Alicja Babst-Kostecka

Interests

Research

Plant adaptations to environmental stress; Population genetics; Metal tolerance and hyperaccumulation in plants; Plant-soil interactions

Teaching

Plant Ecology; Evolutionary Ecology; Mine Reclamation; Phytoremediation

Courses

Scholarly Contributions

Journals/Publications

• Cybulska, P., Legrand, Y. M., Babst-Kostecka, A., Diliberto, S., Leśniewicz, A., Oliviero, E., Bert, V., Boulanger, C., Grison, C., & Olszewski, T. K. (2022). Green and Effective Preparation of α-Hydroxyphosphonates by Ecocatalysis. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 27(10).
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  A green and effective approach for the synthesis of structurally diversed α-hydroxyphosphonates via hydrophosphonylation of aldehydes under solventless conditions and promoted by biosourced catalysts, called ecocatalysts "Eco-MgZnOx" is presented. Ecocatalysts were prepared from Zn-hyperaccumulating plant species , with simple and benign thermal treatment of leaves rich in Zn, and without any further chemical treatment. The elemental composition and structure of Eco-MgZnOx were characterized by MP-AES, XRPD, HRTEM, and STEM-EDX techniques. These analyses revealed a natural richness in two unusual and valuable mixed zinc-magnesium and iron-magnesium oxides. The ecocatalysts were employed in this study to demonstrate their potential use in hydrophosphonylation of aldehydes, leading to various α-hydroxyphosphonate derivatives, which are critical building blocks in the modern chemical industry. Computational chemistry was performed to help discriminate the role of some of the constituents of the mixed oxide ecocatalysts. High conversions, broad substrate scope, mild reaction conditions, and easy purification of the final products together with simplicity of the preparation of the ecocatalysts are the major advantages of the presented protocol. Additionally, Eco-MgZnOx-P could be recovered and reused for up to five times.
• Klimek, B., Stępniewska, K., Seget, B., Pandey, V. C., & Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022). Diversity and activity of soil biota at a post-mining site highly contaminated with Zn and Cd are enhanced by metallicolous compared to non-metallicolous Arabidopsis halleri ecotypes. Land Degradation & Development. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.4551
• Kushwaha, P., Neilson, J. W., Maier, R. M., & Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022). Soil microbial community and abiotic soil properties influence Zn and Cd hyperaccumulation differently in Arabidopsis halleri. The Science of the total environment, 803, 150006.
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  Soil contamination with trace metal(loid) elements (TME) is a global concern. This has focused interest on TME-tolerant plants, some of which can hyperaccumulate extraordinary amounts of TME into above-ground tissues, for potential treatment of these soils. However, intra-species variability in TME hyperaccumulation is not yet sufficiently understood to fully harness this potential. Particularly, little is known about the rhizosphere microbial communities associated with hyperaccumulating plants and whether or not they facilitate TME uptake. The aim of this study is to characterize the diversity and structure of Arabidopsis halleri rhizosphere-influenced and background (i.e., non-Arabidopsis) soil microbial communities in four plant populations with contrasting Zn and Cd hyperaccumulation traits, two each from contaminated and uncontaminated sites. Microbial community properties were assessed along with geographic location, climate, abiotic soil properties, and plant parameters to explain variation in Zn and Cd hyperaccumulation. Site type (TME-contaminated vs. uncontaminated) and location explained 44% of bacterial/archaeal and 