Even though antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As) are chemical analogs, differences exist on how they are taken up and translocated in plants. We investigated 1) Sb uptake, efflux and speciation in arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata after 1 d exposure to 1.6 or 8 mg/L antimonite (SbIII) or antimonate (SbV), 2) Sb uptake by PV accessions from Florida, China, and Brazil after 7 d exposure to 8 mg/L SbIII, and 3) Sb uptake and oxidation by excised PV fronds after 1 d exposure to 8 mg/L SbIII or SbV. After 1 d exposure, P. vittata took 23–32 times more SbIII than SbV, with all Sb being accumulated in the roots with the highest at 4,192 mg/kg. When exposed to 8 mg/L SbV, 98% of Sb existed as SbV in the roots. In comparison, when exposed to 8 mg/L SbIII, 81% of the total Sb remained as SbIII and 26% of the total Sb was effluxed out into the media. The three PV accessions had a similar ability to accumulate Sb at 12,000 mg/kg in the roots, with >99% of total Sb in the roots. Excised PV fronds translocated SbV more efficiently from the petioles to pinnae than SbIII and were unable to oxidize SbIII. Overall, P. vittata displayed efficient root uptake and efflux of SbIII with limited ability to translocate and transform in the roots.

Urban green infrastructure is closely linked to the alleviation of pollution from atmospheric particulate matter. Although particle deposition has been shown to depend on leaf characteristics, the findings from earlier studies are sometimes ambiguous due to the lack of controlling variables. In this study, we investigated the impact of leaf morphological characteristics on PM₂.₅ dry deposition velocity by employing a control-variable approach. We focused on four indices: trichome density, petiole length, aspect ratio (width-to-length ratio), and fractal deviation. For each index, tree species were chosen from the same family or genus to minimize the influence of other factors and make a group of treatments for an individual index. The dry deposition velocities of PM₂.₅ were determined through application of an indirect method. The results revealed that the presence of leaf trichomes had a positive effect on PM₂.₅ dry deposition velocity, and a higher trichome density also led to a greater particle deposition velocity. Lower leaf aspect ratio, shorter petioles, and higher leaf fractal deviation were associated with greater PM₂.₅ dry deposition velocity. The control-variable approach allows to investigate the correlation between deposition velocity and a certain leaf characteristic independently while minimizing the effects of others. Thus, our study can clarify how a single leaf characteristic affects particle deposition velocity, and expound its potential mechanism more scientifically than the published studies. Our research points out the importance of controlling variables, and also provides ideas for future researches on related factors to be found. Meanwhile the results would help provide insight into design improvements or adaptive management for the alleviation of air pollution.

Artemisia fragrans is a plant species with ability of growing on heavy metal-polluted soils. Ecotypes of this species naturally growing in polluted areas can accumulate and tolerate different amounts of heavy metals (HM), depending on soil contamination level at their origin. Heavy metal tolerance of various ecotypes collected from contaminated (AP, SP) and non-contaminated (BG) sites was compared by cultivation on a highly HM-contaminated river sediment and a non-contaminated agricultural control soil.Tissue-specific HM distribution was analyzed by laser ablation-inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS) and photosynthetic activity by non-invasive monitoring of chlorophyll fluorescence.Plant-mineral analysis did not reveal ecotype-differences in concentrations of Cd, Zn, Cu in shoots of Artemisia plants, suggesting no differential expression of root uptake or root to shoot translocation of HM. There was also no detectable rhizosphere effect on HM concentrations on the contaminated soil. However, despite high soil contaminations, all ecotypes accumulated Zn only in the concentration range of generally reported for normal growth of plants, while Cu and Cd concentrations were close to or even higher than the toxicity level for most plants. As a visible symptom of differences in HM tolerance, only the AP ecotype was able to enter the generative phase to complete its life cycle. Analysis of tissue-specific metal distribution revealed significantly lower concentrations of Cd in the leaf mesophyll of this ecotype, accumulating Cd mainly in the leaf petioles. A similar mesophyll exclusion was detectable also for Cu, although not associated with preferential accumulation in the leaf petioles. However, high mesophyll concentrations of Cd and Cu in the SP and BG ecotypes were associated with disturbances of the photosynthetic activity.The findings demonstrate differential expression of HM exclusion strategies in Artemisia ecotypes and suggest Cd and Cu exclusion from the photosynthetically active tissues as a major tolerance mechanism of the AP ecotype.

