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The Asian and Australasian Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology

Volume 4 Special Issue 1 2010
Khazakhstan Plant Science and Biotechnology

AAJPSB
ISBN 978-4-903313-44-3

How to reference: Kovalchuk I, Turdiev T, Kushnarenko S, Rakhimbaev I, Reed BM (2010) Cryopreservation of Raspberry Cultivars: Testing Techniques for Long-Term Storage of Kazakhstan’s Plant Germplasm. In: Turuspekov Y (Ed) Khazakhstan Plant Science and Biotechnology. The Asian and Australasian Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology 4 (Special Issue 1), 1-4

Guest Editor

Yerlan Turuspekov

Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, National Center of Biotechnology, Ministry of Education and Science, Republic of Kazakhstan


www.ipbb.kz/page.php?lang=3


CONTENTS AND ABSTRACTS

Irina Kovalchuk, Timur Turdiev, Svetlana Kushnarenko, Izbasar Rakhimbaev (Kazakhstan), Barbara M. Reed (USA) Cryopreservation of Raspberry Cultivars: Testing Techniques for Long-Term Storage of Kazakhstan’s Plant Germplasm (pp 1-4)

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Original Research Paper: The genetic resources of vegetatively propagated plants are usually maintained in field genebanks. In vitro methods play an important role as backup collections for these irreplaceable plants. Medium-term backups can be held as in vitro cultures in cold storage for several years, but also remain at risk of loss. In order to provide long-term storage of raspberry genetic resources, in vitro cultures of raspberry cultivars and selections held in the Kazakhstan national germplasm collection were tested for cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen. Three techniques were tested, two with PVS2 vitrification and one with encapsulation dehydration. Cold acclimation (CA) can be used to improve regrowth following cryopreservation, so the optimum CA duration was determined for two cultivars. Three weeks of CA was optimal for the best regrowth of raspberry ‘Druzhnaya’ while 3 to 5 weeks were best for ‘Anar’. Three months of CA did not improve regrowth for ‘Anar’. Both cultivars had good regrowth following the 0.3M sucrose pretreatment and the PVS2 vitrification technique. ‘Anar’ responded equally well to the pretreatment with 5% DMSO and 1% bovine serum albumen followed by PVS2 vitrification. Cryopreservation with the encapsulation dehydration technique produced significantly less regrowth in both cultivars. Cultivars and selections Anar, Babiye Leto, Druzhnaya, Kerzhach, Kokinskaya, K-10-12, K-12-4, K-13-60, Latham, Osnovyanka, and Pathfinder were cryopreserved with the sucrose pretreatment and PVS2 vitrification technique and stored in liquid nitrogen dewars. Initial results after short liquid nitrogen exposure showed 52-82% regrowth from nine of the eleven raspberries. Samples remaining in liquid nitrogen for long-term storage will be assessed later. This study indicates that cryopreservation is a reasonable technique for long-term storage of raspberry germplasm.

 

Svetlana Kushnarenko, Eugene Salnikov, Marat Nurtazin, Zinat Mukhitdinova, Izbasar Rakhimbaev (Kazakhstan), Barbara M. Reed (USA) Characterization and Cryopreservation of Malus sieversii Seeds (pp 5-9)

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Original Research Paper: Kazakhstan is one of the centers of origin and evolution of apple (Malus). The main forest species is Malus sieversii (Ledeb.) M. Roem., representatives of which have important traits such as disease and insect resistance, cold hardiness, and fruit quality. The area of these unique wild forests is continually decreasing as a result of human activities. An expedition was held in September 2008 to collect and safeguard the genetic resources of Malus sieversii in Kazakhstan. Over 4400 seeds from the fruit of 34 Malus sieversii accessions were collected in the Zailyiski Alatau Mountains near Almaty (Bel-Bulak and Issyk Gorges). The trees where fruit was collected showed high variability in habit and fruit size, shape and flavor. Fruit color varied from yellow white to red. Seeds were variable in both color and length. We tested seed cryopreservation for long-term storage of wild Malus biodiversity. Seeds were air dried to a mean moisture content of 8.23%. Seeds were directly immersed in liquid nitrogen (LN) for 30 min and rewarmed at room temperature to test the effect of LN exposure. Viability following LN as evaluated by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TZ) ranged from 72.4% to 90.0% and did not differ significantly from the controls or from the germination tests. Germination tests indicated slightly but not significantly higher viability for LN exposed seeds, but germination vigor for LN exposed seeds was significantly higher than controls over the 6 week germination period. These results indicate that cryopreservation in LN is an option for long-term conservation of this important germplasm.

