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Multivariate analysis of physiological parameters reveals a consistent O 3 response pattern in leaves of adult European beech ( Fagus sylvatica )
Author(s) -
Löw Markus,
Deckmyn Gaby,
Op de Beeck Maarten,
Blumenröther Manuela C.,
Oßwald Wolfgang,
Alexou Maria,
Jehnes Sascha,
Haberer Kristine,
Rennenberg Heinz,
Herbinger Karin,
Häberle KarlHeinz,
Bahnweg Günther,
Hanke David,
Wieser Gerhard,
Ceulemans Reinhart,
Matyssek Rainer,
Tausz Michael
Publication year - 2012
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.1469-8137.2012.04223.x
Subject(s) - fagus sylvatica , beech , principal component analysis , multivariate statistics , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , botany , fagaceae , biology , ecology , mathematics , statistics , geology
Summary• Increasing atmospheric concentrations of phytotoxic ozone (O 3 ) can constrain growth and carbon sink strength of forest trees, potentially exacerbating global radiative forcing. Despite progress in the conceptual understanding of the impact of O 3 on plants, it is still difficult to detect response patterns at the leaf level. • Here, we employed principal component analysis (PCA) to analyse a database containing physiological leaf‐level parameters of 60‐yr‐old Fagus sylvatica (European beech) trees. Data were collected over two climatically contrasting years under ambient and twice‐ambient O 3 regimes in a free‐air forest environment. • The first principal component (PC1) of the PCA was consistently responsive to O 3 and crown position within the trees over both years. Only a few of the original parameters showed an O 3 effect. PC1 was related to parameters indicative of oxidative stress signalling and changes in carbohydrate metabolism. PC1 correlated with cumulative O 3 uptake over preceding days. • PC1 represents an O 3 ‐responsive multivariate pattern detectable in the absence of consistently measurable O 3 effects on individual leaf‐level parameters. An underlying effect of O 3 on physiological processes is indicated, providing experimental confirmation of theoretical O 3 response patterns suggested previously.