Growth, osmoregulation and ion accumulation in the coastal halophyte Arthrocnemum indicum under field conditions

Life cycle and population biology of a perennial halophyte Arthrocnemum indicum Willd, was studied from February 1992 to January 1993. During the 12 months, the population was exposed to great variations in soil salinity from 35 to 58 ms/cm2 and soil moisture ranging from flood to drought levels. Seasonal changes in dry weight are directly related to soil salinity stress. When salinity levels become low, the dry matter production increases. A little increase in dry weight from April to July indicates that more negative soil water potentials were limiting plant growth. Proline content increased considerably during the dry season with a corresponding increase in salinity. Water soluble oxalate did not vary much with changes in salinity.

Responses of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of the facultative halophyte and C-3-CAM intermediate species Mesembryanthemum crystallinum to salinity and high irradiance stress

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. (Aizoaceae) is a facultative annual halophyte and a C-3-photosynthesis/crassulacean acid metabolism intermediate species currently used as a model plant in stress physiology. Both salinity and high light irradiance stress are known to induce CAM in this species. The present study was performed to provide a diagnosis of alterations at the photosystem 11 level during salinity and irradiance stress. Plants were subjected for up to 13 days to either 0.4M NaCl salinity or high irradiance of 1000 mu mol m(-2) s(-1), as well as to both stress factors combined (LLSA = low light plus salt; HLCO = high light of 1000 mu mol m(-2)s(-1), no salt; HLSA = high light plus salt). A control of LLCO = low light of 200 mu mol m(-2) s(-1), no salt was used. Parameters of chlorophyll a fluorescence of photosystem 11 (PSII) were measured with a pulse amplitude modulated fluorometer. HLCO and LLSA conditions induced a weak degree of CAM with day/night changes of malate levels (Delta malate) of similar to 12 mM in the course of the experiment, while HLSA induced stronger CAM of Delta malate similar to 20mM. Effective quantum yield of PSII, Delta F/F'(m), was only slightly affected by LLSA, somewhat reduced during the course of the experiment by HLCO and clearly reduced by HLSA. Potential quantum efficiency of PSII, F-v/F-m, at predawn times was not affected by any of the conditions, always remaining at >= 0.8, showing that there was no acute photoinhibition. During the course of the days HL alone (HLCO) also did not elicit photoinhibition; salt alone (LLSA) caused acute photoinhibition which was amplified by the combination of the two stresses (HLSA). Non-photochemical, NPQ, quenching remained low (< 0.5) under LLCO, LLSA and HLCO and increased during the course of the experiment under HLSA to 1-2. Maximum apparent photosynthetic electron transport rates, ETRmax, declined during the daily courses and were reduced by LLSA and to a similar extent by HLSA. It is concluded that A crystallinum expresses effective stress tolerance mechanisms but photosynthetic capacity is reduced by the synergistic effects of salinity and tight irradiance stress combined. (c) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Diversidade e padrões estruturais da vegetação halófila-psamófila das restingas do Rio de Janeiro

