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Physiological and biochemical responses of roadside trees grown under different urban environmental conditions in Seoul

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

The present study revealed that Ginkgo biloba and Platanus occidentalis, the most abundant roadside trees in Seoul, grown under polluted environmental conditions, displayed lower contents of total chlorophyll (Chl), carotenoids (Car), and ascorbic acid (AsA) compared to the trees grown under clean conditions. The reduction in Chl, Car, and AsA contents was 59, 53, and 50%, respectively, in G. biloba, contrary to 26, 23, and 24%, respectively, in P. occidentalis. Furthermore, relative ion leakage and leaf temperature was higher in the trees grown under polluted conditions than in those grown under clean conditions. The increase in relative ion leakage and leaf temperature was 58 and 3% for G. biloba and 17 and 4% for P. occidentalis, respectively. Our results, therefore, highlighted the negative impact of urban environmental pollution on the physiological and biochemical parameters in roadside trees.

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Abbreviations

PM10:

particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤ 10 µm

PM2.5:

particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤ 2.5 µm

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

TCA:

trichloroacetic acid

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Correspondence to S. Y. Woo.

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Acknowledgments: This paper was supported by research project (No.: FE0100-2010-03-2014, Title: Management Discipline and Quantification of Biotope at Human-disturbed and Urbanized Green Areas and Forests) of Korea Forest Research Institute.

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You, H.N., Woo, S.Y. & Park, C.R. Physiological and biochemical responses of roadside trees grown under different urban environmental conditions in Seoul. Photosynthetica 54, 478–480 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0184-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0184-z

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