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Hoshika Y, Agathokleous E, Moura BB, Paoletti E. Ozone risk assessment with free-air controlled exposure (FACE) experiments: A critical revisit. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 255:119215. [PMID: 38782333 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Since risk assessments of tropospheric ozone (O3) are crucial for agricultural and forestry sectors, there is a growing body for realistic assessments by a stomatal flux-based approach in Free-Air Controlled Exposure (FACE) facilities. Ozone risks are normally described as relative risks (RRs), which are calculated by assuming the biomass or yield at zero O3 dose as "reference". However, the estimation of the reference biomass or yield is challenging due to a lack of O3-clean-air treatment at the FACEs and the extrapolation without data in a low O3 range increases the bias for estimating the reference values. Here, we reviewed a current methodology for the risk assessment at FACEs and presented a simple and effective way ("modified Paoletti's approach") of defining RRs just using biomass or yield data with a range of expected impacts under the FACE conditions hypothesizing three possible scenarios based on prediction limits using 95% credible intervals (CI) (1. Best fit using the intercept as reference, 2. Optimistic scenario using a lower CI and 3. Worst scenario using an upper CI). As a result, O3-sensitive species show a relatively narrow effect range (optimistic vs. worst scenario) whereas a wide range of response may be possibly taken in resistant species. Showing a possible effect range allows for a comprehensive understanding of the potential risks and its uncertainties related to a species sensitivity to O3. As a supporting approach, we also recommend to use scientifically relevant tools (i.e., ethylenediurea treatments; mechanistic plant models) for strengthening the obtained results for the RRs against O3. Interestingly, the moderately sensitive or resistant species showed non-linear rather than linear dose-response relationships, suggesting a need for the flexible functional form for the risk assessment to properly describe the complex plant response such as hormesis, which depends on their plasticity to O3 stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasutomo Hoshika
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via Madonna del Piano, I-50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, Italy.
| | - Evgenios Agathokleous
- School of Ecology and Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST), Ningliu Rd. 219, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210044, China
| | - Barbara Baesso Moura
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via Madonna del Piano, I-50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, Italy
| | - Elena Paoletti
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via Madonna del Piano, I-50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, Italy
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Orts A, Navarro-Torre S, Macías-Benítez S, Orts JM, Naranjo E, Castaño A, Parrado J. A new biostimulant derived from soybean by-products enhances plant tolerance to abiotic stress triggered by ozone. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:580. [PMID: 38890606 PMCID: PMC11186251 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05290-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tropospheric ozone is an air pollutant that causes negative effects on vegetation, leading to significant losses in crop productivity. It is generated by chemical reactions in the presence of sunlight between primary pollutants resulting from human activity, such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Due to the constantly increasing emission of ozone precursors, together with the influence of a warming climate on ozone levels, crop losses may be aggravated in the future. Therefore, the search for solutions to mitigate these losses becomes a priority. Ozone-induced abiotic stress is mainly due to reactive oxygen species generated by the spontaneous decomposition of ozone once it reaches the apoplast. In this regard, compounds with antioxidant activity offer a viable option to alleviate ozone-induced damage. Using enzymatic technology, we have developed a process that enables the production of an extract with biostimulant properties from okara, an industrial soybean byproduct. The biostimulant, named as OEE (Okara Enzymatic Extract), is water-soluble and is enriched in bioactive compounds present in okara, such as isoflavones. Additionally, it contains a significant fraction of protein hydrolysates contributing to its functional effect. Given its antioxidant capacity, we aimed to investigate whether OEE could alleviate ozone-induced damage in plants. For that, pepper plants (Capsicum annuum) exposed to ozone were treated with a foliar application of OEE. RESULTS OEE mitigated ozone-induced damage, as evidenced by the net photosynthetic rate, electron transport rate, effective quantum yield of PSII, and delayed fluorescence. This protection was confirmed by the level of expression of genes associated with photosystem II. The beneficial effect was primarily due to its antioxidant activity, as evidenced by the lipid peroxidation rate measured through malondialdehyde content. Additionally, OEE triggered a mild oxidative response, indicated by increased activities of antioxidant enzymes in leaves (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and guaiacol peroxidase) and the oxidative stress index, providing further protection against ozone-induced stress. CONCLUSIONS The present results support that OEE protects plants from ozone exposure. Taking into consideration that the promotion of plant resistance against abiotic damage is an important goal of biostimulants, we assume that its use as a new biostimulant could be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Orts
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla. C/Profesor García González, Nº2. 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - Salvadora Navarro-Torre
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla. C/Profesor García González, Nº2. 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - Sandra Macías-Benítez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla. C/Profesor García González, Nº2. 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - José M Orts
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla. C/Profesor García González, Nº2. 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - Emilia Naranjo
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla. C/Profesor García González, Nº2. 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - Angélica Castaño
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla. C/Profesor García González, Nº2. 41012, Seville, Spain.
