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GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION OF SILENE CUCUBALUS WIB. INTERMITTENTLY EXPOSED TO LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF AIR POLLUTANTS, ZINC AND COPPER
Author(s) -
DUECK TH. A.,
WOLTING H. G.,
MOET D. R.,
PASMAN F. J. M.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1987.tb00901.x
Subject(s) - pollutant , zinc , copper , reproduction , environmental chemistry , silene , ozone , chemistry , pollution , metal , botany , horticulture , biology , ecology , organic chemistry
S ummary Populations of Silene cucubalus Wib. which were sensitive or tolerant to heavy metals or sulphur dioxide, were grown in zinc‐ or copper‐supplemented soil and were exposed to mixtures of SO 2 , O 3 and NO 2 in low concentrations for a period of 12 weeks. Fumigations were applied only during elevated ambient concentrations of ozone. Growth during fumigations was reduced, but flower production was significantly higher in metal‐tolerant populations when grown in soil supplemented with their specific metal. Flowers were hand‐pollinated when plants were exposed to at least 60 μg m 3 O 3 , 40 μg m 3 SO 2 and 60 μg m −3 NO 2 . Although the number of seeds and individual seed weight were significantly influenced by heavy metals and/or air pollutants, it appeared that flower production has the greatest effect on potential sexual reproduction. Plants which have evolved resistance to pollution express optimal reproductive capacity when grown in soil most resembling their native soil. The interpretation and comparison of results gained under experimental conditions are discussed with respect to field observations and effects of pollutant/species combinations.