Responses of radish to all combinations of three concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and ozone

Journal Article · · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1982.00472425001100020036x· OSTI ID:5546350

Reinert, R A ^[1]; Shriner, D S; Rawlings, J O

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1. Dept. of Agriculture, Raleigh, NC

Vegetation stress by air pollutants is frequently a result of a multiple pollutant exposure. Long-range transport of major air pollutants may affect rural agricultural and forested regions of the eastern United States. Also, changes in the relative importance of the major phytotoxic pollutants, NO/sub 2/, SO/sub 2/, and O/sub 3/, can be anticipated as a result of changing energy patterns. In experiments designed to evaluate the effects of the coincident occurrence of NO/sub 2/, SO/sub 2/, and O/sub 3/, as well as the importance of the ratios of the pollutants of one another, we have demonstrated that the pollutants interacted to influence the response of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) foliage and root. The influence of increasing O/sub 3/ concentrations at increasing concentrations of NO/sub 2/ and SO/sub 2/ generally resulted in smaller root (hypocotyl) fresh and dry weight, and in most cases the relationship was linear. Fresh-weight reductions in radish roots due to increasing 0/sub 3/ concentrations from 0.1 to 0.2 ppm and from 0.1 to 0.4 ppm at 0.1 ppm NO/sub 2/ and SO/sub 2/ were 24 and 51%, respectively. At 0.4 ppm NO/sub 2/ and SO/sub 2/, the root-weight losses due to increasing O/sub 3/ concentrations from 0.1 to 0.2 and from 0.1 to 0.4 ppm were 20 and 38%, respectively. When SO/sub 2/ reached 0.8 and 1.6 ppm, there was little change in root weight as NO/sub 2/ and O/sub 3/ concentrations were increased from 0.2 to 0.4 ppm. Nitrogen dioxide played a significant role in the response of radish to SO/sub 2/ and O/sub 3/, considering the high concentration of NO/sub 2/ (> 2.0 ppm) needed to cause a response in radish from a single exposure to NO/sub 2/ alone. These results suggested that valid assessment of the impact of siting additional sources of SO/sub 2/ and NO/sub 2/ in regions currently experiencing elevated O/sub 3/ levels will require recognition of this interaction potential.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5546350
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 11:1; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION
AIR POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHALCOGENIDES
FOLIAR UPTAKE
FOOD
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
POLLUTION
QUANTITY RATIO
RADISHES
ROOT ABSORPTION
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SYNERGISM
UPTAKE
VEGETABLES