S. Giordano

We determined genetic variation and metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in Leptodon smithii moss collected in holm oak stands at cities, outskirts and remote areas of Campania and Tuscany (Italy) to investigate if anthropogenic pressure (pollutant emissions and land use change) affects moss genetic richness. In both regions, metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations reflected the trend urban>outskirts>remote areas, excepting Tuscany remote site. In both regions, the moss gene diversity increased from urban to remote areas. The findings suggest the extent and the fragmentation of urban green areas, as drivers of moss genetic richness.

Optical and SEM observation on the thallus of Lunularia cruciata show the presence of a hyaline parenchyma consisting of polyedric, slightly elongated cells with secondary wall thickenings mostly parallel. After removal of cytoplasmic content by mean of Triton-X-100, SEM observations show that the walls of the reticulate cells constituting the hyaline parenchyma have, between wall thickenings, large primary pit fields

... Valeria Spagnuolo Æ Livio Muscariello Æ Salvatore Cozzolino Æ Rosa Castaldo Cobianchi Æ Simonetta Giordano ... in Eurasia and SE North America and has some isolated outposts in trop-ical East and Central Africa and Central and South America (Fernandez-Mendoza et al. ...

As builders and major components of peatlands, Sphagnopsida (peat mosses) are very important organisms for ecosystems and world's climate. Nowadays many Sphagnum species as well as their habitats are largely protected, while their scientific and economic relevance remains considerable. Advanced methods of in vitro cultivation provide the potential to work in a sustainable way with peat mosses and address aspects of basic research as well as biotechnological and economical topics like biomonitoring or the production of renewable substrates for horticulture (Sphagnum farming). Here, we describe the establishment of axenic in vitro cultures of the five peat moss species Sphagnum fimbriatum Wils. and Hook., Sphagnum magellanicum Brid., Sphagnum palustre L., Sphagnum rubellum Wils. and Sphagnum subnitens Russ. and Warnst. with specific focus on large-scale cultivation of S. palustre in bioreactors. Axenic, clonal cultures were established to produce high quantities of biomass under standardized laboratory conditions. For advanced production of S. palustre we tested different cultivation techniques, growth media and inocula, and analyzed the effects of tissue disruption. While cultivation on solid medium is suitable for long term storage, submerse cultivation in liquid medium yielded highest amounts of biomass. By addition of sucrose and ammonium nitrate we were able to increase the biomass by around 10- to 30-fold within 4 weeks. The morphology of in vitro-cultivated gametophores showed similar phenotypic characteristics compared to material from the field. Thus the tested culture techniques are suitable to produce S. palustre material for basic and applied research.

ABSTRACT In recent years, the number of studies concerning population genetics and phylogenetics in mosses using molecular markers has remarkably grown. This review summarizes the main features of the most used molecular techniques based on PCR and their application in bryology, with particular attention to mosses. This work also provides a bibliographic guide to 108 molecular studies focused on mosses to assist in choosing the most suitable markers according to the main aims of a specific research.

... collected from sandy soil at the Castelvolturno Nature Reserve, Southern Italy (Caserta) in a Mediterranean Macchia site ... Simonetta Giordano (corresponding author), Adriana Basile, Valeria Spagnuolo, Nunzia Reca, Rosa Castaldo Cobianchi, Dzpartimento di Biologia Vegetale ...

This paper describes our investigation of genetic variation and clonal structure of the Mediterranean moss Pleurochaete squarrosa (Brid.) Lindb. (Pottiaceae), using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular markers and trnL(UAA) (intron of plastid gene for Leu tRNA) sequence, choosing different sampling strategies and scales on 16 European populations. Moreover, the intercontinental distribution of two trnL haplotypes, previously found over a large area and including 24 populations in three continents, was also investigated. Despite the prevalent asexual reproduction, P. squarrosa shows a high level of genetic diversity. Some site features seem to affect the clonal structure at the local scale, influencing the relocation of detached fragments and the level of intermingling, but they do not substantially affect genetic diversity. The peculiar vegetative reproduction coupled with somatic mutation could partly account for the genetic variation detected. Genetic distances highlight geographic isolation and limited gene flow among populations. We found only two trnL haplotypes in Europe due to length polymorphism, but, over an intercontinental scale, only non-delete trnL was found in Africa and the USA. ISSR analysis within each population detected a higher genetic distance between the samples with different trnL haplotypes, suggesting the presence of two different genetic lineages within this species, geographically overlapping in the Mediterranean Basin.