28% of fungal community variability. A linear discriminant effect size (LEfSe) analysis identified a greater number of taxa defining rhizosphere microbial communities than associated background soils. Further, in TME-contaminated soils, the number of rhizosphere-defining taxa was 6-fold greater than in the background soils. In contrast, the corresponding ratio for uncontaminated sites, was 3 and 1.6 for bacteria/archaea and fungi, respectively. The variables analyzed explained 71% and 76% of the variance in Zn and Cd hyperaccumulation, respectively; however, each hyperaccumulation pattern was associated with different variables. A. halleri rhizosphere fungal richness and diversity associated most strongly with Zn hyperaccumulation, whereas soil Cd and Zn bioavailability had the strongest associations with Cd hyperaccumulation. Our results indicate strong associations between A. halleri TME hyperaccumulation and rhizosphere microbial community properties, a finding that needs to be further explored to optimize phytoremediation technology that is based on hyperaccumulation.
• Lock Toy Ki, Y., Garcia, A., Pelissier, F., Olszewski, T. K., Babst-Kostecka, A., Legrand, Y. M., & Grison, C. (2022). Mechanochemistry and Eco-Bases for Sustainable Michael Addition Reactions. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 27(10).
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  The Michael addition reaction was revisited with a full focus on sustainability combined with efficiency, using mechanochemistry in mild conditions. First, the synthesis of cyclopentenone derivatives was chosen as a model reaction to find optimal conditions in mechanochemistry while using classical but weak bases. The reaction was efficient (84-95% yields), fast (2-6 h), solvent free, and required 0.1 equivalent of base. Aiming to reach greener conditions, classical bases were then replaced using new bio-sourced bases, called Eco-bases, that were easily prepared from plants and led to heterogeneous catalysts. The composition and structure of Eco-bases were characterized by MP-AES, XRPD, EBSD/EDS, HRTEM/EDX and ion chromatography. Interestingly, a high ratio of potassium was observed with the presence of KCa(CO) for the most effective Eco-base. The new Eco-bases were used for the mechanical-assisted construction of functionalized alkenone derivatives. The versatility of the method has been successfully applied with good to excellent yields to different Michael donors and acceptors. Eco-bases were recycled and reused four times with the same performances. Combining Eco-bases and mechanochemistry in Michael addition reactions allowed reaching a maximum degree of sustainability (efficient, rapid, low catalyst loading, solvent-free reactions with bio-sourced catalysts) and participating in the development of mechanochemistry in sustainable chemistry.
• Murawska-Wlodarczyk, K., Korzeniak, U., Chlebicki, A., Mazur, E., Dietrich, C. C., & Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022). Metalliferous habitats and seed microbes affect the seed morphology and reproductive strategy of. Plant and soil, 472(1-2), 175-192.
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  Plant reproduction in metalliferous habitats is challenged by elevated concentrations of metal trace elements in soil. As part of their survival strategy, metal-tolerant plants have adjusted reproductive traits, including seed morphology, dormancy, and germination rate. These traits are particularly relevant, yet poorly understood, in metal hyperaccumulators that are promising candidates for phytoremediation.
• Dietrich, C. C., Tandy, S., Murawska-Wlodarczyk, K., Banaś, A., Korzeniak, U., Seget, B., & Babst-Kostecka, A. (2021). Phytoextraction efficiency of Arabidopsis halleri is driven by the plant and not by soil metal concentration. Chemosphere, 285, 131437.
  More info

