Conventional water treatment with metal salts or synthetic polymers raises environmental and health concerns. This has driven the search for natural alternatives, and in this study investigates the coagulation-flocculation potential of 13 biomasses (soybean meal, rapeseed meal, linseed meal, sugar beet pulp, insect frass, Pleurotus ostreatus, Aspergillus niger, Althaea officinalis, Ludwigia peploides, Reynoutria japonica, Laurus nobilis, Opuntia ficusindica, Prunus laurocerasus) under standardized jar test conditions in synthetic water to assess turbidity removal and sedimentation kinetics. Aluminum sulfate and ferric chloride were tested in parallel as reference coagulants (1.0-250.0 mg/L, pH 5.0-9.0). The active fractions of the most effective candidates were then extracted and retested in the same aqueous matrix (synthetic water). Six biomasses showed promising activity (rapeseed meal, linseed meal, Aspergillus niger, soybean meal, Althaea officinalis, Opuntia ficus-indica), yielding 40-79% turbidity removal at pH 5.0. The bioactive extracts from the most effective biomasses demonstrated high performance at low doses under the same pH: rapeseed protein and linseed mucilage achieved 76 and 96% turbidity removal, respectively, at 1.0 mg/L, while chitosan (commercial source: Aspergillus niger) reached 98% at 0.5 mg/L. Kinetic analysis (sedimentation rate constants from Turbiscan) provided complementary indicators alongside turbidity removal, highlighting sedimentation efficiency as a key parameter. For instance, linseed meal and its mucilage significantly improved sedimentation, although they achieved slightly lower turbidity removal. Overall, selected biomasses and their extracts demonstrate strong potential as natural, effective, and sustainable alternatives to conventional coagulants and flocculants in water treatment under the tested laboratory conditions.

This study evaluated the effects of irrigation with saline treated wastewater (TWW) (EC = 5.84 dS m- 1) and inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Glomus deserticola, Gigaspora margarita or a combined inoculum of G. deserticola and G. margarita) on the physiological, anatomical and morphological performance of young olive plants (Olea europaea L. cv. Chetoui) over a 12-month period. Irrigation with TWW resulted in an increase in leaf water saturation deficit and water uptake capacity, along with a decrease in the membrane stability index, compared to control plants irrigated with tap water. Consequently, these changes negatively affected gas exchange parameters and total chlorophyll content, which were consistent with corresponding changes in leaf anatomy and morphology. However, principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that mycorrhizal symbiosis improved leaf water status and photosynthetic capacity, as compared to non-inoculated plants. These benefits were closely associated with enhanced anatomical and morphological traits in mycorrhizal plants. Overall, the results suggest that inoculated olive plants were less stressed and more resilient to the salinity stress caused by TWW irrigation.

The current work evaluated the effect of irrigation, during 12 months, with saline treated wastewater (TWW) (EC=5.84 dS m−1) and inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) inoculums (Glomus deserticola, Gigaspora margarita or a combined inoculum of G. deserticola and G. margarita) on the physiological, anatomical and morphological performance of young olive plants (Olea europaea L. cv. Chetoui). Results showed that irrigation with TWW induced an increase in leaves water saturation deficit and water uptake capacity, in parallel with a decrease of membrane stability index, compared to control plants irrigated with tap water. Such disturbance was accompanied by a decrease in net carbon dioxide assimilation rate and total chlorophyll content. These physiological disorders were consistent with corresponding changes in leaf anatomy and morphology, including an increase in leaf tissue thickness (both upper and lower epidermis and palisade parenchyma), a reduction in leaf growth rate, their perimeter, as well as a decrease in stomatal density. However, mycorrhizal symbiosis has played a beneficial role in improving the leaf water status and enhancing the photosynthetic capacity of host plants, compared to non-inoculated plants. These observations were closely related to the better anatomical and morphological performance of host plants. Such results may suggest that colonized olive plants were less stressed and more resilient to the salinity of TWW.

