title: Plant adaptation to extreme environments: the example of Cistus salviifolius of an active geothermal alteration field.
abstract: Cistus salviifolius is able to colonise one of the most extreme active geothermal alteration fields in terms of both soil acidity and hot temperatures. The analyses of morpho-functional and physiological characters, investigated in leaves of plants growing around fumaroles (G leaves) and in leaves developed by the same plants after transfer into growth chamber under controlled conditions (C leaves) evidenced the main adaptive traits developed by this pioneer plant in a stressful environment. These traits involved leaf shape and thickness, mesophyll compactness, stomatal and trichome densities, chloroplast size. Changes of functional and physiological traits concerned dry matter content, peroxide and lipid peroxidation, leaf area, relative water and pigment contents. A higher reducing power and antioxidant enzymatic activity were typical of G leaves. Though the high levels of stress parameters, G leaves showed stress-induced specific morphogenic and physiological responses putatively involved in their surviving in active geothermal habitats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Luca Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bartoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Luca Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bottega
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Luca Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura M C
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Forino
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Luca Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ciccarelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Luca Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: cspano@biologia.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Carmelina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spanò
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D029758:Cistus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003683:Dehydroascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D004798:Enzymes / Q000032:analysis; D059207:Geothermal Energy; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004798:Enzymes; D010636:Phenols; D014867:Water; D002734:Chlorophyll; D002338:Carotenoids; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D003683:Dehydroascorbic Acid
keywords: Active geothermal alteration field; Antioxidants; Antioxydants; Champ actif d’altération géothermale; Cistus salviifolius; Leaf morpho-anatomical traits; Oxidative stress; Stress oxydatif; Traits morpho-fonctionnels de la feuille