Cianciullo, Piergiorgio (2024) Biological responses in Bryophytes exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of heavy metals. [Tesi di dottorato]

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Abstract

The PhD work is presented as a paper collection that comprises studies which explored how two widespread bryophytes, the thallose liverwort Conocephalum conicum and the aquatic moss Leptodictyum riparium, respond to environmental concentrations of heavy metals (ERC-HMs). C. conicum and L. riparium were chosen due to their widespread distribution and ease of recognition. The present work represents the first part of the scientific collaboration with the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) and the Regional Agency for Environmental Protection of Campania (ARPAC). The final purpose of the collaboration is to integrate the biomarkers data with physiochemical data into the ARPAC freshwaters monitoring network. I took into account heavy metal levels measured in different freshwater bodies from the Campania region (Italy): Regi Lagni Channels, Sarno river, and Savone river. The first paper expands the knowledge about secondary metabolites and antioxidant responses of C. conicum. The study proposes the first annotation of secondary metabolites in response to environmentally relavant concentrations of heavy metals. The study evidences the first metabolic network of betain lipids, C-glycoside flavones and glycolipids responding to an environmental alteration The second paper resumes a study in which C. conicum was tested first in vitro and then in the field to assess its enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant responses at environmental concentrations of heavy metal. SOD, CAT, and GST enzymatic activities were measured, and a first metabolic response targeting phenolic acid and bibenzyls was investigated The third paper investigates the localization of heavy metals after the exposure to an environmentally relevant mix of heavy metals in C. conicum using different approaches: antioxidant enzyme activities, PAM imaging, ultrastructural analysis, and X-ray microanalysis. The fourth paper present a study that investigates how the aquatic moss Leptodyctium riparium reacts to environmentally relevant concentrations of heavy metals measured in the Sarno River. Phytochelatins, glutathione synthesis, ultrastructural alterations as well as nitrogen metabolism are measured to assess the response to the stressors The PhD work gives highlights into the employability of this two widespread bryophytes to assess freshwater bodies quality with a multiple biomarkers approach for both scientific and regulatory purposes.

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