Biochemical Markers of Contact with the Organic Pollutants of Urban Atmosphere in the Leaves of Woody Plants

Natalya Tsybulya,Lyudmila Chindyaeva ,Galina G Dultseva

doi:10.1051/bioconf/20202400089

Abstract

Changes caused by contact with typical organic pollutants of urban atmosphere (formaldehyde, benzaldehyde, hydroperoxides) in the chemical composition of the leaves and shoots of woody plants are investigated. A decrease in quinic acid content and an increase in shikimic acid content were detected in the young shoots of Picea obovata Ledeb. and Picea pungens Engelm.. Investigation of changes in the chemical composition of shoots in contact with pollutants under laboratory conditions revealed that the contact with formaldehyde and hydroperoxide affects the biochemical cycle of quinic acid. High concentration of gaseous formaldehyde was found to cause an increase in the content of lactic acid in the leaves of Padus maackii (Rupr.) Kom.. In the leaves of Tilia cordata Mill. and Syringa josikaea Jacq. fil., high formaldehyde concentration caused a decrease in glycolic acid content and an increase in oxalic acid content, while after the contact with gaseous benzaldehyde this compound was detected in the leaves in rather high concentration, Analysis of the ligneous parts of plants from the territories with heavy air pollution revealed increased content of syringaldehyde, which may be a consequence of the oxidative degradation of lignin under the action of atmospheric pollutants.

Highlights

In large cities and around them, plants and adjacent forests are affected by air masses containing technogenous pollutants in high concentrations
It is known that the transformation of quinic acid into shikimic acid in plants proceeds through a reversible equilibrium with 3-dehydroquinic acid, but the attempts to reveal its presence in the plants from A type sites failed, though this compound was clearly detected in the plants from the sites of B type
This result allows us to assume that the observed decrease in the concentration of quinic acid in the needles of plants from the sites with substantial air pollution may be a sign of long-term action of both formaldehyde and hydroperoxides, which are the products of its atmospheric transformation

Summary

Introduction

In large cities and around them, plants and adjacent forests are affected by air masses containing technogenous pollutants in high concentrations. The organic components of technogenous emissions are especially dangerous for all living organisms because they form the compounds with extremely high oxidative capacity under the action of sunlight. These oxidants are able to destroy the tissues of living organisms [2]. The goal of our work was to reveal primary biochemical markers, that is, the substances formed in the leaves of woody plants in contact with the organic pollutants in urban atmosphere, for the purpose of evaluating the capacity of species planted in cities to improve the quality of the environment. The objects of investigation were woody species planted in the Novosibirsk Scientific Center: Padus maackii (Rupr.) Kom., Tilia cordata Mill., Picea obovata Ledeb., Picea pungens Engelm., Juniperus sabina L., Syringa josikaea Jacq. fil

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