Tolerance strategies of two Mediterranean native xerophytes under fluoride pollution in Tunisia.

A field study was conducted along a fluorine gradient of soil pollution in Tunisia from Gabes, the most polluted site, to Smara, the reference site. Variations of fluoride (F) concentrations in soils were detected over 1 year in Gabes, Skhira, and Smara. F concentrations in the aerial part of two native plant species, i.

Adaptive biochemical and physiological responses of Eriobotrya japonica to fluoride air pollution.

The biochemical and physiological effects of fluoride were investigated in loquat trees (Eriobotrya japonica) grown in the vicinity of a phosphate fertilizer plant in Tunisia. Photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (E), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were assessed; along with photosynthetic pigments, lipid peroxidation, electrolytic leakage (EL) and total phenolic contents in foliage and roots of trees at different distances from the phosphate fertilizer plant. All assessed parameters showed significant discrepancies in comparison with unpolluted sites.

Reclaimed municipal wastewater for forage production.

This study aims to evaluate the possibility of using reclaimed municipal wastewater for agricultural purpose. We assessed the validity of municipal wastewater treatment, analyzing its chemical characteristics before and after the biological stabilization by pond treatment (WSP). The reclaimed municipal treated wastewater (TWW) was used to irrigate Cenchrus ciliaris.

Screening biological traits and fluoride contents of native vegetations in arid environments to select efficiently fluoride-tolerant native plant species for in-situ phytoremediation.

High fluoride pollution has been detected in the surrounding soils of the coastal superphosphate industries in the Gulf of Gabes (Southeast of Tunisia). A study was conducted in vicinity of factories analysing plant functional traits combined with plant fluoride accumulation and soil metal concentrations aiming to screen more efficiently native plant species tolerant to this pollution. Aerial parts of 18 plant species out of the 10 most abundant species per site were harvested on two polluted sites of Gabes and Skhira at the vicinity of the factories and on the less polluted site of Smara.

Overexpression of wheat Na+/H+ antiporter TNHX1 and H+-pyrophosphatase TVP1 improve salt- and drought-stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana plants.

Transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing the wheat vacuolar Na(+)/H(+) antiporter TNHX1 and H(+)-PPase TVP1 are much more resistant to high concentrations of NaCl and to water deprivation than the wild-type strains. These transgenic plants grow well in the presence of 200 mM NaCl and also under a water-deprivation regime, while wild-type plants exhibit chlorosis and growth inhibition. Leaf area decreased much more in wild-type than in transgenic plants subjected to salt or drought stress.

Survival strategies of pomegranate and almond trees in a fluoride polluted area.

In the southern suburb of Sfax (Tunisia), almond and pomegranate trees grow in the vicinity of a phosphate fertilizer-producing factory. In order to reveal strategies adopted by these fruit species to live in restrictive conditions, we investigated the effect of fluoride pollution on the distribution of some elements during the growing season. The results show that calcium and magnesium play an important role in trapping fluoride and delaying the appearance of necroses.