Adattamento di phragmites australis alla carenza di azoto e zolfo

Phragmites australis Trin. is one of the most commonly used plants in phytoremediation. Although the role of this species in removing nutrients from wastewater is well recognized, very little is known about the physiological mechanisms involved. In order to bridge this gap, plants of Phragmites australis were grown in the presence of either nitrate or ammonium, and in abscence of nitrogen or sulfur. Ammonium net uptake was higher than that of nitrate, and the nitrogen source did not affect the sulphate influx rate, which was approximately 50% higher in S-deprived plants. Changes in the chloroplast ultrastructure were observed using a transmission electron microscope in both S- and N-deprived plants. The thylakoid systems appeared partially disorganized, with grana size reduced, and a higher accumulation of starch was visible