Interactions of simulated rain solutions and leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris L

• Published in: Environmental and experimental botany Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 31 - 40
• Main Authors: Evans, Lance S., Santucci, Karen A., Patti, Mitchell J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.01.1985; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: acid deposition; Agrochemicals products; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; chlorides; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; leaves; nickel; Other agrochemicals used in plant protection (herbicides, fungicides, etc.); Phaseolus; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Pollution effects and side effects of agrochemicals on crop plants and forest trees. Other anthropogenic factors; Pollution effects. Side effects of agrochemicals; Terrestrial environment, soil, air; zinc; Leguminosae; Phaseolus vulgaris; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Acid rain; Air pollution; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0098-8472; 1873-7307
• DOI: 10.1016/0098-8472(85)90046-2

Experiments were performed to determine interactions of simulated rain and plant foliage. Relative rates of element penetration, leaching, and cell permeability of first trifoliate leaves of Phaseoulus vulgaris L. were examined after exposure to simulated acidic rain. In buffer solutions, 63Ni, 65Zn, and 36Cl penetrated leaves faster at lower pH levels (2.7–3.0) than at pH 5.7. In general, penetration increased as time of exposure increased. 65Zn was incorporated into foliage more rapidly than the other two isotopes used. Foliar leaching of Ni was greater at pH 5.7 than at low pH while the opposite situation occurred with 36Cl. 65Zn leached similarly at all pH levels tested. Leaf cell permeabilities of 63Ni and 36Cl were greater after exposure to low pH rainfalls than at pH 5.7. Rainfall acidity had no effect on cell permeability of 65Zn. pH measurements were made of 50 μl simulated rainfall droplets as drying/absorption occurred. Droplet pH increased from an initial pH of 5.7 and 4.1 to pH 6.1 and 4.2, respectively. However, at initial pH levels of 3.1 and 2.7 the pH near the end of the drying/absorption period was 2.0 and 1.4, respectively. At the present time there are no data documenting that constituents in ambient rainfalls either benefit plants or nutrient removal by leaching would limit plant productivity. For P. vulgaris, each ion studied had its own response to simulated acidic rain.