The impact of nickel on plant growth and oxidative balance.

This review summarizes the impact of nickel (Ni) in hydroponics on the growth, basic biochemical parameters and oxidative balance in angiosperms using data from 66 papers (and 181 treatments). Generally, changes in biomass, pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) and proteins were negative when comparing concentration (≤100 and >100 μM) and time (≤14 and >14 days). However, we could deduce a higher tolerance to Ni excess in dicots than in monocots.

Interaction of nickel with oxidative and antioxidative molecules in Cichorioideae species.

The uptake of nickel (Ni) by Asteraceae/Cichorioideae species Cichorium intybus, Leontodon hispidus and Hieracium aurantiacum exposed to Ni (0.3 or 30 μM) over 14 days and subsequent changes of metabolites were compared in order to identify their phytoaccumulation potential. Hieracium contained the most Ni (194 and 1558 μg Ni/g DW at 30 μM Ni in shoots and roots) but had unchanged amount of antioxidants (vitamin C and thiols) in the shoots and an elevated amount in the roots, which may be the reason for the absence of visible damage.

Visual plant anatomy: From science to education and vice versa.

Plant biology, mainly plant anatomy, is a less attractive area for students at high school and university, but not much research has been devoted to improve this field. We therefore researched into the teaching of root, stem and leaf anatomy combined with the preparation of native microscopic slides and histochemical reaction using two selected dyes (classic phloroglucinol test combined with textile dye 'Duha green' to visualize xylem and phloem, respectively). The use of reagents in teaching had a positive effect on students' knowledge (control/ experimental class) of root (+70%), stem (+70%) and leaf anatomy (+130%) as well as vascular and mechanical tissues (+170%), leading to an overall improvement of knowledge by ca.

Elemental profile identifies metallurgical pollution in epiphytic lichen Xanthoria parietina and (hypo)xanthine correlates with metals.

The accumulation of 55 elements in lichens under the heap of a former nickel smelter (village Dolná Streda, Slovakia) and at eight sites at different distances from the heap plus six sites throughout Slovakia was studied to determine the elemental profile. The major metals in the heap sludge and in the lichens below the heap (Ni, Cr, Fe, Mn, and Co) were surprisingly low in lichens from both the near and far vicinity of the heap (4-25 km), indicating limited airborne spread. However, two different sites with metallurgical activity (another site near the ferroalloy producer in Orava) typically contained the highest amount of individual elements, including rare earth elements, Th, U, Ag, Pd, Bi and Be, and their separation from other sites was confirmed by PCA and HCA analyses.

Nickel uptake in hydroponics and elemental profile in relation to cultivation reveal variability in three Hypericum species.

The Hypericum species (H. perforatum, H. olympicum, and H.