Effect of 3 years' free-air exposure to elevated ozone on mature Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) needle epicuticular wax physicochemical characteristics.
We examined the effect of ozone (O(3)) on Norway spruce (Picea abies) needle epicuticular wax over three seasons at the Kranzberg Ozone Fumigation Experiment. Exposure to 2x ambient O(3) ranged from 64.5 to 74.2 microl O(3) l(-1) h AOT40, and 117.1 to 123.2 nl O(3) l(-1) 4th highest daily maximum 8-h average O(3) concentration. The proportion of current-year needle surface covered by wax tubes, tube aggregates, and plates decreased (P=0.011) under 2x O(3). Epistomatal chambers had increased deposits of amorphous wax. Proportion of secondary alcohols varied due to year (P=0.004) and O(3) treatment (P=0.029). Secondary alcohols were reduced by 9.1% under 2x O(3). Exposure to 2x O(3) increased (P=0.037) proportions of fatty acids by 29%. Opposing trends in secondary alcohols and fatty acids indicate a direct action of O(3) on wax biosynthesis. These results demonstrate O(3)-induced changes in biologically important needle surface characteristics of 50-year-old field-grown trees.
Percy
Kevin E
KE
Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service-Atlantic Forestry Centre, 1350 Regent Street, Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 5P7. kpercy@nbnet.nb.ca
Manninen
Sirkku
S
Häberle
Karl-Heinz
KH
Heerdt
C
C
Werner
H
H
Henderson
Gary W
GW
Matyssek
Rainer
R
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000438:Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism; D054750:Ecotoxicology / Q000379:methods; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D009664:Norway; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010126:Ozone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D028222:Picea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014885:Waxes / Q000737:chemistry
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000438:Alcohols; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical; D014885:Waxes; D010126:Ozone