Urban turfgrass ecosystems are expected to increase at unprecedented rates in upcoming decades, due to the increasing population density and urban sprawl worldwide. However, so far urban turfgrasses are among the least understood of all terrestrial ecosystems concerning their impact on biogeochemical N cycling and associated nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitric oxide (NO) fluxes. In this study, we aimed to characterize and quantify annual N₂O and NO fluxes from urban turfgrasses dominated by either C4, warm-season species or C3, cool-season and shade-enduring species, based on year-round field measurements in Beijing, China. Our results showed that soil N₂O and NO fluxes varied substantially within the studied year, characterizing by higher emissions during the growing season and lower fluxes during the non-growing season. The regression model fitted by soil temperature and soil water content explained approximately 50%–70% and 31%–38% of the variance in N₂O and NO fluxes, respectively. Annual cumulative emissions for all urban turfgrasses ranged from 0.75 to 1.27 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for N₂O and from 0.30 to 0.46 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for NO, both are generally higher than those of Chinese natural grasslands. Non-growing season fluxes contributed 17%–37% and 23%–30% to the annual budgets of N₂O and NO, respectively. Our results also showed that compared to the cool-season turfgrass, annual N₂O and NO emissions were greatly reduced by the warm-season turfgrass, with the high root system limiting the availability of inorganic N substrates to soil microbial processes of nitrification and denitrification. This study indicates the importance of enhanced N retention of urban turfgrasses through the management of effective species for alleviating the potential environmental impacts of these rapidly expanding ecosystems.

Lead (Pb) is an environmental pollutant that negatively affects rice plants, causing damage to the root system and chloroplast structures, as well as reducing growth. 24-Epibrasnolide (EBR) is a plant growth regulator with a high capacity to modulate antioxidant metabolism. The objective of this research was to investigate whether exogenous EBR application can mitigate oxidative damage in Pb-stressed rice plants, measure anatomical structures and evaluate physiological and biochemical responses connected with redox metabolism. The experiment was randomized with four treatments, including two lead treatments (0 and 200 μM PbCl₂, described as - Pb and + Pb, respectively) and two treatments with brassinosteroid (0 and 100 nM EBR, described as - EBR and + EBR, respectively). The results revealed that plants exposed to Pb suffered significant disturbances, but the EBR alleviated the negative interferences, as confirmed by the improvements in the root structures and antioxidant system. This steroid stimulated the root structures, increasing the epidermis thickness (26%) and aerenchyma area (50%), resulting in higher protection of this tissue against Pb²⁺ ions. Additionally, EBR promoted significant increases in superoxide dismutase (26%), catalase (24%), ascorbate peroxidase (54%) and peroxidase (63%) enzymes, reducing oxidative stress on the photosynthetic machinery in Pb-stressed plants. This research proved that EBR mitigates the toxic effects generated by Pb in rice plants.

Soil contamination with antibiotics and antibiotic resistant bacteria/genes (ARB/ARGs) has becoming an emerging environmental problem. Moreover, the mixed pollutants' transfer and accumulation from soil to tuberous vegetables has posed a great threat against food security and human health. In this work, the application of two absorbing materials (maize biochar and sulfate modified eggshell) was able to reduce the poisonous effect of soil antibiotics on potato root system by stimulate the dissipation of water-soluble antibiotics in soil; and also improve food quality by increasing potato starch, protein, fat, and vitamins. Meanwhile, both amendments could effectively decrease the classes and the accumulative abundance of ARB and ARGs (sulI, sulII, catI, catII, ermA, ermB) in the edible parts of potato. The lowest abundance of ARGs was detected in the biochar application treatment, with the accumulative ARG level of 8.9 × 10² and 7.2 × 10² copies mL⁻¹ in potato peel (sull + catI + ermA) and tuberous root (sulI), respectively. It is the first study to demonstrate the feasibility of biochar and eggshell derived from agricultural wastes as green absorbing materials to reduce soil antibiotic, ARB, and ARGs accumulation risk in tuberous vegetable.

The effects of the ionic liquid 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([OMIM]Cl) was studied in hydroponically grown rice seedlings. Observed effects included increased root length and weight at concentrations of 0.1 mg/L [OMIM]Cl, however, as concentrations increased a reversed response was observed where roots and stems grew shorter and the weight decreased. The inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50,5d) values for root length and stem length were 0.59 mg/L and 0.70 mg/L, respectively. The Hill reaction activity and root system activity in [OMIM]Cl-treated rice seedlings were observed to be lower than the controls, however, root membrane permeability increased. The antioxidant enzyme activity in roots decreased, while in leaves there was an initial stimulation followed by a decrease. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was found to be greater in seedlings subjected to [OMIM]Cl treatment. The cellular structures, such as chloroplasts, mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum in rice root and leaf cells were affected at concentrations of 0.6 mg/L [OMIM]Cl.

