Athyrium Filix-femina Research Articles

The Production of Useful Phenol Compounds with Antioxidant Potential in Gametophytes and Sporophytes from In Vitro Cultures in Four Ornamental Ferns Species

Ferns are vascular plants with significant ornamental value, and in recent years, they have also been considered for the potential application in different economic sectors like nutrition, medicine and cosmetics. This study aimed to obtain in vitro fern gametophytes and sporophytes and evaluate their potential as secondary metabolites sources. For this study four fern species were used: Polypodium vulgare L. (PV), Asplenium trichomanes L. (AT), Athyrium filix-femina L. Roth (AF), and Osmunda regalis L. (OR). The polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids content and antioxidant activity were estimated by different colorimetric methods. For metabolite identification and their antioxidant activity, HP-TLC separations were used. Also, quantitative HPLC–DAD analysis was performed to estimate the content of certain metabolites. The results showed that in vitro generation of gametophytes registered higher growth rates in OR, PV, and AF, while the regeneration of sporophytes was better for PV, AT, and AF. The OR gametophyte produced the highest quantities in all analyzed metabolite classes and also had the highest antioxidant values. We report for the first time the presence of metabolites such as catechin, caffeic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, or rutin in OR. In this study, we demonstrated the possibility of producing potent antioxidant metabolites by in vitro cultures in ferns.

Plant survival and growth in bioretention cells under a cold climate

Urbanization coupled with climate change results in significant stormwater management challenges. In this context, the use of green infrastructures such as bioswales and bioretention systems to intercept, slow down and filter runoff has been increasing in North America in recent years. However, little data is available on the selection of optimal plant species adapted to cold climates, their optimal positioning in the swale and intra and inter-seasonal variation in plant growth. A field experiment was conducted during three growing seasons from July 2020 to August 2022 in a proximal suburb of Québec City, Canada, to monitor the survival rate. Growth (height and plant area), and floridity (number of flower buds and flower stems) of 22 plant species in 48 cold climate bioretention cells located along streets. The study aimed to understand the influence of planting position (margin: upper position, usually dryer; slope; middle position, fluctuating water conditions; bottom: lower position, usually moister) on species development, in order to identify the species most and least adapted to the different moisture conditions. Results showed that survival was generally high (> 86%) and was not affected by position within the bioretention cells. However, for most species, plant area increased, and height decreased at the margin compared to the slope position, while floridity only increased at the margin for four species (Heliopsis helianthoides (L.) Sweet, Coreopsis verticillata L., Hemerocallis ‘Stella Supreme” L., Verbena hastata L.). Seven species (Campanula carpatica Jacq “Alba”, Hesperis matronalis L., Osmundastrum cinnamomeum (L.) C. Presl, Rudbeckia hirta L., Verbena hastata L., Cerastium tomentosum L., Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth ex Mertens) exhibited lower survival and growth rates over time than the others. Overall, 15 out of 22 species performed well in the bioretention cells with minimum maintenance over the course of the experiment. Results also showed that plant area at the end of the growing season was much more influenced by position in the bioretention cells than were height or floridity, while survival was not influenced by this factor. A better knowledge of plant interactions in varying spatial distribution over time can contribute to improving and potentially maximizing bioretention performance.

Changes in radioactive contamination of living ground cover plants in black alder stands since the Chornobyl accident in the forests of Zhytomyr Polissia

