Effects of Trichoderma harzianum on Photosynthetic Characteristics and Fruit Quality of Tomato Plants

The beneficial role of fungi from the Trichoderma genus and its secondary metabolites in promoting plant growth, uptake and use efficiency of macronutrients and oligo/micro-nutrients, activation of plant secondary metabolism and plant protection from diseases makes it interesting for application in environmentally friendly agriculture. However, the literature data on the effect of Trichoderma inoculation on tomato fruit quality is scarce. Commercially used tomato cultivars were chosen in combination with indigenous Trichodrema species previously characterized on molecular and biochemical level, to investigate the effect of Trichoderma on photosynthetic characteristics and fruit quality of plants grown in organic system of production. Examined cultivars differed in the majority of examined parameters. Response of cultivar Gružanski zlatni to Trichoderma application was more significant. As a consequence of increased epidermal flavonols and decreased chlorophyll, the nitrogen balance index in leaves has decreased, indicating a shift from primary to secondary metabolism. The quality of its fruit was altered in the sense of increased total flavonoids content, decreased starch, increased Bioaccumulation Index (BI) for Fe and Cr, and decreased BI for heavy metals Ni and Pb. Higher expression of swolenin gene in tomato roots of more responsive tomato cultivar indicates better root colonization, which correlates with observed positive effects of Trichodrema.

A New Approach to Quantifying Bioaccumulation of Elements in Biological Processes

Bioaccumulation, expressed as the bioaccumulation factor (BAF), is a phenomenon widely investigated in the natural environment and at laboratory scale. However, the BAF is more suitable for ecological studies, while in small-scale experiments it has limitations, which are discussed in this article. We propose a new indicator, the bioaccumulation index (BAI). The BAI takes into account the initial load of test elements, which are added to the experimental system together with the biomass of the organism. This offers the opportunity to explore the phenomena related to the bioaccumulation and, contrary to the BAF, can also reveal the dilution of element concentration in the organism. The BAF can overestimate bioaccumulation, and in an extremal situation, when the dilution of element concentration during organism growth occurs, the BAF may produce completely opposite results to the BAI. In one of the examples presented in this work (Tschirner and Simon, 2015), the concentration of phosphorous in fly larvae was lower after the experiment than in the younger larvae before the experiment. Because the phosphorous concentration in the feed was low, the BAF indicated a high bioaccumulation of this element (BAF = 14.85). In contrast, the BAI showed element dilution, which is a more realistic situation (BAI = −0.32). By taking more data into account, the BAI seems to be more valid in determining bioaccumulation, especially in the context of entomoremediation research.

The effect of fertilizing soils degraded by the metallurgical industry on the content of elements in Lactuca sativa L.

The aim of the study was to determine the content of macroelements (Ca, K, P, S, Mg) and microelements (Fe, Cr, Ni, Mn, Zn, Pb, Zn, Ti) in the leaves of Lactuca sativa grown in soils contaminated by the mining and metallurgical industry. The plants were cultivated using four fertilization variants: (a) unfertilized soil, (b) mix of straight fertilizers, (c) multinutrient fertilizer and (d) organic fertilizer, namely granular cattle manure. The study also involved an analysis of metal accumulation degree in the edible parts of lettuce by means of calculating a bioaccumulation index—transfer factor (TF). The analysis of the impact of fertilization on the content of the elements in the edible parts of fertilized versus unfertilized lettuce demonstrated that phytoavailability of the metals was most effectively limited by the multinutrient fertilizer and the mix of straight fertilizers. The organic fertilizer proved to be the least effective. The highest TF values (> 0.1) were recorded for macroelements, which denotes their intense and moderate accumulation. Poor bioaccumulation was observed for Cr, Mn, Ni and Zn (0.01 ≤ TF < 0.1), whereas in the case of Fe, Pb and Ti—trace bioaccumulation or no bioaccumulation was found (TF ≤ 0.01).

Evaluation of Soil and Ambient Air Pollution Around Un-reclaimed Mining Bodies in Nižná Slaná (Slovakia) Post-Mining Area

Thirty soil samples were taken, and the same number of moss (Dicranum scoparium) and lichen (Pseudevernia furfuracea) bags were exposed to detect environmental pollution in the former mining area Nižná Slaná. Soil and ambient air are influenced by hazardous substances, which leak from old mining bodies due to insufficient or completely missing reclamation. The total content of the risk elements (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Sb, Se, Pb, Zn) was determined in soil, moss, and lichen samples and in the bodies of Leccinum pseudoscabrum. Biological (soil enzymes—urease, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, fluorescein diacetate (FDA), ß-glucosidase) and chemical properties (pH) were determined in soil samples. Contamination factor (Cf), degree of contamination (Cd), pollution load index (PLI), and enrichment factor (EF) were used for soil and relative accumulation factor (RAF) for air quality evaluation. Contamination factor values show serious pollution by Cd, Fe, Hg, and Mn. Pollution load index confirmed extremely high pollution almost at all evaluated areas. Soil enzymes reacted to soil pollution mostly by decreasing their activity. Mosses and lichens show differences in the accumulation abilities of individual elements. Regular consumption of L. pseudoscabrum would provide the dose of Cd and Hg below the limit of provisional weekly intake. Based on the bioaccumulation index (BAF) values, L. pseudoscabrum can be characterized as an Hg accumulator.