 

Svetlana Kushnarenko, Irina Kovalchuk, Zinat Mukhitdinova, Elena Rakhimova (Kazakhstan), Barbara M. Reed (USA) Ultrastructure Study of Apple Meristem Cells during Cryopreservation (pp 10-20)

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Original Research Paper: The ultrastructure of apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) meristem cells was studied before and after cold acclimation (CA) and after sucrose pretreatment, PVS2 exposure and liquid nitrogen (LN) exposure steps of the PVS2 vitrification. protocol We compared cells of in vitro grown shoots of two cultivars, ‘Grushovka Vernenskaya’ and ‘Voskhod’. Cells of the two cultivars were similar in size in all treatments. The control cells and cells recovered after LN exposure were significantly smaller than the CA-, sucrose- and PVS2-treated cells. Cells of both cultivars increased in both length and width with CA, sucrose and PVS2 treatments, and then decreased after rewarming due to cell division. Electron microscopic examination showed intense starch accumulation inside plastids of ‘Grushovka Vernenskaya’ after three weeks CA while ‘Voskhod’ plastids had small starch grains and two types of plastoglobules. Two types of small vacuoles were noted in acclimated meristem cells of ‘Grushovka Vernenskaya’; one was electron-transparent with many vesicles and sediments, and the other had electron-opaque contents. There were interwoven membranes and occasional dark flecks in the vacuoles of acclimated ‘Voskhod’ cells. Sometimes large globules with the density and structure similar to polyphenolic compounds were observed. Overall the treatments in the protocol caused the cell size to increase when compared to the untreated cells and cells that were regrown after cryopreservation. This study contradicts the conventional thought that cryoprotective treatments cause meristem cells to decrease in size, thus allowing greater survival.

 

Yuriy Ledovskoy, Saule Abugalieva, Yerlan Turuspekov (Kazakhstan) Comparative Assessment of the Genetic Variation in Wild and Cultivated Barley Based on SSR Markers (pp 21-26)

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Original Research Paper: Nineteen SSR primer pairs were used to assess the genetic diversity of 13 wild populations of H. vulgare ssp. spontaneum K. (Hs) from Israel and Turkmenistan and 68 cultivated barley varieties (H. vulgare ssp. vulgare L. (Hv)). A total of 254 alleles from 22 SSR loci were revealed. The results were: a) Nei’s index of genetic variation for wild barley (He=0.71) was higher than for cultivated barley (He=0.63); b) the level of genetic variation of cultivars from Kazakhstan was higher (He=0.68) than European samples (He=0.52); c) of the total genetic diversity of Hordeum vulgare L., 69.83% was within populations, 9.28% between populations within a subspecies, and 20.89% between subspecies; d) the structure of genetic diversity for Hs was 36.10% within populations, 50.16% between populations of a region, and 13.74% between regions. The results confirmed high potential of SSR markers for genetic diversity analysis and efficient identification of wild and cultivated barley genotypes.

 

Olga I. Kershanskaya (Kazakhstan), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan) Photosynthetic Basis for Wheat Crop Improvement: Genetic Modification of Photosynthesis (pp 27-34)

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Original Research Paper: A simple and effective genotype-independent method of wheat germ-line transformation by Agrobacterium pipetting into the spikelets of wheat before anthesis has being elaborated and patented. Using this method about 5000 transgenic wheat seeds of 30 genotypes were produced, and a number of transgenic wheat plants of T1 – T3 generations (T1-T3 – transgenic plants of first, second and third generations) were created. A high level of the maize C4-specific PEPC gene expression in transgenic wheat plants was determined by assaying the activity of PEPC in leaf protein extract, followed by CO2 gas-exchange and photorespiration measurements, investigation of leaf anatomy, yield structure, PCR, real-time PCR and Southern blot analyses. Stable wheat transformation in the T2 generation was confirmed by molecular techniques and high grain yield increased up to 25-50% in transgenic plants in comparison with wild types.

