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Plant and Soil System Responses to Ozone After 3 Years in a Lysimeter Study with Juvenile Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)

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Water, Air, & Soil Pollution: Focus

Abstract

A lysimeter study was performed to monitor effects of elevated ozone on juvenile trees of Fagus sylvatica L. as well as on the plant–soil system. During a fumigation period over almost three growing seasons, parameters related to plant growth, phenological development and physiology as well as soil functions were studied. The data analyses identified elevated ozone to delay leaf phenology at early and to accelerate it at late developmental stages, to reduce growth, some leaf nutrients (Ca, K) as well as some soluble phenolics (hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, total flavonol glycosides). No or very weak ozone effects were found in mobile carbon pools of leaves (starch, sucrose), and other phenolic compounds (flavans). Altered gene expression related to stress and carbon cycling corresponded well with findings from leaf phenology and chemical composition analyses indicating earlier senescence and oxidative stress in leaves under elevated ozone. Conversely in the soil system, no effects of ozone were detected on soil enzyme activities, rates of litter degradation and lysimeter water balances. Despite the fact that the three reported years 2003–2005 were climatically very contrasting including a hot and dry as well as an extremely wet summer, and also mild as well as cold winters, the influence of ozone on a number of plant parameters is remarkably consistent, further underlining the phytotoxic potential of elevated tropospheric ozone levels.

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Acknowledgements

The study is part of the joined project SFB607 “Growth and Parasite Defence – Competition for Resources in Economic plants from Agronomy and Forestry” funded by the German Research Community (DFG). For technical support and skilled lab assistance we are grateful to Gudrun Hufnagel, Oliver Gefke, Elke Gerstner, Wolfgang Graf, Bistra Mihaylova, Dagmar Schneider and Ilse Süß.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Soil Ecology, GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany

    K. Pritsch, S. Gayler, J. C. Munch & M. Schloter

  2. Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764, München-Neuherberg, Germany

    D. Ernst, W. Heller, M. Olbrich & S. Stich

  3. Phytopathology of Woody Plants, Technische Universität München, Am Hochanger 13, 85354, Freising, Germany

    F. Fleischmann

  4. Ecophysiology of Plants, Technische Universität München, Am Hochanger 13, 85354, Freising, Germany

    T. E. E. Grams, N. Koch & R. Matyssek

  5. Plant Nutrition and Water Ressources, Technische Universität München, Am Hochanger 13, 85354, Freising, Germany

    A. Göttlein

  6. Department of Environmental Engineering, Institute of Soil Ecology, GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany

    H. Lang & J. B. Winkler

  7. Institute of Biomathematics and Biometry, GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764, München-Neuherberg, Germany

    H. Scherb

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  1. K. Pritsch
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  2. D. Ernst
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  3. F. Fleischmann
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  4. S. Gayler
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  5. T. E. E. Grams
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  7. W. Heller
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  8. N. Koch
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  9. H. Lang
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  10. R. Matyssek
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  11. J. C. Munch
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  16. M. Schloter
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Pritsch, K., Ernst, D., Fleischmann, F. et al. Plant and Soil System Responses to Ozone After 3 Years in a Lysimeter Study with Juvenile Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). Water Air Soil Pollut: Focus 8, 139–154 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11267-007-9164-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11267-007-9164-4

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