Copper induced physiological changes and oxidative damage in lichen Ramalina farinacea

Abstract

Copper is an essential element for all organisms but can reach toxic concentrations as a result of human activities. The aim of the present study was to investigate physiological effects of copper on the lichen Ramalina farinacea (L.) Ach. The effect of copper on the chlorophyll content, fluorescence and oxidative status was assessed. The chlorophyll a content was not significantly different from the control. The chlorophyll b content was significantly higher at any tested Cu 2+ concentration in comparison with the control. F v /F m values decreased significantly in R. farinacea following 50 mg Cu and higher concentrations. MDA increased significantly after exposure to 100 and 500 mg Cu concentrations.

Lichen as Bioindicators: Assessing their Response to Heavy Metal Pollution in Their Native Ecosystem

“…ROS can also disrupt the integrity of the plasma membrane by oxidizing membrane lipids, leading to the leakage of MDA into the extracellular environment. Our findings are consistent with those of a previous study that reported the negative effects of Cu on membrane integrity in lichens [ 41 ], as well as with broader research indicating the deleterious effects of heavy metal pollution on ecosystems [ 42 ]. In addition to its direct impact on lichen health, Cu pollution can have cascading effects at other trophic levels, because lichens serve as an important food source for a variety of organisms [ 43 ].…”

Local wind monitoring matched with lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf transplantation technique to assess the environmental impact of a biomass power plant

“…n. 186, 5 April 2006), while antimony, tin, and molybdenum showed a significant correlation with traffic rate, consistent with their environmental source from car mechanical wear. Our data clearly indicated that the spatial variation of many of the elements (except titanium) correlated with the spatial variation of the physiological stress of the mycobiont (EC% and TBARS), as often reported previously (Sujetoviene, 2014). On the whole, this result suggests that the mycobiont, due to its disproportionate representation in the lichen biomass with respect to the alga, is affected by most of the local anthropogenic sources of atmospheric pollution.…”