Cell wall epitopes in grasses of different novel ecosystem habitats on post‐industrial sites

Abstract

The post‐industrial habitats provide previously unknown conditions for plant and vegetation development. We asked the question: do the extreme soil substrate conditions cause differences in chemical composition of cell walls of leaves in three grass species: Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth, Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud, and Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench? With the use of immunohistochemical methods we determined the spatial distribution of selected pectic and AGP (arabinogalactan proteins) epitopes within leaf tissues of grass species growing in two industrial and control (meadow) habitats. Some post‐industrial habitats increase biodiversity. Fast adaptation and divergence cause phenotypic changes. This process has been recently recorded and is called human‐induced rapid evolutionary changes. The levels of pectins and arabinogalactan proteins increased on the post‐industrial habitats in comparison to the control sites. On control habitat, pectic epitope with galactan chain residues (recognised by the LM5 antibody) was not detected in cell walls of Calamagrostis epigejos leaves, but was abundantly present in Phragmites australis leaves. The pectic epitope with arabinan residues (recognized by LM6 antibody) was less represented in cell walls of Molinia caerulea leaves. AGP epitope, recognised by LM2 antibody, was abundant only in Ph. australis. In Molinia caerulea this epitope was not detected. The AGP epitope recognised by JIM13 antibody was observed in all analysed species. The results obtained revealed the response of grass individuals to different environments: a) varied responses to different soil substratum conditions (novel ecosystems), and b) that this reaction is species‐specific with respect to the analysed cell wall components.

Eco‐physiological responses of Calamagrostis epigejos L (Roth) and Solidago gigantea Aition to complex environmental stresses in coal‐mine spoil heaps

“…The novelty of our research is that we detected that both study species cope to some extent with environmental stressors when growing on coal‐mine spoil heaps, although their (biochemical and physiological) responses to complex stresses can be different. We extended knowledge on defense mechanisms of Calamagrostis epigejos that are activated in harsh environments (Milewska‐Hendel, 2020). Taking into account Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species it is not possible to recommend the full implementation of Solidago gigantea to the environment.…”

Biomass Amounts of Spontaneous Vegetation on Post-Coal Mine Novel Ecosystem in Relation to Biotic Parameters

“…The mineral post-black coal mining sites provide a stony gravel soil substrate for the colonizing organisms [30,48,49]. The vegetation species composition dynamics, including transformation and development on mineral resource excavation sites, influences the soil biomass biochemistry, SOM, nutrient cycling, soil nitrogen loss, and enzyme activities [78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86] and the resistance of the habitat and soil substrate to environmental stresses [84].…”

Post-Extraction Novel Ecosystems Support Plant and Vegetation Diversity in Urban-Industrial Landscapes

“…The adaptive and evolutionary basis of biodiversity are responses to habitat constraints. The challenging conditions of post-mineral extraction sites and some other urban-industrial habitats created de novo and novel ecosystem habitats play a vitally important role in stimulating the adaptive and evolving processes of living organisms [65,66].…”