Inter- and intra-specific differences in the response of Chinese leafy vegetables to ozone

Yuechun Zhao, J. N. B. Bell, Abdul Wahid, Sally A. Power

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    Abstract

    The response to ozone (O3) of a range of Chinese leafy vegetables was investigated with respect to both inter- and intra-specific differences in sensitivity. In the interspecific experiment local Chinese cultivars of pak choi, rape, leaf mustard, leaf lettuce and coriander were fumigated with 90 ppb O3 for 9 h daily for 22–30 days. A similar fumigation was carried out using four different cultivars of pak choi. Sequential measurements were made of leaf injury, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and chlorophyll fluorescence, together with dry weights at a final harvest. O3 injury appeared as white or yellow blemishes on the leaf surface of all species. The first signs of injury were seen following only 3-days’ O3 exposure (pak choi); the extent of injured leaf area increased over time for all species and cultivars, with 44.6% of the leaf area visibly injured for leaf mustard, the species with the greatest extent of injury, following 30-days’ exposure. Significant reductions in photosynthetic rate (22.7–40.7%) and stomatal conductance (19.1–33.1%) were found for all species and cultivars following O3 exposure. Plant productivity was also reduced in O3 compared to filtered air, with significant yield reductions for all species (11.1–50.8% above-ground dry weight) as well as for all cultivars of pak choi (15.8–28.1% above-ground dry weight). The mechanisms for observed impacts are discussed, together with the implications for current and future production of vegetables in the southern China province of Guangdong.
    Original languageEnglish
    Number of pages12
    JournalWater, Air and Soil Pollution
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2011

    Keywords

    • crop yield
    • interspecific variability
    • leaf area
    • pak choi
    • visible injury

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