Ecophysiology of environmental contaminants in plants

植物环境污染物的生态生理学

• 批准号: RGPIN-2017-04229
• 负责人: Macfie, Sheila
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 依托单位: University of Western Ontario
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=710941
• 关键词: Ecophysiology; environmental; contaminants; plants

Plants face a number of environmental stresses. My lab primarily studies cadmium stress. Cadmium is soluble in water, readily taken up by plants and toxic to humans in small doses. Soils normally contain low cadmium. Higher concentrations can arise due to industrial activity, burning fuel or long-term use of fertilizers that contain trace amounts of this metal. Amounts of cadmium in the edible parts of some Canadian crops can approach or exceed the limits for safe consumption. There is, therefore, a pressing need to understand the factors that control cadmium uptake, movement and storage in plants. Our scientific approach is three-pronged. The first type of experiment tests the biological and chemical factors that make cadmium more, or less, available for plant uptake. The second type of study examines the fate of cadmium in plant tissues. Knowing where, and to what, the cadmium is bound provides information about how cadmium is detoxified and stored within the plant. These experiments will also reveal the route that cadmium takes on its way from roots to shoots. This information will be used to build mathematical models of metal and nutrient movement in plants. These models can be used to predict what will happen to plants if the conditions change. The data from uptake and movement studies can also be used to set limits for metals in soil and ensure safety of Canadian food crops. For the third type of approach, we study the physiology and genetics of the plant response to metal-stress. This includes the response of certain enzymes and pathways that are involved in 1) producing molecules that can bind, detoxify and store cadmium or 2) reducing plant stress. By comparing plants that lack, or over-express, these enzymes and responses we can learn more about how plants respond to metals. A new direction of research in my lab is the study of a recently identified type of contaminant, called benzalkonium chlorides (BACs). This class of chemicals is used in most cleaning products. BACs are found in wastewater and in sewage sludge. Crops can be exposed to BACs by irrigation or by adding sludge as a fertilizer. My lab will determine the extent to which they are harmful to plants. We will also learn how they are taken up by plants. The results of my research have broad applications. For example, features of plants that increase metal uptake can be used to select plants that help clean contaminated soil. On the other hand, features of plants that reduce metal uptake can be selected to improve food safety. The data we collect can also be used to improve environmental laws. For example, we can recommend legal limits for contaminants in farm soil.

植物面临许多环境压力。我的实验室主要研究镉的压力。镉易溶于水，很容易被植物吸收，小剂量对人类有毒。土壤通常含有低镉。由于工业活动，燃烧燃料或长期使用含有微量这种金属的肥料，可能会出现更高的浓度。加拿大某些农作物可食用部分的镉含量可能接近或超过安全食用的限度。因此，迫切需要了解控制镉在植物中吸收、迁移和储存的因素。我们的科学方法是三管齐下的。第一种类型的实验测试生物和化学因素，使镉更多或更少，可用于植物吸收。第二种类型的研究考察了镉在植物组织中的命运。了解镉的结合位置和结合方式，可以提供有关镉如何解毒和储存在植物中的信息。这些实验还将揭示镉从根到芽的路径。这些信息将用于建立植物中金属和养分运动的数学模型。这些模型可以用来预测如果条件发生变化，植物会发生什么。吸收和移动研究的数据也可用于设定土壤中金属的限制，并确保加拿大粮食作物的安全。对于第三种方法，我们研究了植物对金属胁迫反应的生理学和遗传学。这包括某些酶和途径的反应，这些酶和途径参与1）产生可以结合，解毒和储存镉的分子或2）减少植物胁迫。通过比较缺乏或过度表达这些酶和反应的植物，我们可以更多地了解植物对金属的反应。我实验室的一个新研究方向是研究最近发现的一种污染物，称为苯扎氯铵（BACs）。这类化学品用于大多数清洁产品。生物活性炭存在于废水和污水污泥中。作物可以通过灌溉或添加污泥作为肥料而接触到生物活性炭。我的实验室将确定它们对植物的危害程度。我们还将了解它们如何被植物吸收。我的研究成果有广泛的应用。例如，可以利用植物增加金属吸收的特征来选择有助于清洁受污染土壤的植物。另一方面，可以选择减少金属吸收的植物特征，以提高食品安全性。我们收集的数据也可用于改善环境法。例如，我们可以建议农场土壤中污染物的法律的限制。