Physiological response of two soybean cultivars to simulated acid rain

Abstract

SUMMARYSimulated acid rain has been reported to cause physiological changes in various plant species. Studies were conducted in 1983, 1984, and 1985 to determine the effect of acid rain on physiological parameters in two soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars. Simulated acid rain cf pH 3-0, 4-2 and 5'6 was applied throughout the growing season to piots protected from ambient rain and grown on a Flanagan silt loam (fine, montmorillonitic, mesic Aquic Argiudoll). Individual plants were evaluated for CO^ fixation, leaf water potentials, and leaf chlorophyll content. Microplots were evaluated for flowering and podding patterns, and dry matter and N partitioning. Rain pH did not affect CO^ fixation, water potentials, chlorophyll content, seed yield, shoot dry weight, or N accumulation-At pH 42 Amsoy 71 produced fewer flowers and pods than at pH 3-0 or 5-6. Abscised leaf dry weight of Amsoy 71 was greater at pH 3-0 and 4-2 than at pH 5-6. pH effects were detected for N partitioning, but these responses were dependent on year and cultivar. No physiological basis for reported soybean yield responses to acid rain of pH 3-0 was identified.

Effects of acidic fog and ozone on the growth and physiological functions of Fagus crenata saplings

“…1a). Many reports have described that SAF treatment reduces the total plant biomass (Smith et al 1991;Igawa et al 2002a;Shigihara et al 2008a). The root growth impediment reportedly results from aluminum ion dissolution when the soil pH is less than 5.0 (Losno et al 1993).…”

Response of leaf surfaces and gas exchange to wind stress and acid mist in birch (Betula pubescens)

“…Direct effects of acid mist or low pH include changes in the growth of tree seedlings (Percy 1986), foliar injury in Picea rubens Jacobsen et al 1989), reduction in winter hardiness of Picea rubens ), modification of gas exchange (Eamus and Fowler 1990) and water relations (Eamus et al 1989) in Picea rubens, and changes in production and composition of epicuticular waxes in Phaseolus vulgaris, Pisum sativum and Brassica napus (Percy and Baker 1987) and in Picea sitchensis (Percy and Baker 1990). By contrast, little or no significant effect of low pH has been reported on leaf structure, dry weight accumulation or gas exchange in Glycine max (Smith et al 1991) or on photosynthetic activity in a range of tree species (Reich et al 1986 Response of leaf surfaces and gas exchange to wind stress and acid mist in birch (Betula pubescens) et al 1986). Evidence suggests that direct effects of acid mist on plants are species dependent (Pearcy et al 1989).…”