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The goal of this study was to assay the trace metal contents in Fragaria ananassa. Samples were collected from 14 sites located in Campania and Lazio regions (Italy). The sites selection was made considering their different human impact in order to evaluate the possible role of Fragaria ananassa as bioaccumulator. The areas located in Campania region, according to a document from the Civil Protection Department in 2007, were reported like a high risk of exposure and mortality due to an important human impact. Instead, ARPA Lazio reports classified the two sites selected in the Lazio region as polluted and not for air pollution. In order to evaluate the possible contamination source the content of these elements in the soil and in irrigation water has been analysed. The data showed that Cd contaminated the strawberries sampled in several sites located in the Caserta province and in one of the two sites located in Latina province in accordance with FAO/WHO. Besides, the enrichment factor evidenced an anthropic origin in several sites. The goal of this study was to assay the trace metal contents in Fragaria ananassa. Samples were collected from 14 sites located in Campania and Lazio regions (Italy). The sites selection was made considering their different human impact in order to evaluate the possible role of Fragaria ananassa as bioaccumulator. The areas located in Campania region, according to a document from the Civil Protection Department in 2007, were reported like a high risk of exposure and mortality due to an important human impact. Instead, ARPA Lazio reports classified the two sites selected in the Lazio region as polluted and not for air pollution. In order to evaluate the possible contamination source the content of these elements in the soil and in irrigation water has been analysed. The data showed that Cd contaminated the strawberries sampled in several sites located in the Caserta province and in one of the two sites located in Latina province in accordance with FAO/WHO. Besides, the enrichment factor evidenced an anthropic origin in several sites.

The particular geo-pedological and climatic conditions of Campania have allowed the development of a varied horticulture and fruit-growing, cultivating a wide range of species even with very different thermal needs. The rediscovery and study of local varieties, in addition to being a means to safeguard cultivars at risk of genetic erosion, allows enriching the offer of existing products and expanding the range with native varieties, which are characterized by specific nutritional and health properties, being not levelled on common organoleptic standards. Beans are one of the vegetable products whose biodiversity has been preserved the most as a result of their progressive marginalization in modern food, legumes are used less than in the past; the bean is a plant mainly cultivated by elderly “guardian farmers”, for a sort of “cultural resilience”, which have continued to preserve the seed accurately from year to year, re-seeding it, up to our days. The bean is an annual, bush or climbing plant; seeds stored in a cool, dry place can withstand a few years, then lose their germination capacity. The goal of this work was, therefore, to test the contents of some macro- and micro-nutrients essential (Na, Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn, Mn) in a bean ecotype, the bean "Lenzariello", recovered by the custodian farmers present in the Alto Casertano area. In particular, beans were sampled in three different areas: Caiazzo, Villa S. Croce and Ruviano to evaluate if the different chemical-physical characteristics of the soil affect the content of essential nutrients. The results showed high nutrient content of this variety compared to commercial species, regardless of the cultivation fields.

Soil is the largest terrestrial carbon pool, of which about 20% is stored in forest soils. The dominant species of each forest typology strongly influence structure, function and activity of soil microbial communities. There is a substantial lack of studies integrating analyses on soil chemical-physical features and biological activities in soil deep layers under different canopies. Accordingly, the present work aims to (a) characterize and compare organic matter quality and quantity along the profiles of soils developed on the same parent material, but under different canopies and (b) evaluate the distribution and activity of the microbial biomass along the soil profiles. The research was carried out in a mountain ecosystem in southern Italy, along the decomposition’s continuum. In order to reach our goals we evaluated Soil Organic Matter (SOM), Soil Total Nitrogen and Soil Total Carbon and different C fractions, microbial and active fungal biomass, enzyme activities involved in SOM degradation. The results showed that in the soil, the chemical-physical variables made the difference in the A horizons, while some enzyme activities explained most of the diversity in the deepest horizons. Overall, the two stands showed differences, highlighting a separation of the two profiles, despite the same parent material. Soil is the largest terrestrial carbon pool, of which about 20% is stored in forest soils. The dominant species of each forest typology strongly influence structure, function and activity of soil microbial communities. There is a substantial lack of studies integrating analyses on soil chemical-physical features and biological activities in soil deep layers under different canopies. Accordingly, the present work aims to (a) characterize and compare organic matter quality and quantity along the profiles of soils developed on the same parent material, but under different canopies and (b) evaluate the distribution and activity of the microbial biomass along the soil profiles. The research was carried out in a mountain ecosystem in southern Italy, along the decomposition's continuum. In order to reach our goals we evaluated Soil Organic Matter (SOM), Soil Total Nitrogen and Soil Total Carbon and different C fractions, microbial and active fungal biomass, enzyme activities involved in SOM degradation. The results showed that in the soil, the chemical-physical variables made the difference in the A horizons, while some enzyme activities explained most of the diversity in the deepest horizons. Overall, the two stands showed differences, highlighting a separation of the two profiles, despite the same parent material.

Besides being used, for their dense root system, to consolidate embankments subject to erosion, the aquatic macrophytes play an important role at removing contaminants from the rhizosphere by filtration, adsorption, cation exchange and through chemical changes induced by plant organisms. They have been identified as a group potentially useful for bioremediation and biomonitoring. The Sarno River is the most polluted river in Italy (Campania region) because of many important tanneries and leather factories located along its course, and large agricultural and industrial discharges untreated waste made. Additionally, the area is also disturbed by frequent flooding and mudslides; in the last 20 years, the embankments have ruptured two or three times a year, causing spillover of polluted waters into the adjacent countryside with all the risk to the public health. Therefore, the aim of this work was to quantify the trace metals accumulation in Phragmites australis (Cav.) (roots, stolons, stems and leaves) sampled along the Sarno River. The data obtained were compared to the metal concentrations assayed in the rhizosphere sediments and the interstitial water to assess the bioaccumulation in different organs and bio-extraction. The data showed a decreasing metals content in the following order: root> stolon> leaf> stem highlighting the metal block at the root level. Significant and positive correlations were found between rhizosphere and roots metals, suggesting a common origin. Besides, significant correlation found between Ni assayed in interstitial water and roots suggested this as the other pollution source. Besides being used, for their dense root system, to consolidate embankments subject to erosion, the aquatic macrophytes play an important role at removing contaminants from the rhizosphere by filtration, adsorption, cation exchange and through chemical changes induced by plant organisms. They have been identified as a group potentially useful for bioremediation and biomonitoring. The Sarno River is the most polluted river in Italy (Campania region) because of many important tanneries and leather factories located along its course, and large agricultural and industrial discharges untreated waste made. Additionally, the area is also disturbed by frequent flooding and mudslides; in the last 20 years, the embankments have ruptured two or three times a year, causing spillover of polluted waters into the adjacent countryside with all the risk to the public health. Therefore, the aim of this work was to quantify the trace metals accumulation in Phragmites australis (Cav.) (roots, stolons, stems and leaves) sampled along the Sarno River. The data obtained were compared to the metal concentrations assayed in the rhizosphere sediments and the interstitial water to assess the bioaccumulation in different organs and bio-extraction. The data showed a decreasing metals content in the following order: root> stolon> leaf> stem highlighting the metal block at the root level. Significant and positive correlations were found between rhizosphere and roots metals, suggesting a common origin. Besides, significant correlation found between Ni assayed in interstitial water and roots suggested this as the other pollution source.