽有一定的实生幼苗分布,但数量极少,平均密度仅为140~120株/hm2,且不同立地条件差异显著,严重影响森林的天然更新。

聚乙二醇和低温胁迫对红豆草种子萌发影响的研究

在植物生长箱通过种子萌发试验,从种子发芽进程、发芽率和吸水量等方面研究了水分和低温胁迫对红豆草种子萌发的影响。用10%,15%,20%,25%,30%的聚乙二醇(PEG)溶液和5℃左右低温预处理红豆草种子,结果表明,不同浓度的聚乙二醇和5℃左右低温预处理可以缩短种子的平均发芽时间,提高发芽率;比较发现,聚乙二醇浓度30%和低温处理时间4 d时可促进红豆草种子的萌发。

黄土高原草地封育与放牧条件下土壤种子库特征

对半干旱区黄土高原草地在封育和放牧条件下土壤种子库种子密度、种子库组成、种子库物种多样性及均匀性进行了比较研究,并得出主要结论:1)封育提高土壤种子库的植物种类和密度,使优良禾草和多年生植物增加。2)种子库的垂直分布规律是随着土层的加深,种子在数量上递减的速度较快。3)坡向和坡位对土壤种子库有较大影响,种子库密度变化趋势是阴坡>阳坡;坡下部>坡中部>坡上部。4)从丰富度、Shannon-Wiener多样性和均匀性3个方面比较分析封育和放牧样地土壤种子库多样性,得出封育样地Margalef丰富度指数和Shannon-Wiener指数都高于放牧地,Pielou均匀性指数低于放牧地。

镉对花生品质影响及胁迫响应机制研究

近年来，我国花生重金属镉超标的现象屡见不鲜，致使花生在我国出口创汇的能力受到了严重影响。因此，本项研究选用北方两种花生－锦花5号和阜花13号为供试材料，采用室外盆栽方式，初步探讨了镉胁迫对花生品质的影响及花生对镉胁迫的响应机制，揭示了花生易富集镉和对镉高耐性的原因。 1．在外源高镉处理下，两品种花生的产量随镉处理浓度的增加而降低；籽实Cd含量均随土壤中Cd含量的增加而显著增加（p＜0.05），在土壤低Cd处理时，花生籽实更易富集Cd；花生受Cd胁迫后，籽实的亮氨酸含量受Cd的影响较为严重；氨基酸组成比例在较低镉处理剂量下未受到影响。 2．受Cd污染的花生籽实，种皮Cd含量较高；蛋白质是络合镉的主要营养部位，而脂肪中镉的含量甚微，研究处理范围内均低于食品中Cd的限量值0.2 mg•kg-1 ；因此供试花生籽实不能作为人体对植物蛋白的来源，但可以作为人体对食用油脂的来源。 3．花生籽实中存在植物螯合肽PC4，它在花生中镉的耐性方面发挥着重要的作用。尽管非蛋白巯基（NPT）、半胱氨酸（Cys）、PC4和脯氨酸（Pro）含量受作物品种和外源镉处理剂量的影响，但它们对籽实中重金属镉的络合发挥着作用。此外，脯氨酸（Pro）还可以作为花生受镉胁迫的生物指示物。

向日葵幼苗对镉胁迫的响应及镉积累过程调控

通过溶液培养方法，研究了不同浓度镉（Cd）处理对向日葵幼苗生长和生理特性的影响、不同生长代谢水平对向日葵Cd积累的影响、硫（S）对向日葵幼苗Cd积累的调控，并对相关代谢产物进行了分析。结果表明： 1）随着Cd处理浓度的增加，向日葵幼苗对Cd的吸收显著增加；根中积累的Cd明显高于叶和茎，各浓度处理根部的Cd含量分别为叶和茎的37.8 - 63.0倍和29.4 - 41.0倍。Cd胁迫显著抑制向日葵幼苗生长和叶绿素合成，当Cd浓度达1.0 mg•L-1 时，整株植物生物量和总叶绿素含量分别为对照的55.9%和52.6%。Cd胁迫下向日葵幼苗中游离脯氨酸和丙二醛含量显著增加，1.0 mg•L-1 Cd浓度时，根中含量分别为对照的4.0、5.8倍。向日葵幼苗可溶性蛋白含量和过氧化物酶活性变化与Cd胁迫浓度呈明显的倒U字型关系，可溶性蛋白含量在0.05 mg•L-1 Cd浓度时达到最大值，叶、茎、根中的过氧化物酶活性分别在0.1、0.1和0.05 mg•L-1 Cd浓度时达到最大值。 2）向日葵幼叶中的Cd含量远远高于成熟叶片，最高可达成熟叶片Cd含量的5.8倍；幼苗地上部Cd积累与生长量呈线性正相关（R2=0.9858），证明Cd积累主要发生在植物的生长发育阶段，停止生长的组织或器官积累镉的速率显著降低（甚至停止）。 3）营养液缺S处理显著降低向日葵幼苗对Cd的积累，叶、茎、根Cd含量分别减少对照的30.5%、53.6%、31.4%，说明S是影响向日葵Cd积累的关键因素，而且不同器官对缺S的敏感程度不同，表现为：茎>根>叶。叶面喷施雾化谷胱甘肽（GSH）使向日葵地上部分Cd含量显著增加，为对照的1.4倍；但单独喷施半胱氨酸（Cys）或GSH的前体氨基酸（Cys、谷氨酸、甘氨酸）并没有增加向日葵Cd积累，说明GSH合成与向日葵的Cd积累密切相关。 4）通过对植物相关代谢产物分析发现，有机酸和非蛋白巯基（NPT）在向日葵幼苗中的含量分布不同，其中草酸和植物螯合肽（PC）分别占到总有机酸和NPT的90%、85%以上。有机酸和PC合成的前体物质（Cys、γ-谷氨酰半胱氨酸、GSH）含量的高低对向日葵幼苗Cd积累没有影响；但幼苗叶和茎中的PC含量和Cd积累呈线性正相关（R叶2=0.958，R茎2=0.9994），而且各器官PC含量为：根≥茎、叶，说明PC是向日葵Cd积累的关键物质。