| | - Juan Parrado
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla. C/Profesor García González, Nº2. 41012, Seville, Spain
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Agathokleous E, Frei M, Knopf OM, Muller O, Xu Y, Nguyen TH, Gaiser T, Liu X, Liu B, Saitanis CJ, Shang B, Alam MS, Feng Y, Ewert F, Feng Z. Adapting crop production to climate change and air pollution at different scales. NATURE FOOD 2023; 4:854-865. [PMID: 37845546 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-023-00858-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution and climate change are tightly interconnected and jointly affect field crop production and agroecosystem health. Although our understanding of the individual and combined impacts of air pollution and climate change factors is improving, the adaptation of crop production to concurrent air pollution and climate change remains challenging to resolve. Here we evaluate recent advances in the adaptation of crop production to climate change and air pollution at the plant, field and ecosystem scales. The main approaches at the plant level include the integration of genetic variation, molecular breeding and phenotyping. Field-level techniques include optimizing cultivation practices, promoting mixed cropping and diversification, and applying technologies such as antiozonants, nanotechnology and robot-assisted farming. Plant- and field-level techniques would be further facilitated by enhancing soil resilience, incorporating precision agriculture and modifying the hydrology and microclimate of agricultural landscapes at the ecosystem level. Strategies and opportunities for crop production under climate change and air pollution are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenios Agathokleous
- Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC-FEMD), Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Carbon Source and Sink, China Meteorological Administration (ECSS-CMA), School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Michael Frei
- Department of Agronomy and Crop Physiology, Institute for Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Oliver M Knopf
- Institute of Bio- and Geoscience 2: plant sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| | - Onno Muller
- Institute of Bio- and Geoscience 2: plant sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| | - Yansen Xu
- Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC-FEMD), Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Carbon Source and Sink, China Meteorological Administration (ECSS-CMA), School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | | | | | - Xiaoyu Liu
- Institute of Resource, Ecosystem and Environment of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Bing Liu
- National Engineering and Technology Center for Information Agriculture, Engineering Research Center of Smart Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Costas J Saitanis
- Lab of Ecology and Environmental Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Bo Shang
- Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC-FEMD), Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Carbon Source and Sink, China Meteorological Administration (ECSS-CMA), School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Muhammad Shahedul Alam
- Department of Agronomy and Crop Physiology, Institute for Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Yanru Feng
- Department of Agronomy and Crop Physiology, Institute for Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Zhaozhong Feng
- Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC-FEMD), Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Carbon Source and Sink, China Meteorological Administration (ECSS-CMA), School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
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Agathokleous E, Kitao M, Hoshika Y, Haworth M, Tang Y, Koike T. Ethylenediurea protects against ozone phytotoxicity not by adding nitrogen or controlling stomata in a stomata-unresponsive hybrid poplar. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 875:162672. [PMID: 36894106 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Ozone (O3) pollution is a persistent environmental issue worldwide, which causes widespread damage to vegetation, deteriorating plant health and reducing plant productivity. Ethylenediurea (EDU) is a synthetic chemical that has been widely applied in scientific studies as a protectant against O3 phytotoxicities. Despite four decades of active research, the exact mechanisms to explain its mode of action remain unclear. Here, we aimed to reveal whether EDU's phytoprotective property is due to its control over stomatal regulation and/or its action as a nitrogen (N) fertilizer, utilizing stomatal-unresponsive plants of a hybrid poplar (Populus koreana × trichocarpa cv. Peace) grown in a free-air O3-concenctration enrichment (FACE) facility. Plants