The results of research conducted over the past 30 years in the forest ecosystems of Zhytomyr Polissia, in the areas affected by radioactive contamination as a result of the Chornobyl accident. In the course of the research carried out at the Poliskyi Branch of the Ukrainian Research Institute of Forestry and Forest Melioration named after G. M. Vysotsky, methods of forest radioecology, botany, and forestry were used, and the results were processed using statistical analysis. The peculiarities of radioactive contamination of the most common herbaceous and dwarf-shrub plants in the stands of black alder in damp fairly fertile site types were studied. As indicators characterizing these features, we used 137Cs specific activity in the aboveground part of plants and the transfer factor of radionuclide to plant phytomass from the soil. It was found that the highest values of the transfer factor of 137Cs from the soil to the aerial part of the plant phytomass in 1999 are characteristic of ferns: for Dryopteris cristata (L.) A. Gray (276.9 m2∙kg-1∙10-3), Dryopteris carthusiana (Vill.) H. P. Fuchs (236.5 m2∙kg-1∙10-3), Thelypteris palustris Schott (171.2 m2∙kg-1∙10-3), and Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth (164.0 m2∙kg-1∙10-3). It was found that among the higher plants, the highest values of this indicator are for the Agrostis stolonifera L. (263.5 m2∙kg-1∙10-3), Galium uliginosum L. (155.8 m2∙kg-1∙10-3) and Maianthemum bifolium (L.) F. W. Schmidt (155.4 m2∙kg-1∙10-3). It was found out that the previously noted trends and interspecific differences in radionuclide accumulation persist after 22 years. It is shown, using the example of three plant species (Lysimachia vulgaris L., Galium uliginosum, and Maianthemum bifolium), that during the observation period (1991-2021) there is a gradual decrease in radioactive contamination of living ground cover plants and the intensity of 137Cs intake into them. This is explained by the decay of the radioactive element, its entry into various perennial components of forest ecosystems, some fixation in the soil, and, possibly, its removal beyond their borders. The established decrease in 137Cs specific activity in the aboveground part of plants is described by linear equations: for Lysimachia vulgaris – Am = –605.34a + 3745.6; R² = 0.98; Galium uliginosum – Am = –5107.5a + 30698; R² = 0.99; Maianthemum bifolium – Am = –4661.6 a + 28280; R² = 0.98. The identified peculiarities of radioactive contamination of various plant species, changes in 137Cs specific activity in them, and transfer factors of the radionuclide from the soil in stands of black alder in damp fairly fertile site types can be used in scientific works to predict possible changes in its redistribution within the ecosystem, as well as in the practice of harvesting medicinal plants in areas contaminated with radionuclides.

Efficacy of Plant Extracts against Aphid <i>Lipaphis erysimi</i> (Kalt) in Brown Mustard <i>Brassica juncea</i> L

Brown mustard is one of the widely consumed leafy vegetables in Sikkim, India. The present investigation was an effort to find out an alternative approach to control aphid incidence organically, by using locally available plant extracts with high spray efficacy on mustard aphid Lipaphis erysimi (kalt) in the organic state of Sikkim. The experiment included six plant extracts viz. Schima wallichii, Datura stramonium, Athyrium filix-femina, Piper betle, Alnus nepalensis and Artemisia vulgaris along with cow urine and neem oil at two concentrations. Results revealed that maximum reduction in incidence was observed with Schima wallichii @5%. Growth, yield and quality components were also found to be significantly superior in the treatment with S. wallichii.

A Hanság gyertyános-tölgyesei (Scillo vindobonensi-Carpinetum)

The present study presents the associations of hornbeam-oak forests (Scillo vindobonensi-Carpinetum) in the northwestern part of Hungary based (Hanság) on 50 cenological images. We are faced with an azonal association moderately influenced by groundwater. Some submontane elements are striking in their stocks, which are generally rare in the Great Plains. In particular, Fagetalia elements are common: Actaea spicata, Adoxa moschatellina, Aegopodium podagraria, Allium ursinum, Anemone ranunculoides, Asarum europaeum, Athyrium filix-femina, Carex pilosa, Carex sylvatica, Circaea lutetiana, Corydalis cava, Corydalis pumila, Epipactis helleborine agg., Gagea lutea, Galanthus nivalis, Galeobdolon luteum, Galium odoratum, Hedera helix, Listera ovata, Milium effusum, Pimpinella major, Polygonatum multiflorum, Pulmonaria officinalis, Salvia glutinosa, Sanicula europaea, Scilla vindobonensis, Stachys sylvatica, Vinca minor, Viola reichenbachiana etc. These plants are probably remnants of the former "Beech I period" (2500 BC to 800 BC) with cooler, wetter and more even climates.