 

Saule Abugalieva, Yuriy Ledovskoy, Aigul Abugalieva (Kazakhstan), Steve Quarrie (UK/Serbia), Yerlan Turuspekov (Kazakhstan) Mapping of Quantitative Traits Loci for Grain Protein Content in Common Wheat (pp 35-41)

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Original Research Paper: The main objective of the present study was to identify alleles of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for  grain protein content (GPC) in 95 doubled haploid (DH) lines of a mapping population derived from a cross between common wheat lines Chinese Spring and SQ1 grown in SoutheastKazakhstan. The GPC of DH lines was significantly different between rainfed and irrigated sites (P<0.05). In total, 10 QTLs for GPC were found under the two treatments for moisture availability. Two QTLs for GPC under rainfed conditions were predicted to be novel in comparison to those reported earlier. The novel QTLs were mapped onto chromosomes 2BS and 5DL in the population grown under rainfed conditions. Closely-linked DNA markers were identified for the majority of mapped QTLs. The results could be implemented in a local breeding program for the wheat grain quality improvement by using marker-assisted selection. This study is further contribution towards better understanding of the genetic control of GPC in common wheat.

 

Amangeldy K. Bissenbaev, Nazgul A. Altybaeva, Albina A. Musina (Kazakhstan) Role of Reactive Oxygen Species and Nitric Oxide in Gibberellic Acid-Induced Programmed Cell Death of Wheat Aleurone Layer Cells (pp 42-46)

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Original Research Paper: The important role of nitric oxide (NO) in regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and antioxidative isoenzymes activity of wheat aleurone layer was revealed. In the presence of gibberellic acid (GA3) in the wheat aleurone layer a significant increase of ROS occurred. This effect of GA3 was associated with maximal decrease of antioxidant enzymes activity. A strong inhibiting effect of NO on GA3 stimulated the generation of ROS and DNA fragmentation in the wheat aleurone layer. It has been shown that NO prolongs activity of different intracellular forms of wheat aleurone antioxidative enzymes activity by inhibition of oxidative damage to cell. These results suggest that NO has a definite antioxidative role in hormone-regulated programmed cell death of wheat aleurone layer.

 

Amangeldy K. Bissenbaev (Kazakhstan), Murat K. Saparbayev (France) Gibberellin-induced Nuclear Ca+2-dependent Deoxyribonucleases and DNA Glycosylases Regulate DNA Degradation of Wheat Aleurone Cells Undergoing Programmed Cell Death (pp 47-51)

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Original Research Paper: The nature of DNA fragmentation was studied in isolated nuclei of wheat aleurone layer cells. Endogenous Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent deoxyribonucleases (DNase) were present in the nuclei. Analysis of DNase activity in the nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions revealed the nuclear location of A and C forms of DNases. Activity of the B-form enzymes was found exclusively in the cytoplasm. Experimental evidence demonstrated  that activation of B and A nucleases did not depend on the presence of gibberellic acid (GA) in the incubation medium, while activation of C-form DNase was dependent on  the presence of GA. The stimulatory effects of GA on the activation of Ca2+-dependent DNA-N-glycosylases, the key DNA repair enzyme, was demonstrated. The evidence suggests that concurrent activation of DNA repair enzymes (the accumulation of one-strand breakages) and GA-dependent nuclear DNases is likely to be the underlying cause of oligonucleosomal fragmentation of DNA during programmed cell death in wheat aleurone layer cells.

 

Anna S. Nizkorodova, Bulat K. Iskakov (Kazakhstan) Cell-Free Synthesis Optimization of Barley Vacuolar Na+/H+-Antiporter, a Highly Hydrophobic Protein (pp 52-55)

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Original Research Paper: Membrane proteins (MPs) play a fundamental role in living cells as receptors, ion channels, carriers and adhesion molecules. In contrast to soluble proteins, MPs frequently aggregate in aqueous systems and are prone to incomplete synthesis. In this work we have optimized conditions for synthesis of full-length hydrophobic protein – barley vacuolar Na+/H+-antiporter (HvNHX2), in a cell-free translation system based on wheat germ extract. To achieve the full-length HvNHX2 synthesis we have tested different modifications of the cell-free translation system, such as the addition of different detergents and hydrophobic L-amino acids. Addition into the translation system of the amino acids valine (23.5 mM) and isoleucine (15 mM) significantly improved synthesis of full-length protein. We also investigated the influence of 5'-untranslated region (5'UTR) of Potato virus Y (PVY) genomic (g)RNA on cell-free translation of HvNHX2-open reading frame. The 5'UTR of PVY gRNA enhanced the translation efficiency of uncapped HvNHX2 mRNA 4 times more than control mRNA which possessed an arbitrary polylinker-derived 5'UTR.

