Water pollution causes ultrastructural and functional damages in Pellia neesiana (Gottsche) Limpr.

The aim of this work is to evaluate the effects of freshwater pollution in the heavily contaminated SarnoRiver (Campania, South Italy), using Pellia neesiana (Pelliaceae Metzgeriales) in order to propose this liver-wort as a potential bioindicator, able to record the effects of water pollution, particularly the one relatedto metal (loid) contamination. Samples of P. neesiana in nylon bags were disposed floating for one weekon the waters of Sarno River in three sites characterised by an increasing pollution. As control, somespecimens were cultured in vitro in Cd- and Pb-added media, at the same pollutants’ levels as mea-sured in the most polluted site. P. neesiana cell ultrastructure was modified and severe alterations wereobserved in chloroplasts from samples exposed in the most polluted site, and Cd- and Pb-cultured sam-ples. Concurrently, a strong increase in the occurrence of Heat shock proteins 70 (HSP70) was detectedin gametophytes following the pollution gradient. In conclusion, ultrastructural damages can be directlyrelated to HSP 70 occurrence in liverwort tissues, and proportional to the degree of pollution present inthe river; thus our study suggests P. neesiana as an affordable bioindicator of freshwaters pollution.