Title: The impact of elevated ozone on the ornamental features of two flowering plants (Tagetes erecta Linn. and Petunia hybrida Vilm.)

Authors: Ning Yang; Xiaoke Wang; Feixiang Zheng; Yuanyuan Chen

Addresses: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Region Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China ' State Key Laboratory of Urban and Region Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China ' Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China ' State Key Laboratory of Urban and Region Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China

Abstract: There has been little investigation into the effects of ozone (O3) on flowering plants around settlements, even though such plants are known to be threatened by elevated O3. In this study, we used open-top chambers to assess the ornamental value of marigolds (Tagetes erecta Linn.) and four petunia (Petunia hybrid Vilm.) varieties in terms of their growth and physiological responses to elevated O3. The aboveground biomass decreased by 7.4% in marigolds and by 19.4-23.6% in four varieties of petunia in response to elevated O3. The underground biomass decreased by 22.0% in marigolds and by 30.8-53.8% in four petunia varieties treated with elevated O3. Flower biomass and diameter were markedly reduced by elevated O3 in petunias, but not in marigolds. O3 also accelerated leaf yellowing in different plant species and varieties, owing to a higher degree of degradation of chlorophyll than carotenoids, as well as an increase in flavonoid contents. Thus, O3 stress responses should be considered when choosing flowering plants for their ornamental value.

Keywords: biomass; carotenoids; chlorophyll; elevated ozone; O3; environmental pollution; flavonoids; flowering plants; marigolds; open-top chambers; ornamental value; petunias; Tagetes erecta Linn; Petunia hybrida Vilm; leaf yellowing; stress responses.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2017.082697

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2017 Vol.61 No.1, pp.29 - 45

Received: 30 Oct 2015
Accepted: 04 Aug 2016

Published online: 07 Mar 2017 *

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