Developmental and anatomical changes in leaves of yellow birch and red kidney bean exposed to simulated acid precipitation

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5301462

Paparozzi, E T; Tukey, Jr, H B

Leaves of Betula alleghaniensis Britt. (yellow birch) and Phaseolus vulgaris L cv. Red Kidney (bean) were examined microscopically during development and after exposure to simulated rain of pH 5.5, 4.3, 3.2, and 2.8. Yellow birch leaves attained maximal leaf area, midvein length, and cuticle thickness at 21 days. Trichomes were either long, unicellular, or multicellular with caplike head and stalk. Epicuticular wax was a bumpy and amorphous layer. The 2nd trifoliolate leaf of red kidney bean attained maximal leaf area, midvein length, and cuticle thickness when the 3rd trifoliolate leaf was expanding. Trichomes present were long, with a unicellular head and a multicellular base; long, unicellular, and terminally hooked; and small and multicellular. Epicuticular wax was present as small irregular flakes. After 2 days of pH 2.8 and 4 days of pH 3.2 simulated acid rain, round yellow and small tan lesions appeared on birch and bean leaves, respectively. Most injury occurred on or between small veins. Most trichome types were uninjured. Lesions formed as a result of collapsed epidermal and highly plasmolyzed palisade cells. The cuticle was still present over injured epidermal cells and epicuticular waxes were unchanged. There was not statistical difference in mean cuticle thickness due to pH of simulated rain. 25 references, 10 figures, 4 tables.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY
• OSTI ID: 5301462
• Journal Information: J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci.; (United States), Vol. 108:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
ANATOMY
INJURIES
LEAVES
PHASEOLUS
PLANT CELLS
PLANT GROWTH
SIMULATION
TREES
VARIATIONS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
GROWTH
LEGUMINOSAE
PLANTS
RAIN
560303* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)