An investigation of ozone uptake by plants and antioxidant effect of plant isoprenoids
Author(s)
Fares, Silvano
Date Issued
April 23, 2008
Type
Doctoral Thesis
Abstract
Ozone is a pollutant and oxidant molecule for humans and plants in the atmosphere, present in the range of parts per billion (ppb). Plant ecosystems represent a sink for ozone, although the mechanisms of removal and the damages are still unclear. The aims of this PhD study were a) to investigate the capacity of plants to remove atmospheric ozone, b) to partition between stomatal and non-stomatal components of the ozone flux c) to determine if BVOC (Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds) emitted by the plant can scavenge ozone, in turn detoxifying the plant. The approach of the study was the use of cuvette systems, namely enclosures. Different of these enclosures were used, containing portions of leaves, entire leaves or the all plants. The uptake of ozone (ozone removed by the plant) was calculated considering the difference in ozone concentration between the inlet and the outlet of the enclosure. The work is articulated in a general introduction on ozone effects on plants and BVOC emission, including the state of the arts on these topics. Following are presented 4 cases of study, each one focussing the attention on different aspects of the plant-ozone-BVOC interactions. Results showed that the main responsible for ozone uptake are stomata, and BVOC emitted by the plants (isoprene and monoterpenes) increase the detoxification and the ozone uptake, thus suggesting that the notion that ozone damage is proportional to ozone uptake is not always correct.
Additional information
Dottorato di ricerca in Ecologia forestale
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Name
sfares_tesid.pdf
Size
2.81 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
34e9af6c20ebeecdc382f44a6771961b