8 results on '"Biondi, Stefania"'
Search Results
2. High zinc concentrations reduce rooting capacity and alter metallothionein gene expression in white poplar (Populus alba cv. Villafranca)
- Author
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Castiglione S., Franchin C., Fossati T., Lingua G., TORRIGIANI, PATRIZIA, BIONDI, STEFANIA, Castiglione S., Franchin C., Fossati T., Lingua G., Torrigiani P., and Biondi S.
- Subjects
POPLARS ,RHIZOGENESIS ,METALLOTHIONEINS ,HEAVY METALS ,PHYTOREMEDIATION - Abstract
Poplar is a good candidate for use in phytoremediation of contaminated soil, but its tolerance to heavy metals has not been fully investigated yet. In the present work, an in-vitro model system with shoot cultures was used to investigate the tolerance to high concentrations of zinc (Zn) of a commercial clone (Villafranca) of Populus alba. Based on chlorophyll content (leaf chlorosis) and the rate of adventitious root formation from shoot cuttings as parameters of damage, 0.5 – 4 mM zinc concentrations were all toxic albeit to different extents. Northern blot and reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR analyses were used to examine the expression profiles of type 1, 2 and 3 PaMT genes in stems, leaves and roots of plants exposed to Zn treatments. In leaves, MT1 and MT3 mRNA levels were enhanced by Zn, while MT2 transcripts were not affected. The PaMT expression profiles were differentially affected by Zn in an organ-specific manner, and the relationship with Zn concentration and exposure time was rarely linear. The developmental and molecular data reveal that the in vitro model is a sensitive and reliable system to study heavy metal stress responses.
- Published
- 2007
3. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as a tool to ameliorate the phytoremediation potential of poplar: biochemical and molecular aspects.
- Author
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Cicatelli, Angela, Torrigiani, Patrizia, Todeschini, Valeria, Biondi, Stefania, Castiglione, Stefano, and Lingua, Guido
- Subjects
POPLARS ,PHYTOREMEDIATION ,VESICULAR-arbuscular mycorrhizas ,SOIL microbiology ,NUTRIENT uptake ,HEAVY metals - Abstract
Poplar is a suitable species for phytoremediation, able to tolerate high concentrations of heavy metals (HMs). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic associations with the roots of most land plants; they improve nutrient uptake and enhance phytoextraction of HMs while alleviating stress in the host plant. This review summarizes previous results from field and greenhouse studies conducted by us and dealing with this topic. In a field trial on a highly Zn- and Cu-contaminated site, differences in plant survival and growth were observed among 168 clones originating from natural populations of Populus alba L. and Populus nigra L. from northern Italy. After two and a half years from planting, the density, activity and metabolic versatility of the culturable fraction of the soil bacteria in the HM-polluted field was higher in the soil close to where larger poplar plants were growing, in spite of comparable HM concentrations recorded in these soils. One well-performing clone of P. alba (AL35), which accumulated a higher concentration of both metals and had high foliar polyamine (PA) levels, was used for further investigation. In a greenhouse study, AL35 cuttings pre-inoculated with AMF (Glomus mosseae or Glomus intraradices) and then transferred to pots containing soil, collected from the HM-polluted site, displayed growth comparable to that of controls grown on unpolluted soil, in spite of higher Cu and Zn accumulation. Such plants also showed an overall up-regulation of metallothionein (MT) and PA biosynthetic genes, together with increased PA levels. A genome-wide transcriptomic (cDNA- AFLP) analysis allowed the identification of a number of genes, mostly belonging to stress-related functional categories of defense and secondary metabolism, that were differentially regulated in mycorrhizal vs. non mycorrhizal plants. A proteomic analysis revealed that, depending on sampling time, changes in protein profiles were differentially affected by AMF and/or HMs. It is concluded that soil-borne microorganisms affect plant performance on HMpolluted soil. In particular, mycorrhizal plants exhibited increased capacity for phytostabilization of HMs, together with improved growth. Their greater stress tolerance may derive from the protective role of PAs, and from the strong modulation in the expression profiles of stress-related genes and proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi restore normal growth in a white poplar clone grown on heavy metal-contaminated soil, and this is associated with upregulation of foliar metallothionein and polyamine biosynthetic gene expression.