  The hyperaccumulation trait allows some plant species to allocate remarkable amounts of trace metal elements (TME) to their foliage without suffering from toxicity. Utilizing hyperaccumulating plants to remediate TME contaminated sites could provide a sustainable alternative to industrial approaches. A major hurdle that currently hampers this approach is the complexity of the plant-soil relationship. To better anticipate the outcome of future phytoremediation efforts, we evaluated the potential for soil metal-bioavailability to predict TME accumulation in two non-metallicolous and two metallicolous populations of the Zn/Cd hyperaccumulator Arabidopsis halleri. We also examined the relationship between a population's habitat and its phytoextraction efficiency. Total Zn and Cd concentrations were quantified in soil and plant material, and bioavailable fractions in soil were quantified via Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films (DGT). We found that shoot TME accumulation varied independent from both total and bioavailable soil TME concentrations in metallicolous individuals. In fact, hyperaccumulation patterns appear more plant- and less soil-driven: one non-metallicolous population proved to be as efficient in accumulating Zn on non-polluted soil as the metallicolous populations in their highly contaminated environment. Our findings demonstrate that in-situ information on plant phytoextraction efficiency is indispensable to optimize site-specific phytoremediation measures. If successful, hyperaccumulating plant biomass may provide valuable source material for application in the emerging field of green chemistry.
• Babst-Kostecka, A., Przybylowicz, W. J., van, d., Ryan, C., Dietrich, C. C., & Mesjasz-Przybylowicz, J. (2020). Endosperm prevents toxic amounts of Zn from accumulating in the seed embryo - an adaptation to metalliferous sites in metal-tolerant Biscutella laevigata. METALLOMICS, 12(1), 42-53.
• Babst-Kostecka, A., Przybyłowicz, W. J., Seget, B., & Mesjasz‐Przybyłowicz, J. (2020). Zinc allocation to and within Arabidopsis halleri seeds: Different strategies of metal homeostasis in accessions under divergent selection pressure. Plant‐Environment Interactions, 1(3), 207-220. doi:10.1002/pei3.10032
• Dietrich, C. C., Bilnicki, K., Korzeniak, U., Briese, C., Nagel, K. A., & Babst-Kostecka, A. (2019). Does slow and steady win the race? Root growth dynamics of Arabidopsis halleri ecotypes in soils with varying trace metal element contamination. ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY, 167.
• Babst-Kostecka, A., Schat, H., Saumitou-Laprade, P., Grodzinska, K., Bourceaux, A., Pauwels, M., & Frerot, H. (2018). Evolutionary dynamics of quantitative variation in an adaptive trait at the regional scale: The case of zinc hyperaccumulation in Arabidopsis halleri. MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, 27(16), 3257-3273.
• Sailer, C., Babst-Kostecka, A., Fischer, M. C., Zoller, S., Widmer, A., Vollenweider, P., Gugerli, F., & Rellstab, C. (2018). Transmembrane transport and stress response genes play an important role in adaptation of Arabidopsis halleri to metalliferous soils. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 8.
• Babst-Kostecka, A. A., Waldmann, P., Frerot, H., & Vollenweider, P. (2016). Plant adaptation to metal polluted environments-Physiological, morphological, and evolutionary insights from Biscutella laevigata. ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY, 127, 1-13.
• Wasowicz, P., Pauwels, M., Pasierbinski, A., Przedpelska-Wasowicz, E. M., Babst-Kostecka, A. A., Saumitou-Laprade, P., & Rostanski, A. (2016). Phylogeography of Arabidopsis halleri (Brassicaceae) in mountain regions of Central Europe inferred from cpDNA variation and ecological niche modelling. PEERJ, 4.
• Babst-Kostecka, A. A., Parisod, C., Gode, C., Vollenweider, P., & Pauwels, M. (2014). Patterns of genetic divergence among populations of the pseudometallophyte Biscutella laevigata from southern Poland. PLANT AND SOIL, 383(1-2), 245-256.
• Gode, C., Decombeix, I., Kostecka, A., Wasowicz, P., Pauwels, M., Courseaux, A., & Saumitou-Laprade, P. (2012). NUCLEAR MICROSATELLITE LOCI FOR ARABIDOPSIS HALLERI (BRASSICACEAE), A MODEL SPECIES TO STUDY PLANT ADAPTATION TO HEAVY METALS. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY, 99(2), E49-E52.
• Meyer, C., Kostecka, A. A., Saumitou-Laprade, P., Creach, A., Castric, V., Pauwels, M., & Frerot, H. (2010). Variability of zinc tolerance among and within populations of the pseudometallophyte species Arabidopsis halleri and possible role of directional selection. NEW PHYTOLOGIST, 185(1), 130-142.

