title: Peach leaf responses to soil and cement dust pollution.
abstract: Dust pollution can negatively affect plant productivity in hot, dry and with high irradiance areas during summer. Soil or cement dust were applied on peach trees growing in a Mediterranean area with the above climatic characteristics. Soil and cement dust accumulation onto the leaves decreased the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) available to the leaves without causing any shade effect. Soil and mainly cement dust deposition onto the leaves decreased stomatal conductance, photosynthetic and transpiration rates, and water use efficiency due possibly to stomatal blockage and other leaf cellular effects. In early autumn, rain events removed soil dust and leaf functions partly recovered, while cement dust created a crust partially remaining onto the leaves and causing more permanent stress. Leaf characteristics were differentially affected by the two dusts studied due to their different hydraulic properties. Leaf total chlorophyll decreased and total phenol content increased with dust accumulation late in the summer compared to control leaves due to intense oxidative stress. The two dusts did not cause serious metal imbalances to the leaves, except of lower leaf K content.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pomology, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Fitoko Str, 38446, Volos, Greece.
authors.forename: Persefoni A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Maletsika
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pomology, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Fitoko Str, 38446, Volos, Greece. gnanos@agr.uth.gr.
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Nanos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Water and Soil Resources Quality Control, Technological Educational Institute of Crete, Romanou 3, 73133, Chania, Greece.
authors.forename: George G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Stavroulakis
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D007221:Industry; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018526:Plant Transpiration / Q000187:drug effects; D000068239:Prunus persica / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D012621:Seasons; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002734:Chlorophyll
keywords: Chlorophyll; Dust; Gas exchange; Mineral composition; Oxidative stress; Prunus persica