Effects of Acid Rain Stress on the Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Three Plant Species
The physiological and biochemical indicators of plants reflect the plant’s adaptation to environmental changes and provide information for the planting and management of acid-resistant tree species. To analyze the responses of typical tree species to recent changes in acid rain conditions in Jinyun...
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/5/1067 |
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| author | Yuxuan Zhang Feng Yang Yunqi Wang Yonglin Zheng Junlin Zhu |
| author_facet | Yuxuan Zhang Feng Yang Yunqi Wang Yonglin Zheng Junlin Zhu |
| author_sort | Yuxuan Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The physiological and biochemical indicators of plants reflect the plant’s adaptation to environmental changes and provide information for the planting and management of acid-resistant tree species. To analyze the responses of typical tree species to recent changes in acid rain conditions in Jinyun Mountain, Chongqing, we focused on three representative tree species in the Jinyun Mountain area of Chongqing: <i>Pinus massoniana</i>, <i>Phyllostachys edulis</i>, and <i>Cinnamomum camphora</i>. A mixed acid rain experiment with five gradients of natural rainfall (NR) and pH values of 7.0, 4.5, 3.5, and 2.5 was conducted in May 2021. The changes in physiological and biochemical indicators (net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO<sub>2</sub> concentration, transpiration rate, light saturation point, light compensation point, apparent quantum efficiency, dark respiration rate, soluble sugar, starch, soluble protein, proline, malondialdehyde, and antioxidant enzyme activity) were determined. The results show the following: 1. Compared with other treatments, NR and slightly acidic rain increased the relative chlorophyll content in plant seedlings. 2. The synthesis of soluble sugars, starches, and soluble proteins was inhibited to different degrees in the three species under acid rain stress at pH ≤ 3.5. 3. The enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) initially increased and then decreased with an increase in acidity. 4. Acid rain treatments with pH ≤ 4.5 reduced the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of plants; the higher the acidity, the lower the Pn. Conclusion: A comprehensive comparison of the indicators revealed that NR and mild acid rain enhanced the plant seedlings’ physiological and biochemical characteristics. A pH of 3.5 was the threshold where acid rain had an adverse effect on <i>Pinus massoniana</i>, <i>Phyllostachys edulis</i>, and <i>Cinnamomum camphora</i>. The high indicator values for NR indicate that these tree species have adapted to current conditions in the Jinyun Mountain area of Chongqing. This study provides new information for selecting tree species adapted to the acid rain environment in Jinyun Mountain, Chongqing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:43:26Z |
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| id | doaj.art-300d6baf3b494f62b21b0dd7ee3ef8f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:43:26Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-300d6baf3b494f62b21b0dd7ee3ef8f22023-11-18T01:25:46ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072023-05-01145106710.3390/f14051067Effects of Acid Rain Stress on the Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Three Plant SpeciesYuxuan Zhang0Feng Yang1Yunqi Wang2Yonglin Zheng3Junlin Zhu4Three-Gorges Reservoir Area (Chongqing) Forest Ecosystem Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaYunfu State-Owned Forest Farm and Forest Park Management Station, Yunfu 527300, ChinaThree-Gorges Reservoir Area (Chongqing) Forest Ecosystem Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaThree-Gorges Reservoir Area (Chongqing) Forest Ecosystem Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaThree-Gorges Reservoir Area (Chongqing) Forest Ecosystem Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaThe physiological and biochemical indicators of plants reflect the plant’s adaptation to environmental changes and provide information for the planting and management of acid-resistant tree species. To analyze the responses of typical tree species to recent changes in acid rain conditions in Jinyun Mountain, Chongqing, we focused on three representative tree species in the Jinyun Mountain area of Chongqing: <i>Pinus massoniana</i>, <i>Phyllostachys edulis</i>, and <i>Cinnamomum camphora</i>. A mixed acid rain experiment with five gradients of natural rainfall (NR) and pH values of 7.0, 4.5, 3.5, and 2.5 was conducted in May 2021. The changes in physiological and biochemical indicators (net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO<sub>2</sub> concentration, transpiration rate, light saturation point, light compensation point, apparent quantum efficiency, dark respiration rate, soluble sugar, starch, soluble protein, proline, malondialdehyde, and antioxidant enzyme activity) were determined. The results show the following: 1. Compared with other treatments, NR and slightly acidic rain increased the relative chlorophyll content in plant seedlings. 2. The synthesis of soluble sugars, starches, and soluble proteins was inhibited to different degrees in the three species under acid rain stress at pH ≤ 3.5. 3. The enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) initially increased and then decreased with an increase in acidity. 4. Acid rain treatments with pH ≤ 4.5 reduced the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of plants; the higher the acidity, the lower the Pn. Conclusion: A comprehensive comparison of the indicators revealed that NR and mild acid rain enhanced the plant seedlings’ physiological and biochemical characteristics. A pH of 3.5 was the threshold where acid rain had an adverse effect on <i>Pinus massoniana</i>, <i>Phyllostachys edulis</i>, and <i>Cinnamomum camphora</i>. The high indicator values for NR indicate that these tree species have adapted to current conditions in the Jinyun Mountain area of Chongqing. This study provides new information for selecting tree species adapted to the acid rain environment in Jinyun Mountain, Chongqing.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/5/1067acid rainphotosynthetic characteristicsantioxidant enzyme activity |
| spellingShingle | Yuxuan Zhang Feng Yang Yunqi Wang Yonglin Zheng Junlin Zhu Effects of Acid Rain Stress on the Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Three Plant Species Forests acid rain photosynthetic characteristics antioxidant enzyme activity |
| title | Effects of Acid Rain Stress on the Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Three Plant Species |
| title_full | Effects of Acid Rain Stress on the Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Three Plant Species |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Acid Rain Stress on the Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Three Plant Species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Acid Rain Stress on the Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Three Plant Species |
| title_short | Effects of Acid Rain Stress on the Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Three Plant Species |
| title_sort | effects of acid rain stress on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of three plant species |
| topic | acid rain photosynthetic characteristics antioxidant enzyme activity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/5/1067 |
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