Norman Terry

Phytoremediation of Contaminated Soil and Water

Field Demonstrations of Phytoremediation of Lead Contaminated Soils Phytoremediation by Constructed Wetlands Factors Influencing Field Phytoremediations of Selenium-Laden Soils Phytoremediation of Selenium-Polluted Soils and Waters by Phytovolitization Metal Hyperaccumulator Plants: a Review of the Ecology and Physiology of a Biological Resource For Phytoremediation Of Metal-Polluted Soils - Potential for Phytoextraction of Zinc and Cadmium from Soils Using Hyperaccumulator Plants Improving Metal Hyperaccumulator Wild Plants to Develop Commercial Phytoextraction Systems: Approach and Progress Physiology of Zn Hyperaccumulation in Thlaspi caerulescens Metal-Specific Patterns of Tolerance, Uptake, and Transport of Heavy Metals in Hyperaccumulating and Non-Hyperaccumulating Metallophytes The Role of Root Exudates in Nickel Hyperaccumulation and Tolerance in Accumulator and Nonaccumulator Species of Thlaspi Engineered Phytoremediation of Mercury Pollution in Soil and Water Using Bacterial Genes Metal Tolerance in Plants: The Role of Phytochelatins and Metallothioneins The Genetics of Metal Tolerance and Accumulation in Higher Plants Ecological Genetics and the Evolution of Trace Element Hyperaccumulation in Plants The Role of Bacteria in the Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals Microphyte-Mediated Biogeochemistry and Its Role in In Situ Selenium Bioremediation In Situ Gentle Remediation Measures For Heavy Metal Polluted Soils In Situ Metal Immobilization and Phytostabilization of Contaminated Soils Phytoextraction or In-Place Inactivation (Phytostabilization): Technical, Economic, and Regulatory Considerations of the Soil-Lead Issue NTI/Sales Copy

Chromium in the environment: factors affecting biological remediation

Chromium, in the trivalent form (Cr(III)), is an important component of a balanced human and animal diet and its deficiency causes disturbance to the glucose and lipids metabolism in humans and animals. In contrast, hexavalent Cr (Cr(VI)) is highly toxic carcinogen and may cause death to animals and humans if ingested in large doses. Recently, concern about Cr as an environmental pollutant has been escalating due to its build up to toxic levels in the environment as a result of various industrial and agricultural activities. In this review, we present the state of knowledge about chromium mobility and distribution in the environment and the physiological responses of plants to Cr with the desire to understand how these processes influence our ability to use low cost, environmentally friendly biological remediation technologies to clean up Cr-contaminated soils, sediments, and waters. The use of biological remediation technologies such as bioremediation and phytoremediation for the cleanup of Cr-contaminated areas has received increasing interest from researchers worldwide. Several methods have been suggested and experimentally tested with varying degrees of success.

Accumulation and volatilization of different chemical species of selenium by plants

Abstract. Selenium (Se) removal from polluted waters and soils is especially complicated and highly expensive. Phytoremediation has been suggested as a low-cost, efficient technology for Se removal. Plants remove Se by uptake and accumulation in their tissues, and by volatilization into the atmosphere as a harmless gas. Unraveling the mechanisms of Se uptake and volatilization in plants may lead to ways of increasing the efficiency of the phytoremediation process. The objectives of this study were: (i) to determine the effect of different Se forms in the root substrate on the capacity of some plant species to take up and volatilize Se; (ii) to determine the chemical species of Se in different plant parts after the plants were supplied with various forms of Se; and (iii) to determine the influence of increasing sulfate levels on plant uptake, translocation, and volatilization of different Se species. Plants of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.), Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.), sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) were grown hydroponically in growth chambers and treated for 1 week with 20 μM Se as Na2SeO4, Na2SeO3 or L-selenomethionine (SeMeth) and increasing sulfate levels. The data show that shoots of SeO4-supplied plants accumulated the greatest amount of Se, followed by those supplied with SeMeth then SeO3. In roots, the highest Se concentrations were attained when SeMeth was supplied, followed by SeO3, then SeO4. The rate of Se volatilization by plants followed the same pattern as that of Se accumulation in roots, but the differences were greater. Speciation analysis (X-ray absorption spectroscopy) showed that most of the Se taken up by SeO4-supplied plants remained unchanged, whereas plants supplied with SeO3 or SeMeth contained only SeMeth-like species. Increasing the sulfate level from 0.25 mM to 10 mM inhibited SeO3 and SeMeth uptake by 33% and 15–25%, respectively, as compared to an inhibition of 90% of SeO4 uptake. Similar results were observed with regard to sulfate effects on volatilization. We conclude that reduction from SeO4 to SeO3 appears to be a rate-limiting step in the production of volatile Se compounds by plants. Inhibitory effects of sulfate on the uptake and volatilization of Se may be reduced substantially if Se is supplied as, or converted to, SeO3 and/or SeMeth rather than SeO4.

