Anthocyanins and tannins in ozone-fumigated guava trees

Chemosphere. 2009 Sep;76(10):1445-50. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.05.028. Epub 2009 Jun 17.

Abstract

Psidium guajava "Paluma", a tropical tree species, is known to be an efficient ozone indicator in tropical countries. When exposed to ozone, this species displays a characteristic leaf injury identified by inter-veinal red stippling on adaxial leaf surfaces. Following 30 days of three ozone treatments consisting of carbon filtered air (CF - AOT40=17 ppb h), ambient non-filtered air (NF - AOT40=542 ppb h) and ambient non-filtered air+40 ppb ozone (NF+O(3) - AOT40=7802 ppb h), the amounts of residual anthocyanins and tannins present in 10 P. guajava ("Paluma") saplings were quantified. Higher amounts of anthocyanins were found in the NF+O(3) treatment (1.6%) when compared to the CF (0.97%) and NF (1.30%) (p<0.05), and of total tannins in the NF+O(3) treatment (0.16%) compared to the CF (0.14%). Condensed tannins showed the same tendency as enhanced amounts. Regression analyses using amounts of tannins and anthocyanins, AOT40 and the leaf injury index (LII), showed a correlation between the leaf injury index and quantities of anthocyanins and total tannins. These results are in accordance with the association between the incidence of red-stippled leaves and ozone polluted environments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / toxicity*
  • Anthocyanins / analysis*
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Ozone / toxicity*
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Psidium / metabolism*
  • Regression Analysis
  • Tannins / analysis*

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Anthocyanins
  • Tannins
  • Ozone