- Author
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Cicatelli, Angela, Lingua, Guido, Todeschini, Valeria, Biondi, Stefania, Torrigiani, Patrizia, and Castiglione, Stefano
- Subjects
MYCORRHIZAL fungi ,HEAVY metals ,POLYAMINES ,POPULUS alba ,PHYTOREMEDIATION - Abstract
Background and Aims It is increasingly evident that plant tolerance to stress is improved by mycorrhiza. Thus, suitable plant–fungus combinations may also contribute to the success of phytoremediation of heavy metal (HM)-polluted soil. Metallothioneins (MTs) and polyamines (PAs) are implicated in the response to HM stress in several plant species, but whether the response is modulated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) remains to be clarified. The aim of the present study was to check whether colonization by AMF could modify growth, metal uptake/translocation, and MT and PA gene expression levels in white poplar cuttings grown on HM-contaminated soil, and to compare this with plants grown on non-contaminated soil. Methods In this greenhouse study, plants of a Populus alba clone were pre-inoculated, or not, with either Glomus mosseae or G. intraradices and then grown in pots containing either soil collected from a multimetal- (Cu and Zn) polluted site or non-polluted soil. The expression of MT and PA biosynthetic genes was analysed in leaves using quantitative reverse transcription–PCR. Free and conjugated foliar PA concentrations were determined in parallel. Results On polluted soil, AMF restored plant biomass despite higher Cu and Zn accumulation in plant organs, especially roots. Inoculation with the AMF caused an overall induction of PaMT1, PaMT2, PaMT3, PaSPDS1, PaSPDS2 and PaADC gene expression, together with increased free and conjugated PA levels, in plants grown on polluted soil, but not in those grown on non-polluted soil. Conclusions Mycorrhizal plants of P. alba clone AL35 exhibit increased capacity for stabilization of soil HMs, together with improved growth. Their enhanced stress tolerance may derive from the transcriptional upregulation of several stress-related genes, and the protective role of PAs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi differentially affect the response to high zinc concentrations of two registered poplar clones.
- Author
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Lingua, Guido, Franchin, Cinzia, Todeschini, Valeria, Castiglione, Stefano, Biondi, Stefania, Burlando, Bruno, Parravicini, Valerio, Torrigiani, Patrizia, and Berta, Graziella
- Subjects
PLANT-soil relationships ,PARASITIC plants ,CURING ,BIOREMEDIATION - Abstract
Abstract: The effects of a high concentration of zinc on two registered clones of poplar (Populus alba Villafranca and Populus nigra Jean Pourtet), inoculated or not with two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae or Glomus intraradices) before transplanting them into polluted soil, were investigated, with special regard to the extent of root colonization by the fungi, plant growth, metal accumulation in the different plant organs, and leaf polyamine concentration. Zinc accumulation was lower in Jean Pourtet than in Villafranca poplars, and it was mainly translocated to the leaves; the metal inhibited mycorrhizal colonization, compromised plant growth, and, in Villafranca, altered the putrescine profile in the leaves. Most of these effects were reversed or reduced in plants pre-inoculated with G. mosseae. Results indicate that poplars are suitable for phytoremediation purposes, confirming that mycorrhizal fungi can be useful for phytoremediation, and underscore the importance of appropriate combinations of plant genotypes and fungal symbionts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2008
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- View/download PDF
6. The combined effect of Cr(III) and NaCl determines changes in metal uptake, nutrient content, and gene expression in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.).
- Author
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Guarino, Francesco, Ruiz, Karina B., Castiglione, Stefano, Cicatelli, Angela, and Biondi, Stefania
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QUINOA ,GENE expression ,SALT-tolerant crops ,HEAVY metal toxicology ,SOIL salinity ,BETAINE - Abstract
Many areas of the world are affected simultaneously by salinity and heavy metal pollution. Halophytes are considered as useful candidates in remediation of such soils due to their ability to withstand both osmotic stress and ion toxicity deriving from high salt concentrations. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) is a halophyte with a high resistance to abiotic stresses (drought, salinity, frost), but its capacity to cope with heavy metals has not yet been fully investigated. In this pot experiment, we investigated phytoextraction capacity, effects on nutrient levels (P and Fe), and changes in gene expression in response to application of Cr(III) in quinoa plants grown on saline or non-saline soil. Plants were exposed for three weeks to 500 mg kg
−1 soil of Cr(NO 3) 3 ·9H 2 O either in the presence or absence of 150 mM NaCl. Results show that plants were able tolerate this soil concentration of Cr(III); the metal was mainly accumulated in roots where it reached the highest concentration (ca. 2.6 mg g−1 DW) in the presence of NaCl. On saline soil, foliar Na concentration was significantly reduced by Cr(III). Phosphorus translocation to leaves was reduced in the presence of Cr(III), while Fe accumulation was enhanced by treatment with NaCl alone. A real-time RT-qPCR analysis was conducted on genes encoding for sulfate, iron, and phosphate transporters, a phytochelatin, a metallothionein, glutathione synthetase, a dehydrin, Hsp70, and enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of proline (P5CS), glycine betaine (BADH), tocopherols (TAT), and phenolic compounds (PAL). Cr(III), and especially Cr(III)+NaCl, affected transcript levels of most of the investigated genes, indicating that tolerance to Cr is associated with changes in phosphorus and sulfur allocation, and activation of stress-protective molecules. Moderately saline conditions, in most cases, enhanced this response, suggesting that the halophytism of quinoa could contribute to prime the plants to respond to chromium stress. • Salinity and heavy metal pollution are one of the world's major environmental concerns. • Quinoa is a halophytic crop and highly tolerant to multiple stresses. • Plants did not show any toxicity symptoms in the presence of Cr with or without NaCl. • Cr and/or NaCl severely affected the uptake of nutrients. • The presence of Cr with or without NaCl modified the expression of several genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2020
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- View/download PDF
7. Polyaspartate, a biodegradable chelant that improves the phytoremediation potential of poplar in a highly metal-contaminated agricultural soil.
