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da Silva MEJ, Mathe LOJ, van Rooyen IL, Brink HG, Nicol W. Optimal Growth Conditions for Azolla pinnata R. Brown: Impacts of Light Intensity, Nitrogen Addition, pH Control, and Humidity. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11081048. [PMID: 35448775 PMCID: PMC9032100 DOI: 10.3390/plants11081048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Nitrogen pollution from agriculture is a major challenge facing our society today. Biological nitrogen fixation is key to combat the damage that is caused by synthetic nitrogen. Azolla spp. are ideal candidates for fast nitrogen fixation. This study aimed to investigate the optimal growth conditions for Azolla pinnata R. Brown. The growth conditions that were investigated included the growth medium type and strength, light intensity, the presence/absence of nitrogen in the medium, pH control, and humidity. Higher light intensities increased plant growth by 32%, on average. The highest humidity (90%) yielded higher growth rate values than lower humidity values (60% and 75%). The presence of nitrogen in the medium had no significant effect on the growth rate of the plants. pH control was critical under the fast growth conditions of high light intensity and high humidity, and it reduced algal growth (from visual observation). The optimal growth rate that was achieved was 0.321 day−1, with a doubling time of 2.16 days. This was achieved by using a 15% strength of the Hoagland solution, high light intensity (20,000 lx), nitrogen present in the medium, and pH control at 90% humidity. These optimised conditions could offer an improvement to the existing phytoremediation systems of Azolla pinnata and aid in the fight against synthetic nitrogen pollution.
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Yadav RK, Chatrath A, Tripathi K, Gerard M, Ahmad A, Mishra V, Abraham G. Salinity tolerance mechanism in the aquatic nitrogen fixing pteridophyte Azolla: a review. Symbiosis 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s13199-020-00736-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Green TGA, Sancho LG, Pintado A, Saco D, Martín S, Arróniz-Crespo M, Angel Casermeiro M, de la Cruz Caravaca MT, Cameron S, Rozzi R. Sodium chloride accumulation in glycophyte plants with cyanobacterial symbionts. AOB PLANTS 2017; 9:plx053. [PMID: 29225764 PMCID: PMC5716166 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plx053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The majority of plant species are glycophytes and are not salt-tolerant and maintain low sodium levels within their tissues; if. high tissue sodium concentrations do occur, it is in response to elevated environmental salt levels. Here we report an apparently novel and taxonomically diverse grouping of plants that continuously maintain high tissue sodium contents and share the rare feature of possessing symbiotic cyanobacteria. Leaves of Gunnera magellanica in Tierra del Fuego always had sodium contents (dry weight basis) of around 4.26 g kg-1, about 20 times greater than measured in other higher plants in the community (0.29 g kg-1). Potassium and chloride levels were also elevated. This was not a response to soil sodium and chloride levels as these were low at all sites. High sodium contents were also confirmed in G. magellanica from several other sites in Tierra del Fuego, in plants taken to, and cultivated in Madrid for 2 years at low soil salt conditions, and also in other free living or cultivated species of Gunnera from the UK and New Zealand. Gunnera species are the only angiosperms that possess cyanobacterial symbionts so we analysed other plants that have this rather rare symbiosis, all being glycophytes. Samples of Azolla, a floating aquatic fern, from Europe and New Zealand all had even higher sodium levels than Gunnera. Roots of the gymnosperm Cycas revoluta had lower sodium contents (2.52 ± 0.34 g kg-1) but still higher than the non-symbiotic glycophytes. The overaccumulation of salt even when it is at low levels in the environment appears to be linked to the possession of a cyanobacterial symbiosis although the actual functional basis is unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas George Allan Green
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Biological Sciences, Waikato University, 3216 Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Leopoldo G Sancho
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Pintado
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Dolores Saco
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Soledad Martín
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - María Arróniz-Crespo
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Química y Tecnología de Alimentos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Angel Casermeiro
- Departamento de Edafología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Steven Cameron
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waikato, 3216 Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Ricardo Rozzi
- Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76201, USA