 

Nadejda Gemedjieva (Kazakhstan), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Natalya Ryabushkina (Kazakhstan) Representation of Endemics in Floristic Subprovinces of Kazakhstan (pp 56-63)

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Original Research Paper: The aim of this review is to analyze the data published on Kazakhstan’s endemic species in different botanical issues. In the Kazakhstan flora there are 775-710 endemic species (some of which are now defined as subendemics). The rate of endemism in the territory is relatively low and estimated at approximately 12% of total species. However, endemics are not evenly distributed throughout the country’s territory. Kazakhstan’s floristic subprovinces (botanical-geographic regionalization by Takhtadzhian 1978) have a significantly different amount of endemics; some of them include only 10-15 endemic species while others contribute up to 150 species, including endemic species growing in two or more floristic subprovinces. The number of endemics found in only the floristic subprovinces account for more than 60% of the total number of Karatau endemics, almost 50% in each Zailisky Alatau and Jungar Alatau, ~40% in Western Tien-Shan, and ~30% in Tarbagatai (all mountain zones), ~40% in Betpak Dala, and ~30% in each Balkhash-Alacol and Chu-Ili Mountains (desert zones). Although a considerable number of endemic species occur in the mountainous floristic subprovinces and their neighboring subprovinces, most endemic species inhabit dry, hot locations, even in the mountains on rocky dry steppes or deserted slopes, conical shaped hills and piedmonts. The current safety of Kazakhstan endemics is discussed in relation to habitat destruction.

 

Alma Kokhmetova (Kazakhstan), Xianming Chen (USA), Shynbolat Rsaliyev (Kazakhstan) Identification of Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici. Characterization of Wheat Cultivars for Resistance, and Inheritance of Resistance to Stripe Rust in Kazakhstan Wheat Cultivars (pp 64-70)

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Original Research Paper: Stripe (yellow) rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici, is one of the major factors reducing the productivity of wheat crop. The region of Central Asia is one of the most important wheat areas in the world. As there was practically no breeding work in the past on stripe rust, most varieties released for commercial production are susceptible to the disease. This problem is especially important for Kazakhstan because of changing epidemic situations and the few resistant wheat cultivars. In order to effectively combat stripe rust, it is necessary to find donors of resistance and study genetics of resistance. Seedlings of winter wheat cultivars and advanced breeding lines from Central Asia were tested for resistance to five races of P. striiformis f.sp. tritici that are currently prevalent or were prevalent in the past in the USA. More virulent US races of P. striiformis f.sp. tritici for wheat germplasm from Central Asia were represented by PST-17 and PST-100. Cultivars ‘Taza’, ‘Krasnovodopadskaya 25’, and ‘Ulugbek 600’ have all-stage (also called seedling) resistance. The most effective resistant sources against stripe rust in this region are those of genes Yr2+, Yr4+, Yr5, Yr10, and Yr15. Resistance genes Yr1, Yr6, Yr7, Yr8, Yr11, Yr12, and YrA became ineffective in Kazakhstan were postulated in many cultivars. The most virulent pathotypes in Kazakhstan were 7E159, 15Е159, 47Е143 and 111E158, which are virulent to 9 or 10 Yr-genes of the 16 Yr genes studied. The use of these pathotypes for evaluating wheat germplasm for resistance could help to improve breeding for stripe rust resistance. The number of genes and characters of gene interaction conferring resistance to stripe rust of the most important wheat genotypes were determined. The genetic studies identified genes conferring resistance to stripe rust in commercial varieties. Based on genes in resistance donors, we should be able to develop cultivars possessing effective gene or combination of genes regarding to known virulent races of the pathogen.