- Author
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Lingua, Guido, Todeschini, Valeria, Grimaldi, Michele, Baldantoni, Daniela, Proto, Antonio, Cicatelli, Angela, Biondi, Stefania, Torrigiani, Patrizia, and Castiglione, Stefano
- Subjects
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PHYTOREMEDIATION , *ASPARTIC acid , *CHELATING agents , *SOIL remediation , *POPULUS alba , *HEAVY-metal tolerant plants , *ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETIC acid , *POLYCARBOXYLIC acids - Abstract
Phytoremediation is a cost-effective and environment friendly in situ technique for the reclamation of heavy metal-polluted soils. The efficacy of this technique, which relies on tolerant plant species, can be improved by the use of chelating agents. A pot experiment was carried out to evaluate the phytoextraction and phytostabilisation capacities of a white poplar (Populus alba L.) clone named AL35 previously selected for its marked tolerance to copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). Cuttings were grown on agricultural soil highly contaminated with Cu and Zn, in the presence or not (controls) of a chelant mixture (EDTA/EDDS) known to enhance metal bioavailability and, hence, uptake by plant roots, or the not yet investigated synthetic, highly biodegradable polyaspartic acid (PASP). Both chelant treatments improved the phytostabilisation of Cu and Zn in AL35 plants, whilst the phytoextraction capacity was enhanced only in the case of Cu. Considering that the effectiveness of PASP as phytostabilizer was comparable or better than that of EDTA/EDDS, the low cost of its large-scale chemical synthesis and its biodegradability makes it a good candidate for chelant-enhanced metal phytoextraction from soil while avoiding the toxic side-effects previously described for both EDTA and EDDS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
8. High zinc concentrations reduce rooting capacity and alter metallothionein gene expression in white poplar (Populus alba L. cv. Villafranca)
- Author
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Castiglione, Stefano, Franchin, Cinzia, Fossati, Tiziana, Lingua, Guido, Torrigiani, Patrizia, and Biondi, Stefania
- Subjects
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PHYTOREMEDIATION , *ZINC , *POPLARS , *POPULUS alba , *CHLOROSIS (Plants) , *CHLOROPHYLL , *REVERSE transcriptase , *POLYMERASE chain reaction , *METALS - Abstract
Poplar is a good candidate for phytoremediation purposes because of its rapid growth, extensive root system, and ease of propagation and transformation; however its tolerance to heavy metals has not been fully investigated yet. In the present work, an in vitro model system with shoot cultures was used to investigate the tolerance to high concentrations of zinc (Zn) of a commercial clone (Villafranca) of Populus alba. Based on chlorophyll content (leaf chlorosis) and the rate of adventitious root formation from shoot cuttings as parameters of damage, 0. 5–4mM zinc concentrations were all toxic albeit to different extents. Northern blot and reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR analyses were used to examine the expression profiles of types 1, 2 and 3 PaMT genes in stems, leaves and roots of plants exposed to Zn treatments. In leaves, MT1 and MT3 mRNA levels were enhanced by Zn, while MT2 transcripts were not affected. The PaMT expression profiles were differentially affected by Zn in an organ-specific manner, and the relationship with Zn concentration and exposure time was rarely linear. The developmental and molecular data reveal that the in vitro model is a sensitive and reliable system to study heavy metal stress responses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2007
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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