were treated with water (WAT), EDU (400 mg L-1), or EDU's constitutive amount of N every nine days, and exposed to ambient (AOZ) or elevated (EOZ) O3 during a growing season (June-September). EOZ led to extensive foliar injuries (but protected against rust disease), lower photosynthetic rate (A), impaired dynamics of responses of A to changes in light intensity, and smaller total plant leaf area. EDU protected against common phytotoxicities caused by EOZ without inducing stomatal closure, since stomatal conductance (gs) was generally unresponsive to the experimental treatments. EDU also modulated the dynamic response of A to light fluctuations under O3 stress. N addition acted as a fertilizer but did not satisfactorily protect plants against O3 phytotoxicities. The results suggest that EDU protects against O3 phytotoxicity not by adding N or controlling stomata, which provides a new insight into our understanding of the mode of action of EDU as a protectant against O3 phytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenios Agathokleous
- Research Center for Global Changes and Ecosystem Carbon Sequestration & Mitigation, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST), Nanjing 210044, Jiangsu, China; Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8589, Hokkaido, Japan; Hokkaido Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI), Sapporo 062-8516, Japan.
| | - Mitsutoshi Kitao
- Hokkaido Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI), Sapporo 062-8516, Japan
| | - Yasutomo Hoshika
- IRET-CNR, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - Matthew Haworth
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Sustainable Plant Protection (CNR-IPSP), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy
| | - Yanhong Tang
- Department of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Takayoshi Koike
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8589, Hokkaido, Japan
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Agathokleous S, Saitanis CJ, Savvides C, Sicard P, Agathokleous E, De Marco A. Spatiotemporal variations of ozone exposure and its risks to vegetation and human health in Cyprus: an analysis across a gradient of altitudes. JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH 2022; 34:579-594. [PMID: 36033836 PMCID: PMC9391650 DOI: 10.1007/s11676-022-01520-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Ground-level ozone (O3) affects vegetation and threatens environmental health when levels exceed critical values, above which adverse effects are expected. Cyprus is expected to be a hotspot for O3 concentrations due to its unique position in the eastern Mediterranean, receiving air masses from Europe, African, and Asian continents, and experiencing a warm Mediterranean climate. In Cyprus, the spatiotemporal features of O3 are poorly understood and the potential risks for forest health have not been explored. We evaluated O3 and nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2) at four regional background stations at different altitudes over 2014-2016. O3 risks to vegetation and human health were estimated by calculating accumulated O3 exposure over a threshold of 40 nmol mol-1 (AOT40) and cumulative exposure to mixing ratios above 35 nmol mol-1 (SOMO35) indices. The data reveal that mean O3 concentrations follow a seasonal pattern, with higher levels in spring (51.8 nmol mol-1) and summer (53.2 nmol mol-1) and lower levels in autumn (46.9 nmol mol-1) and winter (43.3 nmol mol-1). The highest mean O3 exposure (59.5 nmol mol-1) in summer occurred at the high elevation station Mt. Troodos (1819 m a.s.l.). Increasing (decreasing) altitudinal gradients were found for O3 (NOx), driven by summer-winter differences. The diurnal patterns of O3 showed little variation. Only at the lowest altitude O3 displayed a typical O3 diurnal pattern, with hourly differences smaller than 15 nmol mol-1. Accumulated O3 exposures at all stations and in all years exceeded the European Union's limits for the protection of vegetation, with average values of 3-month (limit: 3000 nmol mol-1 h) and 6-month (limit: 5000 nmol mol-1 h) AOT40 for crops and forests of 16,564 and 31,836 nmol mol-1 h, respectively. O3 exposures were considerably high for human health, with an average SOMO35 value of 7270 nmol mol-1 days across stations and years. The results indicate that O3 is a major environmental and public health issue in Cyprus, and policies must be adopted to mitigate O3 precursor emissions at local and regional scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanos Agathokleous
- The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
- University of the Aegean, Mytilene, Lesvos Greece
| | | | - Chrysanthos Savvides
- Department of Labour Inspection, Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - Evgenios Agathokleous
- School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST), Nanjing, 210044 People’s Republic of China
