Surviving Adversity: Exploring the Presence of Lunularia Cruciata (L.) Dum. on Metal-Polluted Mining Waste.

center dot The tailings dump of Barraxiutta (Sardinia, Italy) contains considerable concentrations of heavy metals and, consequently, is scarcely colonized by plants. However, wild populations of the liverwort Lunularia cruciata (L.) Dum. form dense and healthy-looking carpets on this tailing dump. center dot L. cruciata colonizing the tailing dump was compared with a control population growing in a pristine environment in terms of: (i) pollutant content, (ii) photochemical efficiency, and (iii) volatile secondary metabolites in thalli extracts. center dot L. cruciata maintained optimal photosynthesis despite containing considerable amounts of soil pollutants in its thalli and had higher sesquiterpene content compared to control plants. center dot Sesquiterpenes have a role in plant stress resistance and adaptation to adverse environments. In the present study, we propose enhanced sesquiterpenes featuring Contaminated L. cruciata as a defence strategy implemented in the post-mining environment.