Magdalena Banach-Szott

The Effect of Soil Pollution by Selected PAHs on the Fractional Composition of Organic Matter

Wpływ Zanieczyszczenia Gleb Wybranymi WWA Na Skład Frakcyjny Materii Organicznej The Effect of Soil Pollution by Selected PAHs on the Fractional Composition of Organic Matter The aim of the paper was to determine the effect of soil pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the content and share of carbon from humic acids, fulvic aids and humin. The study was carried out on soil samples (Luvisols, Phaeozems, Haplic Arenosols, Fluvisols) representative of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region, collected from areas exposed to, as well as protected from, direct contamination by PAHs. Soil samples were polluted by selected PAHs (fluorene, anthracene, pyrene and chrysene) at an amount corresponding to 10 mg PAHs/kg. PAH-polluted soil samples were incubated for 120, 180 and 360 days at a temperature of 20-25°C and fixed moisture (50% field water capacity). The content and share of carbon from humic acids, fulvic acids and humin were determined in the soil samples prior to and after incubation. The research demonstrated that the fractional composition is soil-type-specific, and can be modified by introducing selected PAHs.

Androgenic response of Capsicum interspecific hybrids and capsaicinoid characteristics of DH lines

Summary In the research on induced androgenesis, eight groups of plants, the progeny of interspecific hybrid of Capsicum frutescens L. x C. annuum L., were used. Half of them were standard hard-flesh forms, while the others have represented SS or Ss genotype conditioning the soft flesh of ripe fruit. Anthers from the plants of six groups produced mixoploid callus and the DNA content ranged from 1C to 16C. Three groups formed embryos which converted into plants. The total number of regenerants was 19, included both androgenic haploids (13) and diploids (6). The results did not allow to present the simple relationship between the physiological feature of soft-flesh and the effectiveness of androgenesis. Pungent, soft-flesh genotypes appeared as a poor responsive in anther culture. The R2 and R3 generation of two soft-flesh diploids, evaluated in two-year experiments, showed full phenotypic uniformity, proofing the androgenic origin of diploids. These DH lines were different with regard to capsaicinoid profiles. The content of capsaicinoids ranged from 0.056 to 2.170 and from 0.019 to 1.610 g*kg-1 for capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin, respectively. The highest concentration of the compounds was observed in the placenta. Although the androgenic effectiveness was not fully satisfactory, the doubled haploid technology can be used for the rapid genetic stabilization of soft-flesh Capsicum spp. recombinants and the special attention should be paid to the spontaneous androdiploids.

SOIL POLLUTION OF SELECTED PAHS AS A FACTOR AFFECTING THE PROPERTIES OF HUMIC ACIDS

It is well-known that the properties of humus soil substances (including humic acids) are soil-type-specific. However, one shall consider the fact that properties of organic matter of soil can be modified by farming system (crop rotation, fertilisation) as well as other external factors, including pollutants; PAHs. The objective of the paper is to determine the effect of a single-time pollution of soils with high rates of PAHs on the properties of humic acids. The research was performed with the samples of soils representative for the Kujawy and Pomorze Region (Phaeozems, Luvisol, Haplic Arenosols, Fluvisols). Soil samples were polluted with selected PAHs; fluorene, anthracene, pyrene and chrysene at the amount corresponding to 100 mg PAHs · kg -1 . Treatments, i.e., soils + PAHs, were incubated for 180 and 360 days at the temperature of 20–25 oC and at constant moisture of 50% of field water capacity. Humic acids were extracted from the soil samples prior to and after 180 and 360 days of incubation. The following analyses were performed for separating humic acids: elemental composition, UV-VIS and IR spectrophotometric analyses, susceptibility to oxidation. Results demonstrated that a single introduction of fluorene, anthracene, pyrene and chrysene at very high rates into soils affects the properties of humic acids. There was mostly recorded a decrease in coefficients of absorbance A 2/6 and A 4/6, an increase in the parameter defining the susceptibility of humic acids to oxidation. There were also noted changes in the pattern of spectra in infrared and the values of the parameter defining the degree of internal oxidation of the humic acids molecules.

