Maria Grazia Alaimo

The mapping of stress in the predominant plantsin the city of Palermo by lead dosage

Many plants react to pollutants in the atmosphere andcan consequentely be used to examine air quality.A distinction is made between bioindicator,bioaccumulator and hiperaccumulator and biomonitorplants.Given the encouraging results of a study to monitorstress caused by pollution in the city of Palermo(Sicily), we decided to carry out a survey ofpollutants, by examining some “passive bioindicatorplants”, which grow naturally or which had long agobeen planted in the city. The species chosen were:Eucaliptus camaldulensis Dehnh.; Pinuspinea L.; Platanus hybrida Brot, examples ofwhich are found all over the city.Biostructural and spectrophotometry analyses werecarried out on the leaf and pollen samples, payingparticular attention to lead. Most damage (cytologicalalterations and lead accumulation) was found in thepine; morphological and cytological parameters arehighly unspecific but positively correlated with leadpresence in plant structures.

Leaf anatomy in Tamarix arborea var. arborea (Tamaricaceae)

Abstract Previously unpublished data on the macro- and micro-morphological features of the leaf of Tamarix arborea var. arborea are provided. Clear differences in salt gland localization and type of venations were observed in the investigated species compared to other Tamarix species, thus emphasizing the taxonomic value of the leaf within this genus.

Stress-induced cytological and chemical adaptations in Cupressus plants from an urban area of Palermo (Italy)

Abstract We studied stress-induced cytological and chemical adaptations in Cupressus pollens and needles from the area of Palermo (Sicily, Italy), in polluted and control sites (unpolluted) of urban and suburban areas. Pollen and needle chemical composition were investigated to provide an indicator of contamination of the trees, which were also examined structurally throughout one year. The concentration of particulate with lead was found to be significantly higher in plants at the polluted traffic site. Lead is one of the worst particulate pollutants in cities, especially in the winter season. In trees from the polluted site, all structural analysis revealed displasies. Structural changes, observed in trees from polluted sites, are most likely caused by the toxic effects of various pollutants, for example particulate, because fine particulate, with metals, is on the rise at present. We studied the effects on the pollen with an optical microscope, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and cytochemical staining of esterases and acid phosphatase.

Presence of esterase inPinaceae pollen

General esterases, like wall heterologous enzymes, may be implicated in allergenic mechanisms. We cytochemically examined the presence of these enzymes, bearing in mind thatPinus spp. is often considered a possible cause of allergies. Positive esterase results in fungus spores were found on the strip of a volumetric sampler. Data are reported here, together with the hypothesis of a possible esterase-allergenic link regarding fungus spores.

Major and trace elements in Boletus aereus and Clitopilus prunulus growing on volcanic and sedimentary soils of Sicily (Italy)

The aim of this study was to determine and compare the content of 28 elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sr, Tl, U, V and Zn) in fruiting bodies of Boletus aereus Bull. and Clitopilus prunulus P. Kumm collected from eleven unpolluted sites of Sicily (Italy) and, also to relate the abundance of chemical elements in soil with their concentration in mushrooms. Median concentrations of the most abundant elements in Boletus aereus ranged from 31,290 μg/g (K) to 107 μg/g (Zn) in caps and from 24,009 μg/g (K) to 57 μg/g (Zn) in stalks with the following abundance order: K > Na > Ca > Mg > Fe > Al > Rb > Zn. The same elements, in the whole fruiting body of Clitopilus prunulus samples, varied in the range 54,073-92 μg/g following the abundance order: K > Na > Mg > Ca > Fe > Al > Rb > Zn. Metal contents in Boletus aereus and in the whole fruiting body of Clitopilus prunulus, collected from the same sampling sites, showed statistically significant differences for most elements. In particular, Clitopilus prunulus contained around two to four times more Co, Cr, Fe, Mg, Mo, Pb, U and V than caps and stalks of Boletus aereus species which, in turn, was from two to four times more enriched in Cu, Se and Tl. Thus, the elemental content of Boletus aereus and Clitopilus prunulus appeared to be species-dependent. The distribution of chemical elements in Boletus aereus was not uniform throughout the whole fruiting body as most elements were significantly bioconcentrated in caps. Furthermore, the fruit bodies of Boletus aereus from the volcanic soil differed both in major and minor elements concentrations from those collected from sedimentary soils. Cadmium and lead concentrations were below the threshold limits for wild mushrooms proposed by EU Directives (2008 and 2015). The elemental content was not significantly influenced by soil pH.

Pollen grain stereostructure, viability and germination ; correlation with temperature of Antirrhinum tortuosum Bosc

Summary The present article describes the pollen grain stereostructure (SEM), viability with fluorescein diacetate, and correlation between the temperature of 5°C and 25°C and the germination and pollen tube length of Antirrhinum tortuosum Bosc, collected in Cefalu (Palermo). We have shown that the growth of the pollen tube is related to the temperature and that the quantity of pollen showing fluorochromasia corresponds with that of the functional, germinated pollen.