Korean flowering cherry (Prunus × yedoensis Matsum.) response to elevated ozone: physiological traits and biogenic volatile organic compounds emission

• Published in: Horticulture, environment and biotechnology Vol. 65; no. 6; pp. 1025 - 1042
• Main Authors: Lim, Yea Ji, Kwak, Myeong Ja, Lee, Jongkyu, Kang, Dawon, Je, Sun Mi, Woo, Su Young
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Nature Singapore 01.12.2024; 한국원예학회
• Subjects: absorption; Agriculture; air pollutants; antioxidant activity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; carbon dioxide fixation; cell walls; cherries; chlorophyll; electron microscopy; gas exchange; grana; leaves; Life Sciences; lipid peroxidation; mesophyll; ozone; photosynthesis; phytotoxicity; Plant Breeding/Biotechnology; Plant Ecology; Plant Physiology; Prunus; Research Report; solutes; stomatal conductance; ultrastructure; volatile organic compounds; 농학; Reactive oxygen species; Green infrastructure; Antioxidant defense systems; Korean flowering cherry; Isoprene emissions; tolerance; O
• ISSN: 2211-3452; 2211-3460
• DOI: 10.1007/s13580-024-00628-0

Ozone (O 3 ) absorption through leaf stomata disrupts plant physiological processes, prompting various defense mechanisms to mitigate O 3 -induced harm. This study measured parameters including cell structure, gas exchange, carbon assimilation, lipid peroxidation, and biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emissions to evaluate the physiological impact of Prunus × yedoensis under elevated ozone (E-O 3 ) exposure. The seedlings exhibited a slight stimulatory effect during the early phases of E–O 3 exposure; however, E–O 3 beyond a specific threshold significantly and negatively affected photosynthetic parameters, pigment content, and potential antioxidant capacity, and E–O 3 was significantly correlated with the BVOCs emission rate. After three weeks of E–O 3 exposure, no significant differences were observed in leaf stomatal appearance in the field emission scanning electron microscopy results, but according to the results of leaf mesophyll cell ultrastructure, grana degradation, membrane decomposition, cell wall thickening, wart–like protrusion formation, and increased plastoglobulus density within the chloroplasts were observed. Chlorophyll content significantly decreased by 38.71%, and solute leakage increased by 20.57% in the E–O 3 group. The net photosynthetic rate was almost two times lower with E–O 3 . In contrast, there were no significant differences in stomatal conductance. In conclusion, E–O 3 can induce a hormetic stimulatory effect during the early exposure phase. However, when the critical threshold is exceeded, O 3 adversely affects the physiology of P. × yedoensis seedlings. Therefore, E–O 3 is a harmful air pollutant that hinders the growth of woody plants, and urban trees require the continuous management of O 3 phytotoxicity.