As restingas do Estado do Rio de Janeiro são áreas de sedimentação predominantemente quaternária, descontínuas geograficamente, formadas em função das mudanças paleoclimáticas, flutuações do nível do mar e transporte longitudinal de sedimentos. A diversidade e a estrutura da vegetação halófila-psamófila presente nestas restingas são os principais focos deste estudo, onde foram analisadas a similaridade florística, as formas de vida e síndrome de dispersão, o padrão de riqueza e diversidade, a distribuição das espécies e os parâmetros de cobertura vegetal, serrapilheira, solo desnudo e salinidade da água do mar. Foram amostradas nove áreas de restinga, a saber, Praia do Sul, Marambaia, Grumari, Marapendi, Maricá, Massambaba, Barra de São João, Jurubatiba e São João da Barra. Foram encontradas 90 espécies, distribuídas em 33 famílias, 69 gêneros, sendo as famílias de maior riqueza específica: Asteraceae (10), Poaceae (9 espécies), Fabaceae (9) e Rubiaceae (6). Foi registrada uma baixa riqueza de espécies nas áreas avaliadas, variando de 25 a 48. Somente 11 espécies ocorreram em todas as áreas (Alternanthera maritima, Blutaparon portulacoides, Canavalia rosea, Cereus fernambucensis, Euphorbia hyssopifolia, Ipomoea imperati, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Panicum racemosum, Remirea maritima, Sporobolus virginicus, Stenotaphrum secundatum), e 12 são dominantes, em uma ou mais áreas (Allagoptera arenaria, Alternanthera maritima, Blutaparon portulacoides, Canavalia rosea, Ipomoea imperati, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Mollugo verticillata, Panicum racemosum, Remirea maritima, Spermacoce capitata, Sporobolus virginicus, Stenotaphrum secundatum), existindo um grande número de espécies raras. O índice de diversidade de Shannon variou de 1,49 a 2,40, e a equabilidade de Pielou de 0,82 a 0,60. O agrupamento formou dois grandes grupos, sendo o primeiro constituído por Barra de São João, Praia do Sul, Marambaia, Grumari e Marapendi, e o segundo por Jurubatiba, São João da Barra, Maricá e Massambaba. As áreas mais similares floristicamente foram Maricá e Massambaba (58%), Grumari e Marapendi (56%), e Barra de São João e Praia do Sul (50%). A vegetação apresenta uma flora característica, com diferença na composição entre as áreas, e similaridade entre áreas geograficamente mais próximas. Um terço das espécies identificadas são caméfitos (34,56%), seguida por fanerófitos (20,98%), geófitos (16,04%), hemicriptófitos (12,34%), terófitos (13,58%) e duas lianas. Na dispersão predomina a autocoria (41,97%), anemocoria (33,33%) e zoocoria (24,69%). O tamanho das áreas perpendicularmente ao mar não está relacionado com aumento da riqueza, nem apresenta o padrão de aumento com o distanciamento do mar. Existem diferenças da riqueza e da diversidade entre as áreas, não havendo uma homogeneidade ao longo do litoral. Há uma zonação, com espécies distribuídas próximas ao mar (Allagoptera arenaria, Alternanthera maritima, Blutaparon portulacoides, Canavalia rosea, Cassytha filiformis, Cereus fernambucensis, Hydrocotyle bonariensis, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Schinus terebinthifolia, Sophora tomentosa, Stenotaphrum secundatum, Cyrtocymura scorpioides), e ao longo do gradiente perpendicular ao mar (Chamaecrista flexuosa, Euphorbia hyssopifolia, Ipomoea imperati, Mollugo verticillata, Panicum racemosum, Paspalum maritimum, Remirea maritima, Sporobolus virginicus). O modelo de série logarítmica é o que melhor representa a vegetação, independente da diversidade ou riqueza. A cobertura vegetal variou entre as áreas. A serrapilheira e o solo desnudo estão estreitamente relacionados com a cobertura vegetal, havendo variação entre as áreas.