Atrazine is an herbicide commonly used in several countries. Due to its long half-life, associated with its use in large scales, atrazine residues remain as environmental pollutants in water bodies. Phytoremediation is often pointed out as an interesting approach to remove atrazine from the aquatic environment, but its practical application is limited by the high toxicity of this herbicide. Here, we characterize the damages triggered by atrazine in Pistia stratiotes, evaluating the role of nitric oxide (NO), a cell-signaling molecule, in increasing the tolerance to the pollutant and the phytoremediation potential of this species. Pistia stratiotes plants were exposed to four treatments: Control; Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (0.05 mg L⁻¹); Atrazine (ATZ) (150 μg L⁻¹) and ATZ + SNP. The plants remained under those conditions for 24 h for biochemical and physiological analysis and 3 days for the evaluation of relative growth rate. The presence of atrazine in plant cells triggered a series of biochemical and physiological damages, such as the increase in the generation of reactive oxygen species, damages to cell membranes, photosynthesis impairment, and negative carbon balance. Despite this, the plants maintained greater growth rates than other aquatic macrophytes exposed to atrazine and showed high bioconcentration and translocation factors. The addition of SNP, a NO donor, decreased the herbicide toxicity, with an increase of over 60% in the IC₅₀ value (Inhibitor Concentration). Indeed, the NO signaling action was able to increase the tolerance of plants to atrazine, which resulted in increments in pollutant uptake and translocation, with the maintenance of overall cell (e.g. membranes) and organs (root system) structure, and the functioning of central physiological processes (e.g. photosynthesis). These factors allowed for more quickly and efficient removal of the pollutant from the environment, reducing costs, and increasing the viability of the phytoremediation process.

The co-contamination by perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and heavy metals (HMs) is ubiquitous in the surface environment subjected to sewage irrigation and land application of sludge. However, the joint effects of HMs and PFAAs on plant roots are not well clarified. This study explored the root uptake and acropetal translocation behaviors of C2–C8 PFAAs by wheat (Triticum acstivnm L.) under the co-exposure of copper (Cu). The underlying uptake mechanisms of PFAAs were verified in a defective root system. The results showed that excessive Cu (100–400 μmol/L) damaged the cell membrane of wheat root to increase electrolytic leakage. In the defective root system, the root concentrations of PFAAs decreased by 6%–73% and the decrease rates were negatively associated with the carbon chain length of PFAAs. Along with the decrease in root concentrations of PFAAs, the amount of ultrashort-chain (C2–C3) and short-chain (C4–C6) PFAAs translocated to the shoot also decreased by 45%–84%. In contrast, the acropetal translocation of long-chain (C8) PFAAs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), was enhanced under Cu exposure due to the increase in root permeability as observed by increased electrolytic leakage. The shoot concentrations of PFOA and PFOS under Cu exposure were up to 5.5 and 11 times higher than those in the control, respectively. These results suggested that PFOA and PFOS could enter wheat root more easily through the breaks caused by Cu exposure and thereby their acropetal transportation to shoot was enhanced. Therefore, the risk of plant accumulation of long-chain PFAAs can be potentially underestimated if without considering the co-contamination with HMs in the environment.

Hydrogen (δ2H), carbon (δ13C), oxygen (δ18O) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes of tree rings growing in field conditions can be indicative of past pollution effects. The characteristic δ13C trend is a positive shift generally explained by invoking closure of stomata, but experimental studies suggest that increased rates of carboxylation could also generate such trends. In many cases the δ18O and δ2H values decrease in trees exposed to pollution and exhibit inverse coinciding long-term trends with δ13C values. However, some trees exposed to diffuse pollution and experimental conditions can show an increase or no δ18O change even if δ13C values increase. These diverse responses depend on how stress conditions modify physiological functions such as stomatal conductance, carboxylation, respiration, and perhaps water assimilation by the root system. Recent studies suggest that δ15N changes in trees can be caused by soil acidification and accumulation of anthropogenic emissions with isotopic signals deviating from natural N.