The purpose of the current study was to determine the appropriate genotype and concentration of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles effectual in preserving mulberry leaves at the postharvest stage. The preservative effect of silver nanoparticles was determined by their potentiality to prevent xylem blockage, chlorophyll content retention and inhibition of microbial proliferation within a preservative solution. For synthesizing silver nanoparticles, a blend of 10⁻³ M silver nitrate and S1 genotype of the mulberry leaf was found to be most effective. Silver nanoparticles at 6 ppm were observed to be the least effective concentration for preserving mulberry leaves for at least 7 days at the postharvest stage, as evident from physical texture and retention of chlorophyll content. Biosynthesized silver nanoparticles showed negative microbial count during the course of preservation as evident from no colony-forming unit (CFU) until the last day of preservation, while conventional preservative silver nitrate showed traces of CFU on a nutrient agar plate. Besides, these leaves preserved in nanosilver solution showed an almost negligible number of xylem blockage in the petiole, almost equivalent to the blockage nature of fresh leaves caused by the deposition of macromolecules like protein, lignin and suberin. Nanosilver- and silver nitrate–preserved leaves also displayed insignificant accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and greater retention of membrane integrity than leaves preserved in normal distilled water. Nanosilver solution showed greater durability of preserving mulberry leaves than conventional floral preservative silver nitrate, useful for feeding silkworm larvae during the rainy season.

Tropospheric ozone (O₃) is the air pollutant of most concern to vegetation at present. Ozone impacts on stomata are still controversial, as both decreased stomatal conductance and slow stomatal responses to environmental stimuli (namely, stomatal sluggishness) have been shown. We postulated that the light environment affects stomatal sluggishness. To concurrently manipulate O₃ and light conditions and measure gas exchange at leaf level, we developed an innovative O₃ exposure system by modifying a commercially available gas exchange system. We exposed the first trifoliate leaf of the O₃-sensitive genotype S156 of snapbean (Phaseolus vulgaris) to a 1-h O₃ exposure (150 ppb) under 1000 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ photosynthetic photon flux density, so that stomata were fully open and O₃ uptake was maximized. Then, leaves were subjected to different light intensities (200, 1000, or 1500 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) until a steady state was reached. As a metric of sluggishness, we quantified the stomatal responses to a sharp water stress generated by cutting the petiole at steady state. The results showed that O₃ exposure induced stomatal sluggishness only under high light (stomata needed 53 % more time to half stomatal conductance relative to steady state) and did not when the plants were under lower light intensities. We conclude that O₃-induced stomatal sluggishness may occur only in fully irradiated leaves, and suggest it is a minor response when entire crowns and canopies are assessed and a major reason of the higher O₃ sensitivity of sun leaves than of shade leaves.

The adsorption of lead onto date palm fibers (palm fibers) and leaf base of palm (petiole) has been examined in aqueous solution by considering the influence of various parameters such as contact time, solution pH, adsorbent dosage, particle sizes, ionic strength, and temperature. The adsorption of Pb(II) increased with an increase of contact time. The optimal range of pH for Pb(II) adsorption is 3.0-4.5. The linear Langmuir and Freundlich models were applied to describe the equilibrium isotherms, and both models fitted well. The monolayer adsorption capacity of Pb(II) on palm fibers and petiole was found as 18.622 and 20.040 mg/g, respectively, at pH 4.5 and 25°C. Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm model was also applied to equilibrium data. The mean free energy of adsorption (2.397 and 4.082 kJ/mol) onto palm fibers and petiole, respectively, may be carried out via physisorption mechanism. Pseudo-first-order rate equation and pseudo-second-order rate equation were applied to study the adsorption kinetics. In comparison to first-order kinetic model, pseudo-second-order model described well the adsorption kinetics of Pb(II) onto palm fibers and petiole from aqueous solution. From the results of the thermodynamic analysis, Gibbs free energy ΔG, enthalpy change ΔH, and entropy ΔS were determined. The positive value of ΔH suggests that interaction of Pb(II) adsorbed by palm fibers is endothermic. In contrast, the negative value of ΔH indicates that interaction of Pb(II) ions by petiole is exothermic. The negative value of ΔG indicates that the adsorption of Pb(II) ions on both palm fibers and petiole is a spontaneous process.