新疆三种盐生植物种子萌发和幼苗早期生长对环境的适应对策

肉质小半灌木盐节木（Halocnemum strobilaceum）、里海盐爪爪（Kalidium capsicum）和盐爪爪（Kalidium foliatum）是中国西北盐生荒漠中分布的重要优势种植物。本文对生长在新疆盐漠环境中的三种植物种子的萌发生态学进行了研究。研究内容包括：（1）光照、温度对种子萌发的影响;（2）NaCl盐度对种子萌发和恢复、幼苗生长和恢复的影响;以及（3）低温层积处理对三种盐生植物种子休眠打破和耐盐性影响。 新成熟的盐节木、里海盐爪爪和盐爪爪种子都具有非深度生理休眠，它们分别需要经过4，4和8周的低温层积处理打破休眠。打破休眠的种子萌发的最适光温条件分别是25-30°C和光照（盐节木）;15-30°C，光照或黑暗（里海盐爪爪）;25°C和黑暗（盐爪爪）。 三种盐生植物的种子萌发对NaCl盐度胁迫有相似的响应，即低浓度不抑制萌发，高于一定浓度后，种子萌发随盐度的升高而逐渐降低，直至种子萌发被完全抑制。但是，开始抑制和完全抑制三种植物种子萌发的NaCl盐度是不同的。三种植物种子萌发受到抑制的起始浓度和种子萌发完全被抑制的盐度分别是：0.4和2.0 M（盐节木），0.2和0.6 M（里海盐爪爪），0.2和1.0 M（盐爪爪）。将未萌发的种子转入用蒸馏水饱和的滤纸上继续萌发，三种盐生植物的种子均有可恢复萌发的能力，经4.0 M NaCl处理后的种子，萌发恢复率都高于80%。三种植物的种子在蒸馏水中的总萌发率（在初始盐溶液中萌发的种子数与在蒸馏水中恢复萌发的种子数之和占所有供试种子数的百分率）高于各盐度条件下的种子总萌发率（在初始盐溶液中萌发的种子数与在蒸馏水中恢复萌发的种子数之和占所有供试种子数的百分率）。 盐节木和里海盐爪爪的种子萌发出的幼苗的早期生长对NaCl盐度胁迫有相似的响应，即随着盐度的升高，胚根的伸长逐渐降低;但是低盐度（≤0.4 M）不影响、甚至促进盐节木胚根的伸长，而各个盐度的NaCl均抑制里海盐爪爪的胚根伸长。盐节木的胚根生长较慢，在蒸馏水中培养24 h 后的根长< 1mm。低盐（0.2 M）促进胚根的伸长，但随盐度的继续升高（≥ 0.6 M），胚根伸长逐渐受到抑制，当盐度 ≥ 2.0 M NaCl时，盐节木胚根伸长完全停止。里海盐爪爪的胚根伸长快速，在蒸馏水中培养12 h后的平均根长为5 cm。低盐并不促进里海盐爪爪胚根的伸长，随盐度升高，胚根伸长逐渐受抑制。当盐度 ≥ 1.0 M NaCl时，里海盐爪爪的胚根伸长完全停止。但当转入蒸馏水中时，两种植物的胚根都可以继续伸长，伸长的能力随预处理盐溶液浓度的升高而降低，经 ≥ 4.0 M NaCl 预处理的盐节木胚根完全丧失继续伸长的能力;经0.6 M NaCl 预处理的里海盐爪爪胚根无法继续伸长。 低温层积处理对三种盐生植物的种子在NaCl溶液中的萌发均有显著促进作用。低温层积后，种子萌发可以发生的盐度范围提高;相同浓度NaCl溶液中，低温层积后的种子的萌发率和萌发速率都显著高于未经低温层积处理的种子。 实验结果表明三种盐生植物在种子萌发和早期幼苗生长阶段对盐生生境具有适应性。种子和幼苗早期在高盐分胁迫下保持的萌发恢复能力和胚根伸长生长的恢复能力是对盐生环境的特殊适应对策。这种适应对策有助于这三种植物在新疆的盐漠环境中得以成功的生存和繁衍。

