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Effects of photochemical air pollutants on Zinfandel grapes

Journal Article · · HortScience; (United States)
OSTI ID:5120203
Plots of Zinfandel grapes were grown in greenhouses in Cucamonga, California. The plots were divided into two treatments. One treatment received ambient air from cabinet-type blowers which supplied 80 m/sup 3//min. The other treatment consisted of drawing the air through activated charcoal filters, which removes about four-fifths of the total oxidant of photochemical smog. After 14 weeks of treatment, the vines receiving carbon filtered air had leaves which were obviously less stippled than those receiving ambient air. The average yield per vine in ambient air was 1669 g while filtered air gave 1892 g. In addition, the berries in the filtered air weighed 26.7% more than those from ambient air. These results show that photochemical oxidants are causing tissue damage to grape leaves by some unexplained mechanism which results in a substantial loss of chlorophyll. This reduced chlorophyll undoubtedly causes reduced photosynthesis and the other effects such as reduced berry weights.
Research Organization:
Univ. of California, Riverside
OSTI ID:
5120203
Journal Information:
HortScience; (United States), Journal Name: HortScience; (United States) Vol. 4:3; ISSN HJHSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English