In the era of globalization and rising population growth demands rapid urbanization, industrialization, and intense agricultural production causes pollution in water bodies. Mycoremediation is one of the prospects that provides eco-friendly remediation strategies of wastewater. Fungi are highly tolerant to different toxicants which makes them one of the potent agents for treatment of wastewater. This review deals with the mechanism of fungus mediated degradation of different pollutants present in wastewater. However, the working principals may vary among different fungal species and degree of efficacy may also differ. Light intensity, pH and temperature are the major controlling factors that plays a critical role in mycoremediation. Different value-added products like enzymes, pharmaceutical products, biofuel, Single cell protein (SCP) and many more are also being produced during degradation of toxic pollutants by fungal biomass. All these synthesized products have their own application in different sectors. This review is a compilation of mycoremediation strategies and products with added value that will serve as a solid foundation for future researchers.

In the past decades, the releases of polluted nontreated wastewater in surface waters have increased leading to major threats for the whole ecosystem. This chapter presents the deleterious effects induced by trace elements on the growth and metabolism of aquatic plants known as macrophytes. In excess, trace elements (essential or not) become toxic and cause alterations in plant functioning; paving the way to potential use of macrophytes in biomonitoring through their biochemical (ROS formation, chlorophyll and carotenoids contents, phytochelatins, and polyamines), physiological (photosynthetic and respiratory activities, solute potential), genomic, and morphological biomarkers. Moreover, some aquatic macrophytes have shown a strong ability to grow and tolerate these toxic conditions. They are able to improve their adaptation and tolerance mechanisms and, especially, for some of them, their ability to bioaccumulate and/or sequestrate trace elements within their tissues. Thus, aquatic macrophytes represents a promising potential to develop new wave of phytoremediation processes by using them in constructed wetlands.

La belladone et la mandragore ont été cultivées in vitro, sur le milieu de MS dans un premier temps avec douze équilibres de régulateurs hormonaux (6-benzyl aminopurine et acide 1-naphtalène acétique). Quelques marqueurs biologiques ont été dosés ; il s'agit des chlorophylles a, b et des caroténoïdes, des protéines totales, du potentiel osmotique et des alcaloïdes tropaniques (atropine et scopolamine). La deuxième phase de culture a consisté à cultiver la belladone sur les milieux 0/0 et 7,5/5 (BAP/ANA) et la mandragore sur le milieu de Murashige et Skoog (0,11 µM/0,89 µM). Lors de cette deuxième phase, les protéines, le potentiel osmotique et les alcaloïdes tropaniques ont été dosés dans la belladone. Dans la mandragore, seules l'atropine et la scopolamine ont été recherchées puisque, quel que soit l'équilibre en phytohormones, les cals ne se sont jamais différenciés. Les résultats obtenus, en CL-SM/SM, ont montré que chez la belladone, le milieu sans hormone était celui qui permettait d'obtenir les plus fortes concentrations en atropine et en scopolamine. Toutefois, ces valeurs restent bien inférieures à celles trouvées dans la littérature. La mandragore, quant à elle, n'a pratiquement pas produit de métabolites secondaires.

The aim of this article is to study the impact of both copper (Cu2+) and arsenic (As (V)) at 100 µg/L, with each element being combined with trophic conditions at the level of glutathione, cysteine and phytochelatins in the aquatic macrophyte Myriophyllum alterniflorum, whose potential for bioindication and phytoremediation of metal/metalloid pollution has already been demonstrated. To achieve this goal, a synthetic medium, of a composition similar to the water found in the Vienne River in France's Limousin Region and modified for eutrophic or oligotrophic conditions, is prepared. The analysis of cysteine, glutathione and phytochelatins is performed at 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days. Our results indicate that the eutrophic medium without contaminant only induces a significant increase in the glutathione level when compared to the oligotrophic medium. However, the joint presence of As (V) and Cu is able to increase the synthesis of cysteine, glutathione and phytochelatins (PC2 and PC3) under both eutrophic and oligotrophic conditions, with a significant increase in the eutrophic medium compared to the oligotrophic one. Phytochelatins (PC2 and PC3) are induced after as little as 3 days of exposure to copper and arsenic under both trophic conditions. Copper induces the synthesis of more PC3 than PC2, unlike arsenic. Our results confirm the potential use of phytochelatins as a specific biochemical biomarker for metal/metalloid stress. In conclusion, the eutrophic condition combined with copper or arsenic does change the response of Myriophyllum alterniflorum by enhancing its antioxidative defense. Thus, M. alterniflorum phytochelatins represent a potential dedicated biomarker to monitor water quality in terms of metal/metalloid stress regardless of the trophic level.