| | - Alessandra De Marco
- National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Rome, Italy
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6
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Shang B, Fu R, Agathokleous E, Dai L, Zhang G, Wu R, Feng Z. Ethylenediurea offers moderate protection against ozone-induced rice yield loss under high ozone pollution. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:151341. [PMID: 34728207 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Tropospheric ozone (O3) is the main phytotoxic air pollutant threatening food security, while ethylenediurea (EDU) can effectively mitigate O3-induced crop yield loss. EDU's mode of action, however, remains unclear, and the underlying physiological mechanisms of mitigating O3-induced crop yield loss are poorly understood. We cultivated hybrid rice seedlings under two O3 treatments (NF, nonfiltered ambient air; and NF60, ambient air plus 60 ppb O3) and sprayed foliage with 0 or 450 ppm EDU every ten days and determine photosynthesis-related traits, biomass indicators, and yield components. We found that EDU significantly increased the leaf nitrogen (N) allocation to photosynthesis (NP) and the grain N accumulation, while the grain N accumulation was positively correlated with NP and root biomass. EDU significantly increased the rice yield mainly by increasing the individual grain weight rather than the number of panicles and grains. While EDU protected from yield loss, the degree of protection was only 31% under NF60 treatment, thus EDU was unable to offer complete protection under high O3 pollution. These results will be conducive to a better understanding of the EDU protection mechanism and better application of EDU under high O3 pollution in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Shang
- Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Rao Fu
- Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Evgenios Agathokleous
- Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Lulu Dai
- Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China; Rural Energy and Environment Agency, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
| | - Guoyou Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Rongjun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhaozhong Feng
- Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China.
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7
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Saitanis CJ, Agathokleous E. Exogenous application of chemicals for protecting plants against ambient ozone pollution: What should come next? CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & HEALTH 2021; 19:100215. [PMID: 33073070 PMCID: PMC7553877 DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2020.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Elevated ground-level ozone (O3) pollution can adversely affect plants and inhibit plant growth and productivity, threatening food security and ecological health. It is therefore essential to develop measures to protect plants against O3-induced adverse effects. Here we summarize the current status of phytoprotection against O3-induced adverse effects and consider recent scientific and engineering advances, to provide a novel perspective for maximizing plant health while reducing environmental/ecological risks in an O3-polluted world. We suggest that nanoscience and nanotechnology can provide a new dimension in the protection of plants against O3-induced adverse effects, and recommend that new studies are based upon a green chemistry perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costas J Saitanis
- Agricultural University of Athens, Lab of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., TK 11855, Athens, Greece
| | - Evgenios Agathokleous
- Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, Institute of Ecology, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China
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Agathokleous E, Kitao M, Wang X, Mao Q, Harayama H, Manning WJ, Koike T. Ethylenediurea (EDU) effects on Japanese larch: an one growing season experiment with simulated regenerating communities and a four growing season application to individual saplings. JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH 2021; 32:2047-2057. [PMID: 33013142 PMCID: PMC7525765 DOI: 10.1007/s11676-020-01223-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr.) and its hybrid are economically important coniferous trees widely grown in the Northern Hemisphere. Ground-level ozone (O3) concentrations have increased since the pre-industrial era, and research projects showed that Japanese larch is susceptible to elevated O3 exposures. Therefore, methodologies are needed to (1) protect Japanese larch against O3 damage and (2) conduct biomonitoring of O3 in Japanese larch forests and, thus, monitor O3 risks to Japanese larch. For