Molecular and chemical characterization of a Sphagnum palustre clone: Key steps towards a standardized and sustainable moss bag technique

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThis work aimed to define the molecular and chemical signature of a S. palustre clone developed in the framework of the EU-FP7 Mossclone project to improve the standardization and reliability of the mossbag technique. The molecular characterization was performed by a set of DNA molecular markers (RAPD, ISJ, PCR-RFLP, sequencing and microsatellites) to tag the clone produced within the project. Molecular characterization also provided new DNA markers that can be applied in systematic analyses of Sphagnum, and gave new insights to implement well established techniques. The elemental composition of the clone was measured by ICP-MS analysis of 54 major and trace elements, with and without commonly applied pre-exposure treatments (oven devitalization and EDTA washing). Concentrations of almost all analyzed elements were significantly lower (from 10 to 100 times) in the clone than in conspecific field moss, apart from some elements (K, Mo, P and Na) deriving from the culture medium or EDTA treatment. Oven devitalization and EDTA washing did not significantly affect the clone composition. A comparison between the elemental composition of the clone with that of naturally growing Sphagnum species proved the particularly low elemental content of the clone. Therefore, in view of a rigorously standardized moss-bag protocol for the monitoring of persistent atmospheric pollutants, the use of the S. palustre clone, a biomaterial with very low and constant element composition, and homogenous morphological characteristics is strongly recommended.

Axenic in vitro cultivation of 19 peat moss (Sphagnum L.) species as a resource for basic biology, biotechnology, and paludiculture

“…Therefore, we list these clones here as S. medium/divinum . To resolve this uncertainty in future, a detailed analysis with different molecular markers (von Stackelberg et al ., 2006; Di Palma et al ., 2016; Hassel et al ., 2018) is needed. However, we note that these clones are more heterogeneous regarding morphology, colour, and growth rate than clones from the other species in our study.…”

Mosses as Biomonitor of Air Pollution with Analytes Originating from Tobacco Smoke

“…Two methods are used in biomonitoring of atmospheric aerosol pollution with heavy metals: passive biomonitoring, which analyses samples of biota collected from their natural environment and active biomonitoring, which is based on the exposure of biological material, usually in heavy polluted areas, and an analysis of changes, which take place during the exposure. In comparison to the classical monitoring of environment pollution, the main advantage of biomonitoring studies with the use of mosses is the cheap method of samples collection, which does not require special training and, to a certain extent, allows for easy planning of the research [6][7][8][9][10][11]. The moss bag method has been widely used in Europe for monitoring of environment pollution with heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) or radionuclides [6].…”

Morphological Traits Influence the Uptake Ability of Priority Pollutant Elements by Hypnum cupressiforme and Robinia pseudoacacia Leaves

“…The use of biomonitoring systems applied to vegetation has been widely used by many researchers to circumvent the difficulties of the direct measurement of specific pollutants in the air, providing raw data and elaborations on the presence, deposition and accumulation of non-monitored or emerging pollutants [1]. Compared to physic-chemical devices, this set of methods use flexible experimental designs and higher numbers of testing sites-compensating for the lower precision of each single measure [2][3][4][5][6]. Native and transplanted mosses and lichens and tree leaves are among the most utilized biomonitors of inorganic, mainly metal(loid)s, and organic contaminants (e.g., PAHs, dioxins).…”

“…Therefore, moss and lichen vitality does not alter metal uptake [14], since most of these elements are passively adsorbed to the thalli in form of PM. Consequently, many research projects (e.g., Mossclone) and survey plans adopted the use of devitalized moss and lichen, also because of the higher reproducibility and lower variability of the analytical results [4,[15][16][17][18]. In a previous paper, Ares et al [19] reviewed the capacity of different species of moss to accumulate contaminants, evidencing that Hypnum cupressiforme was one of the most employed species especially in southern Europe, generally lacking Sphagnum, considered the first choice.…”