Rare, protected, and understudied vascular plant species of the pinewood complex of the Mozh River valley (Kharkiv Region, Ukraine)

The composition of the biota is dynamic and changes for many reasons, making biodiversity research relevant. Studies of rare species that are most vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures are of particular importance. Although the Mozh River flows through the central part of the Kharkiv Region, its valley remains understudied, especially the pine forests and their rare plants. The results of the current study include data from our field research, revision of the Herbarium of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (CWU), and literature sources from the second half of the 20th century to the present. This paper contains an annotated list of 35 species of vascular plants. Each species is provided with the data on its geographical range, distribution in Ukraine, population status and its study history in the Kharkiv Region, conservation status, and the state of its population in the studied forests. We found the localities of two species included in Appendix I of the Bern Convention (Salvinia natans (L.) All. and Jurinea cyanoides (L.) Rchb. and six species included in the Red Data Book of Ukraine (Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw., Pulsatilla pratensis (L.) Mill., Iris pineticola Klok., Neottia nidus-avis (L.) Rich., Neottia ovata (L.) Hartm., Tulipa quercetorum Klok. & Zoz). We also found 19 species rare in the Kharkiv Region (Lycopodium clavatum L., Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth, Ophioglossum vulgatum L., Campanula persicifolia L., Chimaphila umbellata (L.) W.P.C. Barton, Comarum palustre L., Hottonia palustris L., Rubus saxatilis L., Carex pseudocyperus L., etc.). Nine regionally rare plant species have the boreal range type; they occur at the southern limit of their distribution range which indicates the specificity of ecological and climatic conditions formed in the pine forests in the Mozh River valley. In addition, we found five species without conservation status, but they are rare in the region (Caltha palustris L., Catolobus pendulus (L.) Al-Shehbaz, Gratiola officinalis L., Lythrum hyssopifolia L., Rubus polonicus Barr. ex Weston), and, therefore, they are recommended to be included in the next edition of the Official List of the Regionally Rare Plants of the Kharkiv Region. Three species (Buglossoides czernjajevii (Klokov & Des.-Shost.) Czerep., Jacobaea andrzejowskyi (Tzvelev) B.Nord. & Greuter, Sedum album L.) were identified as understudied in the Kharkiv region due to the lack of or insufficient information on their distribution in the study area.

Сосновые (Pinus sylvestris) леса и редколесья Северо-Западного Приладожья

Сосновые (Pinus sylvestris) леса и редколесья Северо-Западного Приладожья

Studies on glycerine drying of common lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina)

An investigation was done in the Department of Horticulture, School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, Medziphema, Nagaland University during 2021 to study the effect of glycerine on drying of common lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina). Results showed that immersion method (M2) of glycerine application recorded the maximum score for the texture (3.71), shape retention (3.88), brittleness (3.82) and overall acceptability (4.06) when compared to uptake method (M1) of glycerine application. Among the glycerine concentration, 25% glycerine scored maximum (4.41) for overall acceptability followed by 50% glycerine (4.34) and minimum score (3.39) was recorded in control (distilled water). From the findings, it may be concluded that the immersion method (M2) of glycerine application was better when compared to uptake method (M1) in terms of all qualitative and quantitative characters and 25% glycerine was the best among the different glycerine concentration for drying of cut foliage of common lady fern.

