Use of ethylenediurea (EDU) to ameliorate ozone effects on purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea).
Purple coneflower plants (Echinacea purpurea) were placed into open-top chambers (OTCs) for 6 and 12 weeks in 2003 and 2004, respectively, and exposed to charcoal-filtered air (CF) or twice-ambient (2x) ozone (O3) in 2003, and to CF, 2x or non-filtered (NF), ambient air in 2004. Plants were treated with ethylenediurea (EDU) weekly as a foliar spray. Foliar symptoms were observed in >95% of the plants in 2x-treated OTCs in both years. Above-ground biomass was not affected by 2x treatments in 2003, but root and total-plant biomass decreased in 2004. As a result of higher concentrations of select cell wall constituents (% ADF, NDF and lignin) nutritive quality was lower for plants exposed to 2x-O3 in 2003 and 2004 (26% and 17%, respectively). Significant EDU x O3 interactions for concentrations of cell wall constituents in 2003 indicated that EDU ameliorated O3 effects on nutritive quality. Interactions observed in 2004 were inconsistent.
Szantoi
Zoltan
Z
School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA. szantto@auburn.edu
Chappelka
Arthur H
AH
Muntifering
Russell B
RB
Somers
Greg L
GL
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D018533:Biomass; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D020900:Echinacea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D010126:Ozone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development
D000393:Air Pollutants; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; C032766:ethylene diurea; D010126:Ozone