Foliar amino acid accumulation as an indicator of ecosystem stress for first-year sugar maple seedlings

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Journal of Environmental Quality

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1994.00472425002300010024x· OSTI ID:244259

McLaughlin, J W; Reed, D D; Jurgensen, M F ^[1]

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1. Michigan Technological Univ., Houghton, MI (United States); and others

Accumulation of certain plant foliar amino acids (arginine, glutamine, and proline) can be used as indicators of anthropogenic and natural stressors, such as atmospheric deposition and mineral nutritional imbalances, which result in decreased plant growth. In this study a number of factors were evaluated to assess the use of foliar amino acid accumulation as indicators of sugar maple seedling stress at two sugar maple dominated forests in Michigan. These factors were: (1) first-year sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marshall) seedling growth, (2) N and P nutrition, (3) soluble foliar and root total amino acid concentrations, and (4) concentrations of foliar arginine, glutamine, and proline. The most southern site (Wellston), which was exposed to high atmospheric deposition and had high available soil P and seedling foliar P, had greater seedling growth. Foliar glutamine, arginine, and proline were greater at the most northern site (Alberta), which received lesser amounts of atmospheric deposition, but also had lower levels of available soil phosphorus, seedling foliar phosphorus, less seedling growth, and greater canopy closure. These results suggest that since atmospheric deposition is high in nitrogen, even the low levels of deposition at Alberta may be interacting with ecological variables such as, available soil phosphorus, light, or moisture to result in NIP imbalances and consequently higher arginine and glutamine concentrations in seedling foliage. 37 refs., 4 figs., 3 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 244259
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Quality, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Quality Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 23; ISSN JEVQAA; ISSN 0047-2425
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ACID RAIN
AMINO ACIDS
ARGININE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BIOLOGICAL LOCALIZATION
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
FORESTS
GLUTAMINE
LEAVES
MAPLES
METABOLISM
MOISTURE
NITROGEN
PHOSPHORUS
PLANT GROWTH
PROLINE
SEEDLINGS