Contributions to the chorological study of some ferns in the Republic of Moldova

The article presents a synthesis of research on the chorology of some fern species on the territory of the Republic of Moldova. The Phylum Fern (lat. Polypodiophyta) includes the oldest higher plants, and nationally, the species Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott and Athyrium filix femina (L.) Roth. are considered rare ferns, included in the Red Book of the Republic of Moldova (2015), the category of vulnerable plants (VU), which fully feel the negative impact of natural and anthropogenic factors. The current environmental changes, including climate change, also felt on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, require mapping the spatial distribution of native species and tracing future trend in their chorology under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors. The spatial distribution of the species targeted in the study based on the use of modern research methods, with the use of Geographic Information Systems, the species spatially distributed depending on the description of their location in the bibliographic sources.

Optimization of the One-Step Green Synthesis of Silver and Gold Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Athyrium filix femina Extract Using the Taguchi Method

Optimization of the One-Step Green Synthesis of Silver and Gold Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Athyrium filix femina Extract Using the Taguchi Method

Forest typological and botanical features of «Mozh river valley» as the object of Emerald Network

Ecological and coenotic properties are given and the environmental importance of natural complexes of the Emerald Network of Ukraine «Mozh river valley» (UA0000299 Mozh river valley) in Kharkiv region is highlighted. The object is located in the valley of the Mozh River — a right-bank tributary of the Siverskyi Donets River (Don River Basin) and covers 12658.48 hectares; moreover this area has hardly undergone changes due to land reclamation measures. In addition, the emerald object includes the reserves of local significance «Mirgorodsky» and «Merefyansky», as well as the wetland «Zaplava r. Mzha». The investigated object currently represents a complex of various identified settlements from Resolution 4 of the Berne Convention (C1.222, C1.224, C1.225, C1.32, C1.33, C2.33, C2.34, D5.2, D6.1, E2.2, E3.4, E5.4, F9.1, F3.247, F3.4, G1.11, G1.36, G1.414, G1.51, G3.4232, G1.A1), which have natural-historical and geomorphological dependance. The main ecological and biotic features, areas and list of main plant species are given for them. In the studied area there are populations of rare species of vascular plants that have different sozological status. Annex I to Resolution 6 of the Bern Convention includes Jurinea cyanoides and Pulsatilla patens, and a number of species have state preservation status in Ukraine (Salvinia natans, Dactylorhisa incarnatа, D. fuchsia, D. majalis, Orchis palustris, Gladiolus tenius, Fritillaria ruthenica, Tulipa quercetorum, Stipa borysthenica, Pulsatilla pratensis) and at the regional level (Polygonum bistorta, Valeriana officinalis, Parnassia palustris, Veratrum lobelianum, Thelypteris palustris, Dryopteris cristata, D. carthusiana, Athyrium filix-femina, Chrysosplenium alternifolium, Comarum palustre, Carex pseudocyperus, Lycopodium clavatum, Orthila secunda, Rubus saxatilis, Dianthus stenocalyx). In case of increasing economic impact, the main conditions for the existence of natural complexes in this area is the necessity to streamline forest use, reduce the impact of a number of invasive tree and shrub species, and minimize the impact of drainage and plowing of floodplains. It is also necessary to regulate the stream of vacationers and reduce the degree of anthropogenic pressure on natural complexes.

Синтаксономия и экология черноольшаников Московской области

Синтаксономия и экология черноольшаников Московской области

Sporophyte Biomorphology of Athyrium Species in the Various Environmental Conditions of South Siberia

