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Alterations of chemical composition, construction cost and payback time in needles of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana L.) trees grown under pollution

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Abstract

Previous studies show that Masson pine (Pinus massoniana L.) stands grown at the industrially-polluted site have experienced unprecedented growth decline, but the causal mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, to understand the mechanisms of growth decline of Mason pine strands under pollution stresses, we determined the reactive oxygen species levels and chemical composition of the current-year (C) and one-year-old (C + 1) needles, and calculated the needle construction costs (CCmass) of Masson pine trees grown at an industrially-polluted site and an unpolluted remote site. Pine trees grown at the polluted site had significantly higher levels of hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion in their needles than those grown at the unpolluted site, and the former trees eventually exhibited needle early senescence. The contents of lipids, soluble phenolics and lignins in C and C + 1 needles were significantly higher at the polluted site than at the unpolluted site, but the total amounts of non-construction carbohydrates were lower in non-polluted needles than in polluted needles. Elevated levels of the reactive oxygen species and early senescence in polluted needles together led to significant increases in CCmass and a longer payback time. We infer that the lengthened payback time and needle early senescence under pollution stress may reduce the Masson pine tree growth and consequently accelerate tree decline.

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Acknowledgments

We greatly thank Prof Z. F. Lin for her valuable comments on this study, and Mr J. Li and Dr. E.Q. Hou for field assistances. We are also very grateful to the two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments. The National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31070409) and Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KSCX2-EW-J- 28) are also kindly acknowledged for the funding supports.

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Author notes

  1. Lan-Lan Guan

    Present address: Guangdong Experimental High School, Guangzhou, 510375, China

  2. Fang-Fang Sun

    Present address: Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shenzhen, 518001, China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China

    Nan Liu, Lan-Lan Guan, Fang-Fang Sun & Da-Zhi Wen

  2. Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China

    Nan Liu, Lan-Lan Guan, Fang-Fang Sun & Da-Zhi Wen

  3. 723 Xingke Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510650, China

    Nan Liu, Lan-Lan Guan, Fang-Fang Sun & Da-Zhi Wen

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  1. Nan Liu
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Correspondence to Da-Zhi Wen.

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Liu, N., Guan, LL., Sun, FF. et al. Alterations of chemical composition, construction cost and payback time in needles of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana L.) trees grown under pollution. J Plant Res 127, 491–501 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-014-0638-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-014-0638-y

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