Response of tropical trees to elevated Ozone: a Free Air Ozone Enrichment study

Abstract

Tropospheric ozone (O₃) has become one of the main urban air pollutants. In the present study, we assessed impact of ambient and future ground-level O₃ on nine commonly growing urban tree species under Free Air Ozone Enrichment (FAOE) condition. During the study period, mean ambient and elevated ozone (EO₃) concentrations were 48.59 and 69.62 ppb, respectively. Under EO₃ treatment, stomatal density (SD) significantly decreased and guard cell length (GCL) increased in Azadirachta indica, Bougainvillea spectabilis, Plumeria rubra, Saraca asoca and Tabernaemontana divaricata, while SD increased and GCL decreased in Ficus benghalensis and Terminalia arjuna. Proline levels increased in all the nine plant species under EO₃ condition. EO₃ significantly reduced photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration rates (E). Only A. indica and N. indicum showed higher gs and E under EO₃ treatment. Water use efficiency (WUE) significantly increased in F. benghalensis and decreased in A. indica and T. divaricata. Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) significantly increased in Ficus religiosa and S. asoca whereas it decreased in B. spectabilis and A. indica. Of all the plant species B. spectabilis and A. indica were the most sensitive to EO₃ (high g_s and less ascorbic acid content) while S. asoca and F. religiosa were the most tolerant (lowg_s and more ascorbic acid content). The sensitivity of urban tree species to EO₃ is a cause of concern and should be considered for future urban forestry programmes. Our study should guide more such studies to identify tolerant trees for urban air pollution abatement.

Keywords: APTI; Ozone; Photosynthesis; Stomata; Urban trees.