Does elevated ozone have differing effects in flowering and deblossomed strawberry?

Abstract

Fruiting and deblossomed plants of strawberry (Fragariaiananassa) were exposed to 92 ppb ozone or filtered air in open-top chambers for 69 d. Flower and fruit production, relative growth rate of leaf area, leaf gas exchange and plant biomass were investigated. Ozone caused an initial acceleration in inflorescence production, which was followed by a reduction in inflorescence production, fruit set, and, later, individual fruit weight, although total fruit yield was not affected before the end of the fumigation period. Ozone accelerated leaf senescence and had a greater negative effect on the rate of photosynthesis in older than in younger leaves in fruiting and deblossomed plants, but the response of net photosynthesis to ozone did not differ between the two groups of plants. Relative growth rate of leaf area was the first parameter to be reduced by ozone fumigation, with the effect being significant in fruiting, but not in deblossomed, plants. Final above-ground biomass was also significantly decreased by ozone in fruiting plants, but not in deblossomed plants. Root and crown biomass were not significantly affected by ozone fumigation in either fruiting or deblossomed plants.

Ozone Sensitivity Differences in Five Tomato Cultivars: Visible Injury and Effects on Biomass and Fruits

“…These plant responses have been reported by other authors for different crops (Olszyk and Wise 1997;Hacour et al 2002;Pell et al 1988;Sanz et al 2002). On the other hand, at the beginning of the experiment, ozone stress resulted in biomass allocation changes that were detrimental to the root but benefited the development of the shoot and reproductive structures such as flowers (De Temmerman et al 2007;Drogoudi and Ashmore 2000). This alteration in biomass allocation agrees with the general opinion that ozone concentrations influence the carbon partitioning between shoot and root in plants.…”

“…This decrease in the number of unripe fruits has been obtained in other crops such as the strawberry (Drogoudi and Ashmore 2000). It can usually be induced when severe biomass reductions are coupled with increased photosynthate retention in leaves; this significantly reduces the flow of both phothosynthates and remobilized substances to developing fruits and contributes to yield reductions (Andersen 2003).…”

Effect of the extreme summer heat waves on isolated populations of two orophitic plants in the north Apennines (Italy)

“…Indeed, despite the fact that warmer soil temperatures enhance plant performance (by increasing nutrient cycling), a reduction in soil moisture may reduce such positive effects (Ambebe and Dang 2010). Again, the unusually high recorded ozone concentration during the HW of 2003 (Cristofanelli et al 2007) probably had a further negative effect on species reproduction, because high atmospheric concentration of this gas is known to induce physiological damages, decreasing photosynthetic activity, senescence, reduction of dry matter production and detrimental effects on flowering (Drogoudi and Ashmore 2000, Gerosa et al 2009). It is therefore reasonable to assume that, regardless of the reason, our plants likely experienced a period of stress during the growing season of 2003, which in turn affected their flowering performance.…”

14C‐allocation of flowering and deblossomed strawberry in response to elevated ozone

“…In an earlier paper, we showed that there are changes in the effect of O 3 on partitioning priorities during the growth cycle of strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa ) due to reproductive development and to the cumulative effects of O 3 (Drogoudi & Ashmore, 2000). There was an acceleration in the inflorescence production at the beginning of the fumigation period that occurred before, or simultaneously with, a reduction in the relative growth rate of leaf area.…”

“…The effect of O 3 on carbon allocation parameters in deblossomed strawberry was also reported in our earlier paper; removal of the fruit reduced the effect of O 3 on the relative growth rate of leaf area and final biomass, but not on net photosynthetic rate (Drogoudi & Ashmore, 2000). Therefore, the study of carbon allocation reported in the current paper also considered differences between fruiting and deblossomed plants, as well as whether the effect of ozone on carbon allocation is dependent on leaf age.…”