This study was performed in organic vineyard to assess integrated pollution in soil–plant–air system by potentially toxic elements (PTE). Concentrations of 26 PTE were determined in soil, grapevine, and air biomonitors (moss bags) using ICP-OES and ICP-MS. Environmental implication assessment of soil did not show pollution by PTE, except for B in samples collected in the middle of grapevine season (July). Despite low total Cd concentrations in soil, it has the highest influence on increase of environmental risk. Based on biological accumulation concentration (BAC), grapevine is not hyperaccumulator of PTE from soil. Advanced classification algorithm, Kohonen self-organizing map (SOM), was applied to compare environmental implications in organic with conventional vineyards. PTE concentrations were significantly lower in organic than conventional grapevine. PTE concentrations were higher in the outer (leaf and petiole) than in the inner grapevine parts (skin, pulp, and seed). Some airborne elements have an influence on outer grapevine parts, especially on leaves (ratio factor—RF > 1). Moss bag technique testified about lower enrichment of airborne elements compared with the conventional vineyard and urban microenvironments. Environmental and health risk assessments confirmed that organic production is harmless for field workers and grape consumers.

The use of industrial effluents for agricultural practices due to waste management properties, water scarcity, or cultural belief affects both the physiology and morphology of cultivated crops. This study reports the investigation of the agro-potentiality of the effluents from a beverage bottling company on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) under a controlled environment. This greenhouse experiment was carried out within Obafemi Awolowo University. The effluents were applied at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% concentrations using untreated (A) and treated (B) effluents separately in two groups. Physicochemical properties of the effluents were determined using standard methods. Exchangeable cations present in the effluents were investigated via the ammonium acetate exchange way. Morphological and yield parameters were measured in ten replicates. Transverse sections of the leaf, petiole, and stem were also investigated under a light microscopy. General linear model was used for statistical analysis with means compared using Tukey’s HSD test at p < 0.05. The effluents had pH, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids in the range of 7.4–7.5, 599.0–693.0 μS/cm, and 395.0–455.0 mg/l, respectively. The exchangeable calcium and potassium concentrations in the effluents range 1067.00–1937.50 and 190.0–343.50 mg/l. Application of effluent A had no significant effect on number of pods per group, seeds per pod, leaf length, leaf width, and leaf area of cowpea (p > 0.05). There was a significant effect of effluent A on the number of leaves and shoot height (p < 0.05). The application of effluent B had a significant effect on the mean number of leaves and seeds per pod at higher (40–50%) concentrations (p < 0.05). Amendment with effluent B showed no significant effect on the mean shoot height, leaf length, width and area, pods per group, pod length, and girth size (p > 0.05). The frequency of guard cells was observed to decrease with increasing effluents (A and B) concentration on the abaxial epidermis. Likewise, a “black deposit” was observed in the vessels in the stem taken from group amended with effluent A at high concentrations (30–50%). No anatomical differences were observed in the petiole and leaf transverse sections of the control and amended subgroups. The untreated and treated effluents showed agro-potentiality. However, crops grown need to be monitored for the health impacts on man and animal, as risk of crop cellular disruption exist.

