Environmental pollution of air, water and soil is a major issue for human health. Poisoning of freshwaters is of special concern, since rivers may transport contaminants away, even to areas far from any pollution source, thus dangerously modifying uncorrupted biosystems. Plants reacts to pollutants in a highly complex way, activating a number of parallel and/or consecutive pathways at molecular, physiological and morphological levels. Most of duckweeds (Lemnaceae) are species widely used as model hydrophytes in ecotoxicology due to their wide distribution, fast growth, short life span, and sensitivity to environmental changes. This study aimed at evaluating biological effects of freshwater pollution in the highly contaminated river Solofrana (Campania, Southern Italy), using bags containing the aquatic duckweed Lemna minor. Homogeneous samples, collected at the Botanical Gardens of the University of Naples, were accurately washed and disposed in nylon bags (1 mm2 – mesh). The bags were exposed for one week at 25 cm of water depth in the river, to determine morpho-physiological and genetic modifications as a response to pollutants. A number of parameters were measured and observed on these samples: heavy metal accumulation, ultrastructural organization, HSPs induction and repetitive DNA organization. The genotoxicity potential of polluted waters and the determination of type of cell death have been assessed through DNA laddering and AO/EB double staining assay. The results showed that L. minor is very effective in accumulating heavy metals. Morphological alterations concern overall chloroplasts (shape and thylacoidal organization) and vacuoles. HSPs, repetitive DNA and genotoxicity were influenced by exposure. The results suggest the possibility of using this species and this method both in biomonitoring and phytoremediation projects.
Effects of Freshwater Pollution in Lemna minor L. Exposed in Bags in a Polluted River of South Italy / A., Basile; S., Esposito; S., Sorbo; M., Cardi; M., Lentini; B., Conte; Bassi, Paola; C., Ciniglia; S., Loppi. - STAMPA. - 1:(2013), pp. 184-184. (Intervento presentato al convegno 17th International Symposium on Environmental Pollution and its Impact on Life in the Mediterranean Region tenutosi a Istambul, Turkey nel Sept. 28 - Oct. 1 - 2013).
Effects of Freshwater Pollution in Lemna minor L. Exposed in Bags in a Polluted River of South Italy
BASSI, Paola;
2013
Abstract
Environmental pollution of air, water and soil is a major issue for human health. Poisoning of freshwaters is of special concern, since rivers may transport contaminants away, even to areas far from any pollution source, thus dangerously modifying uncorrupted biosystems. Plants reacts to pollutants in a highly complex way, activating a number of parallel and/or consecutive pathways at molecular, physiological and morphological levels. Most of duckweeds (Lemnaceae) are species widely used as model hydrophytes in ecotoxicology due to their wide distribution, fast growth, short life span, and sensitivity to environmental changes. This study aimed at evaluating biological effects of freshwater pollution in the highly contaminated river Solofrana (Campania, Southern Italy), using bags containing the aquatic duckweed Lemna minor. Homogeneous samples, collected at the Botanical Gardens of the University of Naples, were accurately washed and disposed in nylon bags (1 mm2 – mesh). The bags were exposed for one week at 25 cm of water depth in the river, to determine morpho-physiological and genetic modifications as a response to pollutants. A number of parameters were measured and observed on these samples: heavy metal accumulation, ultrastructural organization, HSPs induction and repetitive DNA organization. The genotoxicity potential of polluted waters and the determination of type of cell death have been assessed through DNA laddering and AO/EB double staining assay. The results showed that L. minor is very effective in accumulating heavy metals. Morphological alterations concern overall chloroplasts (shape and thylacoidal organization) and vacuoles. HSPs, repetitive DNA and genotoxicity were influenced by exposure. The results suggest the possibility of using this species and this method both in biomonitoring and phytoremediation projects.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.