Kinga Szentner

Biological diversity of Salix taxa in Cu, Pb and Zn phytoextraction from soil

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to estimate the efficiency of copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) phytoextraction by 145 Salix taxa cultivated in an area affected by industrial activity. Survivability and biomass of plants were also analyzed. The highest Cu, Pb and Zn content in shoots was 33.38 ± 2.91 (S. purpurea × viminalis 8), 24.64 ± 1.97 (S. fragilis 1) and 58.99 ± 4.30 (S. eriocephala 7) mg kg−1 dry weight, respectively. In the case of unwashed leaves, the highest content of these metals was 135.06 ± 8.14 (S. purpurea 26), 67.98 ± 5.27 (S. purpurea 45) and 142.56 ± 12.69 (S. alba × triandra 2) mg kg−1 dw, while in washed leaves it was 106.02 ± 11.12 (S. purpurea 45), 55.06 ± 5.75 (S. purpurea 45) and 122.87 ± 12.33 (S. alba × triandra 2) mg kg−1 dw, respectively. The differences between the highest and lowest values for Cu, Pb and Zn were 545%, 20500% and 535% in shoots; 2692%, 2560% and 7500% in unwashed leaves; and 3286%, 2221% and 6950% in washed leaves, respectively. S. acutifolia was able to effectively accumulate all three metals jointly, producing shoots that were well developed in both length and diameter when compared with the other tested willows—an ability that would suggest its high suitability for practical application.

Role of Glutathione in Abiotic Stress Tolerance

Glutathione (GSH) is a nonprotein, low molecular weight tripeptide (γ- glutamylcysteinylglycine) in most plant tissues. GSH is synthesized from glutamate (Glu), cysteine (Cys) and glycine (Gly) by two adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent reactions catalysed by gamma- glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ–ECS) and glutathione synthetase (GS). GSH plays a role in biosynthetic pathways, detoxification of xenobiotics and antioxidant chemistry. Moreover, this compound protects plants against oxidative stress and also acts as a storage and transport form of reduced sulfur. The accumulation of glutathione was observed in different plants exposed to various stress such as salinity, drought, extreme temperatures (cold and heat), UV light, herbicides and air pollutants. Abiotic stress often causes a series of morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular changes that unfavorably affect plant growth, development and productivity.

Moisture content (MC) and multinuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of water absorption effect on wood treated with aminofunctional silane

The aim of this study was to determine susceptibility of aminoethyl aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (AEAPTMOS)-treated wood to absorption of liquid water. Absorbability was analysed by measuring absolute moisture content of wood and by MRI. These analyses were based on the results of previous studies on resistance against decay fungi in case of wood treated with the same chemical compound. In their previous studies the authors found that AEAPTMOS exhibits enhanced hydrophobic properties and thus increased resistance to the action of specific abiotic and biotic factors. The advantageous fungicidal properties of wood treatment systems indicate that AEAPTMOS may be considered as an environmentally friendly solution, being an alternative to conventional biocidal agents. Results indicate that this method may be used in laboratory analyses assessing the relative amount of water uptake through the wood surface.ZusammenfassungZiel dieser Studie war es, den Einfluss einer Behandlung von Holz mit Aminoethylaminopropyltrimethoxysilan (AEAPTMOS) auf die Aufnahme von flüssigem Wasser zu bestimmen. Die Absorptionsfähigkeit wurde durch Untersuchung des absoluten Feuchtegehalts von Holz und mittels Magnetresonanztomographie (MRI) ermittelt. Als Grundlage dieser Studie dienten Ergebnisse früherer Untersuchungen über die Fäuleresistenz von mit der gleichen chemischen Verbindung behandeltem Holz. Die Autoren kamen darin zu dem Schluss, dass AEAPTMOS verbesserte hydrophobische Eigenschaften bewirkt und somit die Resistenz gegenüber bestimmten abiotischen und biotischen Faktoren erhöht. Die guten fungiziden Eigenschaften dieser Holzbehandlungsmethode deuten darauf hin, dass AEAPTMOS als umweltfreundliche Lösung angesehen werden kann und eine Alternative zu herkömmlichen Biozidmitteln darstellt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass diese Methode in Laboruntersuchungen zur Bestimmung der relativen Menge an durch das Holz aufgenommenem Wasser verwendet werden kann.

Characteristics of Thermophysical Parameters of Selected Salix Taxa with Elemental Analysis

In an experiment conducted in the spring of 2011, 3600 cuttings of 145 Salix taxa were cultivated, which were subsequently harvested after 1 year and analyzed for thermophysical and chemical properties. Statistical analysis followed by grouping of the objects enabled us to find significant differences between the Salix genotypes. Two different groups (of 35 and 110 varieties each) were found with average values of higher heating value of 19.75 and 19.27 MJ kg−1 d.w., respectively, while in terms of lower heating value three groups were identified (consisting of 39, 102, and 4 taxa), represented by average values of 18.27, 17.06, and 16.52 MJ kg−1 d.w., respectively. In our opinion, moisture content of fresh material (three groups with average moisture contents of 9.14%, 7.29%, and 4.47% d.w., respectively) is the main indicator distinguishing the above findings. The tested varieties were also divided into three groups according to their volatile matter contents (14, 121, and 10 genotypes with average values of 76.47%, 74.80%, and 72.97% d.w., respectively) as well as fixed carbon content (with 21.3%, 20.23%, and 19.08% d.w., respectively, for groups of 23, 110, and 12 taxa). Also three groups of varieties (11, 121, and 13 taxa) were distinguished in terms of the level of ash (4.16%, 2.77%, and 1.84% d.w., respectively). Differences in the elemental levels of C, H, and S in tested Salix taxa were found as well.