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Long‐term effects of low levels of SO 2 on bean plants ( Phaseolus vulgaris ). II. Immission‐response effects on biomass production: quantity and quality
Author(s) -
Saxe Henrik
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1983.tb00738.x
Subject(s) - phaseolus , starch , horticulture , peroxidase , chlorophyll , point of delivery , biomass (ecology) , dry weight , chemistry , botany , photosynthesis , biology , agronomy , food science , enzyme , biochemistry
Bean plants ( Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Processer) were grown in water culture with separate air supply to roots for four to five weeks at five levels of SO 2 ranging from 10 μg m −3 to 950 μg m −3 . At harvest the plant material was divided into six fractions: root, stem, fruit and leaves of three age groups. Plants were mainly affected at and above approx. 250 μg m −3 SO 2 . Fresh weight was reduced in mature and old leaves, and roots and fruit. Dry weight was also reduced in mature and old leaves, and roots and stem. A reduction was found in chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b in mature and old leaves, and also starch was reduced in the leaves. Sulfur content of leaves and fruit increased with exposure time and concentration, while Br, Ca, Cl, K, Mn, P and Zn increased at the highest SO 2 level only. Total (but not specific) peroxidase activity increased in all aerial fractions, i.e. soluble protein increased just like peroxidase activity. Seventeen studied amino acids all increased on the average by 38% in mature bean pods. The observed effects may be parts of a reaction for survival and propagation of the plant, as fruit quality was not affected, indeed, it sometimes improved slightly. The latter observation is of commercial interest.