Results from the UN/ECE ICP-crops indicate the extent of exceedance of the critical levels of ozone in Europe

The experiments of the United Nations/Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) International Cooperative Programme on effects of air pollution and other stresses on crops and non-wood plants (ICP-Crops) are designed to investigate the effects of ambient ozone pollution on crops and non-wood plants. Each year, participants fi om approximately 17 European countries conduct a series of coordinated experiments to determine which species develop visible injury following ozone episodes and whether the biomass or yield of sensitive species is reduced. In 1993, ozone injury was only seen at two thirds of sites but in 1994 injury was detected at almost all sites. This coincides with generally higher ozone concentrations measured in that year. Injury was seen on crops including subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), bran (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), soybean (Glycine mar), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L,.) at experimental sites and in some cases, in commercial fields. The application of ethylenediurea (EDU) to some crop species reduced the level of visible injury. At some sites, the yield of EDU-treated bean plants was greater than that of untreated plants where the critical level of ozone for yield reduction was exceeded. Preliminary analysis of ozone concentrations in the days preceding injury indicated a sequential ozone concentration effect. The results art discussed in relation to Level I and Level II mapping of exceedance of the short- and long-term critical levels for ozone.