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Impact of ozone on loblolly pine seedling foliage production and retention
Author(s) -
Kress Lance W.,
Lee Allen H.,
Mudano Jane E.,
Stow Tara K.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620110808
Subject(s) - ozone , loblolly pine , growing season , seedling , zoology , precipitation , chemistry , horticulture , agronomy , botany , biology , pinus <genus> , physics , organic chemistry , meteorology
Field‐grown one‐year‐old loblolly pine seedlings were exposed to a complete factorial design of ozone and acidic precipitation in open‐top chambers for two seasons. Foliage production and retention were evaluated during the second exposure season. Five ozone exposures ranging from 0.42 to 2.95x ambient and two rainfall treatments, pH 5.3 and pH 3.3, were applied for two growing seasons. Fascicle number and length of early season flushes were decreased by increasing ozone, but ozone increased fascicle length of late season flushes. Foliage retention was significantly decreased as ozone concentration increased. A significant reduction in fascicle retention was observed at ambient ozone concentrations. Significant pine family differences were noted for many of the evaluated foliage variables. Acidic precipitation generally had no significant effects, except that overall branch foliage retention tended to increase with increasing acidity and there was an ozone by rain acidity interaction when 1987 branch foliage was evaluated. Decreased foliage retention may be a partial explanation for the growth rate reductions in some stands in the Southeast.