Presentations

• Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022). One Person’s Trash is Another Person’s Treasure – Plant-based Solution for the Removal and Re-Use of Metals from Contaminated Mine Tailing. Center for Environmentally Sustainable Mining (CESM) Technical Advisory Committee Spring Meeting.
• Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022). Plant-based Solution for the Removal and Re-Use of Metals from Mining Impacted Lands. Health and Environmental Change: Pushing Research Boundaries Through Arizona-France Cooperation.
• Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022). Understanding plant-soil interactions to mitigate environmental degradation. Colloquium of the Department of Environmental Science, University of Arizona.
• Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022, February). One person’s trash is another person’s treasure – optimizing metal-contaminated plant biomass towards the needs of Green Chemistry. The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) - University of Arizona.
• Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022, November). Metal Remediation and Recovery - Using Metal-accumulating Plants to Extend the Life Cycle of Mineral Resources. Center for Environmentally Sustainable Mining Applied Industry Research & Information Sharing Forum.
• Kushwaha, P., Murawska-Wlodarczyk, K., Stanek, M., Stefanowicz, A., Korzeniak, U., Seget, B., & Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022, November). Understanding the role of soil microbial communities on Zn and Cd hyperaccumulation variability in Arabidopsis halleri in a transplant experiment. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Annual Conference. Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
• Ledesma, J., Babst-Kostecka, A., Maier, R. M., Neilson, J. W., & Rasmussen, C. (2022, November). Effects of Long-Term Stockpiling on Soil Quality and Potential for Mine Site Reclamation in Semi-Arid Regions. University of Arizona ENViSion Research Symposium. Tucson.
• Murawska-Wlodarczyk, K., Kushwaha, P., Schroeder, J., Maier, R., & Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022, December). Phytoremediation potential and metal tolerance of Atriplex lentiformis - linking plant stress gene expression and plant-microbe interactions in metal-contaminated mine tailing. NIEHS Superfund Research Program Annual Meeting. Raleigh, USA.
• Murawska-Wlodarczyk, K., Wlodarczyk, T., Babst-Kostecka, A., Neilson, J. W., & Maier, R. M. (2021, December). The effect of capping material on successful seed germination and seedling growth for quantification of root development in the underlying contaminated tailings. Society for Mining, Metallurgy, & Exploration (SME) 2021 conference. Tucson, AZ.
• Murawska-Wlodarczyk, K., Wlodarczyk, T., Neilson, J. W., Rasmussen, C., Maier, R. M., & Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022, March). Effects of long-term stockpiling on soil quality and potential for mine site reclamation in semi-arid regions. University of Arizona ENViSion Research Symposium. Tucson, AZ.
• Perez, S., Hogan, D. E., Lokugama, V., Loy, D. A., Babst-Kostecka, A., & Maier, R. (2022). Zinc removal from water using functionalized hydrogels. University of Arizona ENViSion Research Symposium.
• Wlodarczyk, T., Lasbleiz, A., Legrand, Y., Grison, C., Murawska-Wlodarczyk, K., Maier, R. M., & Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022, March). Hyperaccumulation potential of drought adapted endemics in Arizona
  . University of Arizona ENViSion Research Symposium. Tucson, AZ.
• Wlodarczyk, T., Novo, L., Babst-Kostecka, A., & Maier, R. (2022). Phytoextraction research projects supported by the Pima County Observatory.. The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) - University of Arizona Virtual Seminar on Pima County Human-Environment Observatory (OHMi-PC). virtual.
• Babst-Kostecka, A. (2021, July). Understanding and optimizing the plant phenotype - Roots target the root of the problem. CALS/Bayer Crop Science event. virtual.
• Blankinship, J., Rathke, S., Babst-Kostecka, A., Gornish, E., Barberan, A., Field, J., Saez, A. E., Rasmussen, C., & Tfaily, M. (2021). Mitigating dust pollution for climate-resilient development in arid regions. Symposium on Resilience Research for Global Development ChallengesArizona Institutes for Environment.
• Tfaily, M., Rasmussen, C., Saez, A. E., Field, J., Barberan, A., Gornish, E., Babst-Kostecka, A., Rathke, S., & Blankinship, J. (2021). Mitigating dust pollution for climate-resilience development in arid regions. Arizona Institutes for Resilience.