The aim of this work is to present biomorphological characteristics of ferns of the genus Athyrium Roth in southern Siberia and identify changes in the sporophyte life form during ontogenesis and in individuals of the same biological age in various ecological and coenotic conditions. The most important thing when identifying the life form of fern sporophytes is studying the formation of its perennial part—the rhizome. We define the life form of Athyrium species of southern Siberia as summer green polycyclic densely rosette ferns with monopodial–dichotomously growing underground–aboveground rhizomes and monomorphous homoiohydric fronds. It is represented by two variants: (1) large-rhizome orthotropic weakly branching vegetatively non-growing monocentric ferns (Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth. and A. monomachii Komarov, and A. sinense Rupr.) and (2) large-rhizome ascending weakly branching and weakly vegetatively growing monocentric or implicit-polycentric ferns (A. distentifolium Tausch ex Opiz). Neither variants allow vegetative propagation or vegetative self-maintenance of the population. Our study shows that during sporophyte ontogenesis the sizes of rhizomes and fronds increase and the branching ability of rhizomes is implemented. The branching is dichotomous: the daughter branches are formed inside the terminal bud of the maternal branch and become distinguishable only after several years. It has been determined that rhizome remains uniaxial throughout its entire life in sporophytes with low vitality, whereas the rhizomes of the sporophytes with high vitality usually branch out. Rhizome branching starts in young spore-bearing sporophytes. The largest number of branches of the rhizome and, consequently, rosettes of fronds is typical for middle-aged spore-bearing sporophytes. At the end of the life of the sporophytes with branched rhizomes, non-specialized disintegration (senile partitioning) occurs. It is expressed in the disintegration of the rhizome into the separate branches. According to the results of a study in various phytocoenoses of Kuznetsk Alatau, the intensity of rhizome branching in sporophytes of the same ontogenetic stage depends on environmental conditions: the rhizomes of A. filix-femina produce a larger number of branches in more light mixed forests (fir–aspen and fir–birch); in A. distentifolium, the intensity of the rhizome branching increases from the forest zone to the subalpine one.

A Kerka-vidék gyertyános-tölgyesei

In this study, the phytosociological characteristics of oak-hornbeam forests in the Kerka valley, sW Hungary are summarized using 50 vegetation samples. These forests grow on alluvial soils affected by high groundwater table, and thus are best regarded as extrazonal communities exhibiting some characteristics of hardwood gallery forests. The high number of submontane elements are particularly typical of them: Aco-nitum vulparia,Adoxa moschatellina, Anemone nemorosa, Anemone ranunculoides, Asarum europaeum, Athyrium filix-femina, Cardamine bulbifera, Cerastium sylvaticum, Coryda-lis cava, Coridalis solida, Euphorbia amygdaloides, Gagea spathacea, Galanthus nivalis, Galeobdolon luteum, Isopyrum thalictroides, Knautia drymeia, Lathyrus vernus, Leucojum vernum, Lilium martagon, Luzula pilosa, Maianthemum bifo-lium, Mercurialis perennis, Milium effusum, Oxalis acetosella, Paris quadrifolia, Pulmonaria officinalis, Ranunculus lanugi-nosus, Sanicula europaea, Scilla drunensis, Stellaria holos-tea, Veronica montana, etc. The high frequency of Fritillaria meleagris is particularly noteworthy. These plants are likely to be relics of the cooler and wetter, and less extreme Beech I. phase of the Holocene. The occurrence of some sub-Med-iterranean species (Carex strigosa, Helleborus dumetorum, Knautia drymeia, Vicia oroboides) suggests some degree of relatedness to the oak-hornbeam forests in the zala Hills (Helleboro dumetorum-Carpinetum). The studied woods are sharply separated from the oak-hornbeam forests of Western Transdanubia (Cyclamini-Carpinetum), and exhibit relatively closer similarity to the oak-hornbeam forests of the Mura and Drava floodplains and the Raba River valley (Veronico montanae-Carpinetum). syntaxonomically, they are best identified with the latter under the name Veronico montanae-Carpinetum scilletosum drunensis.

