Renata Matraszek

Response of Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.) to Selenium in Nutrient Solution Contaminated with Nickel

Response of Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.) to Selenium in Nutrient Solution Contaminated with Nickel The influence of two selenium concentrations (5 and 20 μM) on crop yield, the content of chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins, as well as accumulation of nickel, selenium and sulphur were studied in the leaves of 50 μM Ni-stressed lettuce plants. Experiments were carried out in water cultures. The obtained results suggest that selenium at concentration of 5 μM in nickel contaminated medium positively affected plants by stimulating their growth, increasing the concentration of assimilation pigments, and thereby at least partially prevented the toxic effect of nickel excess. Moreover, in plants enrichment with selenium a higher increase in content of chlorophyll a than b as well as a higher concentration of carotenoids were found. On the other hand, selenium affected a greater nickel uptake by lettuce plants. Reakcja Sałaty (Lactuca sativa L.) Na Selen w Warunkach Skażenia Środowiska Niklem Badano wpływ dwóch stężeń selenu (5 i 20 μM) na plonowanie, zawartość chlorofilu, karotenoidów i antocyjanów, jak również akumulację niklu, selenu i siarki w częściach użytkowych sałaty uprawianej w warunkach 50 μM stresu niklowego. Doświadczenie przeprowadzono w kulturach wodnych. Uzyskane wyniki sugerują, że wzbogacenie środowiska skażonego niklem w 5 μM selenu w wpływa pozytywnie na rośliny - stymuluje ich wzrost, zwiększa koncentrację barwników asymilacyjnych i tym samym częściowo niweluje toksyczny wpływ niklu. Ponadto w roślinach wzbogaconych w selen wykazano większy wzrost zawartości chlorofilu a niż chlorofilu b oraz podwyższoną zawartość karotenoidów. Jednak z drugiej strony, selen wpływał na zwiększone pobieranie niklu przez rośliny sałaty.

Productivity and Chemical Composition of Tomato and Cucumber Plants Growing in Nickel-Polluted Soils Fertilized with Biona-312

Abstract: The effect of ion‐exchange substrate Biona‐312 additions to nickel (Ni)–polluted soil on yield and mineral composition of cherry tomato and cucumber was evaluated. The plants were grown on the following media: untreated soil (the control series) and soil with added Ni (40 and 100 mg of Ni kg−1, respectively) as well as Biona‐312 (2 and 5% mass additions, respectively). In the presence of 40 mg of Ni kg−1 of soil, the plant yield did not change significantly, whereas in conditions of 100 of mg Ni kg−1, it decreased significantly. Biona‐312 application on Ni‐polluted soil increased the productivity of both species. The content of macronutrients in the plant biomass varied depending on the growth stage, Ni level, and Biona‐312 dose. For both species, higher Ni content was observed in the aboveground organs than in roots, but tomato contained more Ni than cucumber. Biona application reduced the Ni content in plant biomass of both species after being introduced into soil with a higher Ni level.

Growth and mineral composition of nickel-stressed plants under conditions of supplementation with excessive amounts of calcium and iron.

This study investigated the effectiveness of excessive calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe) supplement nutrition in spinach Markiza F1 cv. and sweet corn Zlota Karlowa cv. to alleviate nickel (Ni)-induced phytotoxicity. The following doses of the pollutant Ni were introduced: 0 (control), 40, or 60 mg Ni/kg growth medium. Two levels of calcium (Ca), 270 (basic) and 400 mg/kg (intensive), as well as two levels of iron (Fe), 10 (basic) and 20 mg/kg (intensive), respectively, were used. Intensive nutrition supplementation of Ni-stressed test plants species with Ca or Fe was beneficial as manifested by significantly increased maize shoots and roots biomass, lowered content of Ni in spinach and maize in above-ground parts, and decreased concentration of the pollutant in roots of intensive Ca-supplied maize plants grown in the environment containing 60 mg Ni/kg. Moreover there was significantly elevated Fe content in highly fertilized with iron spinach plants grown in the presence of 60 mg Ni/kg and in shoots of Ni-treated maize plants intensively supplied with Ca or Fe. Generally, high content of Ca or Fe in the growth medium significantly raised the content of free and bound Ca in shoots of Ni-stressed spinach plants. The same phenomenon was found in roots, but only in the presence of 60 mg Ni. Intensive nutrition supplementation of Ni-treated maize plants with Fe or Ca generally did not change the concentration of free Ca in plant organs, but elevated bound Ca levels in roots was observed. Increased bound Ca content was also found in leaves of maize plants intensive supplied with Ca. Thus, intensive Ca or Fe nutrition presents a promising potential for use in the conditions of Ni contamination by increasing plant growth, reducing Ni translocation from roots to shoots and raising the nutritive value of above-ground parts of spinach and maize plants.

