Effects of acids on forest trees as measured by titration in vitro, inheritance of buffering capacity in Picea abies

Abstract

The effect of acid precipitation on vegetation is the result of an interaction between acid and plant. The metabolism of plants is dependent on optimal pH-values, which are maintained by regulation. There are differences in the effectiveness of regulation under such exogenous influences as acidic precipitation. These differences can be related to the resistance of plants to acidic precipitation. Such differences were measured as buffering capacity of homogenized leaves during titration with acid. There are significant differences in buffering capacity between clones in Pinus spp. and Picea abies. A highly significant variance in buffering capacity also was found among families of P. abies. Calculations of genetical parameters show that the phenotypical variance of buffering capacity is governed mainly by genetical factors.