STABILITY OF ORGANIC MATER OF HAPLIC CHERNOZEM AND HAPLIC LUVISOL OF DIFFERENT ECOSYSTEMS

In this study, the changes in soil organic matter (SOM) and the possibilities of their monitoring in a shorter period of time by means of carbon parameters were followed. The experiment includes four ecosystems (forest, meadow, urban, and agro-ecosystem) on Haplic Chernozem (Mocenok, Horna Kraľova, Trnava) and Haplic Luvisol (Ludanice, Veľke Zalužie, Lovce) of different localities. The objectives of this study were assessment of the differences in the stability of soil organic matter in different ecosystems and in soil types using labile forms of carbon and nitrogen, and also with dependence on particle size distribution. The highest contents of total organic carbon (TOC) and labile carbon (CL) were in a forest ecosystem, but in case of other ecosystems, the differences were determined only in the contents of CL. After forest ecosystem, the highest content of CL was in agro-ecosystem > meadow ecosystem > urban ecosystem. Based on parameter of lability of carbon (LC), the most labile carbon can be evaluated also in the forest ecosystem (0.209) > agro-ecosystem (0.178) > meadow ecosystem (0.119) and urban ecosystem (0.116). In the case of nitrogen, the differences were observed between the soils. Higher contents of NT and NL were recorded in Haplic Chernozen than in Haplic Luvisol. Contents of TOC (P < 0.05; r = -0.480), CNL (P < 0.05; r = -0.480), and NL (P < 0.01; r = -0.545) were in a negative correlation with the content of sand fraction. The values of studied parameters in meadow and urban ecosystems were relatively balanced, because in both cases, the vegetation cover were grass, pointing to a significant influence of vegetation on the parameters of SOM.

Relationship between Technological Characters in Capsicum SPP. Soft-Flesh Forms

Relationship between Technological Characters in Capsicum SPP. Soft-Flesh Forms The present research involved the evaluation of relationships between technological characters of soft-flesh fruit in the lines derived from the hybrid Capsicum frutescens L. × C. annuum L. The evaluation was performed in groups of genotypes which differed in their fruit weight and pericarp thickness. The material researched was made up of the pericarp from which placenta with seeds was removed and the puree obtained as a result of whole fruit crushing. The analysis of the content of capsaicinoids was made using the HPLC method. The content of capsaicin was in each case higher than that of dihydrocapsaicin. There were observed highly significantly positive correlations between the average fruit weight and the wall thickness in the genotypes of a higher level of these characters, namely in the groups over 20 g (fruit weight) and over 3 mm (wall thickness). In these groups the content of capsaicinoids was negatively correlated with the average fruit weight. The significance of this relationship was confirmed in the genotypes of a higher fruit weight as compared with the content of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicine in the puee. The relationships between the capsaicinoids researched were more stable in the genotypes of a higher fruit weight and demonstrating a higher pericarp wall thickness. Współzależność Cech Technologicznych u Form Soft-Flesh Capsicum SPP. Przedmiotem opracowania była ocena zależności między cechami technologicznymi owoców soft-flesh u linii wyprowadzonych z mieszańca Capsicum frutescens L. × C. annuum L. Dokonano jej w grupach genotypów różniących się masą owocu oraz grubością owocni. Badanym materiałem była owocnia, z której usunięto łożysko z nasionami oraz przecier uzyskany w wyniku rozdrobnienia całych owoców. Analizy zawartości kapsaicynoidów wykonano metodą HPLC. Zawartość kapsaicyny była w każdym przypadku wyższa niż dihydrokapsaicyny. Obserwowano wysoce istotnie dodatnie korelacje między średnią masą owocu a grubością ścian u genotypów o wyższym poziomie tych cech, to jest w grupach powyżej 20 gram (masa owocu) i powyżej 3 mm (grubość ścian). W wymienionych grupach zawartość kapsaicynoidów była ujemnie skorelowana ze średnią masą owoców. Istotność tej relacji potwierdzono u genotypów o większej masie owocu w odniesieniu do zawartości kapsaicyny i dihydrokapsaicyny w przecierze. Zależności między badanymi kapsaicynoidami były bardziej stabilne u genotypów o większej masie owoców i charakteryzujących się większą grubością ścian perykarpu.