Productivity and Chemical Composition of Tomato and Cucumber Plants Growing in Natural Soils Fertilized with Biona‐312

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of small additions of ion exchange substrate, Biona‐312, to soil on the yield and mineral composition of cherry tomato cv. ‘Koralik’ and cucumber cv. ‘Hermes F1.’ The test plants were grown under greenhouse conditions and subjected to 0, 2, and 5% (mass) Biona‐312 doses introduced into the soil. The study results showed that Biona‐312 introduced into soil significantly increased the yield of the test species at the flowering and fruiting stage. Soil enrichment with 2 and 5% Biona additions generally increased the nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (N‐P‐K) content in tomato and cucumber organs at the flowering and fruiting stage with parallel magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) content decrease. Introduction of nutrients together with the ion exchange substrate did not cause negative effects of overfertilization, and thus the ion exchange substrate can be recommended as a fertilizer in tomato and cucumber cultivation.

Lettuce yield and root activity as affected by an ion exchange substrate and mineral nutrition level

ABSTRACT The study involved investigating the effect of ion exchange substrate (IES) addition to a nutrient solution (2% or 5% v/v) on the yield and root parameters of butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. “Justyna”) under the conditions of basic (1.5-times concentrated Hoagland solution, electrical conductivity, EC 2.41–2.47 dS m−1), and intensive (3-times concentrated Hoagland solution, EC 6.85–7.30 dS m−1) mineral nutrition level. Regardless of the mineral nutrition level, both experimental additions of IES significantly increased the yield and elevated the volume, as well as the whole (WRA) and the active (ARA) adsorptive surface area of roots. It was confirmed that the substrate did not cause salt stress. Additionally, it was revealed that the substrate constitutes a beneficial component of lettuce in non-salinized (basic) or salinized (intensive mineral nutrition level) environment and that the 2% dose was more favorable than 5% dose.

Macronutrient Balance of Nickel-Stressed Lettuce Plants Grown under Different Sulfur Levels

ABSTRACT This study investigated whether intensive nutrition with sulfur–sulfate (S-SO4) (2, 6, or 9 mM S) of nickel-stressed (0, 0.0004, 0.04, or 0.08 mM Ni) butterhead lettuce cv. Justyna may improve macronutrient balance and reduce Ni bioaccumulation. Nickel exposure resulted in various unfavorable changes in the macronutrient content together with increase of Ni accumulation in the biomass. Intensive S nutrition of Ni-treated lettuce seems to have no beneficial effect on macronutrient balance. In general, it significantly reduced the root and foliar phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and S content and simultaneously did not affect the magnesium (Mg) content in the biomass. At the same time, the nitrogen (N) content was reduced in roots and elevated in shoots. Supplementation of Ni-exposed lettuce with high S doses raised in roots and reduced foliar Ni accumulation; however, Ni content in useable parts exceeded the acceptable limits established for consumption.

Effects of Protein Hydrolysate on Soil Fertility and Heavy-Metal Accumulation in Sinapis alba L.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of protein hydrolysate (Hemozym) for fertilization purposes used in unpolluted and cadmium-polluted soil. Three levels of Hemozym (0, 0.1, and 0.2 cm3 kg−1 dry weight [DW] soil) and cadmium (Cd) rate 5 mg kg−1 DW soil were used. The fertilizer value of Hemozym was evaluated based on characteristics of the sorptive complex and soil respiratory activity as well as based on the soil and plant heavy-metal content. Increased soil fertility due to the beneficial effect of Hemozym on the improvement in the physicochemical properties of the soil and its microbial activity. However, they do not allow us to determine unambiguously the effect of this fertilizer on solubility vs. binding of heavy metals that occur naturally in the soil (zinc [Zn], copper [Cu], and lead [Pb]) and of intentionally introduced Cd, in spite of an indicative tendency towards the conversion of metals into poorly soluble forms.

Macronutrients Composition of Lettuce Plants (Lactuca sativa L.) as Affected by Mineral Nutrition Level and ION Exchange Substrate Biona-312 Supplementation

The effect of ion exchange substrate Biona-312 addition (2 or 5%) on the macronutrients composition of butterhead lettuce cv. ‘Justyna’ plants under conditions of basic (1.5-times) and intensive (3-times concentrated Hoagland solution) mineral nutrition level was investigated. Both experimental doses of Biona-312 introduced into 1.5-times concentrated Hoagland nutrient solution [electrical conductivity (EC) 2.41–2.47 dS m−1] dropped nitrogen (N) content in roots. Simultaneously statistically proven increase in foliar concentration of total sulfur (S) as well as a decrease in phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents in lettuce above- and underground organs were observed. The changes in calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) content were insignificant. Ion exchange substrate supplementation into 3-times concentrated Hoagland nutrient solution (EC 6.85–7.30 dS m−1), significantly elevated N and K contents in above- and underground organs, raised the foliar S content, decreased Ca and Mg contents in leaves, as well as dropped P concentration in roots and increased content in leaves.