Leaf antioxidant fluctuations and growth responses in saplings of Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (brazilwood) under an urban stressing environment.
We intended to establish how efficient the leaf antioxidant responses of C. echinata are against oxidative environmental conditions observed in an urban environment and their relations to growth and biomass parameters. Plants were grown for 15 months in four sites: Congonhas and Pinheiros, affected by pollutants from vehicular emissions; Ibirapuera, affected by high O(3) concentrations; and a greenhouse with filtered air. Fifteen plants were quarterly removed from each site for analysis of antioxidants, growth and biomass. Plants growing in polluted sites showed alterations in their antioxidants. They were shorter, had thicker stems and produced less leaf biomass than plants maintained under filtered air. The fluctuations in the levels of antioxidants were significantly influenced by combined effects of climatic and pollution variables. The higher were the antioxidant responses and the concentrations of pollutant markers of air contamination in each site the slower were the growth and biomass production.
Bulbovas
Patricia
P
Seção de Ecologia, Instituto de Botânica, CP 3005, 01061-970 São Paulo, SP, Brazil. pbulbovas@hotmail.com
de Moraes
Regina Maria
RM
Spasiani Rinaldi
Mirian Cilene
MC
Luiza Cunha
Adriana
A
Carvalho Delitti
Welington Braz
WB
Domingos
Marisa
M
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001938:Brazil; D029911:Caesalpinia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002947:Cities; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010126:Ozone / Q000633:toxicity; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000975:Antioxidants; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D010126:Ozone; D010544:Peroxidases; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D001205:Ascorbic Acid