The present study aimed to determine the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on soil and young olive plants irrigated for one year with saline treated wastewater (TWW). One-year-old olive plants were inoculated with different AMF: (i) Glomus deserticola; (ii) Gigaspora margarita and (iii) combination of G. deserticola and G. margarita. Changes were observed in the soil chemical characteristics, in particular a significant increase in the electrical conductivity and an accumulation of Na(+)and Cl-. Consequently, compared to the control treatment, the Na+ and Cl- contents of young olive plants irrigated with TWW increased by 12 and 133% in the leaves and by 98 and 106% in the roots, respectively. Moreover, an increase in the antioxidant enzyme activities, malondialdehyde and H2O2 contents, and electrolyte leakage rate was observed. Interestingly, roots and leaves of olive plants inoculated with AMF and irrigated with TWW showed a lower Na+ and Cl(-)content, and a higher macro-and micro-nutrient content, compared to uninoculated plants. The decrease of Na+ and Cl- contents in olive plants inoculated with both G. deserticola and G. margarita was about 24 and 43% in the leaves, and about 30 and 39% in the roots, respectively. Furthermore, the AMF symbiosis enhanced the antioxidant enzymes activities (CAT and APX) and reduced the malondialdehyde and H2O2 contents. (C) 2022 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Over the last few decades, the use of pesticides and discharge of industrial and domestic wastewater on water surfaces have increased. Especially, Copper (Cu) pollution in aquatic ecosystems could constitute a major health problem, not only for flora and fauna but also for humans. To cope with this challenge, environmental monitoring studies have sought to find Cu-specific biomarkers in terrestrial and aquatic flora and/or fauna. This review discusses the toxic effects caused by Cu on the growth and development of plants, with a special focus on aquatic plants. While copper is considered as an essential metal involved in vital mechanisms for plants, when in excess it becomes toxic and causes alterations on biomarkers: biochemical (oxidative stress, pigment content, phytochelatins, polyamines), physiological (photosynthesis, respiration, osmotic potential), and morphological. In addition, Cu has a detrimental effect on DNA and hormonal balance. An overview of Cu toxicity and detoxification in plants is provided, along with information regarding Cu bioaccumulation and transport. Awareness of the potential use of these reactions as specific biomarkers for copper contamination has indeed become essential.

The reuse of treated wastewater for olive irrigation is becoming a common practice in areas with limited water resources. However, this water may contain high level of salts (Na+ and Cl−) that could affect plant performances when used for a long period. In order to enhance the tolerance of plants to salt stress induced by treated wastewater, the application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may be a suitable solution. In this study, the ability of different AMF inoculums to improve young olive plants (Olea europaea L. cv. Chetoui) performances under long term irrigation with treated wastewater was studied. One-year-old olive trees inoculated with Glomus deserticola and/or Gigaspora margarita were irrigated with treated wastewater for one year. As compared to plants irrigated with tap water, treated wastewater irrigation caused a significant decrease in relative water content (RWC), total fresh and dry weights, gas exchange parameters, and chlorophyll and starch contents. Nevertheless, a significant increase in Na+ and Cl−, proline, soluble sugars, total polyphenols as well as flavonoids contents was observed under treated wastewater irrigation. Interestingly, colonization with different AMF inoculums, particularly the 1:1 mixture of G. deserticola and G. margarita, alleviated the negative effect of saline treated wastewater on young olive plants and significantly improved the above parameters. In fact, mycorrhizal symbiosis decreased the Na+ and Cl− contents and improved the RWC, the total fresh and dry weights and the photosynthetic activity. Furthermore, mycorrhizal plants showed higher concentrations of proline and soluble sugars as well as higher antioxidant defense systems as compared to the non-inoculated plants.

