Screening High-Biomass Grasses for Cadmium Phytoremediation.

Investigating the ability of non-hyperaccumulator plants to grow in soils polluted by cadmium (Cd) and their potential for phytostabilization or phytoextraction is essential for assessing their use in phytomanagement efficiency. Therefore, we evaluated the tolerance of high-biomass grasses to Cd by measuring biomass production and element accumulation and valued them for their suitability for phytoextraction or phytostabilization purposes on moderately Cd-polluted land (total Cd concentration of 7.5 mg kg) by determining Cd accumulation in the plants and calculating the bioconcentration (Cd BCF) and translocation factors (Cd TF).

Effect of selenium and soil pH on cadmium phytoextraction by Urochloa decumbens grown in Oxisol.

It has been speculated that selenium (Se) supply can affect cadmium (Cd) 'availability' and increase the Cd tolerance of plants used for phytoextraction, in a pH-dependent process. Thus, we evaluated the interaction Cd-Se and the effects of soil pH in this interaction on plant availability of Cd and phytoextraction efficiency of Urochloa decumbens cv. Basilisk grown in Oxisol.

Effects of winter and summer conditions on Cd fractionation and bioavailability, bacterial communities and Cd phytoextraction potential of Brachiaria decumbens and Panicum maximum grown in a tropical soil.

The interactions between soil properties, microorganisms, plant species and climate affect cadmium (Cd) availability in tropical soils. In this study, we investigated the effects of simulated summer and winter conditions on Cd fractionation and bacterial communities in Oxisols and on growth of two high biomass production-grasses (Brachiaria decumbens and Panicum maximum) that were evaluated for their Cd phytoextraction potential. We also assessed how these interactions could influence the availability of Cd and its possible phytoextraction by these grasses.

Aluminum-induced toxicity in Urochloa brizantha genotypes: A first glance into root Al-apoplastic and -symplastic compartmentation, Al-translocation and antioxidant performance.

Previous studies have unraveled contrasting Al genotypic differences between Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu (moderately tolerant) and Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés (more tolerant).

Evaluation of buffers toxicity in tobacco cells: Homopiperazine-1,4-bis (2-ethanesulfonic acid) is a suitable buffer for plant cells studies at low pH.

Low pH is an important environmental stressor of plant root cells. Understanding the mechanisms of stress and tolerance to acidity is critical; however, there is no widely accepted pH buffer for studies of plant cells at low pH. Such a buffer might also benefit studies of Al toxicity, in which buffering at low pH is also important.

Temporal dynamics of the response to Al stress in Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus camaldulensis.

Lipid peroxidation and root elongation of Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus camaldulensis were studied under stress conditions in response to aluminum (Al), a metal known to limit agricultural productivity in acidic soils primarily due to reduced root elongation. In Brazil, the Grancam 1277 hybrid (E. grandis × E.

Tropical soils with high aluminum concentrations cause oxidative stress in two tomato genotypes.

Tropical and subtropical soils are usually acidic and have high concentrations of aluminum (Al). Aluminum toxicity in plants is caused by the high affinity of the Al cation for cell walls, membranes, and metabolites. In this study, the response of the antioxidant-enzymatic system to Al was examined in two tomato genotypes: Solanum lycopersicum var.

Water stress reveals differential antioxidant responses of tolerant and non-tolerant sugarcane genotypes.

The biochemical responses of the enzymatic antioxidant system of a drought-tolerant cultivar (IACSP 94-2094) and a commercial cultivar in Brazil (IACSP 95-5000) grown under two levels of soil water restriction (70% and 30% Soil Available Water Content) were investigated. IACSP 94-2094 exhibited one additional active superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD VI) isoenzyme in comparison to IACSP 95-5000, possibly contributing to the heightened response of IACSP 94-2094 to the induced stress. The total glutathione reductase (GR) activity increased substantially in IACSP 94-2094 under conditions of severe water stress; however, the appearance of a new GR isoenzyme and the disappearance of another isoenzyme were found not to be related to the stress response because the cultivars from both treatment groups (control and water restrictions) exhibited identical changes.

The Rg1 allele as a valuable tool for genetic transformation of the tomato 'Micro-Tom' model system.

Background: The cultivar Micro-Tom (MT) is regarded as a model system for tomato genetics due to its short life cycle and miniature size. However, efforts to improve tomato genetic transformation have led to protocols dependent on the costly hormone zeatin, combined with an excessive number of steps.

Results: Here we report the development of a MT near-isogenic genotype harboring the allele Rg1 (MT-Rg1), which greatly improves tomato in vitro regeneration.