Dynamics of plant responses to combinations of air pollutants

The focus of this review is on how plants respond to combinations of multiple air pollutants. Global pollution trends, plant physiological responses and ecological perspectives in natural and agricultural systems are all discussed. In particular, we highlight the importance of studying sequential or simultaneous exposure of plants to pollutants, rather than exposure to individual pollutants in isolation, and explore how these responses may interfere with the way plants interact with their biotic community. Air pollutants can alter the normal physiology and metabolic functioning of plants. Here we describe how the phenotypic and molecular changes in response to multiple pollutants can differ compared to those elicited by single pollutants, and how different responses have been observed between plants in the field and in controlled laboratory conditions and between trees and crop plants. From an ecological perspective, we discuss how air pollution can result in greater susceptibility to biotic stressors and in direct or indirect effects on interactions with organisms that occupy higher trophic levels. Finally, we provide an overview of the potential uses of plants to mitigate air pollution, exploring the feasibility for pollution removal via the processes of bio‐accumulation and phytoremediation. We conclude by proposing some new directions for future research in the field.     

Induction of Ascorbate Peroxidase and Glutathione Reductase Activities by Interactions of Mixtures of Air Pollutants

The response of ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities in peas (Pisum sativum var. Waverex) was investigated after three weeks of exposure to mixed fumigations with S0₂, NO, and O, (0.050 parts per million each) and increasing concentrations of O, (0-0.150 parts per million). The results show that plants respond similarly to a high concentration (0.150 parts per million) of a single air pollutant (ozone) and to mixtures of air pollutants (S0₂, NO: and O,) when individual concentrations are low (0.050 parts per million each). In both cases, levels of ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase activites were approximately twice those to be found in plants grown in charcoal-filtered air (p 0.01).     

An open-air system for exposure of young forest trees to sulphur dioxide and ozone

The development, construction and operation of an open-air fumigation system for exposing young forest trees to controlled concentrations of sulphur dioxide and ozone is described. A computer simulation of gas dispersion was used to design an array of pipework sources which minimized spatial variability in exposure concentrations. Five fumigation plots were constructed using the design and were used to fumigate trees during a 7 year study known as the Liphook Forest Fumigation Project. Rates of gas release were controlled by a small computer to follow predetermined patterns of sulphur dioxide concentration and to maintain an elevation above ambient ozone concentration. Effective control of exposure was demonstrated, and examples of experimentally produced concentration frequency distributions are provided. The advantages and shortcomings of the system are discussed with recommendations for future improvements.     

Impact of gaseous nitrogen deposition on plant functioning

Dry deposition of NH₃ and NO_x (NO and NO₂) can affect plant metabolism at the cellular and whole-plant level. Gaseous pollutants enter the plant mainly through the stomata, and once in the apoplast NH₃ dissolves to form NH₄⁺, whereas NO₂ dissolves to form NO₃⁻ and NO₂⁻. The latter compound can also be formed after exposure to NO. There is evidence that NH₃-N and NO_x-N can be reversibly stored in the apoplast. Temporary storage might affect processes such as absorption rate, assimilation and re-emission. Once formed, NO₃⁻ and NO₂⁻ can be reduced, and NH₄⁺ can be assimilated via the normal enzymatic pathways, nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase and the glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase (GS/GOGAT) cycle. Fumigation with low concentrations of atmospheric NH₃ increases in vitro glutamine synthetase activity, but whether this involves both or only one of the GS isoforms is still an open question. There seems to be no correlation between fumigation with low concentrations of NH₃ and in vitro GDH activity. The contribution of atmospheric NH₃ and NO₂ deposition to the N budget of the whole plant has been calculated for various atmospheric pollutant concentrations and relative growth rates ( RGRs ). It is concluded that at current ambient atmospheric N concentrations the direct impact of gaseous N uptake by foliage on plant growth is generally small.     

大气一氧化碳浓度升高对植物生长的影响

大气ＣＯ２浓度同对植物生长有促进作用,对Ｃ３植物生长的促进作用最大。短期ＣＯ２浓度升高时,植物光和速率增加;在长期ＣＯ２浓度升高条件下,植物光鸽上降并发生光合适应现象。这可能是植物在长期ＣＯ２浓度升高条件下植物源库关系不平衡引起的反馈抑制作用以及营养吸收不能满足光合速率增加的需要所引起Ｒｕｂｉｓｅｏ活必和含量下降。在ＣＯ２浓度升高条件下植物的呼吸也会发生变化,根的分枝和数量增多,根系的分泌量和吸收     

Hazardous components and health effects of atmospheric aerosol particles: reactive oxygen species,soot, polycyclic aromatic compounds and allergenic proteins

Abstract

This review outlines recent advances in the investigation of the chemical properties, molecular interactions and health effects of hazardous compounds in atmospheric aerosols, in particular reactive oxygen species (ROS), soot, polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) and allergenic proteins. Epidemiological studies show correlations between air particulate matter and adverse health effects of air pollution including allergy, asthma, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, but the causative relations and mechanisms of interaction on the molecular level are still unclear. ROS generated by photochemical and heterogeneous reactions in the atmosphere seem to play a key role in aerosol health effects and provide a direct link between atmospheric and physiological multiphase processes. Soot and PACs can trigger formation of ROS in vivo, leading to inflammation and cellular damage. PACs as well as allergenic proteins are efficiently oxygenated and nitrated upon exposure to ozone and nitrogen dioxide, which leads to an enhancement of their toxicity and allergenicity.     

