Abstract:In this study, leaf proportional water content, chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid, proline, total amino acid, ascorbic acid, glucose, fructose and sulphydryl group (SH) were determined in both Viscum album ssp. album and its hosts. Physiological alterations in soft-core fruits such as Ankara pear, Braeburn apple and hawtorn when infected with Viscum album ssp. album were investigated. While proportional water content of V. a. ssp. album was found higher than all fruit trees with or without V. album (control), its chlorophyll a content was lower than only control and two hosts (Braeburn apple and Ankara pear). Chlorophyll b content, on the other hand, was similar in all experimental groups for Ankara pear and hawthron whereas, in Braeburn apple, it was significantly higher in control. As for the total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of V.a. ssp. album, in Breaburn and Ankara pear, they were found less than the controls and hosts whilst in hawthorn, the values were variable. Although proline content of V. a. ssp. album was higher compared to their controls and hosts, total amino acid, reduced and total ascorbic acid, glucose, fructose and sulphydryl acid in V. a. ssp. album were determined to be lower than all uninfected fruits (control).

In order to assess the impact of SO 2 , CO 2 , NO x , and CO on non-enzymatic foliar defense mechanism around oil refineries, the present study was undertaken in Batman, Turkey during the periods February-April-June 2002. For this purpose, the four common evergreen plants at all sites, Pinus nigra Arn. subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Halmboe, Ligustrum vulgare L., Thuja orientalis L., and Nerium oleander L. were selected as test plants. Four study sites were selected at the Batman Refinery area (AR). Four control sites were also selected at a distance of about 5 km from the refinery (OR). Responses to oil refinery pollution of plants, heavy metals, chlorophyll (chl), proline, carotenoids, lipid peroxidation, SH-compounds, and ascorbic acid were measured. In addition, ambient pollutant gas concentrations were measured. The pollutant gas concentrations were high in the immediate vicinity of oil refinery. The levels of total chl, SH-compounds, ascorbic acid, and chla/chlb ratio were found to decrease, and the amount of proline, carotenoids, lipid peroxidation, and reduced ascorbate/oxidized ascorbate ratio were found to increase in comparison to plants growing at the control sites. A comparison of four evergreen plant species indicated that L. vulgare was the most resistance to refinery induced air pollution and the magnitude of foliar injury symptoms was greatest in P. nigra and T. orientalis.

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