the first time, this study evaluates whether the synthetic chemical ethylenediurea (EDU) can protect Japanese larch against O3 damage, in two independent experiments. In the first experiment, seedling communities, simulating natural regeneration, were treated with EDU (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg L-1) and exposed to either ambient or elevated O3 in a growing season. In the second experiment, individually-grown saplings were treated with EDU (0, 200 and 400 mg L-1) and exposed to ambient O3 in two growing seasons and to elevated O3 in the succeeding two growing seasons. The two experiments revealed that EDU concentrations of 200-400 mg L-1 could protect Japanese larch seedling communities and individual saplings against O3-induced inhibition of growth and productivity. However, EDU concentrations ≤ 200 mg L-1 did offer only partial protection when seedling communities were coping with higher level of O3-induced stress, and only 400 mg EDU L-1 fully protected communities under higher stress. Therefore, we conclude that among the concentrations tested the concentration offering maximum protection to Japanese larch plants under high competition and O3-induced stress is that of 400 mg EDU L-1. The results of this study can provide a valuable resource of information for applied forestry in an O3-polluted world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenios Agathokleous
- Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, Institute of Applied Ecology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST), Nanjing, 210044 People’s Republic of China
- Division of Environment and Resources Research, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8589 Japan
- Hokkaido Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI), Sapporo, 062-8516 Japan
| | - Mitsutoshi Kitao
- Hokkaido Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI), Sapporo, 062-8516 Japan
| | - Xiaona Wang
- Division of Environment and Resources Research, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8589 Japan
- College of Landscape Architecture and Tourism, Hebei Agricultural University, No. 2596 Lekai South Street, Lianchi District, Baoding, 071000 People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiaozhi Mao
- Division of Environment and Resources Research, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8589 Japan
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400700 People’s Republic of China
| | - Hisanori Harayama
- Ecophysiology Laboratory, Department of Plant Ecology, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI), Matsunosato-1, Tsukuba, 305-8687 Japan
| | - William J. Manning
- Department of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences, University of Massachusetts, 80 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA 01003 USA
| | - Takayoshi Koike
- Division of Environment and Resources Research, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8589 Japan
- Shenzhen Graduate School of Environment and Energy, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055 People’s Republic of China
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Science, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100085 People’s Republic of China
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Agathokleous E, Saitanis CJ. Plant susceptibility to ozone: A tower of Babel? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 703:134962. [PMID: 31734499 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In a world with climate change and environmental pollution, modern Biology is concerned with organismic susceptibility. At the same time, policy and decision makers seek information about organismic susceptibility. Therefore, information about organismic susceptibility may have far-reaching implications to the entire biosphere that can extend to several forthcoming generations. Here, we review a sample of approximately 200 published peer-reviewed articles dealing with plant response to ground-level ozone to understand how the information about susceptibility is communicated. A fuzzy and often incorrect terminology was used to describe the responsiveness of plants to ozone. Susceptibility was classified too arbitrarily and this was reflected to the approximately 50 descriptive words that were used to characterize susceptibility. The classification of susceptibility was commonly based on calculated probability (p) value. This practice is inappropriate as p values do not provide any basis for effect or susceptibility magnitude. To bridge the gap between science and policy decision making, classification of susceptibility should be done using alternative approaches, such as effect size estimates in conjunction with multivariate ordination statistics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenios Agathokleous
- Institute of Ecology, Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210044, China.
