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Effects of Air Pollutants on Epicuticular Wax Structure

  • Conference paper
Air Pollutants and the Leaf Cuticle

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIG,volume 36))

Abstract

In xerophytes, like conifers, the epicuticular wax is well developed. Especially in and around stomatal entrances, a thick wax coating is present. Epicuticular waxes are modified by changes in plant growth conditions such as temperature, relative humidity, irradiance, and wind, or acid rain. The fine structure of epicuticular waxes, their chemistry, and ecophysiological function are modified, especially in evergreen, long–lived conifer needles with characteristic crystalline wax structures. During needle flushing and development, wax structure is easily modified. Acid rain–treated Scots pine needles had 50% less epicuticular waxes in early August. Pollution–induced delayed development, destruction, and disturbances have been identified in many plant species. The structural changes in wax crystals are known. Acid rain or polluted air can destroy the crystalloid epicuticular waxes in a few weeks. In Pinus sylvestris, the first sign of pollution effect is the fusion of wax tubes. In Picea abies and P. sitchensis, modifications of crystalloid wax structure are known. In Californian pine trees phenomena of recrystallization of wax tubes on second–year needles were observed after delayed epicuticular wax development in Pinus ponderosa and P. coulteri. Thus, the effects of air pollutants are modified by climate.

Accelerated senescence of leaves and needles have been associated with natural and anthropogenic stresses. The accelerated erosion rate of epicuticular waxes has been measured under air pollution conditions. Many short–term air pollution experiments have failed to show any structural changes in epicuticular wax structures. The quantity and quality of needle waxes grown in open–top chambers, glass houses, or polluted air before treatment, differ from field conditions and make it difficult to detect effects of any treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 400, SF-90571, Oulu, Finland

    Satu Huttunen

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  1. Satu Huttunen
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service — Maritimes Region, P. O. Box 4000, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, E3B 5P7

    Kevin E. Percy (Director) & Caroline J. Simpson (Director) & 

  2. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB, UK

    J. Neil Cape (Co-Director) (Co-Director)

  3. Department of Forest Ecosystem Science, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, 04469, USA

    Richard Jagels (Co-Director) (Co-Director)

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Huttunen, S. (1994). Effects of Air Pollutants on Epicuticular Wax Structure. In: Percy, K.E., Cape, J.N., Jagels, R., Simpson, C.J. (eds) Air Pollutants and the Leaf Cuticle. NATO ASI Series, vol 36. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79081-2_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79081-2_6

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