Biography:

Dr. Costantino Paciolla studied Biology at the Bari University Aldo Moro, Italia and graduated as MS in 1987. After two years fellowship of Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei in Agricultural Genetics Studies, he obtained the position of permanent researcher and then of Associate Professor in Plant Physiology at the same institution. His research concerns the study of the redox homeostasis in plant cell under biotic and abiotic stress and the influence of light on antioxidant activity and photomorphogenic growth in plants of food interest. He has published more than 70 research articles in journals with impact factors present in Scopus database.

Abstract:
Rare Earth elements (REE) have become essential in strategicsectors such as high- and green technologies. Their increasinguse worldwide over the last decade has led to anthropogenic REEreleases detectable in the environment, generating a global concern as they may pose a risk to soil and human health.Indeed, the greater availability of REEs for potential uptake byplants and consequent introduction into the food chain could influence the intake and metabolism of living organisms. Although some data reported that REEs might affect thegermination, root and shoot development, as well as the function and nutritional quality of plants, little is known about theenvironmental behaviors of REEs. Therefore, further studies are needed to comprehend the REE's toxicological effects on bo the cosystems and organisms. In this study, morphological andbiochemical effects of seven REEs, such as cerium (Ce),neodymium (Nd), gadolinium (Gd), dysprosium (Dy), holmium(Ho), ytterbium (Yb), and lutetium (Lu) on Lemna minor L.,commonly known as duckweed, have been investigated. This species, widely used as a model system of aquatic plants andecotoxicological bioassays, was grown under standard procedures according to ISO 20079 (2004) and exposed to two different concentrations for each REE individually (0,1 and 1mM). After 3, 7, and 12 days of treatment, the possible toxicological effects based on the growth rate and changes in morphology and in photosynthetic pigments, ascorbate and lipid peroxidation level were measured. The results showed that Ho, Lu, and Nd exerted the most toxic effect on the growth rate and morphology parameters, while Ce and Yb, at a lower Concentration, did not show significant adverse effects. At low concentrations, REEs had no or slight effect on the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, while at 1 mM, they caused a significant decrease in the pigments content generally at longer exposure times. Changes in ascorbate and lipid peroxidation also occurred. Because L. minor can absorb and accumulate heavy metals and other pollutants like REEs through the lower surface of thefronds and the roots, it is important to have further studies on its importance in the bioremediation of aquatic ecosystems