Lamproderma ovoideoechinulatum . [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria

Abstract A description is provided for Lamproderma ovoideoechinulatum , a myxomycete which occurs on dead branches, leaves, stems, and twigs of angiosperms and gymnosperms, and on dead fronds of ferns. Some information on its interactions and habitats, economic impacts, intraspecific variation, dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (NORTH AMERICA: Canada (British Columbia); ASIA: Japan; EUROPE: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine) and associated organisms and substrata (Plantae: Alnus sp. (branch); Apiaceae indet. (stem); Athyrium filix-femina (frond, stem); Carex sp.; Epilobium angustifolium ; Fagus sylvatica (twig); Gramineae indet. [also as 'grasses']; Picea sp. [as 'spruce'] (leaf, stem); Plantae indet. (branch, stem); Rubus idaeus, R. ulmifolius, Rubus sp.; Salix purpurea (twig); Sasa kurilensis, Sasa sp.; Vaccinium myrtillus (twig); Protista: Didymium dubium ; Lamproderma sauteri, L. zonatum ; Meriderma carestiae ).

ATR-FTIR Spectral Analysis of Ferns Using as Fingerprint for Identification of Fern Species

This study used Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy to provided detail information of the organic functional group of secondary metabolites, produced by ferns. The study showed ATR-FTIR spectra of nine fern species: Asplenium scolopendrium, Asplenium trichomanes, Asplenium trichomanes-ramosum, Athyrium filix-femina, Dryopteris affinis, Dryopteris filix-mas, Polypodium vulgare, Polystichum lobatum and Phegopteris connectilis. After comparison of each plant FTIR region divided in three areas: 2800-3000 cm-1 (aliphatic region), 1600-1800 cm-1 (distinct oxygenated groups) and 700-900 cm-1 (aromatic bands). ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy combined with multivariate data analysis have been applied for the discrimination of 9 fern species.

Hydraulics Regulate Stomatal Responses to Changes in Leaf Water Status in the Fern Athyrium filix-femina.

Stomatal responses to changes in leaf water status are important for the diurnal regulation of gas exchange and the survival of plants during drought. These stomatal responses in angiosperm species are well characterized, yet in species of nonseed plants, an ongoing debate surrounds the role of metabolism, particularly the role of the hormone abscisic acid (ABA), in functionally regulating stomatal responses to changes in leaf water status. Here, we measured the stomatal response to changes in vapor pressure difference (VPD) in two natural forms of the fern species Athyrium filix-femina, recently suggested to have stomata that are regulated by ABA. The two forms measured had considerable differences in key hydraulic traits, including leaf hydraulic conductance and capacitance, as well as the kinetics of stomatal response to changes in VPD. In both forms, the stomatal responses to VPD could be accurately predicted by a dynamic, mechanistic model that assumes guard cell turgor changes in concert with leaf turgor in the light, and not via metabolic processes including the level of ABA. During drought, endogenous ABA did not play a role in stomatal closure, and exogenous ABA applied to live, intact leaves did not induce stomatal closure. Our results indicate that functional stomatal responses to changes in leaf water status in ferns are regulated by leaf hydraulics and not metabolism. With ferns being sister to seed plants, this result has implications for the evolutionary reconstruction of functional stomatal responses across vascular land plant lineages.

METHOD OF THE RAPID ANALYSIS OF 20-HYDROXYECDYSONE CONTENT IN PLANTS AND FERNS USING SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION ON POLYAMIDE AND MICROCOLUMN HPLC-UV

A method for the rapid quantitative analysis of 20-hydroxyecdysone in plants was developed using the microcolumn reversed-phase HPLC with UV detection (246 nm) on the ProntoSIL-120-5-C18 column (2×75 mm) and the gradient eluent system LiClO4/HClO4-acetonitrile. The chromatographic stage of the analysis was 5 minutes long, which made it possible to characterize the technique as the fastest. For preliminary purification of the plant extracts, solid phase extraction on polyamide was used which led to an increase in the sensitivity of the analysis. Validation studies showed that the technique characterized by satisfactory metrological data. The values of the limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) of 20-hydroxyecdysone were 3.3 and 10 μg/ml, respectively. The accuracy indices for various levels of 20-hydroxyecdysone content (80–120%) did not exceed 98.57–101.38%. The method applied to the analysis of 20-hydroxyecdysone in 359 species of flowering plants and 12 ferns species growing on the territory of the Buryatia Republic. The presence of 20-hydroxyecdysone was established in 22 species including 18 flowering plants and 4 ferns. The concentration levels of 20-hydroxyecdysone in plants varied from trace (Athyrium filix-femina, Diplazium sibiricum, Pteridium aquilinum) to very high (25.40 mg/g in Rhaponticum uniflorum and 25.87 mg/g in Silene jeniseensis). The presence of 20-hydroxyecdysone was firstly detected in three species including Gastrolychnis gracilis, G. saxatilis and Silene violascens. The developed technique is fast, simple, sensitive and stable and can be recommended for searching purpose to evaluate the new plant sources of 20-hydroxyecdysone.