This study investigated the short-term impacts of an oil spill on the leaf anatomical structures of Terminalia catappa L. from crude oil leakage in Rayong province, Thailand, in 2013. Approximately 3 weeks after the oil spill, leaves of T. catappa were collected along the coastline of Rayong from one affected site, five adjacent sites, and a control site. Slides of the leaf epidermis were prepared by the peeling method, while leaf and petiole transverse sections were prepared by paraffin embedding. Cell walls of adaxial epidermal cell on leaves in the affected site were straight instead of the jigsaw shape found in leaves from the adjacent and control sites. In addition, the stomatal index of the abaxial leaf surface was significantly lower in the affected site. Leaf and petiole transverse sections collected from the affected site showed increased cuticle thickness, epidermal cell diameter on both sides, and palisade mesophyll thickness; in contrast, vessel diameter and spongy mesophyll thickness were reduced. These significant changes in the leaf anatomy of T. catappa correspond with previous research and demonstrate the negative effects of oil spill pollution on plants. The anatomical changes of T. catappa in response to crude oil pollution are discussed as a possible indicator of pollution and may be used in monitoring crude oil pollution.

In freshwater ecosystems, aquatic macrophytes play significant roles in nutrient cycling. One problem in this process is nutrient loss in the tissues of untimely harvested plants. In this study, we used two aquatic species, Nelumbo nucifera and Trapa bispinosa Roxb., to investigate the decomposition dynamics and nutrient release from detritus. Litter bags containing 10 g of stems (plus petioles) and leaves for each species detritus were incubated in the pond from November 2016 to May 2017. Nine times litterbags were retrieved on days 6, 14, 25, 45, 65, 90, 125, 145, and 165 after the decomposition experiment for the monitoring of biomass loss and nutrient release. The results suggested that the dry masses of N. nucifera and T. bispinosa decomposed by 49.35–69.40 and 82.65–91.65%, respectively. The order of decomposition rate constants (k) is as follows: leaves of T. bispinosa (0.0122 day⁻¹) > stems (plus petioles) of T. bispinosa (0.0090 day⁻¹) > leaves of N. nucifera (0.0060 day⁻¹) > stems (plus petioles) of N. nucifera (0.0030 day⁻¹). Additionally, the orders of time for 50% dry mass decay, time for 95% dry mass decay, and turnover rate are as follows: leaves < stems (plus petioles) and T. bispinosa < N. nucifera, respectively. This result indicated that the dry mass loss, k values, and other parameters related to k values are significantly different in species- and tissue-specific. The C, N, and P concentration and the C/N, C/P, and N/P ratios presented the irregular temporal changes trends during the whole decay period. In addition, nutrient accumulation index (AI) was significantly changed depending on the dry mass remaining and C, N, and P concentration in detritus at different decomposition times. The nutrient AIs were 36.72, 8.08, 6.35, and 2.56% for N; 31.25, 9.85, 4.00, and 1.63% for P; 25.15, 16.96, 7.36, and 6.16% for C in the stems (plus petioles) of N. nucifera, leaves of N. nucifera, stems (plus petioles) of T. bispinosa, and leaves of T. bispinosa, respectively, at the day 165. These results indicated that 63.28–97.44% of N, 68.75–98.37% of P, and 74.85–93.84% of C were released from the plant detritus to the water at the day 165 of the decomposition period. The initial detritus chemistry, particularly the P-related parameters (P concentration and C/P and N/P ratios), strongly affected dry mass loss, decomposition rates, and nutrient released from detritus into water. Two-way ANOVA results also confirm that the effects on the species were significant for decomposition dynamics (dry mass loss), nutrient release (nutrient concentration, their ratios, and nutrient AI) (P < 0.01), and expected N concentration (P > 0.05). In addition, the decomposition time had also significant effects on the detritus decomposition dynamic and nutrient release. However, the contributors of species and decomposition time on detritus decomposition were significantly different on the basis of their F values of two-way ANOVA results. This study can provide scientific bases for the aquatic plant scientific management in freshwater ecosystems of the East region of China.