Canadian Forest Service Publications
Effect of 3 year’s free-air exposure to elevated ozone on mature Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) needle epicuticular wax physicochemical characteristics. 2009. Percy, K.E.; Manninen, S; Häberle, K.-H.; Heerdt, C.; Werner, H.; Henderson, G.; Matyssek, R. Environmental Pollution 157: 1657-1665.
Year: 2009
Issued by: Atlantic Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 29483
Language: English
Availability: Order paper copy (free), PDF (download)
Abstract
We examined the effect of ozone (O3) on Norway spruce (Picea abies) needle epicuticular wax over three seasons at the Kranzberg Ozone Fumigation Experiment. Exposure to 2 times ambient O3 ranged from 64.5 to 74.2 microliters O3 L-1h AOT40, and 117.1 to 123.2 nl O3 L-1 4th highest daily maximum 8-h average O3 concentration. The proportion of current-year needle surface covered by wax tubes, tube aggregates, and plates decreased (P = 0.011) under 2 times O3. Epistomatal chambers had increased deposits of amorphous wax. Proportion of secondary alcohols varied due to year (P = 0.004) and O3 treatment (P = 0.029). Secondary alcohols were reduced by 9.1% under 2 times O3. Exposure to 2 times O3 increased (P = 0.037) proportions of fatty acids by 29%. Opposing trends in secondary alcohols and fatty acids indicate a direct action of O3 on wax biosynthesis. These results demonstrate O3-induced changes in biologically important needle surface characteristics of 50-year-old field-grown trees.