Poster Presentations

• Lauman, S., Babst-Kostecka, A., Gornish, E., & Neilson, J. W. (2023). Seed mixes: what to look for and how to customize them. Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Annual Conference.
• Ledesma, J., Babst-Kostecka, A., Maier, R., Neilson, J., & Rasmussen, C. (2022). Long-term effects of stockpile storage on soil quality for mine site reclamation in semi-arid regions. Center for Environmentally Sustainable Mining (CESM) Applied Industry Research and Information Sharing Forum.
• Ledesma, J., Babst-Kostecka, A., Maier, R., Neilson, J., & Rasmussen, C. (2022, December). Long term effects of stockpile storage on soil quality for mine reclamation in semi-arid regions. Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) 2022 local Conference. Tucson.
• Ledesma, J., Babst-Kostecka, A., Maier, R., Neilson, J., & Rasmussen, C. (2022, November). Soil mineral characterization of a 14-year-old topsoil stockpile. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Annual Conference. Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
• Lokugama, V., Perez, S., Power, A., Twaje, S., Babst-Kostecka, A., Hogan, D., Maier, R., & Loy, D. (2022). Chemical Modification of Glycolipids with Polymerizable Acrylate Groups and Their Incorporation into Hydrogels
  . Materials Research Society Spring Meeting Symposium.. Honolulu, Hawaii.
• Lokugama, V., Perez, S., Twaje, S., Babst-Kostecka, A., Maier, R., Hogan, D., & Loy, D. (2022). Chemical Modification of Glycolipids with Polymerizable Acrylate Groups and Their Incorporation into Hydrogels
  . American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall Meeting. Chicago, USA.
• Maier, R. M., Babst-Kostecka, A., Loy, D. A., Lokugama, V., Hogan, D. E., & Perez, S. (2022, December). Conditional Stability Constants for Synthetically Derived Glycolipids. NIEHS Superfund Research Program Annual Meeting. Raleigh, NC: NIEHS.
• Murawska-Wlodarczyk, K., Kushwaha, P., Chen, Y., Dietrich, C., & Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022). Linking the soil microbial community and root architecture with Zn and Cd hyperaccumulation in the model species Arabidopsis halleri. 32nd International Conference on Arabidopsis Research, ICAR2022. Belfast, United Kingdom.
• Murawska-Wlodarczyk, K., Kushwaha, P., Neilson, J., Rasmussen, C., Maier, R., & Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022). Importance of capping material properties in remediation of mine tailings. Center for Environmentally Sustainable Mining (CESM) Applied Industry Research and Information Sharing Forum. Phoenix.
• Murawska-Wlodarczyk, K., Kushwaha, P., Neilson, J., Rasmussen, C., Maier, R., & Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022, December). Importance of capping material properties in remediation of mine tailings. Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) 2022 local Conference. Tucson.
• Murawska-Wlodarczyk, K., Kuswaha, P., Chen, Y., Dietrich, C., & Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022, November). Soil microbiome and root architectural changes associated with metal accumulation in Arabidopsis halleri.. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meeting.
• Perez, S., Hogan, D. E., Lokugama, V., Loy, D. A., Babst-Kostecka, A., & Maier, R. M. (2022, December). Conditional Stability Constants for Synthetically Derived Glycolipids. SME Arizona Conference. Tucson, AZ: Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.
• Perez, S., Hogan, D., Loy, D., Babst-Kostecka, A., & Maier, R. (2022). Conditional Stability Constants for Synthetically Derived Glycolipids. NIEHS Superfund Research Program Annual Meeting. Raleigh, USA.
• Perez, S., Power, A., Twaje, S., Lokugama, V., Ye, P., Babst-Kostecka, A., Maier, R., Hogan, D., & Loy, D. (2022). Iminodiacetic acid modified hydrogels for the removal of heavy metals from water. American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall Meeting. Chicago, USA.
• Wlodarczyk, T., Root, R., Chorover, J., Poscic, F., Maier, R., & Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022). Zinc hyperaccumulation and allocation strategies in metallicolous and non-metallicolous populations of Arabidopsis halleri. 32nd International Conference on Arabidopsis Research, ICAR2022. Belfast, United Kingdom.
• Wlodarczyk, T., Stokes, O., Rader, S., Barton, I., Maier, R., & Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022). Identifying native metal-accumulating plants to improve remediation of mine tailings. Center for Environmentally Sustainable Mining (CESM) Applied Industry Research and Information Sharing Forum. Phoenix.
• Wlodarczyk, T., Stokes, O., Rader, S., Barton, I., Maier, R., & Babst-Kostecka, A. (2022). Identifying native metal-accumulating plants to improve remediation of mine tailings. NIEHS Superfund Research Program Annual Meeting. Raleigh, USA.
• Ledesma, J., Babst-Kostecka, A., Maier, R. M., Neilson, J. W., & Rasmussen, C. (2021, December). Effects of long-term stockpiling on soil quality and potential for mine site reclamation in semi-arid regions. Society for Mining, Metallurgy, & Exploration (SME) 2021 conference. Tucson, AZ.
• Ledesma, J., Babst-Kostecka, A., Maier, R. M., Neilson, J. W., & Rasmussen, C. (2021, November). Effects of Long-Term Stockpiling on Soil Quality and Potential for Mine Site Reclamation in Semi-Arid Regions. 2021 ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, UT.
• Murawska-Wlodarczyk, K., Wlodarczyk, T., Babst-Kostecka, A., Neilson, J. W., & Maier, R. M. (2021, December). The effect of capping material on successful seed germination and seedling growth for quantification of root development in the underlying contaminated tailings. Society for Mining, Metallurgy, & Exploration (SME) 2021 conference. Tucson, AZ.
• Babst-Kostecka, A., Neilson, J. W., Maier, R. M., & Kushwaha, P. (2020, November). Linking the rhizosphere microbial community with variability in Zn and Cd hyperaccumulation in the model species Arabidopsis halleri. 2020 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Virtual.