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Arsenic accumulation in English Ryegrass (Lolium perenne)
67-68Views:31Arsenic contamination globally occurs in groundwater especially in deeper layers. Soil type, structure, water availability and land use both effect its concentration which varies between 10-170 µg/l. As more deep wells have been erected to access underground aquifers, arsenic accumulation became regular risk. Plants are in direct contact with groundwater therefore potential accumulators for heavy metals or metalloids. Through the food chain, both animals and humans are able to build up certain amount of metals and metal like salts. These elements accumulate in living tissues and may interrupt crucial physiological cycles (transcription, CO2-release). We focused on English ryegrass (Lolium perenne) because its known genome sequence and wide cultivar availability. This species is often used as optimal roughage for ruminants and horses. Also used as lab-plant because its fast germination rate.
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Air pollution on pasture
18-21Views:56Data on air pollution of the Hungarian grasses are no available. The most results have been published about the toxic and heavy metals settling by dust to the surface of plants. The level of lead pollution deriving from transportation is gradually decreasing moving away from the roads. Plants possessing big and sticky leaf surfaces contain higher concentration of leads. At least half of the lead content of plants derives from settling dusts. This has been proven by washing them away the plants. The rainfall contains the toxic substances in high concentration and these substances will accumulate in the segregation pool of the roadside. After intorduction of the use of unleaded petrol the lead content of the roadside plants has decreased. Recently in Hungary the sulphur dioxide content of the air drastically while that of the other acidic substances moderately decreased. So the acidic settling does not cause further environmental problem.