Response of yellow poplar (Liriodendrontulipifera L.) seedling shoot growth to low concentrations of O3, SO2, and NO2

Abstract

Six-week-old yellow poplar (Liriodendrontulipifera L.) seedlings from one half-sib family were exposed to various combinations of 0.07 ppm O3, 0.06 ppm SO2, and 0.10 ppm NO2 6 h daily for 35 consecutive days. Ozone and SO2 alone did not suppress total shoot elongation compared with control seedlings after the 5-week fumigation period, whereas the combinations of O3 + SO2, SO2 + NO2, or O3 + SO2 + NO2 significantly reduced total shoot height 51, 64, and 51%, respectively. Of the pollutant combinations, SO2 + NO2 most severely inhibited the rate of height growth with this effect initially occurring after only 2 weeks of fumigation. The dry weight of seedlings exposed to O3 + SO2, SO2 + NO2, or O3 + SO2 + NO2 were significantly less than plants exposed to no pollutants, O3, or SO2. Total shoot height growth was highly correlated with seedling dry weight (r = 0.97)