SpringerLink
Log in

‘Waldsterben’, part IV (continuing series)

Extracellular biochemical markers of photochemical oxidant air pollution damage to Norway spruce

  • Reviews
  • Published:
Experientia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities, and ascorbic acid content, were measured in both intercellular fluid and cell material of current and 1-year-old needles of Norway spruce saplings treated with ozone, ambient air and activated carbon-filtered air in outdoor fumigation chambers. Ethylene evolution was also compared. Plants from carbon-filtered air treatments had significantly lower enzyme activities and higher ascorbic acid content. These changes were more marked in intercellular fluid than in cell material. Significant changes were noted at ozone levels typical of ambient air quality in a typical urban area. These results suggest the need for simultaneous screening of several biochemical markers as a way of overcoming the lack of specificity of any single marker for the identification of a perturbation by a particular stress, such as ozone.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

ACC:

1,aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid

EDTA:

ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

NBT:

nitrobluetertrazolium

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

G6PDH:

glucose-6-P-dehydrogenase

HPLC:

high performance liquid chromatography

Literatur

  1. Barnes, R. L., Effects of chronic exposure to ozone on soluble sugar and ascorbic acid contents of pine seedlings. Can. J. Bot.50 (1972) 215–219.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Beauchamp, C., and Fridovich, I., Superoxide dismutase: improved assays and an assay applicable to acrylamide gel. Analyt. Biochem.44 (1974) 276–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bucher, J. B., SO2-induced ethylene evolution of forest tree foliage and its potential use as stress-indicator. Eur. J. For. Path.11 (1981) 369–373.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Calabrese, E. J., The role of ascorbic acid in aquatic detoxification, in: Vitamin C, Nutrition and Environmental Health, vol. 1, p. 272. John Wiley, New York 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Castillo, F. J., Extracellular peroxidases as markers of stress?, in: Molecular and Physiological Aspects of Plant Peroxidases. Eds H. Greppin, Cl. Penel and Th. Gaspar. Centre de Botanique, University of Genève, in press.

  6. Castillo, F. J., and Greppin, H., Balance between anionic and cationic extracellular peroxidase activities inSedum album leaves after ozone exposure. Analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography. Physiologia Pl.68 (1986) 201–208.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Castillo, F. J., Penel, Cl., and Greppin, H., Peroxidase release induced by ozone inSedum album leaves. Involvement of Ca2+. Pl. Physiol.74 (1984) 846–851.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Elstner, E. F., Osswald, W., and Youngman, R. J., Basic mechanisms of pigment bleaching and loss of structural resistance in spruce (Picea abies) needles: advances in phytochemical diagnosis. Experientia41 (1985) 591–597.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Fridovich, I., The biology of oxygen radicals. Science201 (1978) 875–880.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Gaspar, T., Penel, Cl., Castillo, F. J., and Greppin, H., A two-step control of basic and acidic peroxidases and its significance for growth and development. Physiologia Pl.64 (1985) 418–423.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Gaspar, T., Penel, Cl., Thorpe, T., and Greppin, H., Peroxidases 1970–1980. A survey of their biochemical and physiological roles in higher plants. University of Geneve, Switzerland, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Grill, D., Esterbauer, H., and Welt, R., Einfluss von SO2 auf das Ascorbinsäuresystem der Fichtennadeln. Phytopath. Z.96 (1979) 361–368.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Heath, R. L., Initial events in injury to plants by air pollutants. A. Rev. Pl. Physiol.31 (1980) 395–431.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Keller, Th., The influence of SO2 on CO2 uptake and peroxidase activity. Eur. J. For. Path.14 (1984) 354–359.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Kimmerer, T. W., and Kozlowski, T. T., Ethylene, ethane, acetaldehyde, and ethanol production by plants under stress. Pl. Physiol.69 (1982) 840–847.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Lee, E. H., and Bennett, J. H., Superoxide dismutase. A possible molecular enzyme against ozone injury in snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Pl. Physiol.69 (1982) 1444–1449.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Olszyk, D. M., and Tingey, D. T., Phytotoxicity of air pollutants. Evidence for the photodetoxification of SO2 but not O3. Pl. Physiol.74 (1984) 999–1005.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Prinz, B., Krause, G. H. N., and Stratman, H., Waldschäden in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Landesanstalt für Immissionsschutz des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, Bericht No. 28 (1982).

  19. Rodecap, K. D., and Tingey, D. T., The influence of light on ozone-induced 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid and ethylene production from intact plants. Z. Pfl. Physiol.110 (1983) 419–427.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Schütt, P., and Cowling, E. B., Waldsterben — A general decline of forest in Central Europe: symptoms, development, and possible causes of a beginning breakdown of forest ecosystems. Pl. Disease69 (1985) 548–558.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Sokal, R. R., and Rohlf, F. J., Biometry. W. H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco 1969

    Google Scholar 

  22. Smidt, S., Begasungsversuche mit SO2 und Ozon an jungen Fichten. Eur. J. For. Path.14 (1984) 241–248.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. P. R. Miller

    Present address: Laboratoire de Physiologie Végétale, Université de Genève, CH-1211, Genève 4, Switzerland

  2. F. J. Castillo

    Present address: Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, 92521, Riverside, California, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Physiologie Végétale, Université de Genève, CH-1211, Genève 4, Switzerland

    F. J. Castillo & H. Greppin

  2. USDA Forest Service, 92507, Riverside, California, USA

    F. J. Castillo, P. R. Miller & H. Greppin

Authors
  1. F. J. Castillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. R. Miller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. Greppin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Acknowledgments. This work was supported in part by Grant Number 4849-0.85 (NFP 14) from the Swiss National Fund of Scientific Research. We thank Dr. F. Cupelin and Dr. J. Cl. Landry from the Service d'Ecotoxicologie, Genève, who provided the facilities for the monitoring of ozone levels. We also thank A. Mesrobian, A. Rossier and D. Voluntaru for technical assistance. Du Pont de Nemours International is gratefully acknowledged for the gift of TEDLAR (polyvinyl fluoride film) to build up the fumigation chambers.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Castillo, F.J., Miller, P.R. & Greppin, H. ‘Waldsterben’, part IV (continuing series). Experientia 43, 111–115 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01942828

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01942828

Key words

Search

Navigation