The effects of SO sub 2 on Azolla - Anabaena symbiosis
- Lancaster Univ. (United Kingdom)
Cultures of Azolla pinnata containing Anabaena were investigated as a sensitive and reproducible bioindicator of air pollution. Three equal doses of SO{sub 2} (week*ppb: 1*100, 2*50, 4*25) were applied to Azolla cultures growing in nitrogen-free medium in a specially-designed exposure system. Exposure to high concentrations of SO{sub 2} showed highly significant reductions in growth of the fern, while nitrogen fixation and heterocyst development were severely damaged. This was associated with a reduction of protein content in the SO{sub 2}-exposed ferns and again more significant at higher SO{sub 2} levels. There was a variation in the absolute amount of the individual pigments between SO{sub 2} doses and/or treatments which was related to the physiological development of the ferns throughout the fumigations. Moreover, the ratio of violaxanthin to antheraxanthin in the 100 ppb SO{sub 2}-treated ferns was significantly higher than that in the clean air-grown ferns. The results clearly demonstrate that SO{sub 2} has adverse effects on the symbiosis and suggest that this fern is a promising bioindicator of air pollution and a very good model to investigate the inter-relationships between photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation and air pollution stress.
- OSTI ID:
- 5598707
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9107184-; CODEN: PPYSA
- Journal Information:
- Plant Physiology, Supplement; (United States), Vol. 96:1; Conference: Annual meeting of the American Society of Plant Physiology, Albuquerque, NM (United States), 28 Jul - 1 Aug 1991; ISSN 0079-2241
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
FERNS
SENSITIVITY
SULFUR DIOXIDE
TOXICITY
AIR POLLUTION
ALGAE
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
EXPOSURE CHAMBERS
NITROGEN FIXATION
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PHYSIOLOGY
PIGMENTS
PLANT GROWTH
PROTEINS
SYMBIOSIS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
GROWTH
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
SYNTHESIS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
540110