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Thagela P, Yadav RK, Mishra V, Dahuja A, Ahmad A, Singh PK, Tiwari BS, Abraham G. Salinity-induced inhibition of growth in the aquatic pteridophyte Azolla microphylla primarily involves inhibition of photosynthetic components and signaling molecules as revealed by proteome analysis. PROTOPLASMA 2017; 254:303-313. [PMID: 26837223 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-016-0946-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Salinity stress causes adverse physiological and biochemical changes in the growth and productivity of a plant. Azolla, a symbiotic pteridophyte and potent candidate for biofertilizer due to its nitrogen fixation ability, shows reduced growth and nitrogen fixation during saline stress. To better understand regulatory components involved in salinity-induced physiological changes, in the present study, Azolla microphylla plants were exposed to NaCl (6.74 and 8.61 ds/m) and growth, photochemical reactions of photosynthesis, ion accumulation, and changes in cellular proteome were studied. Maximum dry weight was accumulated in control and untreated plant while a substantial decrease in dry weight was observed in the plants exposed to salinity. Exposure of the organism to different concentrations of salt in hydroponic conditions resulted in differential level of Na+ and K+ ion accumulation. Comparative analysis of salinity-induced proteome changes in A. microphylla revealed 58 salt responsive proteins which were differentially expressed during the salt exposure. Moreover, 42 % spots among differentially expressed proteins were involved in different signaling events. The identified proteins are involved in photosynthesis, energy metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, protein synthesis, and defense. Downregulation of these key metabolic proteins appears to inhibit the growth of A. microphylla in response to salinity. Altogether, the study revealed that in Azolla, increased salinity primarily affected signaling and photosynthesis that in turn leads to reduced biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preeti Thagela
- Centre for Conservation and Utilization of BGA, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Ravindra Kumar Yadav
- Centre for Conservation and Utilization of BGA, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Vagish Mishra
- NRCPB, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Anil Dahuja
- Division of Biochemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Altaf Ahmad
- Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, U.P., India
| | - Pawan Kumar Singh
- Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, U.P., India
| | - Budhi Sagar Tiwari
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, University and Institute of Advanced Research, Gandhinagar, 382007, Gujrat, India
| | - Gerard Abraham
- Centre for Conservation and Utilization of BGA, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India.
- Centre for Conservation and Utilization of BGA, CCUBGA, NEAR AUDITORIUM, New Delhi, 110012, India.
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Yadav RK, Tripathi K, Ramteke PW, Varghese E, Abraham G. Salinity induced physiological and biochemical changes in the freshly separated cyanobionts of Azolla microphylla and Azolla caroliniana. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2016; 106:39-45. [PMID: 27135817 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Revised: 04/16/2016] [Accepted: 04/16/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Freshly separated cyanobionts of Azolla microphylla and Azolla caroliniana plants exposed to salinity showed decline in the cellular constituents such as chlorophyll (23.1 and 38.9%) and protein (12.9 and 19.3%). However, an increase in the carotenoid and sugar content was observed. Exposure to salinity stress reduced the heterocyst frequency (35.4 and 57.2%) and nitrogenase activity (37.7 and 46.3%) of the cyanobionts. Increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as super oxide dismutase (50.6 and 11.5%), ascorbate peroxidase (63.7 and 57.9%), catalase (94.2 and 22.5%) as well as non-enzymatic antioxidant proline (18.8 and 13.3%) was also observed in response to salinity. The cyanobionts exhibited significant increase in the intracellular Na(+) level and reduced intracellular K(+)/Na(+) and Ca(2+)/Na(+) ratio in response to salinity. The results demonstrate the adverse impact of salinity on the freshly separated cyanobionts as similar to free living cyanobacteria. These results may be helpful in the critical evaluation of salinity tolerance mechanism of the cyanobiont and its interaction with the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravindra Kumar Yadav
- Centre for Conservation and Utilization of BGA, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Keshawanand Tripathi
- Centre for Conservation and Utilization of BGA, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Pramod Wasudeo Ramteke
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Allahabad, U.P 211007, India
| | - Eldho Varghese
- Division of Design of Experiments, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Gerard Abraham
- Centre for Conservation and Utilization of BGA, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India.
