Evidence of Ozone-Induced Visible Foliar Injury in Hong Kong Using <i>Phaseolus Vulgaris</i> as a Bioindicator
(1) Background: Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with millions of people exposed to severe air pollution. Surface ozone, mostly produced photochemically from anthropogenic precursor gases, is harmful to both humans and vegetation. The phytotoxicity of ozone has bee...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/3/266 |
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| author | Felix Leung Jacky Y. S. Pang Amos P. K. Tai Timothy Lam Donald K. C. Tao Katrina Sharps |
| author_facet | Felix Leung Jacky Y. S. Pang Amos P. K. Tai Timothy Lam Donald K. C. Tao Katrina Sharps |
| author_sort | Felix Leung |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) Background: Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with millions of people exposed to severe air pollution. Surface ozone, mostly produced photochemically from anthropogenic precursor gases, is harmful to both humans and vegetation. The phytotoxicity of ozone has been shown to damage plant photosynthesis, induce early leaf death, and retard growth. (2) Methods: We use genotypes of bush bean <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> with various degrees of sensitivity to ozone to investigate the impacts of ambient ozone on the morphology and development of the beans. We use ozone-induced foliar injury index and measure the flowering and fruit production to quantify the ozone stress on the plants. (3) Results: We expected that the ozone-sensitive genotype would suffer from a reduction of yield. Results, however, show that the ozone-sensitive genotype suffers higher ozone-induced foliar damage as expected but produces more pods and beans and heavier beans than the ozone-resistant genotype. (4) Conclusions: It is postulated that the high ozone sensitivity of the sensitive genotype causes stress-induced flowering, and therefore results in higher bean yield. A higher than ambient concentration of ozone is needed to negatively impact the yield production of the ozone-sensitive genotype. Meanwhile, ozone-induced foliar damage shows a graduated scale of damage pattern that can be useful for indicating ozone levels. This study demonstrates the usefulness of bioindicators to monitor the phytotoxic effects of ozone pollution in a subtropical city such as Hong Kong. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T06:46:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5077c32c83a44f8bae8a48d380ed4154 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T06:46:06Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-5077c32c83a44f8bae8a48d380ed41542022-12-22T01:58:39ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332020-03-0111326610.3390/atmos11030266atmos11030266Evidence of Ozone-Induced Visible Foliar Injury in Hong Kong Using <i>Phaseolus Vulgaris</i> as a BioindicatorFelix Leung0Jacky Y. S. Pang1Amos P. K. Tai2Timothy Lam3Donald K. C. Tao4Katrina Sharps5Earth System Science Programme, Faculty of Science, and Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, ChinaEarth System Science Programme, Faculty of Science, and Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, ChinaEarth System Science Programme, Faculty of Science, and Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, ChinaEarth System Science Programme, Faculty of Science, and Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, ChinaEarth System Science Programme, Faculty of Science, and Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, ChinaUK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Deiniol Road, LL57 2UW Bangor, Wales, UK(1) Background: Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with millions of people exposed to severe air pollution. Surface ozone, mostly produced photochemically from anthropogenic precursor gases, is harmful to both humans and vegetation. The phytotoxicity of ozone has been shown to damage plant photosynthesis, induce early leaf death, and retard growth. (2) Methods: We use genotypes of bush bean <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> with various degrees of sensitivity to ozone to investigate the impacts of ambient ozone on the morphology and development of the beans. We use ozone-induced foliar injury index and measure the flowering and fruit production to quantify the ozone stress on the plants. (3) Results: We expected that the ozone-sensitive genotype would suffer from a reduction of yield. Results, however, show that the ozone-sensitive genotype suffers higher ozone-induced foliar damage as expected but produces more pods and beans and heavier beans than the ozone-resistant genotype. (4) Conclusions: It is postulated that the high ozone sensitivity of the sensitive genotype causes stress-induced flowering, and therefore results in higher bean yield. A higher than ambient concentration of ozone is needed to negatively impact the yield production of the ozone-sensitive genotype. Meanwhile, ozone-induced foliar damage shows a graduated scale of damage pattern that can be useful for indicating ozone levels. This study demonstrates the usefulness of bioindicators to monitor the phytotoxic effects of ozone pollution in a subtropical city such as Hong Kong.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/3/266bush beansensitive and resistant genotypeambient ozone |
| spellingShingle | Felix Leung Jacky Y. S. Pang Amos P. K. Tai Timothy Lam Donald K. C. Tao Katrina Sharps Evidence of Ozone-Induced Visible Foliar Injury in Hong Kong Using <i>Phaseolus Vulgaris</i> as a Bioindicator Atmosphere bush bean sensitive and resistant genotype ambient ozone |
| title | Evidence of Ozone-Induced Visible Foliar Injury in Hong Kong Using <i>Phaseolus Vulgaris</i> as a Bioindicator |
| title_full | Evidence of Ozone-Induced Visible Foliar Injury in Hong Kong Using <i>Phaseolus Vulgaris</i> as a Bioindicator |
| title_fullStr | Evidence of Ozone-Induced Visible Foliar Injury in Hong Kong Using <i>Phaseolus Vulgaris</i> as a Bioindicator |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evidence of Ozone-Induced Visible Foliar Injury in Hong Kong Using <i>Phaseolus Vulgaris</i> as a Bioindicator |
| title_short | Evidence of Ozone-Induced Visible Foliar Injury in Hong Kong Using <i>Phaseolus Vulgaris</i> as a Bioindicator |
| title_sort | evidence of ozone induced visible foliar injury in hong kong using i phaseolus vulgaris i as a bioindicator |
| topic | bush bean sensitive and resistant genotype ambient ozone |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/3/266 |
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