The Effects of SO2 and Fluoride on Physio-ecological Changes in Plant Leaves

Abstract:

Multiple regression analysis was used for the investigation of the influence of air pollutants (sulfate and fluorides) on the changes in physio-ecological characteristics in the leaves of 48 plant species distributed at 8 site in Foshan city and one site in Dinghushan Nature Reserve as control. The results showed that the changes in leaf area (LA), total chlorophyll contents (Chl), cell liquid pH values (pH) and cell membrane leakage (CML) (electronic conductance) exhibited significant correlation with pollutant contents in leaves. Linear regression equation between physio-ecological changes and pollutant content in the air was Y_S=0.034X_LA-0.011X_Chl+0.017X_pH+40.0003X_CML+0.034 (r=0.99,p<0.001) for sulfation rate, and was Y_F=0.362X_LA+0.329X_Chl+0.814X_pH+0.024X_CML-4.596 (r=0.947,p<0.03) for fluorides. The application of physio-ecological changes in plants as biological monitoring indicatoss of air pollution was consistent with actual environment condition.