Plant, Soil and Environment, 2007 (vol. 53), issue 5
Root excretion and plant tolerance to cadmium toxicity - a review
J. Dong, W.H. Mao, G.P. Zhang, F.B. WU, Y. Cai
Plant Soil Environ., 2007, 53(5):193-200 | DOI: 10.17221/2205-PSE 
Significant quantities of Cd have been added to soils globally due to various anthropogenic activities, posing a serious threat to safe food production and human health. Rhizosphere, as an important interface of soil and plant, plays a significant role in the agro-environmental system. This article presents a review of relationship between root excretion and microorganisms and plant resistance to Cd toxicity and possible mechanisms. Root exudates markedly altered in species and quantity under Cd stress. Root exudates can affect Cd absorption by plants through changing the physical and chemical characteristics of rhizospheres. The influence of root...
The effect of potentially toxic elements and sewage sludge on the activity of regulatory enzyme glutamate kinase
D. Pavlíková, M. Pavlík, L. Staszková, P. Tlustoš, J. Száková, J. Balík
Plant Soil Environ., 2007, 53(5):201-206 | DOI: 10.17221/2204-PSE
The glutamate kinase activity was investigated as a plant stress response to Cd, Zn, As or sewage sludge application to soil in the pot and field experiments with spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). Allosteric regulation of glutamate kinase activity by free proline creates a possibility for an increase in glutamic acid content due to the synthesis of glutathione and phytochelatines in plant cells. For this reason the high rates of As, Cd and Zn applied into soil strongly decreased the glutamate kinase activity. Allosteric regulation of the glutamate kinase activity did not inhibit the synthesis of proline and hydroxyproline under stress condition...
Does antioxidant capacity of leaves play a role in growth response to selenium at different sulfur nutritional status?
R. Hajiboland, L. Amjad
Plant Soil Environ., 2007, 53(5):207-215 | DOI: 10.17221/2202-PSE
There are evidences of beneficial effects of selenium (Se) on plant growth. In this work, using alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and two varieties of Brassica oleracea L. (cabbage and kohlrabi), the effect of Se addition (10 and 20μM) on growth and concentration of sulfur and Se was investigated in hydroponic experiments. In order to study the involvement of Se-mediated changes in the antioxidant capacity of plants in growth promotion by Se, the activity of antioxidant enzymes including ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR) and the concentration of H2O2...
The role of Fe- and Mn-oxides during EDTA-enhanced phytoextraction of heavy metals
M. Komárek, P. Tlustoš, J. Száková, V. Chrastný, J. Balík
Plant Soil Environ., 2007, 53(5):216-224 | DOI: 10.17221/2203-PSE
In several cases ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) proved to be an efficient mobilising amendment during chemically enhanced phytoextraction of heavy metals. The presence of Fe-(hydr)oxides and their dissolution after the addition of EDTA can limit the phytoextraction of the targeted heavy metals due to the high stability of the formed Fe(III)EDTA complexes. This study has focused on the influence of Fe- and Mn-oxides and hydroxides dissolution on heavy metal uptake by Zea mays in a two-year EDTA-enhanced phytoextraction process. Incubation experiments and speciation modelling proved the increased concentrations of Mn and Fe through the...
Relationship of soil properties to fractionation, bioavailability and mobility of lead and zinc in soil
N. Finžgar, P. Tlustoš, D. Leštan
Plant Soil Environ., 2007, 53(5):225-238 | DOI: 10.17221/2201-PSE
Sequential extractions, metal uptake by Taraxacum officinale, Ruby's physiologically based extraction test (PBET) and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), were used to assess the risk of Pb and Zn in contaminated soils, and to determine relationships among soil characteristics, heavy metals soil fractionation, bioavailability and leachability. Regression analysis using linear and 2nd order polynomial models indicated relationships between Pb and Zn contamination and soil properties, although of small significance (P < 0.05). Statistically highly significant correlations (P < 0.001) were obtained using multiple...