The plants contain significantly more biomass for fuel production
Hydrogen sulfide, the pungent stuff often referred to as sewer gas, is a deadly substance implicated in several mass extinctions, including one at the end of the Permian period 251 million years ago that wiped out more than three-quarters of all species on Earth.
But in low doses, hydrogen sulfide could greatly enhance plant growth, leading to a sharp increase in global food supplies and plentiful stock for biofuel production, new University of Washington research shows.
“We found some very interesting things, including that at the very lowest levels plant health improves. But that’s not what we were looking for,” said Frederick Dooley, a UW doctoral student in biology who led the research.
Dooley started off to examine the toxic effects of hydrogen sulfide on plants but mistakenly used only one-tenth the amount of the toxin he had intended. The results were so unbelievable that he repeated the experiment. Still unconvinced, he repeated it again – and again, and again. In fact, the results have been replicated so often that they are now “a near certainty,” he said.
“Everything else that’s ever been done on plants was looking at hydrogen sulfide in high concentrations,” he said.
The research is published online April 17 in PLOS ONE, a Public Library of Science journal.
At high concentrations – levels of 30 to 100 parts per million in water – hydrogen sulfide can be lethal to humans. At one part per million it emits a telltale rotten-egg smell. Dooley used a concentration of 1 part per billion or less to water seeds of peas, beans and wheat on a weekly basis. Treating the seeds less often reduced the effect, and watering more often typically killed them.
With wheat, all the seeds germinated in one to two days instead of four or five, and with peas and beans the typical 40 percent rate of germination rose to 60 to 70 percent.
“They germinate faster and they produce roots and leaves faster. Basically what we’ve done is accelerate the entire plant process,” he said.
Crop yields nearly doubled, said Peter Ward, Dooley’s doctoral adviser, a UW professor of biology and of Earth and space sciences and an authority on Earth’s mass extinctions.
Hydrogen sulfide, probably produced when sulfates in the oceans were decomposed by sulfur bacteria, is believed to have played a significant role in several extinction events, in particular the “Great Dying” at the end of the Permian period. Ward suggests that the rapid plant growth could be the result of genetic signaling passed down in the wake of mass extinctions.
The Latest Bing News on:
Hydrogen sulfide
- Mabton drilling test wells as efforts to improve tap water continueon April 26, 2024 at 5:00 am
The city of Mabton is taking steps to improve its water quality. City staff and contractors have drilled test wells, a step in resolving the city’s foul-smelling water, and updated the chlorine system ...
- A lot of hot air about a great quantity of windon April 26, 2024 at 2:00 am
Let’s stop making fun of the elderly man accused of odor in the court. It is normal for humans of all ages to toot their own horns, whisper sweet nothings, ...
- Deep-sea creature — with ‘rectangular’ shape — discovered as new species. Take a lookon April 25, 2024 at 9:27 am
The bivalve’s shell is “nearly rectangular,” making it unique among other deep-sea bivalve species. Zhibin Gan and Dong Dong via Yang M, Li B, Gan Z, Dong D, Li X (2024) ZooKeys ...
- How deep does life go?on April 25, 2024 at 5:01 am
The exploration of life at and below the surface of the dark seafloor began with a 1936 article by Claude ZoBell and Quentin Anderson of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, who found abundant ...
- East Grand Forks sugar beet factory fined $350K for air quality violationson April 24, 2024 at 2:16 pm
State regulators have fined American Crystal Sugar $350,000 over air pollution from its factory in East Grand Forks, Minn. The sugar beet processing plant, one of five the cooperative operates in the ...
- Sargassum expected to reach South Florida beaches by late May in potentially 'major' eventon April 24, 2024 at 11:03 am
Beach managers are constrained to what areas of the beach they can clean during turtle nesting season, which began March 1.
- Landfill facing lawsuit from Seneca County Health Districton April 23, 2024 at 7:25 pm
FOSTORIA, Ohio (WTVG) - A landfill continues to be a point of contention among neighbors. They’re calling for a stop to the plans for the landfill at 12500 W. Co. Rd. 18, Fostoria, OH, to expand.
- Why canned wine can smell like rotten eggs while beer and Coke are fineon April 23, 2024 at 3:02 pm
Granted, we won't be seeing a fine Bordeaux in a can anytime soon; most canned wine comes in the form of spritzers, wine coolers, and cheaper rosés, whites, or sparkling wines. The largest US ...
- American Crystal Sugar fined for air quality violationson April 23, 2024 at 2:00 pm
American Crystal Sugar Company will have to pay a $350,000 civil penalty and will be completing a series of corrective actions to satisfy conditions of the enforcement action.
- 6.5 million metric tons of sargassum is heading toward Florida again. What to knowon April 23, 2024 at 2:22 am
Will sargassum, a brown and smelly seaweed that’s generally unpleasant to be around, once again wash up on the shores of Florida beaches?
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Hydrogen sulfide
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Hydrogen sulfide” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
[/vc_column_text]
The Latest Bing News on:
Rapid plant growth
- Ruling: Iowa state auditor must provide more evidence to justify withholding emailson April 26, 2024 at 5:45 pm
The state auditor's office must do more to justify its decision to withhold from public release emails between his office and two journalists, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled.
- Biden’s EPA pursues dramatic clampdown on emissions from power plantson April 25, 2024 at 2:17 pm
On Thursday, the Biden administration unveiled a suite of new rules to dramatically slash pollution from coal and natural gas plants.
- Global Ready-Mix Concrete Market Set to Skyrocket: Forecasted to Surpass US$ 1488.74 billion by 2033 Driven by Rapid Construction Demandson April 25, 2024 at 10:46 am
The global ready-mix concrete market is expected to accumulate over US$ 696.2 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$ 1488.74 billion by 2033, trailing a CAGR of 7.9% during the forecast period.
- Funny Plant Names: 8 Unqiue Optionson April 25, 2024 at 7:30 am
Explore funny plant names that spark curiosity and smiles. Discover their intriguing stories and unique characteristics.
- Biden admin cracks down on power plants fueling nation's gridon April 25, 2024 at 2:00 am
The White House on Thursday announced new environmental regulations cracking down on fossil fuel power plants, which are the largest source of electricity nationwide.
- Rapid growth in battery deployment essential for achieving COP28 targets: IEAon April 25, 2024 at 1:11 am
IEA: The report, which presents the first comprehensive analysis of the entire battery ecosystem, attributes this surge to falling costs, advancements in innovation, and supportive industrial policies ...
- Apple’s sales hit by rapid growth of Chinese rivals: Smantha Coryon April 24, 2024 at 4:45 am
The resurgence of Huawei, alongside the rapid growth of Transsion, likely contributed to a notable ... Drax Group is an energy leader, operating the largest power plant in the UK, generating renewable ...
- Plant Growth Regulators Market worth $4.6 billion by 2029 - Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets™on April 22, 2024 at 6:30 pm
The Plant Growth Regulators Market is estimated at USD 3.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 4.6 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2024 to 2029 according to a report published by ...
- China’s rapid solar growth slows as grid seeks to keep paceon April 22, 2024 at 12:44 am
Its roll-out of solar capacity slowed as grids struggled to build enough power lines and backup capacity. Read more at straitstimes.com.
- Dinosaurs displayed a fast growth rate from the very beginningon April 15, 2024 at 11:13 am
One of the traits that helped make the dinosaurs such an evolutionary success story - thriving for 165 million years - was their fast growth rate, from massive meat-eaters like Tyrannosaurus to ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Rapid plant growth
[google_news title=”” keyword=”rapid plant growth” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]