Under the effect of disturbances, like unbalanced stem, but also during normal development, poplar trees can develop a specific secondary xylem, called "tension wood" (TW), which is easily identifiable by the presence of a gelatinous layer in the secondary cell walls (SCW) of the xylem fibers. Since TW formation was mainly performed on 2-year-old poplar models, an in vitro poplar that produces gelatinous fibers (G-fibers) while offering the same experimental advantages as herbaceous plants has been developed. Using specific cell wall staining techniques, wood structural features and lignin/cellulose distribution were both detailed in cross-sections obtained from the curved stem part of in vitro poplars. A supposed delay in the SCW lignification process in the G-fibers, along with the presence of a G-layer, could be observed in the juvenile plants. Moreover, in this G-layer, the immunolabeling of various polymers carried out in the SCW of TW has allowed detecting crystalline cellulose, arabinogalactans proteins, and rhamnogalacturonans I; however, homogalacturonans, xylans, and xyloglucans could not be found. Interestingly, extensins were detected in this typical adaptative or stress-induced structure. These observations were corroborated by a quantitation of the immunorecognized polymer distribution using gold particle labeling. In conclusion, the in vitro poplar model seems highly convenient for TW studies focusing on the implementation of wall polymers that provide the cell wall with greater plasticity in adapting to the environment.

Surface water pollution by trace metal elements constitutes problems for both public and terrestrial/aquatic ecosystem health. Myriophyllum alterniflorum (alternate watermilfoil), an aquatic macrophyte known for bioaccumulating this type of pollutant, is an attractive species for plant biomonitoring within the scope of environmental research. The two metal elements copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) are considered in the present study. Cu is essential for plant development at low concentrations, while very high Cu concentrations are detrimental or even lethal to most plants. On the other hand, Cd is usually toxic even at low concentrations since it adversely affects the physiological plant functions. In order to check whether watermilfoil could be used for the in situ biomonitoring of Cu or Cd pollution in rivers, the plant biomarker sensitivity is first tested during long-term in vitro assays. Three markers specific to oxidative stress (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malondialdehyde and α-tocopherol) are evaluated by varying the pollutant concentration levels. Given the absence of effective correlations between Cu and all biomarkers, the response profiles actually reveal a dependency between Cd concentration and malondialdehyde or α-tocopherol biomarkers. Conversely, preliminary in situ assays performed at 14 different localities demonstrate some clear correlations between all biomarkers and Cu, whereas the scarcity of Cd-contaminated rivers prevents using the statistical data. Consequently, the three indicated biomarkers appear to be effective for purposes of metal exposure analyses; moreover, the in situ approach, although preliminary, proves to be paramount in developing water biomonitoring bases.

Arsenic (As) is a significant contaminant in the environment and its detection through macrophytes can provide a powerful tool. Myriophyllum alterniflorum constitutes a good candidate by virtue of its ability to accumulate contaminants, and moreover its biomarkers can respond to the presence of trace metals and metalloids. The objective of this study therefore is to evaluate the watermilfoil response to As exposure under several hydrodynamic conditions since it is well known that hydrodynamics affect plant functioning. For this purpose, fresh watermilfoil plants are subjected to three hydrodynamic conditions, namely laminar, turbulent and calm, in a synthetic medium either enriched or not by 100 mu g.L-1 arsenic for 21 days. Growth, pigment content (chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids), respiratory and photosynthetic activities, osmotic potential and hydrogen peroxide concentration are all monitored. Arsenic accumulation is measured separately in the roots and shoots of Myriophyllum alterniflorum. On the one hand, it should be noted that arsenic induces: (i) a significant increase in H2O2 content; (ii) a decrease in osmotic potential, pigment content, photosynthesis and respiration rates, shoot and root growth; and (iii) an inhibition of shoot branching. Moreover, a higher accumulation of this metalloid in roots than in shoots, regardless of the hydrodynamic condition, is witnessed. While on the other hand, hydrodynamic conditions only affect watermilfoil morphology and arsenic accumulation. Also, the younger and older parts have experienced differential toxic effects. Overall, our results suggest the effective use of M. alterniflorum in both water quality biomonitoring and phytoremediation studies. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Given the toxicity of trace metals, their concentration, speciation and bioavailability serve to induce various plant detoxification processes, which themselves are specific to several parameters like plant species, tissue type and developmental stage. In this study, Myriophyllum alterniflorum (or alternate watermilfoil) enzyme activities (ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) from in vitro cultures was measured over 27 days in response to copper (Cu) or cadmium (Cd) stress. These enzymes are unique to reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging (mainly hydrogen peroxide H2O2 and superoxide anion O-2(center dot-) ) and moreover showed specific or unspecific activity profiles, depending on the metal concentrations used. Our results suggest a higher-priority protection of chloroplasts during the initial days of exposure to both metals. At the same time, the increased catalase activity could indicate an H2O2 diffusion in peroxisome in order to protect other organelles from ROS accumulation. However, as opposed to the Cd effects, high Cu concentrations appear to induce a "limited oxidative threshold" for some antioxidant enzymes, which could suggest an ion absorption competition between Cu2+ and Fe2+. In spite of an overall analysis conducted of the scavenging processes occurring in plant cells, biochemical analyses still yielded relevant indications regarding the watermilfoil strategies used for ROS management.