 

Rsaliyev Shynbolat, Tileubayeva Zhanar, Agabayeva Altynkul, Rsaliyev Aralbek (Kazakhstan) Virulence of Wheat Leaf, Stem and Yellow Rust Pathotypes in Kazakhstan (pp 71-76)

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Original Research Paper: In Kazakhstan leaf rust (Puccinia recondita f.sp. tritici) is a common disease of wheat. Pathotypes virulent to some previously effective isogenic leaf rust (Lr) lines were isolated from the leaf rust population. The pathotypes (TKT/H, TKP/H, TTP/H, TRP/H, TTP/H) isolated from the commercial wheat and triticale varieties are highly virulent. The stem rust (P. graminis f.sp. tritici) population of 2006-2007 includes highly virulent pathotypes (TFK/R, TKT/C, TPS/H, TKH/RS, TDT/HS, TTH/KQ) that are hazardous to commercial wheat varieties in the republic. Some pathotypes affect all tested isogenic stem rust (Sr) lines and their nomenclatorial indices are similar to that of the pathotype Ug99 from Uganda, Africa (TTKS). In the south-eastern part of Kazakhstan winter wheat is often affected by yellow rust (P. striiformis f.sp. tritici). Recently the population of this fungus included the highly virulent pathotypes 7E159, 15E159, 47E143, 111E158 that affected 9-10 yellow rust (Yr) genes of resistance out of 16. Use of these leaf, stem and yellow rust pathotypes in assessment of new wheat variety resistance determines success of breeding for rust disease resistance in the region.

 

Rsaliyev Shynbolat, Rsaliyev Aralbek (Kazakhstan) Evaluation of Leaf Rust Resistance Genes in Durum Wheat Varieties in Kazakhstan (pp 77-80)

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Original Research Paper: Durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) varieties are characterized by extensive amplitude of variability in leaf rust (Puccinia recondita f.sp. tritici) resistance. Models of all resistance groups from highly susceptible to utterly resistant are observed when different fungus pathotypes are used. Five leaf rust resistance genes (Lr1, Lr3ka, Lr19, Lr23, Lr25) have been postulated in durum wheat varieties by the method of phytopathological testing. An effective resistance gene Lr23 was detected in the genotype of the overseas durum wheat varieties Albatross, Cocorit 71, VZ-187 and in the domestic variety Nauryz 6. Highly effective gene Lr19 was identified in Valdur and Dur varieties as well as Lr25 in Lakota and Macoun. These varieties are valuable donors in wheat breeding for disease resistance. Major part of Kazakhstani durum wheat varieties possesses adult plant resistance genes. Kargala 303, Hordeiforme 94-94-13, E-605, E-622 and some other durum wheat varieties are of interest for breeding and genetic research as well as for commercial use.

 

Mekhlis Suleimenov, Aldabergen Kiyas, Zheksenbai Kaskarbayev (Kazakhstan) Replacement of Summer Fallow with Oats and Food Legumes on Black Soils of Northern Kazakhstan (pp 81-86)

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Original Research Paper: Large-scale grain production in northern Kazakhstan started in the 1950s after development of grasslands on black and dark chestnut soils. Since the 1960s, the generally adopted dryland farming system was based on conservation tillage in summer fallow-spring wheat monoculture programs, aiming at the production of high-quality wheat. Trials conducted on black soils under an average annual precipitation of 324 mm have shown the possibility to diversify cropping systems and eliminate the summer fallows, resulting in more sustainable crop production and better soil conservation. The alternatives include replacement of summer fallow with feed grains (oats) and pulses (pea, chickpea and lentil). The fallow was found to be ineffective in moisture accumulation and weed control, but it provided better nitrate availability. During 2006-2008, wheat grain yield after summer fallow was higher than after oats, pea, chickpea and lentil by 11.3, 18.5, 21.2 and 21.6%, respectively. However, grain production from the total cropland area in traditional rotation of fallow with three year grains was lowest (1.58 t ha-1). The highest grain production was obtained when fallow was replaced by oats (2.11 t ha-1), followed by a crop rotation in which fallow was replaced by pea (1.83 t ha-1). Chickpea and lentil provided lower grain yields than pea. Replacement of summer fallow with food legumes improved the grain quality of spring wheat as compared to wheat sown after grain crops.

