Air pollution effects on the ultrastructure of Phlomis fruticosa mesophyll cells
Plant physiologists and environmental scientists suggest that a basic effect of air pollution on plants leads towards the minimization of their productivity. On the other hand the action of individual pollutants on intact plants has been studied from biochemical as well as structural viewpoint. Thus the study of plant responses to SO/sub 2/ exposure revealed that this agent causes acute and chronic injury. Chronic injury results in chlorosis and subsequent necrosis due to destruction of chlorophylls and final chloroplast lysis. It has been documented that ultrastructural characteristics of leaves are affected prior to any visible injury. Electron microscope examination of SO/sub 2/ fumigated plant-attached leaves of Vicia faba revealed chloroplast thylakoids starting to swell whilst photosynthesis rate was drastically reduced. The first light microscope-detected effects of air pollution on the leaf structure of plants common in natural ecosystems of Athens metropolitan area, have been reported. A chlorosis phenomenon in Urginea maritima leaves as well as an indication of detrimental effects of Phlomis fruticosa mesophyll chloroplasts were documented. In this work further investigation has been undertaken in order to elucidate the precise effects of air pollution on the ultrastructure of the photosynthesizing mesophyll cells.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Athens, Greece
- OSTI ID:
- 5870591
- Journal Information:
- Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Vol. 38:4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AIR POLLUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
PLANTS
ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES
CHLOROPLASTS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
GREECE
LEAVES
CELL CONSTITUENTS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
EASTERN EUROPE
EUROPE
MICROSCOPY
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
POLLUTION
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology