Growth response and drought susceptibility of sweetgum seedlings exposed to simulated acidic rain and ozone

Conference · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Plant Physiol., Suppl.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6060276

Lee, W S; Chevone, B I; Seiler, J R

Twelve-week-old sweetgum 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. After treatment, all seedlings were submitted to two drought cycles. Leaf water potential, net photosynthesis (Pn), transpiration (Tr), stomatal conductance (Sc), root hydraulic conductivity (Lp) and plant biomass were measured. A significant increase in Lp occurred in plants exposed to rain at pH 3.0 compared to pH 5.6. However, no significant differences occurred between these treatments after drought stress. In contrast, 0.10 ppm O/sub 3/ did not significantly change Lp through the 10-wk-treatment, but drought stress reduced Lp in plants exposed to 0.10 ppm O/sub 3/ compared with controls. Shoot height growth was significantly increased by pH 3.0 rain treatment, however, root, shoot, and total dry weight were less in seedlings exposed to pH 3.0 rain compared with pH 5.6. There was no significant effects on Pn, Tr and Sc by pre-treatment with ozone and/or acidic rain.

• Research Organization: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ., Blacksburg
• OSTI ID: 6060276
• Report Number(s): CONF-8707108-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Plant Physiol., Suppl.; (United States) Journal Volume: 83:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

551000 -- Physiological Systems
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOMASS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DROUGHTS
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
GROWTH
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LEAVES
OPENINGS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
POTENTIAL ENERGY
RAIN
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
ROOTS
SEEDLINGS
STOMATA
SYNTHESIS
TRANSPIRATION
TREES
WATER