The aim of this study is to determine the combined effect of copper and hydrodynamic conditions on the response of certain biomarkers of an aquatic macrophyte, namely Myriophyllum alterniflorum. Watermilfoil biomarkers are monitored in a synthetic medium enriched or not with copper (100 mu g.L-1) for 21 days in aquarium systems (150 L), under three hydrodynamic conditions: laminar, turbulent, and calm. The studied biomarkers are: respiratory and photosynthetic activities; concentrations of chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids; osmotic potential; hydrogen peroxide content; and growth. In addition, Cu contents in water and in Myriophyllum alterniflorum (roots and shoots) are investigated. The hydrodynamic conditions only affect watermilfoil morphology. Copper accumulates less in turbulent zones; moreover, it is more likely to accumulate in shoots than in roots, except within the calm zone. Cu leads to: i) a significant increase in H2O2 content, ii) a decrease in root growth, pigment content, osmotic potential, photosynthesis and respiration rates, and iii) an inhibition of shoot branching. Differential effects are also observed between younger and older parts, thus indicating the benefit of considering these two plant parts separately in water quality biomonitoring. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Industrialization releases significant amounts of various air pollutants such as F, Cd, Pb, particulate matter, etc., which can in turn have a deleterious effect on a variety of biochemical and physiological processes as well as the structural organization within the cells. Responses from plants species to air pollutants is varied with certain species being very sensitive to such pollutants, ending up with well visible and measurable symptoms. Morphological damage is generally visible through lesions on the aerial parts, while biochemical and physiological changes which are invisible can be measured and quantified. This study has been designed to investigate the biochemical and physiological biomarkers of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) exposed to air pollution. It has been observed that, in comparison to unpolluted sites, lipid peroxidation level has increased in the leaves of apricot trees, grown in polluted areas, whereas photosynthetic capacity (Net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids) along with osmotic regulator (proline and soluble sugars) levels have declined. In P. armeniaca leaves, these symptoms can be used as indicators of air pollution stress for its early diagnosis, making them a reliable marker for a particular physiological disorder.

Glycine betaine (GB) and proline (Pro) function as compatible solutes and are upregulated in plants under abiotic stresses. The objective of this study was to investigate whether exogenous GB and Pro could improve lead (Pb) tolerance in young olive trees (Olea europaea L.). Comparison between the effect of GB and Pro on Pb-stressed olive trees was realized. Two-year-old olive trees were subjected for five months to two lead-stress levels (150 and 450 mg Pb (NO3)(2) kg(-1) soil). GB and Pro were supplied through the irrigation water at 20 mM concentration. In both root and leaf tissues, an increase in electrolyte leakage and in oxidative stress markers, such as hydrogen peroxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances was observed despite the elevation of antioxidant enzymes activities as well as non-enzymatic antioxidants. Interestingly, GB and Pro supplementation mitigated the adverse Pb effects on O. europaea trees. Indeed, they reduced Pb content and increased the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants parameters. Thus, oxidative damage was reduced and better levels of plant biomass were obtained. The exogenous Pro appeared to be a better ameliorator than the GB in protecting young O. europaea trees against Pb toxicity. (c) 2018 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.