| | - Costas J Saitanis
- Lab of Ecology and Environmental Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens 11855, Greece
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10
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Xu S, He X, Burkey K, Chen W, Li P, Li Y, Li B, Wang Y. Ethylenediurea (EDU) pretreatment alleviated the adverse effects of elevated O 3 on Populus alba "Berolinensis" in an urban area. J Environ Sci (China) 2019; 84:42-50. [PMID: 31284915 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2019.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Ethylenediurea (EDU) has been used as a chemical protectant against ozone (O3). However, its protective effect and physiological mechanisms are still uncertain. The present study aimed to investigate the changes of foliar visible injury, physiological characteristics and emission rates of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in one-year-old Populus alba "Berolinensis" saplings pretreated with EDU and exposed to elevated O3 (EO, 120 μg/m3). The results showed that foliar visible injury symptoms under EO were significantly alleviated in plants with EDU application (p < 0.05). Under EO, net photosynthetic rate, the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII and the photochemical efficiency of PSII of plants pretreated with 300 and 600 mg/L EDU were similar to unexposed controls and significantly higher compared to EO-stressed plants without EDU pretreatment, respectively. Malondialdehyde content was highest in EO without EDU and decreased significantly by 14.9% and 21.3% with 300 and 600 mg/L EDU pretreatment, respectively. EDU pretreatment alone increased superoxide dismutase activity by 10-fold in unexposed plants with further increases of 88.4% and 37.5% in EO plants pretreated with 300 and 600 mg/L EDU pretreatment, respectively (p < 0.05). Abscisic acid content declined under EO relative to unexposed controls with the effect partially reversed by EDU pretreatments. Similarly, VOCs emission rate declined under EO relative to unexposed plants with a recovery of emission rate observed with 300 and 600 mg/L EDU pretreatment. These findings provided significant evidence that EDU exerted a beneficial effect and protection on the tested plants against O3 stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Xu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Xingyuan He
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.
| | - Kent Burkey
- Plant Science Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Raleigh, NC 27616, USA
| | - Wei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Pin Li
- Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yan Li
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Bo Li
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Yijing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
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Agathokleous E, Kitao M, Calabrese EJ. Hormesis: A Compelling Platform for Sophisticated Plant Science. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 24:318-327. [PMID: 30755365 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2019.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The field of dose-response has received attention from the early modern period in the history of science. While it was thought that linear dose-response is the rule of thumb, significant efforts revealed that biphasic dose-response commonly occurs when the experimental design permits its detection. This phenomenon is called hormesis and suggests that a basal stress level is needed for optimum health. Extensive evidence has accumulated showing the occurrence of hormesis in numerous plant species and the induction of adaptive responses by low stress doses that precondition plants for a following massive environmental challenge. However, the ecological consequences of low-level stress remain underexplored. In this Opinion article, we propose that hormesis can provide a compelling platform for sophisticated, next-generation plant science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenios Agathokleous
- Institute of Ecology, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China; Hokkaido Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI), Forest Research and Management Organization, Sapporo, Hokkaido 062-8516, Japan.