盐适应植物光合作用耐热性研究

　　"盐渍土是一种分布广泛的土壤类型，盐渍土中生长的植物如何响应夏季较常出现的高温生长环境一直很少受到人们关注，我们以5种不同耐盐类型的植物为材料，研究其盐适应后光合作用的耐热性，并对耐热性原因做了进一步探讨，主要研究结果如下： 　　1． 用0、100、200、400 mM NaCl处理盐生植物碱蓬、滨藜、大莳萝蒿;用0、50、100、150 mM NaCl处理耐盐的甜土植物小麦和棉花。盐处理后碱蓬的整株干重变化不显著，而其他四种植物随着盐浓度的升高，整株干重逐渐减小，说明5种植物耐盐能力不同。盐处理对所有实验植物的光系统II最大光化学效率（Fv/Fm）、反应中心能量捕获效率（Fv′/Fm′）、实际量子产率（ΦPSII）、光化学猝灭系数（qP）等影响不显著;但对碳同化有明显影响。碱蓬盐处理后虽然气孔导度和胞间CO2浓度稍有下降，但CO2同化速率却高于对照;其他4种植物盐处理后CO2同化速率都明显降低，同时伴随着气孔导度和胞间CO2浓度的显著下降。以上结果表明盐适应植物的PSII并没有受到盐胁迫伤害，盐胁迫抑制这4种植物光合作用的一个重要原因可能是气孔限制。 　　2． 高温处理（36～48℃）结果显示，在42℃或45℃以上极端高温下，非盐处理植物的CO2同化速率下降至很低甚至为零，而盐适应植物仍保持一定强度的CO2同化能力。高温处理后盐适应植物的Fv/Fm、Fv′/Fm′、qP、ΦPSII下降幅度也都小于非盐处理植物。不同程度的盐胁迫都能诱导5种植物的光合作用对热胁迫产生抗性，说明植物在适应盐胁迫过程中都能启动一些耐逆机制，使得这5种植物的光合作用在获得耐盐性的同时也获得了对热胁迫的抗性。 　　3． 室温下（30℃）碱蓬盐处理后，过氧化氢酶、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶和谷胱甘肽还原酶活性等显著下降，超氧化物岐化酶活性变化不大，只有脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶活性显著增加;抗坏血酸和谷胱甘肽含量也显著下降。42℃高温处理后，碱蓬叶片的抗氧化系统的酶活性和抗氧化小分子物质含量变化与室温时变化类似。而且盐处理碱蓬叶片的膜脂过氧化产物MDA含量无论在室温下还是42℃处理后都显著高于非盐处理。盐处理后，碱蓬的抗氧化能力没有提高，推测盐处理叶片抗氧化能力大小不是决定其光合作用耐热性主要因素。 　　4． 在菠菜PSII颗粒的保存液中加入不同浓度的甜菜碱、脯氨酸和蔗糖（0~800 mM），测定PSII最大光化学效率（Fv/Fm）结果表明，有机相容性溶质的积累能显著缓解盐（400 mM和800mM NaCl）、热(30℃和40℃)及盐热胁迫共同作用对菠菜PSII颗粒的伤害。而盐处理后碱蓬、滨藜和莳萝蒿叶片中脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量都显著升高，说明盐胁迫诱导的有机相容性溶质的积累可能在盐适应植物光合作用的耐热性中起重要作用。 　　5． 提取室温下（30℃）或42℃高温处理碱蓬叶片的叶绿体和类囊体膜，用30℃、35℃、40℃、45℃、50℃水浴进行热处理，结果显示：用室温下或42℃高温处理的碱蓬盐适应叶片提取的叶绿体和类囊体经45℃以上水浴温度处理后，其PSII最大光化学效率（Fv/Fm）和放氧活性都显著高于非盐处理碱蓬叶片的叶绿体和类囊体;用42℃高温处理碱蓬叶片提取的叶绿体和类囊体热稳定性显著高于室温下碱蓬的叶绿体和类囊体。表明盐胁迫和热胁迫类似，都能在类囊体水平上诱导某些保护物质，增加植物PSII的耐热性。 　　6． 分析类囊体膜膜脂组成，结果显示，盐处理后碱蓬的类囊体膜脂中的饱和脂肪酸含量减少，不饱和脂肪酸含量增加;MGDG和DGDG含量变化不明显，而PG含量显著下降;42℃高温处理后碱蓬的类囊体膜脂组成也有类似的变化规律。盐诱导的碱蓬类囊体膜脂成分的变化可能不影响盐适应植物光系统的耐热性。"

