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Impact of Alkalisation of the Soil on the Anatomy of Norway Spruce (Picea abies) Needles

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Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the needle anatomy of Norway spruce trees growing on a territory that was exposed to different alkaline dust pollution. The anatomy of the needles of spruce growing on a polluted site in the vicinity of the Kunda cement plant (Northeast Estonia) was compared with the anatomy and physiological state of the needles from an unpolluted site. The needles from polluted sites had a significantly larger average mesophyll area and thicker epidermis. These needles also had significantly smaller average vascular bundles and xylem areas than needles from the unpolluted site. Although in the alkalised growth conditions, the mesophyll area enlarged, the number of damaged mesophyll cells increased, and as a result, the concentration of chlorophylls decreased reducing the photosynthetic potential of trees. Our study indicates that even though cement dust pollution has practically ceased in the area, the alkalised soil is affecting physiological processes in trees for a long time.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research (project no. 0170021 s08), Kunda Nordic Cement (contract 21.05.2010) and by the European Regional Development Fund, Environmental Conservation and Environmental Technology R&D Programme project BioAtmos (3.2.0802.11-0043).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecophysiology, Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Viljandi mnt. 18B, 11216, Tallinn, Estonia

    Aljona Lukjanova & Malle Mandre

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15, 12618, Tallinn, Estonia

    Gerly Saarman

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  1. Aljona Lukjanova
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Correspondence to Aljona Lukjanova.

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Lukjanova, A., Mandre, M. & Saarman, G. Impact of Alkalisation of the Soil on the Anatomy of Norway Spruce (Picea abies) Needles. Water Air Soil Pollut 224, 1620 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-013-1620-3

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