| | - Mitsutoshi Kitao
- Hokkaido Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI), Forest Research and Management Organization, Sapporo, Hokkaido 062-8516, Japan
| | - Edward J Calabrese
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Morrill I, N344, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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12
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Fatima A, Singh AA, Mukherjee A, Dolker T, Agrawal M, Agrawal SB. Assessment of Ozone Sensitivity in Three Wheat Cultivars Using Ethylenediurea. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 8:E80. [PMID: 30934911 PMCID: PMC6524027 DOI: 10.3390/plants8040080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 03/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars [HD 2987 (ozone (O₃) sensitive), PBW 502 (intermediately sensitive) and Kharchiya 65 (O₃ tolerant)] with known sensitivity to O₃ were re-evaluated using ethylenediurea (EDU; 400 ppm) to ascertain the use of EDU in determiningO₃ sensitivity under highly O₃-polluted tropical environments. EDU treatment helped in improving the growth, biomass, photosynthetic pigments and the antioxidative defense system of all the wheat cultivars. Under EDU treatment, PBW 502 retained more biomass, while HD 2987 showed better performance and ultimately the greatest increment in yield. Cultivar Kharchiya 65 also showed a positive response to EDU as manifested with an increase in pigment contents, total biomass and enzymatic antioxidants; however, this increment was comparatively lower compared to the other two cultivars. The results indicated that EDU did not have many physiological effects on cultivars but helped in counteracting O₃ primarily by scavenging reactive oxygen species and enhancing the antioxidative defense system where superoxide dismutase emerged as the major responsive biochemical parameter against ambient O₃. The observed results clearly indicated that differential O₃ sensitivity in three wheat cultivars established by the previous study is in accordance with the present study using EDU as a sensitivity tool, which is an easy and efficient technology in comparison to chamber and Free-Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment (FACE) experiments although its mechanistic understanding needs to be further validated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeeb Fatima
- Laboratory of Air Pollution and Global Climate Change, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
| | - Aditya Abha Singh
- Laboratory of Air Pollution and Global Climate Change, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi, South Campus, Delhi 110021, India.
| | - Arideep Mukherjee
- Laboratory of Air Pollution and Global Climate Change, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
| | - Tsetan Dolker
- Laboratory of Air Pollution and Global Climate Change, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
| | - Madhoolika Agrawal
- Laboratory of Air Pollution and Global Climate Change, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
| | - Shashi Bhushan Agrawal
- Laboratory of Air Pollution and Global Climate Change, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
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13
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High Variation in Resource Allocation Strategies among 11 Indian Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Cultivars Growing in High Ozone Environment. CLIMATE 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/cli7020023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Eleven local cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum) were chosen to study the effect of ambient ozone (O3) concentration in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of India at two high-ozone experimental sites by using 300 ppm of Ethylenediurea (EDU) as a chemical protectant against O3. The O3 level was more than double the critical threshold reported for wheat grain production (AOT40 8.66 ppm h). EDU-grown plants had higher grain yield, biomass, stomatal conductance and photosynthesis, less lipid peroxidation, changes in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, changes in content of oxidized and reduced glutathione compared to non-EDU plants, thus indicating the severity of O3 induced productivity loss. Based on the yield at two different growing sites, the cultivars could be addressed in four response groups: (a) generally well-adapted cultivars (above-average yield); (b) poorly-adapted (below-average yield); (c) adapted to low-yield environment (below-average yield); and (d) sensitive cultivars (adapted to high-yield environment). EDU responses were dependent on the cultivar, the developmental phase (vegetative, flowering and harvest) and the experimental site.
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14
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Feng Z, Jiang L, Calatayud V, Dai L, Paoletti E. Intraspecific variation in sensitivity of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to ambient ozone in northern China as assessed by ethylenediurea (EDU). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:29208-29218. [PMID: 30117025 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2782-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Wheat is a major staple food and its sensitivity to the gas pollutant ozone (O3) depends on the cultivar. However, few chamber-less studies assessed current ambient O3 effects on a large number of wheat cultivars. In this study, we used ethylenediurea (EDU), an O3 protectant whose protection mechanisms are still unclear, to test photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange, antioxidants, and yield of 15 cultivars exposed to 17.4 ppm h AOT40 (accumulated O3 over an hourly concentration threshold of 40 ppb) over the growing season at Beijing suburb, China. EDU significantly increased light-saturated photosynthesis rate (Asat), photosynthetic pigments (i.e., chlorophyll and carotenoid), and total antioxidant capacity, while reduced malondialdehyde and reduced ascorbate contents. In comparison with EDU-treated plants (control), plants treated with water (no protection from ambient O3) significantly decreased yield, weight of 1000 grains, and harvest index by 20.3%, 15.1%, and 14.2%, respectively, across all cultivars. There was a significant interaction between EDU and cultivars in all tested variables with exception of Asat, chlorophyll, and carotenoid. The cultivar-specific sensitivity to O3 was ranked from highly sensitive (> 25% change) to less sensitive (< 10% change) by comparing the difference of the average grain yield of plants applied with and without EDU. Neither stomatal conductance nor antioxidant capacity contributed to the different response of the cultivars to EDU, suggesting that another mechanism contributes to the large variation in response to O3 among cultivars. Generally, the results indicate that present O3 concentration is threatening wheat production in Northern China, highlighting the urgent need for policy-making actions to protect this critical staple food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaozhong Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing Road 18, Haidian District, Beijing, 100085, China.
