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Biologic Markers of Air-Pollution Stress and Damage in Forests (1989) / Chapter Skim
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Leaf Cuticles as Potential Markers of Air Pollution
Pages 333-340

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From page 333...
... If the cuticle is altered in a specific and predictable manner by exposure to air pollutants, it could serve as a diagnostic marker of air pollution exposure. Here we will look first at the structure of the cuticle, then at changes in the outer surface associated with air pollution exposure, and finally at some information on the movement of acid through cuticles and changes in permeability of isolated cuticles caused by acid exposure.
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From page 334...
... On top of this wax layer may be crystalline deposits of epicuticular wax; these play an important role in interactions between acid precipitation and leaf surfaces, and may serve to collect or retain pollutants deposited in dry form, as they can substantially increase the area of the wax surface. Epicuticular wax: an indicator of pollutant exposure?
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From page 335...
... entry of air pollutants is the continuous wax layer upon which the epicuticular wax lies. When the wax components are removed from isolated cuticles, the cutin matrix that supports and anchors the wax has a greatly increased permeability to water, indicating that at least for water, the wax layer is the principal limiting structure (Schoenherr 1976~.
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From page 336...
... Calcium nutrition has not been shown to be important in determining acid drop neutralization. The current state of knowledge concerning the interactions between plant cuticles and air pollutants does not suggest the use of cuticles as a sensitive marker of air pollutant exposure.
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From page 337...
... 1977a. Leaf surface and histological perturbations of leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris and Helianthus annuus after exposure to simulated acid rain.
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From page 338...
... 1977. Einfluss von Temperatur und Blattaelter auf das Cuticularwachs van Hedera helix.
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From page 339...
... 1982. Chemical and structural characterization of the needle epicuticular wax of two clones of Pinus strobus differing in sensitivity to ozone.
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From page 340...
... 1977. Einfluss von Temperatur und Blattaelter auf das Cuticularwachs von Hedera helix.
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Key Terms

  • epicuticular waxes
  • acid precipitation
  • acid rain
  • epicuticular wax
  • wax layer

  • plant cuticles
  • pollution exposure
  • simulated acid
  • leaf surface
  • leaf surfaces

  • surface waxes
  • leaf cuticles
  • pollutant exposure
  • polar pores
  • acid exposure

  • leaf cuticle
  • brassica oleracea
  • blattaelter auf
  • intact cuticles
  • cabbage cotyledons

  • air pollutant
  • pinus sylvestris
  • isolated cuticles
  • grapefruit leaf
  • temperatur und

  • und blattaelter
  • pinus strobus
  • gaseous air
  • involving relatively
  • einfluss von


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