Impact of ozone on the growth of birch (Betula pendula) saplings

• Saplings of one half-sib family of birch, Betula pendula, were exposed to three levels of ozone in open-top chambers (OTCs) during two growing seasons 1997-1998. The ozone treatments were non-filtered air (NF, accumulated daylight AOT40 over the two growing seasons of 3.0 mul l(-1) h), non-filtered air with extra ozone (NF +, accumulated daylight AOT40 of 27.3 mul l(-1) h) and nonfiltered air with additional extra ozone (NF++, accumulated daylight AOT40 of 120 mul l(-1) h), The birch saplings, including the roots, were harvested after the first and second growing seasons. After the first growing season, the NF++ treatment reduced the total wood biomass by 22%, relative to the NF treatment. There was no further reduction of the total wood biomass in the NF++ treatment after the second growing season. The root biomass was reduced by 30% after the first growing season. The shoot/root ratio, as well as the proportional biomass of leaves, were increased by ozone during both years. The ozone impact on the relative growth rate was estimated to -2% per 10 mul l(-1) h daylight AOT40 per growing season. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Botanik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Botany (hsv//eng)

Keyword

ozone

aot40

relative growth rate

betula pendula

carbon allocation

ambient levels

norway spruce

whole-plant

roth

sensitivity

responses

exposure

stress

clones

vegetation

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)