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, Italy.
| | - Lijun Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing Road 18, Haidian District, Beijing, 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Vicent Calatayud
- Fundación CEAM, c/Charles R. Darwin 14, Parque Tecnológico, 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Lulu Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing Road 18, Haidian District, Beijing, 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Elena Paoletti
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing Road 18, Haidian District, Beijing, 100085, China
- National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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15
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Chen YJ, Wen MX, Sui JX, Yan YQ, Yuan W, Hong L, Zhang L. Ameliorating Effects of Leaf Water Extract of Three Aromatic Plant Species on Ozone-Polluted Snap Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. 'Jiangjunyoudou'). BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2018; 100:849-855. [PMID: 29572555 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-018-2331-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Ozone (O3) is one of the major pollutants in near-surface air. In order to protect sensitive plants from O3 pollution, many kinds of protectants including synthetic ones, were assessed in previous studies. Although they have certain protective effects, some of them are not environment-friendly. In the present study, leaf water extracts of aromatic plants [Plectranthus hadiensis var. tomentosus (PHT), Pelargonium hortorum (PHB), Tagetes patula (TP)] were compared for mitigating the damages caused by O3 (150 ppb for 3 days, 8 h day-1) on snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Jiangjunyoudou'). Our results showed that O3 fumigation impaired plasma membrane, decreased chlorophyll content, increased contents of malondialdehyde and superoxide anion, inhibited photosynthesis, and caused visible injury. Leaf water extracts of PHT, PHB or TP ameliorated the negative effects of O3. Among them, extract of PHT showed the greatest potential to alleviate the O3-caused injury, followed by PHB and TP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y J Chen
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Changjiang Road 600, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - M X Wen
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Changjiang Road 600, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - J X Sui
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Changjiang Road 600, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Y Q Yan
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Changjiang Road 600, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - W Yuan
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Changjiang Road 600, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - L Hong
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Changjiang Road 600, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - L Zhang
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Changjiang Road 600, Harbin, 150030, China.
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16
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Effects of the Antiozonant Ethylenediurea (EDU) on Fraxinus ornus L.: The Role of Drought. FORESTS 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/f8090320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Ethylenediurea (EDU) is a synthetic chemical known to protect plants from the phytotoxic effects of tropospheric ozone (O3). Although many studies have proposed the use of EDU for studying the O3 effects under field conditions, its mechanism of action is not fully understood, and it is unclear whether it exerts a specific antiozonant action, or if it may also interact with other oxidative stresses. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of EDU on forest species in a Mediterranean environment where, during summer, vegetation is exposed to multiple oxidative stresses, such as O3 and drought. The experiment was conducted on Fraxinus ornus L. (Manna ash) plants growing in six mesocosms, three maintained under full irrigation, while the other three were subjected to drought for 84 days. In each mesocosm, three plants were sprayed every 15 days with 450 ppm EDU. Gas exchange and chlorophyll “a” fluorescence measurements carried out through the experimental period highlighted that EDU did not affect stomatal conductance and had an ameliorative effect on the functionality of drought-stressed plants, thus suggesting that it may act as a generic antioxidant. The implications of these findings for the applicability of EDU in field studies are discussed.
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