1. Impact of microplastics on growth, photosynthesis and essential elements in Cucurbita pepo L.Ilaria Colzi, Luciana Renna, Elisabetta Bianchi, Maria Beatrice Castellani, Andrea Coppi, Sara Pignattelli, Stefano Loppi, Cristina Gonnelli, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: In this study, Cucurbita pepo L., one of the most cultivated, consumed and economically important crop worldwide, was used as model plant to test the toxic effects of the four most abundant microplastics identified in contaminated soils, i.e. polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), and polyethyleneterephthalate (PET). Cucurbita plants were grown in pots with increasing concentrations of the microplastics, then plant biometry, photosynthetic parameters and ionome of treated vs. untreated samples were compared to evaluate the toxicity of each plastic. All the pollutants impaired root and, especially, shoot growth. Specific and concentration-dependant effects of the different microplastics were found, including reduction in leaf size, chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency, as well as changes in the micro- and macro-elemental profile. Among all the microplastics, PVC was identified as the most toxic and PE as the less toxic material. PVC decreased the dimensions of the leaf lamina, the values of the photosynthetic performance index and the plant iron concentration to a higher extent in respect to the other treatments. Microplastic toxicity exerted on the growth of C. pepo raises concerns about possible yield and economic loss, as well as for risks of a possible transfer into the food chain.
Keywords: microplastic toxicity, leaf traits, chlorophyll fluorescence, ionome, zucchini
Published in RUNG: 17.12.2021; Views: 3944; Downloads: 9
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2. The multi-purpose role of hairiness in the lichens of coastal environments: Insights from Seirophora villosa (Ach.) FrödénElisabetta Bianchi, Renato Benesperi, Ilaria Colzi, Andrea Coppi, Lorenzo Lazzaro, Luca Paoli, Alessio Papini, Sara Pignattelli, Corrado Tani, Pamela Vignolini, Cristina Gonnelli, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: The fruticose epiphytic lichen Seirophora villosa, strictly associated with Juniperus shrublands in the
Mediterranean basin, was used to investigate the role of hairiness on a lichen thallus, as a characteristic morphological
trait. We evaluated the effect of hair removal on the physiological parameters of a set of samples,
during desiccation and on exposure to different salt concentrations. Hairy thalli were less affected by salt,
suggesting that during dehydration, the presence of hair protects the thallus from light irradiance, oxidative
stresses and the lipid peroxidation generated by free radicals, and could offer passive, but selective, water
control. Our results showed that hair could not only increase thallus surface and promote water absorption when
availability is low, but could also repel the salt dissolved in water by activating a passive resistance mechanism,
by preventing salt entering.
Keywords: Antioxidant activity
Chlorophyll a fluorescence
Juniperus shrublands
Hair
MDA
Salt stress
Published in RUNG: 20.04.2020; Views: 4135; Downloads: 0
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