Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Ozone and simulated acid rain effects on growth root hydraulic conductivity, and photosynthesis of red spruce

Conference · · Plant Physiol., Suppl.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6060211

Three-year-old red spruce seedlings were exposed to ozone (O/sub 3/) at 0.00 (control) or 0.10 ppm, 4 hr/d, 3 d/wk in combination with simulated rain (pH 3.0 or 5.6, 1 hr/d, 2 d/wk at 0.75 cm/hr) for 10 wks. All seedlings were submitted to two drought cycles after the 10-wk-treatment. O/sub 3/ significantly decreased root hydraulic conductivity (Lp) by 21% after 10 wks across all rain pHs. The reduction of Lp in seedlings treated with O/sub 3/ was enhanced by drought stress. Rain pH alone did not affect Lp during the 10-wks-exposure and drought cycles. However, the O/sub 3/ effect on Lp was more severe at pH 5.6 than at pH 3.0. Rain at pH 3.0 stimulated shoot height growth by 31% compared with pH 5.6 across all O/sub 3/ treatments. However, root, shoot, and total dry weight of seedlings were not changed by any treatments. Neither O/sub 3/ nor rain pH affected net photosynthetic (P/sub i/) response to branch water potential in plants subjected to one or two drought cycles. However, P/sub i/ was less sensitive to water potential after two drought cycles, indicating physiological adjustment to drought stress.

Research Organization:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ., Blacksburg
OSTI ID:
6060211
Report Number(s):
CONF-8707108-
Journal Information:
Plant Physiol., Suppl.; (United States), Journal Name: Plant Physiol., Suppl.; (United States) Vol. 83:4; ISSN PPYSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English