Growth, Net Photosynthetic Rate, Nutrient Status and Secondary Xylem Anatomical Characteristics of Fagus Crenata Seedlings Grown in Brown Forest Soil Acidified with H2SO4 Solution

Dry matter production, net photosynthetic rate, leaf nutrient status and trunk anatomical characteristics of Fagus crenata seedlings grown in brown forest soil acidified by adding H₂SO₄ solution were investigated. The soil acidification leaded to decreased (Ca+Mg+K)/Al molar ratio in the soil solution. Dry mass per plant of the seedlings grown in the soil treated with H⁺ at 120 mg·L^?1 was significantly reduced compared with the control value at 0 mg·L^?1. When net photosynthetic rate was reduced in the seedlings grown in the soil treated with H⁺ at 120 mg·L^?1, the carboxylation efficiency and maximum net photosynthetic rate at saturated CO₂-concentration were lower than the control values. The addition of H⁺ to the soil at 120 mg·L^?1iinduced a reduction in the concentration of Ca in the leaf. By contrast, the concentration of Al in the leaf was increased with increasing the amount of H⁺ added to the soil. The annual ring formed in the seedlings grown in the soil treated with H⁺ at 120 mg·L^?1 was significantly narrower than that at 0 (control), 10, 30, 60 or 90 mg·L^?1. Based on the results obtained in the present study, we conclude that Fagus crenata is relatively sensitive to a reduction in the (Ca+Mg+K)/Al molar ratio of soil solution compared with Picea abies.     

Phenological Disorder Induced by Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition: Original Causes of Pine Forest Decline over Japan. Part I. Phenological Disorder,Cold Death of Apical Shoots of Red Pine Subjected to Combined Exposures of Simulated Acid Rain and Soil Acidification,and Implications for Forest Decline

Seeds of red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. and Zucc.) were sown in red-yellow soil artificially adjusted to pH (H₂O) 4.10, 4.60 or 5.90 by adding H₂SO₄ solution to the soil (pH 5.90), and the three-month seedlings were exposed to simulated acid rain at pH 2.0, 3.0 or 5.6 for 10 minutes once, 3 times a week, for 12 months from 4 August 1994 to 3 August 1995 alone or in combination. Significant interactive effects between acid rain and soil acidification on growth and whole-plant net photosynthetic rate, and cold death ratio of new apical shoots following a cold snap were observed in a quadratic response pattern. The simulated acid rain increased budburst, new needle spread and elongation, and new apical shoot death percentage following a cold snap, but did not induce visible injury. In the highest soil acidity treatment at a soil pH 4.1, whole-plant net photosynthetic rate and seedling height exhibited a quadratic responses with increasing rain acidities. On the other hand, soil acidification caused leaf yellowing. The death percentage of new apical shoot of seedlings exposed to rain pH 2.0 following a cold snap was linearly enlarged with increasing soil acidities. With increasing soil acidity, height and whole-plant net photosynthesis of the seedlings exposed to rain pH 3.0 exhibited a linear increase response, while height of seedlings exposed to control rain exhibited a quadratic response. It is suggested that the results provide experimental evidency for phenological disturbances and an enhancement of frost risk by direct acid rain and indirect longterm soil acidification which may be significant in forest decline.     

Effects of Ozone and/or Soil Water Stress on Growth and Photosynthesis of Fagaus Crenata Seedlings

The effects of ozone (O₃) and soil water stress, singly and in combination, on the growth and photosynthesis of Fagus crenata seedlings were investigated. Four-year-old seedlings were exposed to charcoal-filtered air (< 5 nmol mol^?1 O₃) or 60 nmol mol^?1 O₃, 7 hours per day (11:00–18:00), for 156 days from 10 May to 11 October 1999 in naturally-lit growth chambers at 20/15 °C (6:00–18:00/18:00–6:00). During the same period, half of the seedlings in each gas treatment received 250 mL of water at the 3-day intervals (well-watered treatment), while the rest received 175 mL of water at the 3-day intervals (water-stressed treatment). The exposure of the seedlings to O₃ caused reductions in the leaf, stem, root and whole-plant dry weights. The net photosynthetic rate at 350 µmol mol^?1 CO₂, the maximum net photosynthetic rate at saturated CO₂-concentration, carboxylation efficiency of photosynthesis and Rubisco content were significantly reduced by the exposure to O₃. The soil water stress induced reductions in the stem, bud and whole-plant dry weights, transpiration rate and leaf water potential during the midday. The additive effects of O₃ and soil water stress were observed on the dry matter production, leaf gas exchange rates and leaf water potential. As a result, the whole-plant dry weight of the seedlings exposed to both stresses was markedly reduced compared with that of the seedlings exposed to charcoal-filtered air and grown in the well-watered treatment.     

Risk assessment of ozone impact on the carbon absorption of Japanese representative conifers

A risk assessment of ozone (O₃) impact on the annual carbon absorption (ACA) of Japanese representative conifers was conducted based on the results of an experimental study, monitoring data of oxidant concentrations and vegetation surveys. The areas with high O₃-induced reduction in ACA did not necessarily correspond to the areas with relatively high O₃-exposure. Widespread distribution of O₃-sensitive tree species such as Pinus densiflora and Larix kaempferi, and high ACA were important factors that induced a high risk of O₃ impact on the ACA. Therefore, we concluded that not only the accumulated O₃-exposure but also the variety of tree habitat, the tree sensitivity to O₃ and the ACA among the tree species must be taken into account to assess the risk of O₃ impact on the ACA of Japanese conifers. The O₃-induced reduction in the total ACA of the three tree species in Japan was estimated to be 0.8%.     

Protective effects of Chinese propolis and its component, chrysin, against neuronal cell death via inhibition of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in SH-SY5Y cells

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and ischemic disorders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Chinese propolis and its constituents [chrysin, galangin, pinocembrin, caffeic acid, and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE)] against tunicamycin-induced neuronal cell death in SH-SY5Y cells. Both Chinese propolis and chrysin concentration-dependently inhibited such cell death, the tunicamycin-induced activation of caspase-3, and the effects of tunicamycin on mitochondria [release of cytochrome c into the cytosol and disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim)]. Furthermore, Chinese propolis and chrysin each inhibited staurosporine-induced cell death. These findings indicate that the inhibitory effects of Chinese propolis against neuronal cell death induced by ER stress or staurosporine may be exerted primarily by chrysin. Moreover, the mechanism underlying the protective effects may, at least partly, involve inhibitions of caspase-3 activity and the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.     

The individual and combined effects of ozone and simulated acid rain on chlorophyll contents,carbon allocation and biomass accumulation of armand pine seedlings

The seedlings of armand pine (Pinus armand Franch.) were applied to exposure, alone or in combination, to charcoal filtered air (CF) or ozone (O₃) at 300±15 nl/l(ppb) for 8 h a day, 6 days a week, and simulated rain of pH 6.8, 3.0 or 2.3, six times a week, alone and in combination, for 14 weeks from June 15 to September 20, 1993. No significant interactive effects of O₃ and simulated acid rain were observed on chlorophyll contents, carbon allocation and biomass accumulation of the seedlings in the present study. The O₃ caused reductions in biomass accumulation of whole-plant and below-ground parts, but not that of above-ground parts without an acute visible foliar injury. At the same time, the O₃ reduced R/S ratio, but raised F/C ratio. Therefore, O₃ also altered carbon allocation pattern. On the other hand, chlorophyll contents were increased by simulated acid rain, but other determined parameters were not altered.     

Impacts of Air Pollutants on Vegetation in Developing Countries

The predicted increases in emissions of primary pollutants in many rapidly industrializing countries may have severe consequences for the health and productivity of forest trees and agricultural crops. This paper presents a review of air pollution impacts on vegetation in developing countries by summarising information describing the direct impacts to vegetation caused by a number of air pollutants (sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O₃) and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM)). This information has been collected by experts from a number of rapidly industrializing countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa and includes observations of visible injury in the field and the use of transect studies and controlled experimental investigations to ascribe damage to different pollutant concentrations. The ability to synthesise this information to define exposure-response relationships and subsequent air quality guidelines similar to those established in North America and Europe is assessed. In addition, the use of regional and global models describing pollution concentrations is discussed with reference to assessing the extent of adverse impacts and identifying regions likely to be most at risk from air pollution, both for the present day and in the future. The evidence summarised in the paper clearly shows that current pollutant concentrations experienced in many developing countries, particularly Asia, can result in severe damage to vegetation and that without appropriate control measures such damage is likely to worsen in the future as pollutant emissions increase.     

Effects of Ozone and/or Excess Soil Nitrogen on Growth, Needle Gas Exchange Rates and Rubisco Contents of Pinus Densiflora Seedlings

The effects of ozone (O₃) and excess soil nitrogen (N), singly and in combination, on growth, needle gas exchange rates and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) contents of Pinus densiflora seedlings were investigated. One-year-old seedlings were grown in 1.5-L pots filled with brown forest soil with 3 levels of N supply (0, 100 or 300 mg N·L^?1 fresh soil volume). The seedlings were exposed to charcoal-filtered air or 60±5 nL·L^?1 O₃ (8 hours a day) in naturally-lit phytotrons for 173 days from 22 May to 11 November. The exposure to O₃ or high N supply to the soil caused a significant reduction in the dry weights of the seedlings. Although no significant interactive effects of O₃ and excess soil N were detected on the dry weight growth of the seedlings, the whole-plant dry weight of the O₃-exposed seedlings grown in the soil treated with 300 mg N·L^?1 was greatly reduced compared with the control value. Ozone reduced net photosynthetic rate at 350 µmol·mol^?1 CO₂ (A ₃₅₀ ), carboxylation efficiency (CE) of photosynthesis and Rubisco content without a significant change in the gaseous phase diffusive conductance to CO₂ (gs) of the needles. The excess soil N reduced the A ₃₅₀ , CE, gs and Rubisco content of the needles. These results suggest that the reduction in the dry weight growth of Pinus densiflora seedlings induced by the exposure to O₃ and/or excess soil N was caused by reduction in the net photosynthetic rate mainly due to the decrease of Rubisco quantity in the chloroplasts.