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Intraspecific responses of six Indian clover cultivars under ambient and elevated levels of ozone

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Abstract

Intraspecific variation in six cultivars of clover Trifolium alexandrinum L., (Bundel, Wardan, JHB-146, Saidi, Fahli, and Mescavi) has been studied with ambient and elevated O3 (ambient + 10 ppb O3) in open top chambers. Significant effect of elevated O3 was detected on different morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters depicting differential response among the test cultivars. Results showed that the magnitude of O3 induced foliar injury symptoms varied in all the cultivars. Ozone significantly depressed photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and photosynthetic efficiency, although variations were cultivar specific. Ozone treatment diminished total biomass of all the cultivars; reduction was highest in Wardan with least O3 resistance followed by Bundel, JHB-146, Saidi, Mescavi, and Fahli. According to the cumulative sensitive index, variations in the sensitivity showed that two cultivars (Wardan and Bundel) were sensitive to elevated O3, while other three cultivars (Fahli, Saidi, and Mescavi) were resistant, and JHB-146 showed intermediate sensitivity. Therefore, the present study supported the selection of sensitive cultivar of clover as a bioindicator for O3 under Indian conditions for the areas experiencing higher concentrations of O3.

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Abbreviations

APX:

Ascorbate peroxidase

AA:

Ascorbic acid

AOT 40:

Accumulated O3 over a threshold concentration of 40 ppb

CAR:

Carotenoids

CSI:

Cumulative sensitive index

DAG:

Days after germination

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

LA:

Leaf area

LPO:

Lipid peroxidation

T max :

Maximum temperature

T min :

Minimum temperature

N:

Nitrogen

NFCs:

Non-filtered chambers

NOL:

Number of leaves

OR%:

O3 resistance

OTCs:

Open top chambers

O2 :

Oxygen

ppb:

Parts per billion

POD:

Peroxidase

P:

Phosphorus

Ps:

Photosynthetic rate

PAR:

Photosynthetically active radiation

PH:

Plant height

K:

Potassium

F v/F m :

Photosynthetic efficiency

RGR:

Relative growth rate

gs:

Stomatal conductance

•O2 − :

Superoxide ion

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

TB:

Total biomass

TCHL:

Total chlorophyll

UV:

Ultraviolet

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Head, Department of Botany and Co-ordinator, Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Banaras Hindu University for providing all the necessary laboratory and field facilities and to the University Grants Commission (U.G.C.), Government of India, New Delhi for financial support. We are also thankful to Dr. D. R. Malaviya, Principal Scientist & Head, Seed Technology Division. Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, India for providing the seeds of clover.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Laboratory of Air Pollution and Global Climate Change, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India

    Nivedita Chaudhary & S. B. Agrawal

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  1. Nivedita Chaudhary
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  2. S. B. Agrawal
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Correspondence to S. B. Agrawal.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Chaudhary, N., Agrawal, S.B. Intraspecific responses of six Indian clover cultivars under ambient and elevated levels of ozone. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 5318–5329 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1517-0

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