Abstract This study was conducted to assess the physicochemical characteristics of urban forest soil contaminated by copper and the dynamics of macro- and micronutrients uptake by Schinus terebinthifolia and Eugenia uniflora seedlings. The seedlings received 0 (control), 60, 120, 180 or 240 mg Cu kg-1 soil applied to urban forest soil within São Paulo City, Brazil. Our results showed that K was reduced in Cu-contaminated soil used for S. terebinthifolia cultivation and that organic matter was higher in Cu- contaminated soil used for E. uniflora cultivation. Other physicochemical properties of soil remained unaltered. S. terebinthifolia presented nutritional imbalances in N, K and Mg on leaves, while E. uniflora presented nutritional imbalances in K on leaves and in S on roots. It can be concluded that copper contamination can negatively affect chemical and nutritional characteristics of urban forest soil, as well as the nutritional dynamics of S. terebinthifolia and E. uniflora.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the accumulation and distribution of copper (Cu) in the pioneer tree Schinus terebinthifolius R. (aroeira) and non-pioneer tree Eugenia uniflora L. (pitanga) submitted to different concentrations of copper. The plants received 40 mL of Hoagland & Arnon (1950) n. 1 nutrient solution modified with 0.00032, 0.0032, 0.032 and 0.32 mM Cu2+ applied to the soil. We analyzed biomass, biometry and Cu contents in plants and the concentration of Cu in soil. Cu concentration in the soil contaminated with 0.32 mM Cu2+ was higher than other treatments. Neither species showed characteristics of plant phytotoxicity. However, the two species did exhibit different physiological responses to Cu; S. terebinthifolius accumulated the metal only in roots, while E. uniflora accumulated Cu in roots and leaves. The highest Cu concentration in soil was observed in the treatment with 0.32 mM Cu2+. Outstanding to foliar accumulation, E. uniflora could be used for biomonitoring.

ABSTRACT A hydroponic experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of phosphorus (P) nutrition on arsenic (As) uptake and translocation within the seedlings of rice cultivars. The experiment occurred in three stages: I 5 days of acclimatization (nutritive solution); II 10 days under P (0.0 and 0.09 mM) and As (0.0 and 100 mM) treatments; III 5 days under recovery. The As exposure had significant effect reducing dry weights of shoots or roots, resulted in elevated concentrations of As in shoot tissues. BR-IRGA 409 showed the highest susceptibility to As in biomass production and root system parameters regardless the P level. This cultivar showed contrasting responses of As translocation to shoot tissue dependent on P levels, with the highest As concentration under low P and lowest under normal P levels. P nutrition was most striking on plants recovery for all cultivars under As exposure. Clearer separation of cultivars for phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) occurred at lower shoot P contents, that was, at higher levels of P deficiency stress. IRGA 424 showed higher PUE as compared to the others cultivars. Our results go some way to understanding the role of P nutrition in controlling the effects of As in rice shoots.