Hazard Quotient and Bioaccumulation Assessment of 26 Organochlorine Pesticides in Water, Sediment and Fish (Tilapia zilli) Warri River, Niger Delta Region - Southern Nigeria

A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances used to destroy, suppress or alter the life cycle of any pest. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been known to resist biodegradation, persist in the environment and thus can concentrate through food chains and produce a significant magnification that can pose severe toxic risk to human health. Bioaccumulation and concentration levels of 26 Organochlorine Pesticides were assessed in water, sediment and fish samples from the Warri River, Nigeria. Samples were collected across the two predominant seasons - rainy and the dry season. The results obtained reveal the presence of 22 of the investigated 26 OCPs in the dry season whereas 19 were detected in the rainy season. Results obtained revealed p,p’-DDT, γ-HCH, and aldrin as the most predominant pesticides detected in the water samples with concentrations of 0.588; 0.160 and 0.092 μg/L, respectively. γ-HCH, p’-DDD and aldrin (29.00; 23.00 and 22.00 ng/g, respectively) for the sediment samples. The most predominant contaminants in the fish samples were HCB, o,p’-DDT, γ-HCH (60.00; 29.00 and 27.00 ng/g, respectively). The Hazard Quotient (HQ) analysis was carried out on the fish samples collected revealed factors of 1.34 to 3.17 indicating a moderate hazard while the Bioaccumulation Index (BI) was found to be below 1 indicating their suitability for consumption. However, the risk of toxicity and bioaccumulation arising from long-term consumption of the OCP-contaminated fish may still exist.

Human health risk assessment of heavy metals in soils and commonly consumed food crops from quarry sites located at Isiagwu, Ebonyi State

In view of ensuring healthy agricultural foods for human consumption, this study assessed the human health risk implicated in selected heavy metals in some commonly consumed vegetables, tubers, nuts and fruits grown around the quarry sites at Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Samples from agriculture area of Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria, constituted the control. The concentration of Mn, Zn, Fe, Cu, Cd, and Pb, were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. The potential non-carcinogenic health risk for consumers which included Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) and Target Hazard Quotients (THQ) for Pb, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cd and Cu while carcinogenic health risk using Cancer Slope Factors (CSF) was established for Cd and Pb. Relative abundance of heavy metals across the locations and all samples was in the order Fe > Mn > Zn > Pb > Cu > Cd. There was statistical significant effect of quarrying activities on the concentration of the heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd) at p < 0.05 level. Based on the observed bioconcentration factors, cassava showed more hyperaccumulation potential compared to other samples. Pumpkin and bitter leaf also could be used in remediation owing to their high bioaccumulation index for Pb and Zn. THQ obtained for Mn and Pb were >1 indicating that the residents at the quarry site may be exposed to potential non-carcinogenic health risk due to Mn and Pb intoxication. With respect to US EPA prescriptions, average carcinogenic risk values obtained for Pb and Cd in this study indicated a lifetime (70 years) probability of contracting cancer suggesting that they be placed for further consideration as chemicals of concern with respect to the assessed locals.

Phytochemical properties and heavy metal accumulation in wheat grain after three years’ fertilization with biogas digestate and mineral waste

Non-standard materials used for plant fertilization, require characterization to reduce any possible undesired effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fertilization with biogas digestate (BD) and mining waste (carboniferous mudstones (MS) from coal mine) on wheat yield quality and the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in wheat grains in relation to conventional fertilization (NPK) and no fertilization. Using the co-application of waste (MS+BD), the highest yield was obtained in the first and second year, but in the third year, a slight decrease in yield was observed compared to NPK. In all years, BD and MS+BD fertilization increased the content of protein, wet gluten, and phenols in wheat grain compared to NPK and no fertilization. Waste fertilization had a positive effect on the antioxidant capacity index of grain but only in the first year. The bioaccumulation index (BAI) demonstrated that NPK decreased BAI for Zn, B, Cd, and Mn, whereas MS+BD decreased BAI for Cu, Sr, Pb, Co, Ba, and Cr.