Structuro-functional changes in the placenta as a result of exposure to atmospheric pollutants

Under the influence of atmospheric pollutions certain structural-functional changes take place in placenta: terminal villi per stipulated square unite, villi with desquamated epithelium, with dilated vessels, with deposition of fibrinoid masses, with plasmodial buds increase in number; section area occupied by epithelial layer decreases; RNA concentration and histoenzymatic activity change in the latter.     

Application of transgenic plants in understanding responses to atmospheric change

Acclimation of plants to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is a well described phenomenon. It is characterized by an increase in leaf carbohydrates and a degradation of ribulose 1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase protein (Rubisco) leading in the long term to a lower rate of CO₂ assimilation than expected from the kinetic constants of Rubisco. This article summarizes studies with transgenic plants grown in elevated pCO₂ which are modified in their capacity of CO₂ fixation, of sucrose and starch synthesis, of triosephosphate and sucrose transport and of sink metabolism of sucrose. These studies show that a feedback accumulation of carbohydrates in leaves play only a minor role in acclimation, because leaf starch synthesis functions as an efficient buffer for photoassimilates. There is some evidence that in elevated pCO₂, plants grow faster and senescence is induced earlier.     

Fungal community composition and function after long‐term exposure of northern forests to elevated atmospheric CO2 and tropospheric O3

The long‐term effects of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and tropospheric O₃ concentrations on fungal communities in soil are not well understood. Here, we examine fungal community composition and the activities of cellobiohydrolase and N‐acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) after 10 years of exposure to 1.5 times ambient levels of CO₂ and O₃ in aspen and aspen–birch forest ecosystems, and compare these results to earlier studies in the same long‐term experiment. The forest floor community was dominated by saprotrophic fungi, and differed slightly between plant community types, as did NAG activity. Elevated CO₂ and O₃ had small but significant effects on the distribution of fungal genotypes in this horizon, and elevated CO₂ also lead to an increase in the proportion of Sistotrema spp. within the community. Yet, although cellobiohydrolase activity was lower in the forest floor under elevated O₃, it was not affected by elevated CO₂. NAG was also unaffected. The soil community was dominated by ectomycorrhizal species. Both CO₂ and O₃ had a minor effect on the distribution of genotypes; however, phylogenetic analysis indicated that under elevated O₃Cortinarius and Inocybe spp. increased in abundance and Laccaria and Tomentella spp. declined. Although cellobiohydrolase activity in soil was unaffected by either CO₂ or O₃, NAG was higher (～29%) under CO₂ in aspen–birch, but lower (～18%) under aspen. Time series analysis indicated that CO₂ increased cellulolytic enzyme activity during the first 5 years of the experiment, but that the magnitude of this effect diminished over time. NAG activity also showed strong early stimulation by elevated CO₂, but after 10 years this effect is no longer evident. Elevated O₃ appears to have variable stimulatory and repressive effects depending on the soil horizon and time point examined.     

Quantifying the response of photosynthesis to changes in leaf nitrogen content and leaf mass per area in plants grown under atmospheric CO2 enrichment

Previous modelling exercises and conceptual arguments have predicted that a reduction in biochemical capacity for photosynthesis (A_area) at elevated CO₂ may be compensated by an increase in mesophyll tissue growth if the total amount of photosynthetic machinery per unit leaf area is maintained (i.e. morphological upregulation). The model prediction was based on modelling photosynthesis as a function of leaf N per unit leaf area (N_area), where N_area = N_mass×LMA. Here, N_mass is percentage leaf N and is used to estimate biochemical capacity and LMA is leaf mass per unit leaf area and is an index of leaf morphology. To assess the relative importance of changes in biochemical capacity versus leaf morphology we need to control for multiple correlations that are known, or that are likely to exist between CO₂ concentration, N_area, N_mass, LMA and A_area. Although this is impractical experimentally, we can control for these correlations statistically using systems of linear multiple-regression equations. We developed a linear model to partition the response of A_area to elevated CO₂ into components representing the independent and interactive effects of changes in indexes of biochemical capacity, leaf morphology and CO₂ limitation of photosynthesis. The model was fitted to data from three pine and seven deciduous tree species grown in separate chamber-based field experiments. Photosynthetic enhancement at elevated CO₂ due to morphological upregulation was negligible for most species. The response of A_area in these species was dominated by the reduction in CO₂ limitation occurring at higher CO₂ concentration. However, some species displayed a significant reduction in potential photosynthesis at elevated CO₂ due to an increase in LMA that was independent of any changes in N_area. This morphologically based inhibition of A_area combined additively with a reduction in biochemical capacity to significantly offset the direct enhancement of A_area caused by reduced CO₂ limitation in two species. This offset was 100% for Acer rubrum, resulting in no net effect of elevated CO₂ on A_area for this species, and 44% for Betula pendula. This analysis shows that interactions between biochemical and morphological responses to elevated CO₂ can have important effects on photosynthesis.     

大气NO2影响植物生长与代谢的研究进展

二氧化氮(NO₂)是大气氮氧化物之一,是大气气溶胶颗粒形成的主要成分,降低大气NO₂浓度可减轻空气中的雾霾.大气NO₂通过干沉降和湿沉降两种方式降落到植物叶片.植物吸收NO₂后主要通过两种代谢途径来降低空气中NO₂浓度: 一是主要在细胞质和叶绿体中利用还原酶的氮代谢途径,二是在质外体和细胞质中的歧化反应.植物吸收NO₂干扰了植物正常的生长和生理代谢,包括: 植物营养和生殖生长,植物体内硝酸还原酶(NaR)活性、亚硝酸还原酶(NiR)活性、氮素吸收、光合等生理代谢过程.对目前国内外有关大气NO₂影响植物生长与代谢的研究进展进行了综述,并对植物吸收NO₂的生理及分子机制的未来研究方向进行了展望.