Vein loading in unifoliate leaves of white bean seedlings exposed to excess Co(2+), Ni(2+), or Zn(2+) for 1 to 4 days was studied by incubating leaf discs in [(14)C]sucrose. The discs from plants exposed to metal exhibited an increased total uptake of radiosucrose but reduced vein loading. Differences between treatments due to infiltration of disc margins were eliminated by analyzing 7-millimet...

Zinc resistance in Pseudomonas sp. strain UDG26 was inducible. Induction led to enhanced uptake of the metal. A zinc-sensitive variant (UDG86) took up significantly less metal ion than the resistant one did. The affinity of uninduced and sensitive cells to zinc was less than that of resistant, induced cells. Metal accumulation by induced cells was not inhibited by azide, while 2,4-dinitrophenol...

Cadmium (Cd), as a widespread metal pollutant, readily accumulates in the food chain due to its easy absorption and high mobility. The endophytic fungi are cosmopolitan microorganisms that occur widely in association with plants in a heavy metal stress environment. A current pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of Piriformospora indica, as a root endosymbiotic fungus, on the b...

The effect of 24-epibrassinolide (24-epiBL) on seedling growth, metal uptake and accumulation were investigated in seedlings of Brassica juncea L. cv. PBR 91. Seeds of B. juncea treated with different concentrations (0, 10-7, 10-9 and 10-11 M) of 24-epiBL for 8 h were subjected to various concentrations (0, 25, 50 and 100 mg l-1) of heavy metals (Zn, Mn, Co and Ni). Seedling growth was improved...

For human health, transition metal accumulation in edible seeds like cereal grains is of worldwide importance, since Fe and Zn deficiencies are among the most prevalent human nutritional disorders in the world. There have been many recent developments in our understanding of the patterns in which transition metals accumulate in the seeds, the identity of some specific transporters that are requ...

Heavy metal contamination of the soil has become a serious problem confronting both scientists and regulators around the world. The occurrence and accumulation of these heavy metals in farm soils has far reaching implications on human health as humans occupy a key position on the food chain. Within the last ten years, studies on heavy metal accumulation in food crops and agricultural soils cond...

Objective: Metal concentrations in 53 soil samples of Shahr-e-Babak were determined.  Methods: Assessment of enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index revealed higher degree of contamination of Cd, Pb, and Cu in soil samples. Moreover, results of metal fractionation study revealed high amount of Cd and Pb are associated in weakly bounds may lead to environmental risk of these metals.  Result...

Sexually mature female tilapia were exposed to sublethal concentrations of waterborne Cu and/or Cd over 6 days, and subsequent body concentrations of these metals were determined in several organs. The results show that the distribution of Cu and Cd was metal and organ specific. This is demonstrated, for example, by the observation that in tilapia, Cu exposure did not result in Cu accumulation ...

Objective: Metal concentrations in 53 soil samples of Shahr-e-Babak were determined.  Methods: Assessment of enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index revealed higher degree of contamination of Cd, Pb, and Cu in soil samples. Moreover, results of metal fractionation study revealed high amount of Cd and Pb are associated in weakly bounds may lead to environmental risk of these metals.  Result...