Monitoring, Detecting, and Effects of Air Pollutants on Horticultural Crops: Sensitivity of Genera and Species

Abstract

Abstract Air pollutants influence the growth, yield and quality of many horticultural crops. It is difficult to determine and evaluate the impact of air pollution on the horticulture industry for the following reasons: The variable environments in which horticultural crops are grown markedly influence the amount of foliar injury caused by air pollutants. The large number of cultivars within horticultural crop species contribute to the magnitude of understanding necessary to evaluate pollutant effects. Genetic, morphological and physiological differences among species and cultivars within species also influence foliar injury and plant sensitivity. The amount of economic loss in horticultural crops due to air pollutants varies from year to year. This variation is probably most directly related to daily and seasonal variations in ambient concentrations of air pollutants. Horticultural crops may be subjected to high pollutant concentrations at different stages of plant maturity. These different stages of growth and development may be differentially affected by pollutant concentration and thus influence yield. Past estimates of crop yield losses have been based primarily on assessment of visual injury. Presently, there is a lack of suitable methodology to assess air pollution impacts under field conditions. Open-top chambers (40, 60) are an improvement but better techniques are needed. Finally, air pollution research is published in a variety of scientific journals and some of these references may not come to the attention of horticultural scientists.