Resumo A fitorremediação é uma técnica ecologicamente correta para limpar metais pesados de solo contaminado pelo uso de espécies vegetais produtoras de alta biomassa. Os quelantes podem ajudar a melhorar esta técnica biológica aumentando a solubilidade do metal. Para tanto, foi realizado um experimento em vaso para determinar o efeito dos quelantes EDTA e ácido cítrico (AC) na fitorremediação de solo contaminado com Ni, utilizando Brassica napus (canola). Duas cultivares de B. napus, Con-II (tolerante) e Oscar (sensível) foram selecionadas após triagem e expostas a NiSO4 a 30 ppm no momento da semeadura. CA (10 mM) e EDTA (1,5 mM) foram aplicados sozinhos ou em combinação um com o outro após duas semanas de tratamentos com Ni. Diferentes parâmetros como dados morfofisiológicos e bioquímicos foram registrados após 15 dias de aplicação de quelato. Os resultados destacaram o uso bem-sucedido de agentes quelantes (CA e EDTA) não apenas para melhorar o estresse de Ni, mas também para aumentar o acúmulo de Ni, um pré-requisito para a fitorremediação. A aplicação basal da concentração de 10 mMCA e 1,5 mM de EDTA mostrou-se eficaz para o crescimento das plantas. A combinação de agentes quelantes não mostrou quaisquer efeitos sinérgicos.

Abstract Phytoremediation is an ecofriendly technique to clean heavy metals from contaminated soil by the use of high biomass producing plant species. Chelators can help to improve this biological technique by increasing metal solubility. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted to determine the effect of the chelators EDTA and citric acid (CA) in phytoremediation of Ni contaminated soil by using Brassica napus (canola). Two cultivars of B. napus, Con-II (tolerant) and Oscar (sensitive), were selected after screening and exposed to NiSO4 at 30 ppm at the time of sowing. CA (10 mM) and EDTA (1.5 mM) were applied either alone or in combination with each other after two weeks of Ni treatments. Different parameters like morpho-physiological and biochemical data were recorded after 15 days of chelate application. The results highlighted the successful use of chelating agents (CA and EDTA) not only to ameliorate Ni stress but also to enhance Ni accumulation which is prerequisite for phytoremediation. The basal application of 10 mMCA and 1.5 mM EDTA concentration proved to be effective for the growth of plants. The combination of chelating agents failed to show any synergistic effects.

ABSTRACT A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of exogenous enzymes supplementation in high protein (Hi-Pro) corn DDGS-based diets on broiler growth performance, intestinal health, and nutrient digestibility. A total of 200 one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments with five replicates of 10 birds each. A basal diet (CON) was formulated (CP: 20%; ME: 2900 Kcal/kg) containing 15% of dietary crude protein share from Hi-Pro corn DDGS. Three experimental diets were developed using basal diets; diet one was supplemented with protease (CON-P), diet two with an enzyme mix of mannanase and xylanase (CON-MX) and diet three with a protease and enzyme mix of mannanase and xylanase. A digestibility assay was carried out using Celite (insoluble acid ash), from day 29 to day 35. On day 35, four birds from each replicate were picked randomly and killed by cervical dislocation to collect ileal digesta. In addition, duodenum, jejunum and ileum lengths were measured, and tissue samples were collected from midpoints of jejunum to note villus height and crypt depths. Feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were not affected by dietary treatments during the entire study period (p>0.05). Likewise, no difference in carcass characteristics, soft organ weight, intestinal morphology, apparent amino acids digestibility and visible ileal digestible energy was observed by the dietary treatments (p>0.05).Supplementation of exogenous protease and enzyme mix (mannanase and xylanase) had no effect on growth performance, intestinal integrity and nutrient availability of broiler chickens fed Hi-Pro DDGS-based diets.

Salinity adversely affects physiological and biochemical processes in plants. Plants might have different methods to decrease the harmful effects of salinity, such as the accumulation of osmolytes and antioxidant compounds. An experiment was conducted in the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sargodha, Pakistan to determine the effect of different levels of phosphorus (P) on wheat under saline conditions. Data of shoot and root fresh and dry weights, chlorophyll contents, different ion accumulation and yield components of wheat were collected. When different levels of phosphorus were applied on wheat plant under saline conditions, phosphorus reduced the effect of salinity. Applications of phosphorus decreased Na+ uptake and increased potassium concentrations, chlorophyll contents and enhanced growth of wheat plants under saline and non-saline conditions. This indicated that application of phosphorus stabilized the physiology of the wheat plants, as phosphorus activated potassium transport in wheat plants. Therefore, application of phosphorus had a positive effect on yield of the wheat plants. In conclusion, all these investigations showed that phosphorus induced the salt tolerance in wheat plants.

La salinidad afecta negativamente a los procesos fisiológicos y bioquímicos en las plantas. Las plantas pueden tener diferentes métodos para disminuir los efectos perjudiciales de la salinidad, tales como acumulación de osmolitos y compuestos antioxidantes. Se realizó un experimento en el Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Sargodha, Pakistán para determinar el efecto de diferentes niveles de fósforo en el trigo bajo condiciones salinas. Se recogieron datos de diferentes parámetros tales como los pesos seco y fresco de tallo y raíces; contenido de clorofila, y la acumulación de diferentes iones y componentes del rendimiento de trigo. Cuando se aplicaron diferentes niveles de fósforo en plantas de trigo bajo condiciones salinas, el fósforo redujo los efectos de la salinidad. Las aplicaciones de fósforo disminuyeron la absorción de Na+ e incrementaron las concentraciones de potasio, contenidos de clorofila y mejoró el crecimiento de plantas de trigo bajo condiciones salinas y no salinas. Esto indicó que la aplicación de fósforo estabilizó la fisiología de las plantas de trigo, desde que el fósforo activó el transporte de potasio en plantas de trigo. Luego, la aplicación de fósforo tuvo un efecto positivo en el rendimiento de las plantas de trigo. En conclusión, estas investigaciones mostraron que el fósforo indujo la tolerancia a la sal en plantas de trigo.