In situ remediation technology applied aims to not only decrease cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) uptake by rice but also improve soil health and rice quality in contaminated paddy soils. Here the effects of a combined amendment, consisting of limestone, iron powder, silicon fertilizer, and calcium-magnesium-phosphate fertilizer, with three application rates (0, 450, and 900 g m⁻²) on soil health, rice root system, and brown rice quality were compared in moderately versus highly Cd and As co-contaminated paddy fields. After the amendment application, soil pH, cation exchange capacity, four kinds of soil enzyme activities increased (sucrase, urease, acid phosphatase, and catalase), and concentrations of leached Cd/As decreased, as measured by the DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid) and TCLP (toxicity characteristic leaching procedure). Changes in the above soil indicators promoted soil health. In both fields, the dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate (DCB)-Fe and DCB-Mn concentration in iron plaque increased and root length became longer. Changes in the above root system indicators reduced the root system's absorption of Cd and As but increased that of nutrients. Under 900 g m⁻² treatment, the Cd concentration in brown rice of two sites decreased by 55.8% and 28.9%, likewise inorganic As (iAs) decreased by 50.0% and 21.1%, whereas essential amino acids increased by 20.4% and 20.0%, respectively. Furthermore, the Cd and iAs concentrations in brown rice were <0.2 mg kg⁻¹ (maximum contaminant level of Cd and iAs in the Chinese National Food Safety Standards GB2762-2017 for brown rice) under the 900 g m⁻² in the moderately contaminated field. These results suggest the combined amendment can improve soil health and brown rice quality in the moderately and highly Cd- and As-co-contaminated paddy soils, offering potential eco-friendly and efficient remediation material for applications in such polluted paddy soils.

The B-type cyclin gene, CycB2, serves as a negative regulator of glandular trichome initiation. Through targeted knockout of NtCycB2 in Nicotiana tabacum cv. K326 using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, we created a variety, HK326, which exhibits significantly increased density and larger glandular heads of long glandular trichomes. Under Cd-stress, HK326 exhibited enhanced Cd tolerance, as demonstrated by a robust root system, strengthened cell membrane stability, and higher photosynthetic parameters. HK326 exhibited enhanced Cd-stress tolerance due to a strong excretion capacity of long glandular trichomes by forming calcium oxalate crystals. Cd mainly accumulated in tobacco shoots rather than remained in roots. Specifically, Cd levels of the HK326 shoot surface were nearly two-fold of those of K326, resulting in less Cd internally in the roots and shoots. Gene expression patterns revealed 11 Cd transporter genes that were upregulated after Cd-stress in shoots, roots, and trichomes. Among them, the NtHMA2 gene encoding heavy metal ATPases and involved in the transport of divalent heavy metal cations was expressed consistently and significantly higher in HK326 than K326, both before and after Cd-stress. NtHMA2 expression was strong in trichomes, moderate in shoots, while weak in roots. The results indicate that NtHMA2 may be involved in Cd excretion from glandular trichomes. Our findings suggest HK326 may be an appropriate candidate plant for Cd-stress tolerance.

Rorippa globosa (Turcz.) Thell. is known as Cd hyperaccumulator, however neither hyperaccumulation nature, nor affecting factors like the effect of Cd compounds entering soil from different sources, or of specific soil amendments, are not yet satisfactorily clarified. In the pot culture experiment, Cd accumulation by R. globosa from soils spiked with 3 and 9 mg Cd kg⁻¹ in the form of Cd(NO₃)₂, CdCl₂, CdBr₂, CdI₂, CdSO₄, CdF₂, Cd(OH)₂, CdCO₃, Cd₃(PO₄)₂, CdS and effect of soil amendment with glutathione (GSH) were investigated. Accumulation capacity of R. globosa for Cd appeared to reflect its extractability in soils and was about two-fold bigger for high soluble compounds than for low-soluble ones. At that, the differences between the accumulation of Cd originating from high soluble compound group did not exceed 20%, while the differences within the low soluble compound group were insignificant (p < 0.05). The analysis of Cd uptake, uptake factor (UF), enrichment factor (EF) and translocation factor (TF) patterns revealed that Cd hyperaccumulating properties of R. globosa are based on the high water/nutrients demand and strong tolerance to Cd, although weak protection against Cd uptake by root system was also observed. Amendment with GSH enhanced Cd availability to plant and its uptake from soil, but exerted no effect on Cd translocation in plants. In the light of the results, the use of R. globosa for phytoremediation of moderately polluted agricultural lands as forecrop or aftercrop, and the GSH-assisted phytoremediation of highly polluted post-industrial sites seem to be viable options.