Acid rain research program. Annual progress report, September 1975--June 1976
The aims of the research program are: (a) to observe the minimum threshold dose of simulated acid rain to produce visual and histological effects on plant foliage, (b) approach threshold limits of simulated sulfate acid rain that affect plant growth and reproduction, and (c) to measure chemical and meteorological parameters of incident rain. Acute leaf injury to several plant species resulted from exposure of foliage to simulated sulfate acid rain of pH level 2.3 to 2.9. Only slight injury occurred at 3.1. Scanning electron micrographs showed that injury to upper leaf surfaces occurred mostly at the base of trichomes (leaf hairs) and near stomata. An association of lesion development near vascular tissue was also noted. Histologically, lesions are characterized by an initial collapse of the epidermis with eventual lysis and collapse of more internal leaf tissues on the upper leaf surface of pinto beans which complemented detailed descriptions of visual lesion development after daily exposures to simulated rain. Initial experiments with gametophytes of Pteridium aquilinum show that reproduction of this fern species is very sensitive to solutions of pH 5.2 while vegetative development is not affected at pH levels of 2.2. Initial rain samples from the sequential sampler have been obtained. Initial portions of rain events exhibit a pH near 3.0 in some cases. More complete chemical analyses are anticipated.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-02-0016
- OSTI ID:
- 7331991
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-50575
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ACID RAIN
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
FERNS
LEAVES
METEOROLOGY
PH VALUE
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
REPRODUCTION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOMASS
ENERGY SOURCES
GROWTH
RAIN
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
560303* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)