Capsaicinoid profile of soft-flesh Capsicum spp. genotypes according to the purée production method

Summary Capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin concentration was evaluated using the HPLC method in the whole fruit, pericarp, and purée obtained by rubbing fruit through a strainer, purée obtained by fruit expressing, and in the waste following the two above processes. The highest content of each compound was noted in purée and the lowest one in pericarp and waste. Concentration of capsaicin was higher than concentration of dihydrocapsaicin in all of the analysed material. Reciprocal relations between contents of two compounds ranged from 1.4 to 5.3. Capsaicinoid contents in purée obtained by rubbing plus in the waste of the process and in the expressed purée plus the waste of the process were highly similar. Capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin contents in purée obtained as a result of mechanical separation of soft tissue from the inedible fruit parts was significantly higher than in pericarp and stable, regardless of the processing method. Streszczenie Za pomocą metody HPLC oceniono zawartość kapsaicyny oraz dihydrokapsaicyny w całych owocach, perykarpie, purée uzyskanym w wyniku przecierania, purée uzyskanym w wyniku wyciskania oraz w pozostałościach po wymienionych procesach. Największą koncentrację każdego składnika zanotowano w purée, najmniejszą w perykarpie i w resztkach. Zawartość kapsaicyny była większa niż dihydrokapsaicyny we wszystkich analizowanych materiałach. Wzajemne relacje między tymi składnikami wahały się w zakresie od 1,4 do 5,3. Suma zawartości kapsaicynoidów w purée uzyskanym przez przecieranie i resztkach po tym procesie była podobna do obserwowanej dla purée wyciskanego i resztek. Stężenie kapsaicyny oraz dihydrokapsaicyny w purée uzyskanym dzięki mechanicznej separacji miękkiej tkanki perykarpu od niejadalnych części owoców była istotnie większa niż w samym perykarpie i stabilna niezależnie od zastosowanych sposobów przetwarzania.

Soil Structure and Soil Organic Matter of Selected Soil Types in Different Ecosystems

In this study, differences in soil structure in different ecosystems (forest, meadow, urban, and agro-ecosystem) and soil types (Haplic Chernozem, Haplic Luvisol, Haplic Stagnosol) with a dependence on the influence of quantity and quality of soil organic matter and the particle size distribution on fraction composition of soil aggregates were compared. Soils had different productive capacity and particle size distribution. The most favourable soil structure was in the agro-ecosystem, then in forest, meadow, and urban ecosystem. The worst soil structure was in Haplic Stagnosol. An important indicator in assessing of ecosystem influence, water-resistant macro-aggregates of the 0.5-1 mm size fraction seems to be. This fraction was the only one which was statistically significantly influenced by the ecosystem, and also the only one which was not statistically significantly influenced by the soil type. This fraction also was not influenced either with the quantity and quality of soil organic matter, or with the particle size distribution. The quantity of soil organic matter is reflected in relation to the fractional composition of dry-sieved aggregates and its quality in relation to waterresistant aggregates. Large fractions of water-resistant macro-aggregates were in positive correlation with C : N ratio, the amount of extracted humus substances, or stability and quality of humic acids; while smaller fractions were in negative correlation just with these parameters. Clay and silt fractions had a positive influence on waterresistant macro-aggregates formation, while sand fraction had negative and vice versa.