Microbe-mediated recovery of salt marshes contaminated with oil hydrocarbons

Salt marshes are highly productive intertidal habitats that serve as nursery grounds for many commercially and economically important species. Because of their location and physical and biological characteristics, salt marshes are considered to be particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic inputs of oil hydrocarbons. Sediment contamination with oil is especially dangerous for salt marsh vegetation, since low molecular weight aromatic hydrocarbons can affect plants at all stages of development. However, the use of vegetation for bioremediation (phytoremediation), by removal or sequestration of contaminants, has been intensively studied. Phytoremediation is an efficient, inexpensive and environmental friendly approach for the removal of aromatic hydrocarbons, through direct incorporation by the plant and by the intervention of degrading microbial populations in the rhizosphere (microbe-assisted phytoremediation). Rhizosphere microbial communities are enriched in important catabolic genotypes for degradation of oil hydrocarbons (OH) which may have a potential for detoxification of the sediment surrounding the roots. In addition, since rhizosphere bacterial populations may also internalize into plant tissues (endophytes), rhizocompetent AH degrading populations may be important for in planta AH degradation and detoxification. The present study involved field work and microcosms experiments aiming the characterization of relevant plant-microbe interactions in oilimpacted salt marshes and the understanding of the effect of rhizosphere and endosphere bacteria in the role of salt marsh plants as potential phytoremediation agents. In the field approach, molecular tools were used to assess how plant species- and OH pollution affect sediment bacterial composition [bulk sediment and sediment surrounding the roots (rhizosphere) of Halimione portulacoides and Sarcocornia perennis subsp. perennis] in a temperate estuary (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal) chronically exposed to OH pollution. In addition, the 16S rRNA gene sequences retrieved in this study were used to generate in silico metagenomes and to evaluate the distribution of potential bacterial traits in different microhabitats. Moreover, a combination of culture-dependent and -independent approaches was used to investigate the effect of oil hydrocarbons contamination on the structure and function of endophytic bacterial communities of salt marsh plants.Root systems of H. portulacoides and S. perennis subsp. perennis appear to be able to exert a strong influence on bacterial composition and in silico metagenome analysis showed enrichment of genes involved in the process of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degradation in the rhizosphere of halophyte plants. The culturable fraction of endophytic degraders was essentially closely related to known OH-degrading Pseudomonas species and endophytic communities revealed sitespecific effects related to the level of OH contamination in the sediment. In order to determine the effects of oil contamination on plant condition and on the responses in terms of structure and function of the bacterial community associated with plant roots (rhizosphere, endosphere), a microcosms approach was set up. The salt marsh plant Halimione portulacoides was inoculated with a previous isolated Pseudomonas sp. endophytic degrader and the 2-methylnaphthalene was used as model PAH contaminant. The results showed that H. portulacoides health and growth were not affected by the contamination with the tested concentration. Moreover, the decrease of 2-methylnaphthalene at the end of experiment, can suggest that H. portulacoides can be considered as a potential plant for future uses in phytoremedition approaches of contaminated salt marsh. The acceleration of hydrocarbon degradation by inoculation of the plants with the hydrocarbon-degrading Pseudomonas sp. could not, however, be demonstrated, although the effects of inoculation on the structure of the endophytic community observed at the end of the experiment indicate that the strain may be an efficient colonizer of H. portulacoides roots. The results obtained in this work suggest that H. portulacoides tolerates moderate concentrations of 2-methylnaphthalene and can be regarded as a promising agent for phytoremedition approaches in salt marshes contaminated with oil hydrocarbons. Plant/microbe interactions may have an important role in the degradation process, as plants support a diverse endophytic bacterial community, enriched in genetic factors (genes and plasmids) for hydrocarbon degradation.

Rendimentos de carcaça, cortes comerciais e não-componentes da carcaça de cordeiros Santa Inês alimentados com feno de erva-sal e concentrado

This work aimed to evaluate the carcass yields, commercial cuts and non-carcass components of Santa Inês lambs fed with 30, 40, 50 or 60% of oldman saltbush hay with concentrated. Were used 32 castrated lambs at 8 months old and initial body weight of 22 + 1.97kg, housed individually and slaughtered after 60 days of feedlot. The weights of hot and cold carcass decreased linearly with the inclusion of saltbush hay in the diet, however, there was no effect for true carcass yield and commercial cuts: shoulder (19.26%), neck (8.52%) ribs (26.57%) and leg (33.88%). There was a linear decrease for ribeye area and fat thickness when the level of hay in the diet increased. The weights and yields of skin, liver, heart, kidneys with perirenal fat, omental and mesenteric fats decreased linearly with the inclusion of hay in the diet, while the content (%) of gastrointestinal tract increased. The increased proportion of saltbush hay in the diet of lambs provided adequate true carcass yield and commercial cuts, however, reduces the ribeye area and fat thickness, important measurements in the qualitative evaluation of the lamb's carcass.

Traitement du ruissellement routier chargé en sels de déglaçage et en métaux lourds par un marais épurateur construit et adapté

Depuis la construction de l’autouroute 40 dans les années 70 (tronçon Félix-Leclerc), le lac Saint-Augustin s’est grandement enrichi en sels de déglaçage et en métaux lourds. Un marais épurateur construit et adapté (MECA), dans lequel ont été intégrées des plantes halophytes, a donc été implanté afin traiter une partie des eaux de ruissellement provenant de l’autouroute. Le comportement et l’efficacité de ce dernier ont été évalués afin de déterminer si cette technologie était en mesure de pallier à la problématique de contamination. Les observations et les analyses ont permis d’établir que les plantes halophytes sont mal adaptées aux conditions environnementales du MECA et que seulement environ 1% des sels sont emmagasinés dans les plantes. Les concentrations mesurées dans les eaux ont montré que le MECA est efficace pour emmagasiner du sel de déglaçage, principalement en période de temps sec, mais que les quantités accumulées sont peu significatives par rapport aux quantités introduites.