Assessment of environmental and health risks in former polymetallic ore mining and smelting area, Slovakia: Spatial distribution and accumulation of mercury in four different ecosystems

Former long-term mining and smelting of pollymetallic ores in the Middle Spiš area caused a serious contamination problem of the environment with heavy metals and metalloids, especially mercury (Hg). Several studies have reported concentration of Hg in the area but this paper provides first detailed characterization of Hg contamination of different environmental components in agricultural, forest, grassland and urban ecosystems. The ecosystems are in different distances from emission sources – former mercury and copper smelting plants in NE Slovakia. Total Hg content was studied in soil/substrate samples (n = 234) and characteristic biological samples (Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth, Macrolepiota procera (Scop.) Singer, Boletus edulis Bull., Cyanoboletus pulverulentus (Opat.) Gelardi, Vizzini & Simonini, Triticum aestivum (L.), Poa pratensis (L.)) (n = 234) collected in the above-mentioned ecosystems. The level of contamination and environmental risks were assessed by contamination factor (Cf), index of geoaccumulation (Igeo) and potential environmental risk index (PER). To determine the level of transition of Hg from abiotic to biotic environment, bioconcentration factor (BCF) was used. To determine a health risk resulting from regular and long-term consumption of the locally available species, the results of the Hg content were compared with the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) for Hg defined by World Health Organization. The results suggest that almost 63% of the area belong to the very high risk category and 80% of the sampling sites shown very high contamination factor. Geoaccumulation index showed that almost 30% of the area is very strongly contaminated and only 8% is not contaminated with Hg. Spearman's correlation relationship confirmed that the values of PER, BCF, Cf and Igeo decreased with an increasing distance from the pollution source. The percentage of contribution to PTWI ranged between 5.76–69.0% for adults and 11.5–138% for children. Mushroom M. procera showed the highest %PTWI among the tested biological samples. Studied ecotoxicological parameters showed high level of health risk for population living in the area. Consumption of the crops grown in the area and mainly edible wild mushrooms might negatively affect the health of the consumers in the long-term.

Foliar water uptake, a widespread phenomenon in temperate woodland ferns?

Most woodland ferns thrive under conditions of high air humidity, frequent precipitation and exposure to extended periods of leaf wetness, but it is not known how widespread foliar water uptake is in this plant group. In a tracer experiment with deuterated water (2H2O) applied to the leaf surface of five temperate woodland ferns (Athyrium filix-femina, Dryopteris filix-mas, Polystichum aculeatum, Polystichum braunii and Asplenium scolopendrium), we tested (1) whether these species exhibit foliar water uptake and (2) whether the capability to absorb water through the leaf epidermis increases with the frequency of epidermal trichomes. All species had significantly higher abundances of 2H in tissue water, when extracted distant to the place of application, compared to the background level (0.052–0.504 vs. 0.015 at.%), evidencing uptake through the epidermis and leaf-internal translocation. A positive relation between trichome density and 2H incorporation was found only for the second-order pinnae but not for the more central frond sections. The results suggest that foliar water uptake may be widespread among temperate woodland ferns across different families and that leaf trichome structure probably influences this process.