Suppression of Plant Growth by Nitrogen Dioxide

Abstract

Summary. Nicotiana glutinlosa aiid pinto lbean seedlinlgs (Pliaseoluis v/lgaris) were exposed for short periods (3 days or less) to high concenitratioins of NO, mllg/nii3 to compare the resultinig leaf lesions with ozone damiiage prodtuced at conicentratiolns of 0.43 to 0.86 ng/iM3. Althoutgh the saimie physiological age leaf tissue was daniiaged by both toxicanits, damage cauise( Ny . was unlike that caused by Ozone. P)into bean (P/iascoli/s zvul/gris) aind Pearsoni improved tomato (L!vcopersiwoii esclIlentuhm) seedlinigs \sere conitinuotusly exposed for 10 to 22 days, to low concentrations of NO2 (less thanl 1.03 mg/rn3). rhese eXpOsures Cauised signlificant gro\wth suppression. increase in green color (total chlorophyll coltentit), anld distortioii of leaves.\itrooen oxi(les are emiiitted to the atmlosphere in large quantity froml the many combustion sources in our nmechatnized societv. The estimated daily emis-.Sion for Los A.ngeles in 1963 was 660 toIns of which ap)l)roximately 60 % was fronm vehicular sources (1).Maximlumii meastured concenitrations exceeded 3.0 ppm (6.16 mg/nm3) at times and reached a peak of 3.93 ppm (8.0/7 mg/ni3) NO,, but generally conicenitrations were well below 0.5 ppmi (1.027 mIg/ni3) with the highlest levels occurring (luring the night (2). The involvemiienit of NO., in )hotochemical reactioins in the atino.phere was responsible for reductioll in conlcentration dluriing daylight hours. Because of this reaction Thomas (9) stated that it was unlikelv that atmosph)lleric concentrations of nitrogen )xi(les will ever accumu11l]ate to a le\-el that w,Till cau.se significant plaint damage. Benedict and( BIreen (4)

NITROGEN OXIDES PRODUCED DURING CO2 ENRICHMENT

“…The decrease in dry weight was due to reduced plant height and leaf area (Table 3). Tomato plants have been found to be sensitive to NO^ levels as low as 0-25 fiX 1-1 (Taylor & Eaton, 1966;Spierings, 1971;Capron & Mansfield, 1977). Little is known about the effects of NO^ on other greenhouse plants (Hand, 1982).…”

“…Little is known about the effects of NO^ on other greenhouse plants (Hand, 1982). In other species, such as beans (Middelton, Darby & Brewer, 1958, Taylor & Eaton, 1966, oats and alfalfa (Hill & Bennett, 1970), and peas (Bull & Mansfield, 1974), a concentration of 0*1 to 0-6 fil \~^ NO^ caused a reduction of photosynthesis.…”

Influence of fumigations with NO2 on growth and yield of tomato plants

“…Taylor (1968) reports that concentrations of 1-2 ppm in the atmosphere are often measured in California during certain periods. Taylor and Eaton (1966) had earlier investigated the toxic influence of NO2 on plants. They found that a continuous exposure during 10-22 days to low concentrations of NO2 (0.15-0.21 ppm) caused growth depression, intensification of the green colour and distortion of leaves of tomato plants.…”

Nitrite–dependent nitric oxide production pathway: implications for involvement of active nitrogen species in photoinhibitionin vivo

“…There has therefore been controversy as to whether NOx at atmospheric concentrations is phytotoxic (Wellburn 1990). Taylor & Eaton (1966) reported that long exposure to a low concentration of NO 2 suppressed the growth of bean and tomato seedlings. Hill & Bennett (1970) found that NO inhibited net photosynthetic activity of intact leaves of oats (Avena sativa L. var.…”