Elemental Screening and Nutritional Strategies of Gypsophile Flora in Sicily
Antonio J. Mendoza-Fernández, Encarna Merlo, Carmelo M. Musarella, Esteban Salmerón-Sánchez, Fabián Martínez-Hernández, Francisco J. Pérez-García, Giovanni Spampinato, Juan Mota

TL;DR
This study explores how plants in Sicilian gypsum ecosystems adapt nutritionally, focusing on their ability to accumulate specific minerals.
Contribution
The paper identifies novel stress-tolerance strategies in gypsophiles through leaf mineral accumulation patterns and their ecological significance.
Findings
Gypsophile plants commonly accumulate sulfur, calcium, and magnesium in their leaves.
Some species, like Gypsophila arrostii and Diplotaxis harra, hyperaccumulate carbon, nitrogen, potassium, and sodium.
Erysimum metlesicsii shows the highest bioconcentration of strontium among studied species.
Abstract
Sicily is a Mediterranean island with an exceptional natural heritage, where gypsum outcrops are widespread and associated with an endemic flora. These ecosystems are prioritized by the European Habitats Directive (Mediterranean gypsum steppes, 1520*) in the Mediterranean Basin. Some studies have revealed the physiological mechanisms in gypsophile plants, which are important adaptative characteristics of plants that live on gypsum. To identify stress-tolerant strategies, we studied the leaf chemical composition of 14 plant species (gypsum endemics, Mediterranean gypsophiles and widely distributed) from Sicily. The ability to accumulate mineral elements in leaves, especially sulfur (S), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), is a widespread strategy for gypsophile plants. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) calculations also indicate bioaccumulation of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and potassium (K) in…
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Taxonomy
TopicsMediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna · Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies · Plant Ecology and Taxonomy Studies
