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The role of stomata in sensitivity of Betula papyrifera seedlings to SO2 at different humidities

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Summary

Stomata of paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) seedlings were more open at high humidity than at low humidity and responded rapidly to changes in vapor pressure deficit. SO2 at 0.2 or 0.8 μl l-1 caused partial stomatal closure. Seedlings fumigated with SO2 at 0.2 or 0.5 μl l-1 for 30 h or 0.2 μl l-1 for 75 h took up more SO2 at high than at low humidity. Differences in pollutant uptake could be explained by stomatal conductance with no need to invoke changes in mesophyll conductance. Betula seedlings were more sensitive to SO2 when fumigated at high humidity, as manifested in more leaf necrosis, increased leaf abscission, and greater growth inhibition compared to seedlings fumigated at low humidity. Amount of injury to leaves increased with rate of SO2 uptake, and inhibition of root growth increased with total SO2 uptake.

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Abbreviations

RH:

relative humidity

VPD:

vapor pressure deficit

RGR:

mean relative growth rate

PPFD:

photosynthetic photon flux density (400–700 nm)

LDC:

leaf diffusive conductance

ψ:

water potential

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Author notes

  1. R. J. Norby

    Present address: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Division, 37830, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forestry, University of Wisconsin, 53706, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    R. J. Norby & T. T. Kozlowski

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  1. R. J. Norby
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  2. T. T. Kozlowski
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Research supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Norby, R.J., Kozlowski, T.T. The role of stomata in sensitivity of Betula papyrifera seedlings to SO2 at different humidities. Oecologia 53, 34–39 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377133

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377133

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