Bryophytes seem particularly suitable to investigate genetic diversity in relation to habitat disturbance due to their large employment as bioindicators and to the recent application of molecular markers to moss population studies. Genetic variation and structure were analysed in seven urban, extraurban and remote populations of Leptodon smithii, an epiphytic moss of Quercus ilex, a phanerogamic species of Mediterranean climax vegetation. A total of 210 individual shoots were DNA extracted and amplified with internal simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers, and 54 haplotypes were identified. An uneven distribution of haplotype number and frequencies was observed among sites, with a higher number of haplotypes and more homogeneous haplotype frequencies in the extraurban/remote populations. Molecular diversity indices were overall higher in the extraurban sites than in the urban ones. Multilocus linkage disequilibrium values were in line with the occurrence of sexual/asexual reproduction in the seven populations. The isolation-by-distance model was not supported by Mantel test among sites; however, within-population fixation index (F(ST)) highlighted a clear relation between genetic and physic distances among trees, suggesting a limited dispersal range for L. smithii's spores. The genetic structure was mainly affected by population size, wood structure and extent, and genetic drift consequent to habitat fragmentation and human-induced disturbance.

An aqueous extract of wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia DC) was tested for its allelopathic activity in vitro on radish germination and seedling growth in light and darkness. The extract caused a delay in the onset and a significant decrease in the rate of germination (40%) in the light. The photo-inhibition was accompanied by an inhibition of water uptake into the seed, and a decrease of protein content as well as an increase of peroxidase activity into the seedlings. Microscopic observations suggest that the extract markedly changes radish radicle development inducing a decreased imbibition and distension of seed cells. Consistent results were obtained with some species such as purslane, lambsquarter and tree of heaven present in the cultivated wild rocket field and with cultivated lettuce and barley. Finally, a potential allelochemical, biologically active, was isolated from the extract: S-glucopyranosyl thiohydroximate at concentration of 6.3×10 M.

Abstract: Bryophytes have sometimes ambiguous morphological diagnostic features, so molecular markers can prove a useful tool in systematics, even more in a well known morphologically variable moss such as Hypnum cupressiforme. This paper focuses on ...

To enhance the reliability of the moss and lichen transplant technique for active biomonitoring of trace metals in urban environments, we evaluated the natural variability in the chemical composition of the (epilithic and epiphytic) moss Hypnum cupressiforme and the epiphytic lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea from two reference areas in NE Italy. Green shoots of epilithic mosses and lobes of epiphytic lichens from larch branches showed rather homogenous composition and were selected for the exposure in nylon bags. As different physico-chemical pre-treatments are usually applied to selected cryptogamic material before its exposure, we also evaluated the effects of oven-drying at 120 degrees C for 24h, washing in 1N HNO3 solution, and in 0.5% NH4 oxalate solution at 85 degrees C for 15 h on the chemical composition and morphology of water-washed moss shoots and lichen lobes. Pre-treatments remarkably changed the chemical composition of selected materials but not their surface morphology.

ABSTRACT The conservation status of endangered Italian populations of the peatmoss Sphagnum palustre L. was evaluated through the study of their intraspecific genetic variation and structure. One-hundred-thirty-eight shoots from four populations were analyzed by 35 inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) loci. Molecular diversity indices highlight a general low level of variation, which is higher in centre-northern populations than in the southernmost one. AMOVA indicates that most variation is partitioned among populations, supporting a low level of gene flow and a severe isolation among them (F-ST = 0.7071-0.9198; Nm = 0.106). Mantel test gave a significant correlation (0.8634, P = 0.0083) between genetic and geographical distances. A strong association among loci suggests that recombination due to sexual reproduction contributes poorly to genetic variation observed, supported by the lack of sporophytes in the study areas. Both experimental results and theoretical predictions suggest a concrete risk of local extinction for the studied populations, further increased by fragile habitats hosting the species in Italy. The southernmost population is the most threatened, due to combined effects of lower genetic variation and geographic isolation.

Protonemata of Funaria hygrometrica grown in artificial media containing different lead concentrations grow more slowly than controls and show a disturbance of polar growth, changed arrangement of chloroplasts, alterations of nucleus and septa position. Morphological effects are dose-dependent. At the lowest lead concentration (10-6 M), only a delay in development was observed, but no cellular alterations, At 10-5 M Pb