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Muradov N, Taha M, Miranda AF, Kadali K, Gujar A, Rochfort S, Stevenson T, Ball AS, Mouradov A. Dual application of duckweed and azolla plants for wastewater treatment and renewable fuels and petrochemicals production. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2014; 7:30. [PMID: 24576349 PMCID: PMC3944989 DOI: 10.1186/1754-6834-7-30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2013] [Accepted: 02/10/2014] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Shortages in fresh water supplies today affects more than 1 billion people worldwide. Phytoremediation strategies, based on the abilities of aquatic plants to recycle nutrients offer an attractive solution for the bioremediation of water pollution and represents one of the most globally researched issues. The subsequent application of the biomass from the remediation for the production of fuels and petrochemicals offers an ecologically friendly and cost-effective solution for water pollution problems and production of value-added products. RESULTS In this paper, the feasibility of the dual application of duckweed and azolla aquatic plants for wastewater treatment and production of renewable fuels and petrochemicals is explored. The differences in absorption rates of the key wastewater nutrients, ammonium and phosphorus by these aquatic macrophytes were used as the basis for optimization of the composition of wastewater effluents. Analysis of pyrolysis products showed that azolla and algae produce a similar range of bio-oils that contain a large spectrum of petrochemicals including straight-chain C10-C21 alkanes, which can be directly used as diesel fuel supplement, or a glycerin-free component of biodiesel. Pyrolysis of duckweed produces a different range of bio-oil components that can potentially be used for the production of "green" gasoline and diesel fuel using existing techniques, such as catalytic hydrodeoxygenation. CONCLUSIONS Differences in absorption rates of the key wastewater nutrients, ammonium and phosphorus by different aquatic macrophytes can be used for optimization of composition of wastewater effluents. The generated data suggest that the composition of the petrochemicals can be modified in a targeted fashion, not only by using different species, but also by changing the source plants' metabolic profile, by exposing them to different abiotic or biotic stresses. This study presents an attractive, ecologically friendly and cost-effective solution for efficient bio-filtration of swine wastewater and petrochemicals production from generated biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazim Muradov
- University of Central Florida, Florida Solar Energy Centre, 1679 Clearlake Road, 32922 Cocoa, FL, USA
| | - Mohamed Taha
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, 3083 Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Ana F Miranda
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, 3083 Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Krishna Kadali
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, 3083 Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Amit Gujar
- University of Central Florida, Florida Solar Energy Centre, 1679 Clearlake Road, 32922 Cocoa, FL, USA
| | - Simone Rochfort
- Department of Primary Industries, Biosciences Research Division, Victorian AgriBiosciences Centre, 3083 Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Trevor Stevenson
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, 3083 Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew S Ball
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, 3083 Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Aidyn Mouradov
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, 3083 Bundoora, VIC, Australia
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Abraham G, Dhar DW. Induction of salt tolerance in Azolla microphylla Kaulf through modulation of antioxidant enzymes and ion transport. PROTOPLASMA 2010; 245:105-111. [PMID: 20422236 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-010-0147-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2010] [Accepted: 04/07/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Azolla microphylla plants exposed directly to NaCl (13 dsm(-1)) did not survive the salinity treatment beyond a period of one day, whereas plants exposed directly to 4 and 9 dsm(-1) NaCl were able to grow and produce biomass. However, plants pre-exposed to NaCl (2 dsm(-1)) for 7 days on subsequent exposure to 13 dsm(-1) NaCl were able to grow and produce biomass although at a slow rate and are hereinafter designated as pre-exposed plants. The pre-exposed and directly exposed plants distinctly differed in their response to salt in terms of lipid peroxidation, proline accumulation, activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as SOD, APX, and CAT, and Na(+)/K(+) ratio. Efficient modulation of antioxidant enzymes coupled with regulation of ion transport play an important role in the induction of salt tolerance. Results show that it is possible to induce salt adaptation in A. microphylla by pre-exposing them to low concentrations of NaCl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Abraham
- Centre for Conservation and Utilization of Blue Green Algae, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India.
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Azolla as a Superorganism. Its Implication in Symbiotic Studies. CELLULAR ORIGIN, LIFE IN EXTREME HABITATS AND ASTROBIOLOGY 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/978-90-481-9449-0_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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Costa ML, Santos MCR, Carrapiço F, Pereira AL. Azolla-Anabaena's behaviour in urban wastewater and artificial media--influence of combined nitrogen. WATER RESEARCH 2009; 43:3743-50. [PMID: 19559459 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2009.05.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2009] [Revised: 05/21/2009] [Accepted: 05/28/2009] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The results of using the nitrogen fixing symbiotic system Azolla-Anabaena to improve the quality of treated urban wastewater, particularly on what concerns phosphorus removal efficiencies (40-65%), obtained in continuous assays performed during the past few years and presented earlier, were very promising. Nevertheless, the presence of combined nitrogen in some wastewaters can compromise the treatment efficiency. The main goal of this work was to compare plants behaviour in wastewater and in mineral media with and without added nitrogen. Azolla filiculoides's specific growth rates in wastewater and in mineral media without added nitrogen or with low nitrate concentration were very similar (0.122 d(-1)-0.126 d(-1)), but decreased in the presence of ammonium (0.100 d(-1)). The orthophosphate removal rate coefficients were similar in all the growth media (0.210 d(-1)-0.232 d(-1)), but ammonium removal rate coefficient in wastewater was higher (0.117 d(-1)) than in mineral medium using that source of nitrogen (0.077 d(-1)). The ammonium present in wastewater, despite its high concentration (34 mg NL(-1)), didn't seem to inhibit growth and nitrogen fixation, however, in mineral media, ammonium (40 mg NL(-1)) was found to induce, respectively, 18% and 46% of inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Costa
- Departamento de Ciências Exactas e do Ambiente, CERNAS, Escola Superior Agrária de Coimbra, I.P.C., Bencanta, Coimbra, Portugal.
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