Comparative analysis of bed density, total phenol content and protein expression pattern in Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile

Abstract

Posidonia oceanicameadows are experiencing a progressive decline, and monitoring their status is crucial for the maintenance of theseecosystems. We performed a comparativeanalysis of bed density, total phenol content and protein expression pattern to assess the conservation status ofPosidoniaplants from the S. Marinella (Rome, Italy) meadow. The total phenol content was inversely related to maximum beddensity, confirming the relationship betweenhigh phenol content and stressful conditions. In addition, protein expression pattern profilesshowed that the number of differentially expressed proteins was dramatically reduced in the latest years compared to previous analyses. Our results support the usefulness of integrating solid descriptors, such as phenol content, with novel biochemical/molecular approaches in the monitoring of meadows.