In:
Canadian Journal of Botany, Canadian Science Publishing, Vol. 63, No. 11 ( 1985-11-01), p. 2049-2055
Abstract:
To assess the response of mycorrhizae to atmospheric pollutants, 2-year-old northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) seedlings were grown in natural soils and treated with low levels of O 3 , SO 2 , and (or) acidic rain. In a laboratory study, seedlings were exposed to constant concentrations of O 3 (0.02, 0.07, or 0.12 ppm) for 7 h per day on 5 days per week and twice per week received 1.25 cm of simulated rain (pH 5.0, 4.0, or 3.0). Ozone treatment caused increases in the number of short roots infected with mycorrhizae per centimetre of lateral root and in the percent mycorrhizal infection. Acidic rain treatments caused decreases in the number of infected short roots and in the percent infection. In a field study, plants were exposed daily in open-top chambers in Ithaca, NY, to air containing 50, 100, or 150% of the ambient O 3 concentration. These plants also received either no SO 2 or 5 h per day of SO 2 (concentration ~0.1 ppm) on one-half or one-quarter of the days during the study. Ozone caused increased numbers of short roots to be infected with mycorrhizae and increased percent infection. Treatments with SO 2 resulted in decreased numbers of infected short roots and decreased percent infection. The significant response of oak mycorrhizae to all three forms of atmospheric pollution suggests that mycorrhizae are a sensitive component of the plant–soil system. Given the importance of mycorrhizae to forest trees, these results indicate a need for more study in this area.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0008-4026
Language:
French
Publisher:
Canadian Science Publishing
Publication Date:
1985
detail.hit.zdb_id:
218116-2
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1481926-0
SSG:
12
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