Stable Isotope Analysis Reveals Differential Effects of Soil Nitrogen and Nitrogen Dioxide on the Water Use Efficiency in Hybrid Poplar Leaves

The effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure are reported on the physiology, morphology and carbon partitioning of hybrid poplar clone cuttings (Populus x euramericana) grown under high and low soil nitrogen supply. Plants were exposed to filtered air or NO2-enriched air (80-135 nl I-1) over 12 wk...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The New phytologist 2001-02, Vol.149 (2), p.233-246
Main Authors: Rolf T. W. Siegwolf, Matyssek, Rainer, Saurer, Matthias, Maurer, Stephan, Günthardt-Goerg, Madeleine S., Schmutz, Paul, Bucher, Jürg B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atmospherics
Biological and medical sciences
biomass partitioning
Carbon dioxide
Carbon isotopes
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
gas exchange
Leaves
Nitrates
Nitrogen
Nitrogen isotopes
NO2
Non agrochemicals pollutants
Oxygen isotopes
Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection
Plants
Pollution effects and side effects of agrochemicals on crop plants and forest trees. Other anthropogenic factors
Pollution effects. Side effects of agrochemicals
Populus × euramericana
stable isotopes
Stomatal conductance
δ13C–δ18O response
δ15N
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure are reported on the physiology, morphology and carbon partitioning of hybrid poplar clone cuttings (Populus x euramericana) grown under high and low soil nitrogen supply. Plants were exposed to filtered air or NO2-enriched air (80-135 nl I-1) over 12 wk growth in phytotrons. Stable isotope analysis, combined with CO2and H2Ogas exchange measurements, biomass analysis and morphological development, was used to assess the integrated long-term effects of NO2. NO2had no toxic effects. A reduced15N-isotope ratio indicated incorporation of NO2while nitrate reductase activity in leaves was stimulated. The two nitrogen sources had differential effects on water use efficiency (WUE): NO2exposure increased long-term WUE; soil N supply decreased WUE; a result not detectable using growth and short-term gas exchange experiments. Plants benefited from airborne NO2, increasing CO2assimilation rate and biomass; both N sources increased shoot production at the expense of root growth. NO2exposure induced leaf formation with reduced stomatal density and increased leaf area. NO2exposure might be beneficial although the reduced root: shoot biomass could have a detrimental effect on nutrient balance and drought resistance.
ISSN:0028-646X
1469-8137
DOI:10.1046/j.1469-8137.2001.00032.x