Search

This study was conducted to investigate the uptake, accumulation and the enhanced dissipation of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) spiked in soil (with a concentration of 117.4 ± 5.2 mg kg−1) by eleven plants including eight maize (Zeamays) cultivars and three forage species (alfalfa, ryegrass and teosinte). The results showed that, after 40 days of treatment, the removal rates of DEHP ranged from 66.8% (for the control) to 87.5% (for the maize cultivar of Huanong-1). Higher removal rate was observed during the first 10 days than the following days. Plants enhanced significantly the dissipation of DEHP in soil. Enhanced dissipation amount in planted soil was 13.3–122 mg pot−1for DEHP, and a net removal of 2.2%–20.7% of the initial DEHP was obtained compared with non-plant soil. The contribution of plant uptake to the total enhanced dissipation was <0.3%, and the enhanced dissipation of soil DEHP might be derived from plant-promoted biodegradation and sorption stronger to the soil. Nevertheless, the capability in accumulation and enhanced dissipation of DEHP from spiked soils varied within different species and cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing cadmium (Cd) bioavailability and rhizobacterial Cd mobilization functions in the rhizosphere via the inoculation of screened microbial inoculum is an environmental-friendly strategy to improve safety of crop grains. In this study, Bacillus Cereus, a model Cd resistant strain, was selected to explore its effects on Cd bioavailability and uptake, bacterial metabolic functions related to Cd mobilization. Results indicated that inoculation of Bacillus Cereus in maize roots of sand pot with water-soluble Cd (0.06-0.15 mg/kg) and soil pot with high Cd-contaminated soil (total Cd: 2.33 mg/kg; Cd extracted by NH 4 NO 3 : 38.6 μg/kg) could decrease water-soluble Cd ion concentration by 7.7-30.1% and Cd extracted with NH 4 NO 3 solution by 7.8-22.5%, inducing Cd concentrations in maize grains reduced by 10.6-39.9% and 17.4-38.6%, respectively. Even for a single inoculation in soil, Cd concentration in maize grains still satisfy food safety requirements (Cd content: 0.1 mg/kg dry weight) due to its successful colonization on root surface of maize. Bacillus Cereus could enrich more plant growth promotion bacteria (PGPB) and down-regulate the expression of genes related to bacterial motility, membrane transports, carbon and nitrogen metabolism in the rhizosphere soil, decreasing Cd bioavailability in soil. Approximately 80% Cd 2+ in media was transferred into intracellular, meanwhile Cd salts (sulfide and/or phosphate) were produced in Bacillus Cereus through biomineralization process. Overall, this study could provide a feasible method for improving safety of maize grains via the inoculation of Bacillus Cereus under Cd pollution., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

To explore the effects of protocatechuic acid (PCA) and its derivants on angiogenesis of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and scavenging DPPH radical in vitro. The protection of benzyl and alkaline hydrolysis of benzyl ester were employed. The structures of PCA-1, PCA-2 and PCA-3, the derivates of PCA, were elucidated by 1H, 13C-NMR and MS data The bioactivity of PCA and its derivants was evaluated on the models of DPPH radical and chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), respectively. PCA and PCA-1 showed the best activity of scavenging DPPH radical among all the compounds. In contrast to PCA-2, PCA and PCA-3 displayed inhibition to angiogenesis (P < 0.001). Pyrocatechol hydroxyl is the active site of PCA on scavenging DPPH radical in vitro. PCA with carboxyl and without pyrocatechol hydroxyl seems to show promotion to angiogenesis, but it needs more evidences.

The salinity ion in soil pore water and the heavy metal content in soil as well as the heavy metal speciation were investigated in various stages of desalination during an experiment of leaching beach soil. Results show that salinity ion including Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl- and SO4(2-) decreased by 80.3%, 73.5%, 86.6%, 90%, 81.8%, 98.2%. respectively compared to pre-leaching. The amount of total salt decreased by 81.6%. However, the main chemical compound in pore water was NaCl throughout the leaching experiment. The pH value of pore water increased with leaching time. Besides, the reductions of heavy metals after leaching were: Cd 26.6%, Pb 22.8%, Cu 16.9%, Cr 7.9%, Zn 9.1%. The concentrations of Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn and Cd in carbonate bound form decreased by 77.8%, 61.7%, 68.4%, 67.1% and 7.1% respectively. The contents of Cd and Pb bound to Fe-Mn oxide decreased by 49.1%, 23.5% respectively. The different mobility of salinity ions in the pore water resulted in the proportion change of each ion. Meanwhile the Eh value of the soil changed in the leaching process. All these factors resulted in the change of heavy metal speciation and the removal of heavy metals in the soil.