[Effects of different iron concentrations on the growths of a unicellular strain and a colonial strain of Microcystis aeruginosa].

We investigated the growth, photosynthetic efficiency, siderophore production and iron accumulation of two strains of M. aeruginosa, a unicellular strain M. aeruginosa PCC7806 and a colonial strain M. aeruginosa XW01, under iron-limited and iron-replete conditions. The identities of ITS and fur gene sequences of two strains were 95% and 98% respectively.That implied the two strains should be close relatives. Results showed the growths of two strains were severely inhibited under an iron-limited condition. The unicellular strain died in 6 days,whereas the colonial strain could maintain a weak growth in 10 days under the iron-limited condition. PSII maximum light energy transformation (Fv/Fm) of the colonial strain and the unicellular strain were 0.182 +/- 0.014 and 0.160 +/- 0.017, respectively. The colonial strain displayed a higher photosynthetic oxygen evolution than the unicellular strain. Two strains could produce siderophores, which were hydroxamate type. The colonial strain produced more siderophores than unicellular strain under the iron-limited condition.Iron contents of two strains were less than 1/3 cultured in the iron-limited condition than in iron-replete condition, but no obvious difference appeared between the two strains. Our result demonstrated that the colonial strain have a stronger endurance than unicellular strain under the iron-limited condition. As two strains had almost same abilities of iron accumulation, the other physiological mechanisms in the unicellular strain should be more sensitive to lower iron level.

[Distribution and toxicity of cadmium in Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle].

Aquatic plants are known to accumulate and bioconcentrate heavy metals. In this study, aquatic vascular plant Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle was cultivated in water containing elevated concentrations of cadmium (up to 10 mg/L) for 7 d, the accumulation, subcellular distribution, ultrastructural localization, chemical form, toxic effects on mineral nutrient absorption of cadmium, photosynthesis rate and respiration rate were studied. It was found that H. verticillata fronds was able to accumulate cadmium, the bioconcentration factor was 193-307; subcellular fraction analysis revealed that cadmium major accumulated in cell wall (61.66%-52.00%) with decrease trends, the content of Cd enhanced in soluble fraction and remained stable in organelles, with the augment of pollutant concentration. The Cd levels occurred in different parts of leaf cell with the following sequence: cell wall > soluble fraction > organelles. Ultrastructural localization of cadmium with sulfide-silver method showed that Cd appeared in cell wall, chloroplast, nucleus and vacuole. Sequential extraction indicated that the ratio of different cadmium chemical form was different markedly, of which NaCl extractable Cd was predominated as compared with the other 5 forms; which could be seen in the following order: F(NaCl) > F(HAc) >F(Water) > F(Ethanol) > F(HCl) > F(Residue). The mineral nutrient absorption was also affected by cadmium stress, it increased the absorption of Ca, Mn, Cu, and Fe; but reduced that of P and K. Cd had a strong inhibitive effect on photosynthesis rate and respiration rate. The results suggested that the toxic symptoms of plant showed an evident correlation between dose and effect; the ultrastructural damage was closely related to the distribution of Cd. The conclusion could be reached that the death of plant was resulted from destruction of structure foundation of physiological function, unbalance of ion equilibrium and disorder of physiological metabolism.