An increase in the frequency of hypoxia, mucilages, and sediment pollution occurred in the 20th century in the Adriatic Sea. To assess the effects of these impacts on bivalves, we evaluate temporal changes in size structure of the opportunistic bivalve Corbula gibba in four sediment cores that cover the past ~500 years in the northern, eutrophic part and ~10,000 years in the southern, mesotrophic part of the Gulf of Trieste. Assemblages exhibit a stable size structure during the highstand phase but shift to bimodal distributions and show a significant increase in the 95th percentile size during the 20th century. This increase in size by 2–3 mm is larger than the northward size increase associated with the transition from mesotrophic to eutrophic habitats. It coincides with increasing concentrations of total organic carbon and nitrogen, and can be related to enhanced food supply and by the tolerance of C. gibba to hypoxia.

The emergence of a red tide resulting in yellow-brownish discoloration of waters in Porto Cesareo bay (Italy) during July–August 2018 is reported. The species responsible for the bloom was the dinoflagellate Margalefidinium cf. polykrikoides. Cell densities reached 9.1 × 10⁶ cells L⁻¹ during the initial outbreak. A second peak was observed about three weeks later reaching 6.7 × 10⁵ cells L⁻¹. Study of live specimens showed great variation in cell size and shape. Different cyst morphotypes were found in the water samples and in the sediment. For the first time, we followed several stages of the life cycle of M. cf. polykrikoides in natural samples. Fish die-offs in the bay were not observed, however this high-density bloom may have caused consequences on the ecosystem (amount of mucilage on the beach) and in turn, on tourism that is the main activity in the area during the summer season.

This prospective study was aimed to explore the bacterial diversity of marine mucilage developed in the Marmara Sea and the North Aegean Sea by metabarcoding. For this purpose, mucilage samples were collected from five different sampling locations, and the bacterial community structure was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The results highlighted a diverse bacterial community dominated by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes species. A negative and significant correlation between pH level and Campylobacterales, Clostridiales, and Vibronales abundances was detected, while a strong positive correlation was determined between total phosphorus (TP) and Campylobacterales. Results revealed that the bacterial community in the mucilage samples was predominated by particle-attached species preferring high-nutrient concentrations. This is the first study evaluating the bacterial diversity in a mucilage outbreak using a metabarcoding approach. Its results may contribute to this growing area of research and provide a database for further studies.

In this study, quince seed mucilage (QSM)-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers were produced by the electrospinning technique. Glutaraldehyde (GA) was used to provide crosslinking of QSM with PVA. The crosslinking was examined by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The morphology of the produced nanofibers was characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). From SEM images, the average diameter was 156.6 nm and the structures produced were smooth and bead-free. A method has been developed for preconcentration of Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) ions by using columns filled with nanofibers whose characterization processes have been completed and then to be determined by high-resolution continuous light source flame atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS FAAS). In addition, the advantages of the method developed with QSM-PVA nanofibers were demonstrated by comparing the preconcentration conditions with QSM-PVA and PVA nanofibers. At optimum conditions determined experimentally, the recoveries of Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) were found to be 98.2 ± 3.5, 96.1 ± 3.7, and 98.1 ± 3.2 respectively. LOD and adsorption capacity of nanofibers for Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) were found to be 0.53; 0.55; and 0.17 μg/L and 434.78; 65.36; and 28.41 mg/g respectively. The accuracy of the developed method has been determined by analyzing certified reference material (CRM) and spiked samples.

The aim of this study was to characterize qualitatively and quantitatively the composition of the main rhizodeposits emitted from maize (Zea mays) under Cd stress, in order to discuss their role in Cd availability and tolerance. Maize was grown for 6 weeks in sand at four Cd exposure levels (0, 10, 20, and 40 μM Cd in nutrient solution) and two types of rhizodeposits were collected at the end of cultivation period. Mucilage and other molecules adhering to rhizospheric sand were extracted with a buffer before root exudates were collected by diffusion into water. Total carbon, proteins, amino acids, and sugars were analyzed for both rhizodeposit types and about 40 molecules were identified using GC-MS and LC-MS. Cadmium effect on plant morphology and functioning was slight, but consistent with previous works on Cd toxicity. However, rhizodeposition did tend to be impacted, with a decrease in total carbon, sugars, and amino acids correlating with an increasing Cd content. Such a decrease was not noticeable for proteins in root exudates. These observations were confirmed by the same trends in individual compound contents, although the results were generally not statistically significant. Many of the molecules determined are well-known to modify, whether directly or indirectly, Cd speciation and dynamics in the soil and could play a role in Cd tolerance.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the role of three biopolymers used as coagulant–flocculant aids in the treatment of a high-load cosmetic industry wastewater (WW) located in Mexico. Discussion is based on a surface response methodology. When using guar, locust bean gum, and Opuntia mucilage, conductivity and turbidity removals as high as 20.1 and 67.8 % were found, respectively. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removals as high as 38.6 % were observed. The maximum removal efficiency was found for mucilage, with 21.1 mg COD/mg polymer. At the end of the process, pH was in the range of 5.8–7.3 for an initial wastewater pH value of 5.6. The production of sludge was very dependent on the WW organic load. An analysis of some metal content in the sludges is presented. From the response surface analysis, it was observed that the parameter which strongly affected the removal of COD, turbidity, oil and greases (O&G), and the amount of sludge including their metal contents was the polymer dose. Only in the case of O&G removal was a combination of dose–wastewater organic load responsible for the removals. The values of R ² for the correlation process were between 0.5451 (O&G) and 0.7989 (COD). The p values for the different expressions were between 0.1985 (COD) and 0.7195 (O&G). The values of adequate precisior (AP) indicate how feasible it is to use the surface response analysis (AP > 4). Most of the analysis indicated that AP > 4, except in the case of the O&G removal analysis where AP = 2.9.