Chromium accumulation, translocation and chemical speciation in vegetable crops

Abstract. Trivalent chromium (Cr3+) is essential for animal and human health, whereas hexavalent Cr (CrO42−) is a potent carcinogen and extremely toxic to animals and humans. Thus, the accumulated Cr in food plants may represent potential health hazards to animals and humans if the element is accumulated in the hexavalent form or in high concentrations. This study was conducted to determine the extent to which various vegetable crops absorb and accumulate Cr3+ and CrO42− into roots and shoots and to ascertain the different chemical forms of Cr in these tissues. Two greenhouse hydroponic experiments were performed using a recirculating-nutrient culture technique that allowed all plants to be equally supplied with Cr at all times. In the first experiment, 1 mg L−1 Cr was supplied to 11 vegetable plant species as Cr3+ or CrO42−, and the accumulation of Cr in roots and shoots was compared. The crops tested included cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L.), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis L.), celery (Apium graveolens L. var. dulce (Mill.) Pers.), chive (Allium schoenoprasum L.), collard (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC.), garden pea (Pisum sativum L.), kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), onion (Allium cepa L.), spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), and strawberry (Fragaria × ananassaDuch.). In the second experiment, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis on Cr in plant tissues was performed in roots and shoots of various vegetable plants treated with CrO42− at either 2 mg Cr L−1 for 7 d or 10 mg Cr L−1 for 2, 4 or 7 d. The crops used in this experiment included beet (Beta vulgaris L. var. crassa (Alef.) J. Helm), broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. Italica Plenck), cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L. gp. Cantalupensis), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), lettuce, radish (Raphanus sativus L.), spinach, tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karsten), and turnip (Brassica rapa L. var. rapifera Bailey). The XAS speciation analysis indicates that CrO42− is converted in the root to Cr3+ by all plants tested. Translocation of both Cr forms from roots to shoots was extremely limited and accumulation of Cr by roots was 100-fold higher than that by shoots, regardless of the Cr species supplied. Highest Cr concentrations were detected in members of the Brassicaceae family such as cauliflower, kale, and cabbage. Based on our observations and previous findings by other researchers, a hypothesis for the differential accumulation and identical translocation patterns of the two Cr ions is proposed.

Function of iron in chloroplasts

Abstract This article reviews the current state of knowledge of the roles of iron in chloroplast structure and function and in chloroplast development. The uptake and transport of iron to leaves and the relationship of chlorophyll to leaf iron content are also reviewed briefly. In addition, we present some original data on the protein composition of thylakoid membranes and on chlorophyll biosynthesis as affected by iron deficiency and resupply.

Overexpression of Selenocysteine Methyltransferase in Arabidopsis and Indian Mustard Increases Selenium Tolerance and Accumulation

A major goal of phytoremediation is to transform fast-growing plants with genes from plant species that hyperaccumulate toxic trace elements. We overexpressed the gene encoding selenocysteine methyltransferase (SMT) from the selenium (Se) hyperaccumulator Astragalus bisulcatus in Arabidopsis and Indian mustard (Brassica juncea). SMT detoxifies selenocysteine by methylating it to methylselenocysteine, a nonprotein amino acid, thereby diminishing the toxic misincorporation of Se into protein. Our Indian mustard transgenic plants accumulated more Se in the form of methylselenocysteine than the wild type. SMT transgenic seedlings tolerated Se, particularly selenite, significantly better than the wild type, producing 3- to 7-fold greater biomass and 3-fold longer root lengths. Moreover, SMT plants had significantly increased Se accumulation and volatilization. This is the first study, to our knowledge, in which a fast-growing plant was genetically engineered to overexpress a gene from a hyperaccumulator in order to increase phytoremediation potential.

Phytoremediation of Organomercurial Compounds via Chloroplast Genetic Engineering

Mercury (Hg), especially in organic form, is a highly toxic pollutant affecting plants, animals, and man. In plants, the primary target of Hg damage is the chloroplast; Hg inhibits electron transport and photosynthesis. In the present study, chloroplast genetic engineering is used for the first time to our knowledge to enhance the capacity of plants for phytoremediation. This was achieved by integrating a native operon containing the merA and merB genes (without any codon modification), which code for mercuric ion reductase (merA) and organomercurial lyase (merB), respectively, into the chloroplast genome in a single transformation event. Stable integration of the merAB operon into the chloroplast genome resulted in high levels of tolerance to the organomercurial compound, phenylmercuric acetate (PMA) when grown in soil containing up to 400 μm PMA; plant dry weights of the chloroplast transformed lines were significantly higher than those of wild type at 100, 200, and 400 μm PMA. That the merAB operon was stably integrated into the chloroplast genome was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and Southern-blot analyses. Northern-blot analyses revealed stable transcripts that were independent of the presence or absence of a 3′-untranslated region downstream of the coding sequence. The merAB dicistron was the more abundant transcript, but less abundant monocistrons were also observed, showing that specific processing occurs between transgenes. The use of chloroplast transformation to enhance Hg phytoremediation is particularly beneficial because it prevents the escape of transgenes via pollen to related weeds or crops and there is no need for codon optimization to improve transgene expression. Chloroplast transformation may also have application to other metals that affect chloroplast function.

