title: Physiological and biochemical stress responses in grassland species are influenced by both early-season ozone exposure and interspecific competition.
abstract: The effects of two-year early season ozone exposure on physiological and biochemical stress response were investigated in model plant communities. Achillea millefolium and Veronica chamaedrys target plants were grown in monocultures and in mixed cultures with Poa pratensis (phytometer) and exposed in open-top chambers over two years for five weeks to charcoal-filtered (CF) air plus 25 nl l(-1) O3 (control) and non-filtered (NF) air plus 50 nl l(-1) O3. Significant O3 effects were detected in different physiological and biochemical parameters, evidencing interspecific differences in metabolic stress responses and a strong influence of the competition factor. O3 induced strong oxidative effects in Achillea irrespective to the different growth modality. Veronica showed less O3-induced effects in monoculture than when grown in competition with the phytometer. Poa exhibited a different behaviour against O3 depending on the species in competition, showing an overall higher sensitivity to O3 when in mixture with Achillea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Biotechnology, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scebba
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Canaccini
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castagna
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.forename: Hans-Joachim
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Weigel
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranieri
mesh_terms: D031162:Achillea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D000383:Agriculture; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D044822:Biodiversity; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D010126:Ozone / Q000633:toxicity*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D010858:Pigmentation; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D013045:Species Specificity; D032264:Veronica / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D002734:Chlorophyll; D010126:Ozone; D009195:Peroxidase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid