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Assessing the impact of ozone on photosynthesis of European beech (Fergus sylvatica L.) in environmental chambers

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Abstract

An exposure — response study with proportionalto-ambient ozone levels was conducted in closed chambers on 3-year-old European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) of montane origin. The fumigation started in April 1990 and lasted for a single growing season. Climate data and ozone concentrations monitored at an experimental station of the Institute for Applied Plant Biology, Schönenbuch, Switzerland were simulated in the exposure chambers 12 days later (1*O3). To test exposure-response relations three additional treatments were applied, subambient (0.2*O3) and two proportionally increased ozone treatments (1.5*O3 and 2*O3). The photosynthetic behaviour of the trees in August revealed the light reactions to be less affected than parameters which are related to the dark reactions of photosynthesis. Assimilation (A350), apparent carboxylation efficiency (CE), and maximum photosynthetic capacity (A2500) were reduced with increasing ozone concentration. For the ozone response of CE and A2500 ‘Critical Levels’ were calculated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GSF-Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit GmbH, Arbeitsgruppe Expositionskammern, D-85764, Neuherberg, Oberschleissheim, Germany

    Michael Lippert, Karl Steiner & Hans-Dieter Payer

  2. GSF-Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit GmbH, Institut für Biochemische Pflanzenpathologie, D-85764, Neuherberg, Oberschleissheim, Germany

    Sabina Simons, Christian Langebartels & Heinrich Sandermann Jr.

Authors
  1. Michael Lippert
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  2. Karl Steiner
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  3. Hans-Dieter Payer
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  4. Sabina Simons
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  5. Christian Langebartels
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  6. Heinrich Sandermann Jr.
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Lippert, M., Steiner, K., Payer, HD. et al. Assessing the impact of ozone on photosynthesis of European beech (Fergus sylvatica L.) in environmental chambers. Trees 10, 268–275 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02185679

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02185679

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