Trehalose-producing transgenic tobacco plants show improved growth performance under drought stress

Summary Trehalose plays a role in drought stress resistance in a variety of organisms, including the extremely drought-tolerant «resurrection plants». Transgenic tobacco plants that produce trehalose were engineered by introduction of the Escherichia coli ots A and ots B genes, encoding trehalose-6-P synthase and trehalose-6-P phosphatase, respectively. The introduction of these genes had a pronounced effect on plant morphology and growth performance under drought stress. The transgenic Ots plants had larger leaves and altered stem growth. When grown under drought stress imposed by limiting water supply, the two transgenic tobacco lines Ots2 and Ots 5 yielded total dry weights that were 28 % and 39 % higher than those of wild-type tobacco. These increases in dry weight were due mainly to increased leaf production: leaf dry weights were up to 85 % higher for the best trehalose accumulator, Ots 5. No significant differences were observed under well-watered conditions. Chlorophyll fluorescence analysis of drought-stressed plants showed a higher photochemical quenching (qQ) and a higher ratio of variable fluorescence over maximal fluorescence (Fv/Fm), indicating a more efficient photosynthesis. The Ots 5 plants showed more negative leaf osmotic potentials than wild-type plants, particularly under drought stress, as well as higher levels of nonstructural carbohydrates; Ots2 plants showed intermediate values. Detached leaves from young, well-watered Ots plants had a better capacity than wild-type leaves to retain water when air-dried. They had lower osmotic potentials than wild-type leaves, and higher levels of glucose, fructose and sucrose.

Rhizosphere bacteria enhance the accumulation of selenium and mercury in wetland plants

Abstract. The role of rhizosphere bacteria in facilitating Se and Hg accumulation in two wetland plants, saltmarsh bulrush (Scirpus robustus Pursh) and rabbitfoot grass (Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf.), was studied. Ampicillin-amended plants (i.e., with inhibited rhizosphere bacteria) supplied with Na2SeO4 or HgCl2 had significantly lower concentrations of Se and Hg, respectively, in roots than plants without ampicillin. These results were confirmed by inoculating axenic saltmarsh bulrush plants with bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of plants collected from the field; these plants accumulated significantly more Se and Hg compared to axenic controls. Therefore, rhizosphere bacteria can increase the efficiency of Se and Hg phytoremediation by promoting the accumulation of Se and Hg in tissues of wetland plants.

Nitrogen source regulation of growth and photosynthesis in Beta vulgaris L.

Sugar beets (Beta vulgaris L. cv F58-554H1) were grown hydroponically in a 16-h light, 8-h dark period at a photosynthetic photon flux density of 0.5 mmol m-2 s-1 for 4 weeks in half-Hoagland culture solution containing only nitrate-nitrogen. Half of the plants were then transferred to half-Hoagland solution with ammonium-nitrogen (7.35mM), while the other half continued on 7.5 mM nitrate. Growth analysis was carried out by sampling the plants at 3-d intervals over a period of 21 d. Compared to plants supplied with nitrate, ammonium initially slowed the growth of shoots more than roots. Ammonium reduced both the area expansion of individual leaves and the relative water content of these leaves, but increased the amount of dry matter/area. The increase in specific leaf weight in ammonium-grown leaves was associated with a doubling of chloroplast volume, as much as a 62% rise in chlorophyll content, and a 4.3-fold higher accumulation of soluble protein. Ammonium nutrition substantially decreased the rate of expansion of photosynthetic (leaf) surface but did not decrease the rate of photosynthesis per area; in fact, net photosynthetic CO2 exchange rates were slightly higher than in nitrate plants, due to the build-up in stromal enzymes of the Calvin cycle, several of which increased in total extractable activity on a leaf area basis, e.g. ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase oxygenase, sedoheptulose-1,7-biphosphatase. Nitrogen source had no effect on stomatal conductance. Rates of photosynthesis per chlorophyll were decreased slightly in ammonium-grown leaves, possibly due to an increased CO2-diffusion resistance associated with the enlarged chloroplasts.