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Indoor production of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is influenced by light spectrum, photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), and the photoperiod. To investigate the effects of different lighting on growth, chlorophyll content, and secondary metabolism, basil plants were grown from seedlings to fully expanded plants in microcosm devices under different light conditions: (a) white light at 250 and 380 μmol·m−2·s−1 under 16/8 h light/dark and (b) white light at 380 μmol·m−2·s−1 under 16/8 and 24/0 h light/dark. A higher yield was recorded under 380 μmol·m−2·s−1 compared to 250 μmol·m−2·s−1 (fresh and dry biomasses 260.6 ± 11.3 g vs. 144.9 ± 14.6 g and 34.1 ± 2.6 g vs. 13.2 ± 1.4 g, respectively), but not under longer photoperiods. No differences in plant height and chlorophyll content index were recorded, regardless of the PPFD level and photoperiod length. Almost the same volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were detected under the different lighting treatments, belonging to terpenes, aldehydes, alcohols, esters, and ketones. Linalool, eucalyptol, and eugenol were the main VOCs regardless of the lighting conditions. The multivariate data analysis showed a sharp separation of non-volatile metabolites in apical and middle leaves, but this was not related to different PPFD levels. Higher levels of sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes were detected in plants grown under 250 μmol·m−2·s−1 and 380 μmol·m−2·s−1, respectively. A low separation of non-volatile metabolites based on the photoperiod length and VOC overexpression under longer photoperiods were also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor farming of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) under artificial lighting to support year-round produce demand is an area of increasing interest. Literature data indicate that diverse light regimes differently affect downstream metabolic pathways which influence basil growth, development and metabolism. In this study, basil was grown from seedlings to fully developed plants in a microcosm, an innovative device aimed at growing plants indoor as in natural conditions. Specifically, the effects of white (W) and blue-red (BR) light under a photosynthetic photon flux density of 255 μmol m−2 s−1 on plant growth, photochemistry, soluble nutrient concentration and secondary metabolism were investigated. Plants grew taller (41.8 ± 5.0 vs. 28.4 ± 2.5 cm) and produced greater biomass (150.3 ± 24.2/14.7 ± 2.0 g vs. 116.2 ± 28.3/12.3 ± 2.5 g fresh/dry biomass) under W light compared to BR light. The two lighting conditions differently influenced the soluble nutrient concentration and the translocation rate. No photosynthetic stress was observed under the two lighting regimes, but leaves grown under W light displayed higher levels of maximum quantum yield of PSII and electron transport rate. Sharp differences in metabolic patterns under the two lighting regimes were detected with higher concentrations of phenolic compounds under the BR light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the spatial distribution patterns of microplastics (plastics < 5 mm) contributes to the assessment of sources and sinks of pollution thus providing information for the management of biota safety and overall ecosystem functionality. We chose a semi-closed study area, Lake Bracciano (Italy), to assess the environmental variability of contamination, focusing on the water compartment and the exposure of biota, specifically fish, by analysing the ingestion of microplastics. The focus of this study is to evaluate the concentration of microplastics in water (surface and column) across the lake and the ingestion of microplastics by two fish species of economic interest: Atherina boyeri and Coregonus lavaretus, inhabiting demersal and pelagic habitats respectively. Results show a surface contamination of 392,000 ± 417,000 items km−2 and a column one of 0.76 ± 1.00 items m−3. Fragments were the most abundant in surface while fibres in the column. Microplastics were found in C. lavaretus specimens, corresponding to contamination frequency of 5% and concentration of 0.15 items/fish. The main polymer found in water was polyethylene (81%); of minor percentages, there were various other polymers, including polystyrene and acrylic, which were also found in fish. As scientific literature provides few research where water and fish are simultaneously sampled, this investigation wants to contribute filling this knowledge gap by investigating for the first time a volcanic lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The ability of chitosan as a low-cost and environmentally friendly Cr(III) adsorbent was studied to evaluate its potential application in the field of tannery wastewater treatment, in terms of the removal of chromium ions avoiding their conversion into Cr(VI), the compounds of which exert highly toxic and carcinogenic effects on biological systems. Chitosan is very effective in removing metal ions through their adsorption. A preliminary investigation of the adsorption of chromium(III) by chitosan was carried out by means of batch tests as a function of contact time, pH, ion competition, and initial chromium(III) concentration. The rate of adsorption