 

Aigul Abugalieva (Kazakhstan), Roberto J. Peña (Mexico) Grain Quality of Spring and Winter Wheat of Kazakhstan (pp 87-90)

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Research Note: The steppe region of Northern Kazakhstan grows more than 12 million ha of spring wheat, and approximately 1 million ha of winter wheat, with an average grain yield around 1.2-1.7 t/ha mainly under low input production conditions. The maturity group (growth period type) is an important trait affecting adaptation to moisture deficit but its relationship with grain yield is variable. The region exports wheat and therefore grain quality is an important factor to succeed in the export market. The objective of this study was to determine the grain quality characteristics of spring and winter wheat cultivars based on grain hardness and bread making quality-related parameters, of state multiplication yield trials conducted in 1996-2006 across 56 locations in Kazakhstan. In addition, cultivars were classified into wheat quality classes using the Kazakhstan classification system, and Kazakh wheat quality classes were compared with those of neighbouring and some major wheat-exporting countries. In general, Kazakhstan wheat is characterized by high protein (14-16%) and gluten (21-40%) contents, although its gluten strength is slightly weaker than that found in Australian wheat. Winter wheat cultivars showed higher variability in grain hardness than spring wheat cultivars. It is necessary to optimize the spring and winter wheat breeding programs for grain quality according to yield level and technological end-use (pastry, mechanic bread-making, tandyr bread, noodles, industrial biotechnology, etс.).

 

Saule Atabayeva, Batyrbek Sarsenbayev (Kazakhstan), Majeti Narashimha Vara Prasad (India), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Shahizada Kenzhebayeva, Bakdaulet Usenbekov, Yerlan Kirshibayev, Saltanat Asrandina, Aizhan Beisenova, Alevtina Danilova, Yuryu Kotuhov (Kazakhstan) Accumulation of Trace Metals in Grasses of Kazakhstan: Relevance to Phytostabilization of Mine Waste and Metal-smelting Areas (pp 91-97)

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Original Research Paper: The dominant grass species growing around metallurgic plants of Eastern Kazakhstan i.e. Agropyron repens, Agrostis alba, Bromus inermis, Dactylis glomerata, Phleum pratense, and Setaria viridis have shown to accumulate large amounts of trace metals both in field-grown and hydroponic conditions. A. repens and S. viridis were more tolerant to Pb and Zn as was observed from hydroponic experiments treated with extremely high concentrations of Pb and Zn, whereas P. pratense was more sensitive. The shoot/root Pb ratio was < 1 for all species, but the shoot/root ratio for Zn was > 1 for all species, except for A. repens and A. alba. In pot experiments these grass species accumulated trace metals mainly in the roots. From these investigations it is concluded that all these grass species can be used for phytostabilizationof PbandZnin the soil.

 

Asil Nurzhanova, Izbassar Rakhimbaev, Kabl Zhambakin, Anatoly Sedlovskiy (Kazakhstan) The Problem of Obsolete Pesticides Pollution for the Kazakhstan Environment and Soil Remediation by Wild Plants (pp 98-103)

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Research Note: The development of remediation technologies for soils polluted by pesticides is an important problem in Kazakhstan. Phytoremediation is one of the potential methods for reducing risk from these pesticides. We have investigated the territory surrounding former pesticide storehouses of a former plant protection system for collective farms of the former USSR. Now, the storage buildings have been destroyed, and there is no security or fencing around these sites. At the sites we studied, organochlorine residues found in soil included metabolites of DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) and isomers of HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane). Soil samples were collected from each pesticide storehouse site to examine migration and expansion of pollution. Sites with soil contamination observed in excess of maximum acceptable concentrations (MACs) for the Republic of Kazakhstan were called hot points. Twenty-four of the storehouse sites showed soil concentrations in excess of MACs. The MAC for Kazakhstan soil is 100 μg/kg for DDT metabolites (4,4 DDT; 4,4 DDE) and HCH isomers (β-HCH; γ-HCH). Three compounds we analyzed (2,4 DDD, 4,4 DDD, and α-HCH) did not have a MAC for Kazakhstan. Genetic diversity in populations of wild and weedy species that colonize pesticide-contaminated soil provides a source of plant species tolerant to these conditions. The strategy was to identify pesticide-tolerant plant genotypes which can be used for phytoremediation of pesticide-contaminated soil in the Almaty oblasts of Kazakhstan. The results have shown that colonizing plant species growing on soils polluted by pesticides possess the ability to accumulate organochlorine pesticide residues in plant tissue including roots, stems, leaves and fruit and to reduce pesticide concentrations in soil.

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