Lead (Pb) stress adversely affects in planta nutrient homeostasis and metabolism when present at elevated concentration in the surrounding media. The present study was aimed at investigation of organic acid exudations, elemental contents, growth, and lipid peroxidation in two wild plants (Amaranthus viridis L. and Portulaca oleracea L.), exhibiting differential root to shoot Pb translocation, under Pb stress. Plants were placed in soil spiked with lead chloride (PbCl₂) concentrations of 0, 15, 30, 45, or 60 mg Pb/kg soil, in rhizoboxes supplied with nylon nets around the roots. The plant mucilage taken from root surfaces, mirroring the rhizospheric solution, was analyzed for various organic acids. Lead stress resulted in a release of basified root exudates from both plants. Exudates of P. oleracea roots showed a higher pH. In both plants, the pH rising effect was diminished at the highest Pb treatment level. The exudation of citric acid, glutamic acid (in both plants), and fumaric acid (in P. oleracea only) was significantly increased with applied Pb levels. In both plant species, root and shoot Pb contents increased while nutrients (Ca, Mg, and K) decreased with increasing Pb treatment levels, predominantly in A. viridis. At 60 mg Pb/kg soil, shoot Na content of A. viridis was significantly higher as compared to untreated control. Higher Pb treatment levels decreased plant fresh and dry masses as well as the quantity of photosynthetic pigments due to enhanced levels of plant H₂O₂ and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in both species. Photosynthetic, growth, and oxidative stress parameters were grouped into three distinct dendrogram sections depending on their similarities under Pb stress. A positive correlation was identified between Pb contents of studied plants and secretion of different organic acids. It is concluded that Pb stress significantly impaired the growth of A. viridis and P. oleracea as a result of nutritional ion imbalance, and the response was cultivar-specific and dependent on exogenous applied Pb levels. Differential lipid oxidation, uptake of nutrients (Ca, Mg, and K) and exudation of citric acid, fumaric acid, and glutamic acid could serve as suitable physiological indicators for adaptations of P. oleracea to Pb enriched environment. The findings may help in devising strategies for Pb stabilization to soil colloids.

The presence of Eriophorum angustifolium in mine tailings of pyrite maintains a neutral pH, despite weathering, thus lowering the release of toxic elements into acid mine drainage water. We investigated if the presence of slightly elevated levels of free toxic elements triggers the plant rhizosphere to change the pH towards neutral by increasing organic acid contents. Plants were treated with a combination of As, Pb, Cu, Cd, and Zn at different concentrations in nutrient medium and in soil in a rhizobox-like system for 48–120 h. The pH and organic acids were detected in the mucilage dissolved from root surface, reflecting the rhizospheric solution. Also the pH of root–cell apoplasm was investigated. Both apoplasmic and mucilage pH increased and the concentrations of organic acids enhanced in the mucilage with slightly elevated levels of toxic elements. When organic acids concentration was high, also the pH was high. Thus, efflux of organic acids from the roots of E. angustifolium may induce rhizosphere basification.

This study was conducted to assess the impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon on the composition of rhizodeposits. Maize was submitted to increasing phenanthrene (PHE) concentrations in the substrate (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg PHE.kg⁻¹ of dry sand). After 6 weeks of cultivation, two types of rhizodeposit solution were collected. The first one, called rhizospheric sand extract, resulted from the extraction of root adhering sand in order to collect mucilage and associated compounds. The second one, the diffusate solution, was collected by the diffusion of exudates from roots soaked in water. The impact of phenanthrene on maize morphology and functioning was measured prior to the analysis of the main components of the rhizodeposit solutions, by measuring total carbon, protein, amino acid, and sugars as well as by determining about 40 compounds using GC-MS and LC-MS. As maize exposure to PHE increased, different trends were observed in the two rhizodeposit solutions. In the diffusate solution, we measured a global increase of metabolites exudation like carbohydrates, amino acids, and proteins except for some monoglycerides and organic acids which exudation decreased in the presence of PHE. In the rhizospheric sand extract, we witnessed a decrease in carbohydrates and amino acids secretion as well as in fatty and organic acids when plants were exposed to PHE. Many of the compounds measured, like organic acids, carbohydrates, amino acids, or fatty acids, could directly or indirectly drive PAHs availability in soils with particular consequences for their degradation.

We assess here, through an experimental simulation using lead nitrate, the response to lead deposition of three common Mediterranean bryophyte species in the family Pottiaceae. Five concentrations of lead nitrate (from 0 to 10⁻³ M) were sprayed for 4 months on plants belonging to Tortula muralis (reported as toxitolerant), Syntrichia ruralis (medium-tolerant), and Tortula subulata (less tolerant). The three species showed a remarkably high tolerance to lead nitrate, with a low incidence of damage even at concentrations as high as 10⁻⁴ M. The maximum concentration (10⁻³ M), although resulting eventually in serious damages in the gametophyte of the three species (high mortality rates in S. ruralis and T. subulata, or a significant percentage of damaged tissue in T. muralis), did not prevent the production of sporophytes in the two species with fertile samples (T. muralis and T. subulata). Growth parameters show limited value as bioindicators of lead deposition, as they only show clear effects at very high concentrations. Besides, we identified the existence of a lead exclusion strategy mediated by mucilage using histochemical analyses and scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. This mechanism can hamper the usefulness of these mosses in quantitative estimation of lead deposition.