was rather rapid (t1/2 < 18 min) and influenced by the presence of other metal ions. The obtained data were tested using the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models and, based on R2 values, the former appeared better applicable than the latter. Chitosan was found to have an excellent loading capacity for chromium(III), namely 138.0 mg Cr per g of chitosan at pH = 3.8, but metal ions adsorption was strongly influenced by the pH. About 76% of the recovered chromium was then removed simply by washing the used chitosan with 0.1 M EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) solution. This study demonstrates that chitosan has the potential to become an effective and low-cost agent for wastewater treatment (e.g., tannery waste) and in situ environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) measurements and comparing the spectrum peaks (range 4000-600 cm−1) with reference spectra database and instrument libraries, we observed new evidence of the ingestion of microplastic particles analyzing the digestive tracts of Talitrus saltator. Specimens, sampled in central Italy, probably ingested the particles with natural detritus. Since worldwide many species of invertebrates and vertebrates (e.g., birds) feed on Amphipoda along coastal ecosystems, we hypothesized that microplastic in these crustaceans can be accumulated along the food chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterization of beach debris is crucial to assess the strategy to answer questions such as recycling. With the aim to assess its use in a recycling scheme, in this note, we carried out a physical and chemical characterization of plastic litter from a pilot beach in Central Italy, using the FT-IR spectroscopy and thermoanalysis. Fourteen polymers, having mainly thermoplastic origin, were identified; among them, the most represented are polyethylene (41.7%) and polypropylene (36.9%). Chemical and mechanical degradation were clearly observed by an IR spectrum. The thermogravimetric analysis curve of the plastic blend shows the melting point at 120-140 °C, and degradation occurs almost totally in a one-step process within 300-500 °C. The high heating value of the plastic debris is 43.9 MJ kg. Polymer blends obtained by beach debris show mechanical properties similar to the virgin high-density polyethylene polymer. Following the beach plastic debris characterization, a recycling scheme was suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure of plants to high-heavy metals concentration inhibits multiple metabolic processes in plants and leads to an oxidative stress commonly referred as heavy metal ion toxicity. Chlorophyll a fluorescence has enhanced understanding of heavy metal ion action on the photosynthetic system. A rapid and non-invasive technique involving imaging of chlorophyll fluorescence is a useful tool for early detection of plant responses to heavy metal ion toxicity. In this work chlorophyll fluorescence emission and photochemical parameters in plants of Populus x euramericana clone I-214 were investigated by the portable Imaging PAM fluorometer at different days after soil treatment with zinc. Custom software for analysis of the photochemical parameters images has been developed in order to gain a better assessing of the plant performance in response of metal stress. The imaging analysis allowed visualizing heterogeneity in plant response to high zinc concentrations. The heterogeneity of images suggests spatial differences in photochemical activity and changes in the antenna down-regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a method to reveal the presence of Mg content inside the different parts of leaves of Hedera helix is presented. In fact a sample of a Hedera helix's leaf, commonly characterized by a green and a white side, is analyzed under X-ray radiation. The presence of two zones with different colors in the Hedera helix's leaf has not been explained. In this connection, there are presently three hypotheses to explain the characteristic double-color appearance of the leaf. The first hypothesis suggests a different cytoplasmic inheritance of chloroplasts at the cell division, the second a different allelic composition, homozygote and heterozygote, between the two zones, and finally the third the action of a virus which changes the color properties in the Hedera's leaves. The resulting effect is a different content of 'something' between the green and the white side. We utilized X-ray radiation, obtained from a plasma source with a Mg target, to image Hedera helix leaves and we found that the green side of the leaf is highlighted. We may suppose that the reason why the X-rays from a Mg plasma source, allow us to pick up the green side is probably due to the greater presence of the amount of Mg (from chlorophyll or other complexes and/or salts) in the two sides, green and white, of the leaf. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study refers to morphological observations carried out on oral structures and head sensorial equipment of juveniles and adult of A. naccarii, taking into account the scarcity of bibliographic data pertaining to such structures in this species. SEM and histological examination were performed on a 9-year-old (mature male, weight: 9 kg; SL: 108 cm) adult and a 180-day-old juvenile (weight 10 gr; SL: 14.5 cm), from two different induced reproductions carried out in 1992 and 1997, respectively, at VIP fish farm (Orzinuovi, Brescia, Italy) and reared at ENEL Thermal Aquaculture experimental plant "La Casella" (Piacenza, Italy). The morphological and histological results can be interpreted as follows: i) a 180 day-old sturgeon should be considered still a juvenile, as revealed by the presence of some still persisting transitional structures (e.g. teeth); ii) with the exception of olfaction (not treated in this study), the most important sense organ in the external rostro-ventral region of the head are the ampullar organs, which are able to perceive electrical stimuli. These organs are similar to those described in Gymnotidae and Mormyridae by Szabo (1974) with both ciliated columnar and mono-ciliated pear-shaped sensory cells; iii) the sturgeon scans the surrounding environment in search of signals of the presence of food through the olfactory organ, which is considered to be the system with the greatest effective range (more than 100 m) in many fish species, including sturgeons. Again, the head lateral line and ampullar organs ensure more precise and closer orientation of the fish towards the source of the signal. The inner and outer taste buds confer on juveniles a differential sensitivity to prey taste. External taste buds play a role in the preliminary determination of the suitability of food, intervening in the decision whether to seize the item or not. The taste receptors in the mouth, which are assumed to be more sensitive and to perceive a wider range of substances than the outer buds, are involved in the final verification of the quality of the prey seized (swallow or reject it). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prompt estimation of phytoplankton biomass is critical in determining the ecological quality of freshwaters. Remote Sensing (RS) may provide new opportunities to integrate with situ traditional monitoring techniques. Nonetheless, wide regional and temporal variability in freshwater optical constituents makes it difficult to design universally applicable RS protocols. Here, we assessed the potential of two neural networks-based models, namely the Case 2 Regional CoastColour (C2RCC) processor and the Mixture Density Network (MDN), applied to MSI Sentinel-2 data for monitoring Chlorophyll (Chl) content in three monomictic volcanic lakes while accounting for the effect of their specific water circulation pattern on the remotely-sensed and in situ data relation. Linear mixed models were used to test the relationship between the remote sensing indices calculated through C2RCC (INN) and MDN (IMDN), and in situ Chl concentration. Both indices proved to explain a large portion of the variability in the field data and exhibited a positive and significant relationship between Chl concentration and satellite data, but only during the mixing phase. The significant effect of the water circulation period can be explained by the low responsiveness of the RS approaches applied here to the low phytoplankton biomass, typical of the stratification phase. Sentinel-2 data proved their valuable potential for the remote sensing of phytoplankton in small inland water bodies, otherwise challenging with previous sensors. However, caution should be taken, since the applicability of such an approach on certain water bodies may depend on hydrological and ecological parameters (e.g., thermal stratification and seasonal nutrient availability) potentially altering RS chlorophyll detection by neural networks-based models, despite their alleged global validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inland freshwaters are of great importance for human health and activities, but major stressors such as nutrient pollution, deforestation, and urbanization are compromising their status. Water quality degradation and freshwater ecosystem preservation are current issues worldwide requiring frequent and efficient monitoring protocols. The increasing need for large amounts of data to comply with national and international regulations on water quality monitoring highlights traditional procedures limits. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to investigate the potential of alternative and rapid methods for chlorophyll concentration surveys in freshwaters. The Phyto-PAM (pulse amplitude-modulated) instrument and the Case-2 Regional Coast Colour (C2RCC) satellite image processor were selected to estimate chlorophyll concentration in the surface waters of Lake Albano (Central Italy), selected as a pilot area for the project BLOOWATER (Water JPI 2018 Joint Call Closing the Water Cycle Gap). The correlation tests' results indicate significant relations with chlorophyll data measured spectrophotometrically, confirming the suitability of both methods for chlorophyll retrieval. However, the relatively low strength of the correlation between remotely sensed and spectrophotometric data (r = 0.57, p < 2.2 × 10−16) was not as satisfactory as with Phyto-PAM values (r = 0.97, p = 1.2 × 10−4). Even though the techniques in this study proved to be promising in the water body under investigation, their current limitations suggest the need for further calibration and integration with other systems (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]