Effetto della copertura castanicola sulla qualità del suolo e sul contenuto di sostanze umiche. (Repertorio n. 12/2021 prot n. 167708 del 27/09/2021)

Con lo scopo di valorizzare il contributo ecosistemico forestale, il progetto intende valutare l'effetto della copertura castanicola sulla qualità del suolo e sul contenuto di sostanze umiche. A questo fine saranno oggetto di studio suoli forestali opportunamente individuati e campionati in zona Monti Cimini (regione Lazio) e Valle Anticolana (regione Lazio). Verranno utilizzati campioni di suolo già in suo possesso in quanto precedentemente oggetto di studio di un dottorato di ricerca. • caratterizzazione chimica dei suoli • frazionamento dei prodotti di umificazione • caratterizzare la struttura della comunità microbica dei suoli (PLFA). • determinare il contenuto di carbonio nelle frazioni umiche ottenut

Mechanisms of arsenic assimilation by plants and countermeasures to attenuate its accumulation in crops other than rice.

Arsenic is a ubiquitous metalloid in the biosphere, and its origin can be either geogenic or anthropic. Four oxidation states (−3, 0, +3 and + 5) characterize organic and inorganic As- compounds. Although arsenic is reportedly a toxicant, its harmful effects are closely related to its chemical form: inorganic compounds are most toxic, followed by organic ones and finally by arsine gas. Although drinking water is the primary source of arsenic exposure to humans, the metalloid enters the food chain through its uptake by crops, the extent of which is tightly dependent on its phytoavailability. Arsenate is taken up by roots via phosphate carriers, while arsenite is taken up by a subclass of aquaporins (NIP), some of which involved in silicon (Si) transport. NIP and Si transporters are also involved in the uptake of methylated forms of As. Once taken up, its distribution is regulated by the same type of transporters albeit with mobility efficiencies depending on As forms and its accumulation generally occurs in the following decreasing order: roots > stems > leaves > fruits (seeds). Besides providing a survey on the uptake and transport mechanisms in higher plants, this review reports on measures able to reducing plant uptake and the ensuing transfer into edible parts. On the one hand, these measures include a variety of plant-based approaches including breeding, genetic engineering of transport systems, graft/rootstock combinations, and mycorrhization. On the other hand, they include agronomic prac- tices with a particular focus on the use of inorganic and organic amendments, treatment of irrigation water, and fertilization

Arsenic accumulation in grafted melon plants: Role of rootstock in modulating root-to-shoot translocation and physiological response

The bio-agronomical response, along with the arsenic (As) translocation and partitioning were investigated in self-grafted melon ′’Proteo′’, or grafted onto three interspecific (’‘RS841′’, ‘‘Shintoza′’, and ′’Strong Tosa′’) and two intraspecific hybrids (′’Dinero′’ and ′’Magnus′’). Plants were grown in a soilless system and exposed to two As concentrations in the nutrient solution (0.002 and 3.80 mg L−1, referred to as As− and As+) for 30 days. The As+ treatment lowered the aboveground dry biomass (−8%, on average), but the grafting combinations differed in terms of photosynthetic response. As regards the metalloid absorption, the rootstocks revealed a different tendency to uptake As into the root, where its concentration varied from 1633.57 to 369.10 mg kg−1 DW in ′’Magnus′’ and ‘‘RS841′’, respectively. The high bioaccumulation factors in root (ranging from 97.13 to 429.89) and the low translocation factors in shoot (from 0.015 to 0.071) and pulp (from 0.002 to 0.008) under As+, showed a high As mobility in the substrate–plant system, and a lower mobility inside the plants. This tendency was higher in the intraspecific rootstocks. Nonetheless, the interspecific ‘‘RS841′’ proved to be the best rootstock in maximizing yield and minimizing, at the same time, the As concentration into the fruit

Use of Air-Classification Technology to Manage Mycotoxin and Arsenic Contaminations in Durum Wheat-Derived Products

Mycotoxins are the most common natural contaminants and include different types of organic compounds, such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and T-2 and HT-2 toxins. The major toxic inorganic elements include those commonly known as heavy metals, such as cadmium, nickel, and lead, and other minerals such as arsenic. In this study, micronisation and air classification technologies were applied to durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum L.) samples to mitigate inorganic (arsenic) and organic contaminants in unrefined milling fractions and final products (pasta). The results showed the suitability of milling plants, providing less refined milling products for lowering amounts of mycotoxins (DON and the sum of T-2 and HT-2 toxins) and toxic inorganic elements (As, Cd, Ni, and Pb). The results showed an As content (in end products) similar to that obtained using semolina as raw material. In samples showing high organic contamination, the contamination rate detected in the more bran-enriched fractions ranged from 74% to 150% (DON) and from 119% to 151% (sum of T2 and HT-2 toxins) as compared to the micronised samples. Therefore, this technology may be useful for manufacturing unrefined products with reduced levels of organic and inorganic contaminants, minimising the health risk to consumers

Use of compost in the uptake mitigation of arsenic in Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla

Arsenic (As) may represent a risk for crop yield quality and human health since it may accumulate in the edible plant organs with the potential of leading to acute or chronic toxic effects in varied segments of the population. Management of soil fertility through compost has proven to be a valuable practice for increasing and maintaining soil organic matter, with nutritional benefits for crops. This work aimed to evaluate Swiss chard yield and the change in the bioavailability, bioaccumulation, and partitioning of As in the response of the use of compost or conventional mineral fertilization in an open-field trial conducted in a volcanic area in central Italy characterized by the natural contamination of As in soil.

Phytoavailability of Geogenic Arsenic and Its Partitioning in Soil: a Case Of Study in a Thermal Area of Central Italy

Arsenic (As) is an ubiquitous metalloid that is introduced into the environment from both anthropogenic and geochemical sources. The As can be introduced in food chain through plants grown on polluted soil and/or contaminated irrigation water. The element may impair plant growth, moreover its toxicity and cancerogenicity poses a threat for human health. Most plants tolerate soil As concentrations up to 50 mg kg−1. However, at higher levels some plants might be negatively affected, while some others develop strategies to adapt to these conditions. It is known that As absorption, translocation and accumulation depend on plant species. The As tends to concentrate mainly in plant roots and old leaves, with a minor concentration in stems and young leaves, and the lowest concentrations is in fruits. In this study soil As mobility, tomato phytoavailability, and As plant partitioning were measured in an naturally As reach agricultural area (57.49 mg kg-1).  The results show that As compounds mainly accumulate in the roots (2.85 mg kg-1), whereas only a small portion is translocated to fruits (0.08 mg kg-1) making the risk for human health negligible