Changes in levels of foliar carbohydrates and myo-inositol before premature leaf senescence of Populus nigra induced by a mixture of O-3 and SO2

Specimens of Populus nigra L. cv. Loenen exhibit premature leaf senescence when exposed for a few weeks to realistic air pollution. In this study, the changes in levels of foliar carbohydrates and myo-inositol (MI) due to 30 +/- 1 nL/L O-3 + 12 +/- 1 nL/L SO2 from the onset of exposure to the occurrence of premature abscission is presented. Petioles and laminae of the 12 oldest leaves were separately analysed on days 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 22, and 32 of continuous exposure, which was performed in open-top chambers (OTC). On days 8 to 12, clearly prior to yellowing (starting on day 22), total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC; starch + raffinose + sucrose + glucose + fructose + MI) in the fumigated laminae exceeded that in controls by about 30%. This increase was due to higher amounts of different soluble forms, while starch remained unaltered. From day 20 onwards, the level of TNC in the fumigated laminae progressively fell below that in controls. This decrease was due to a progressive decline in starch, which had started on day 16 and was dominating, although glucose and raffinose increased significantly. In the petioles, starch, sucrose, and glucose decreased because of fumigation with the occurrence of leaf yellowing, while raffinose: increased. In contrast, MI in the petioles progressively accumulated directly on exposure until leaf yellowing occurred. The results are discussed in terms of the ''general adaption syndrome'' of H. Selye (1936. Nature (London), 138: 32). The marked MI response in petioles is concluded to be an early indication of phytorelevant O-3 + SO2 pollution.