Standardsignatur
Titel
Early Detection of Environmental Influences by Recording Chromosomal Defects in Root Tip Meristems of Spruce Trees
Verfasser
Erscheinungsjahr
1998
Seiten
S. 101-104
Illustrationen
2 Abb., 1 Tab., 17 Lit. Ang.
Material
Unselbständiges Werk
Datensatznummer
200102001
Quelle
Environmental Science and Pollution Research. International 1998, 5(1) ; 0311, S. 101-104
; No. 1, special issue
Abstract
The quantification of chromosomal damages in root tip meristem cells of spruce trees was used to characterize natural spruce stands at the altitude profiles Achenkirch and Loisach-Valley in the Northern Tyrol Calcareous Alps. The number of chromosomal aberrations amounted to 4-8%. The highest rates, indicating lowest site qualities, could be observed at particular plots between 970m and 1250m. These results were obtained on young trees from the stand regeneration and, simultaneously, on cloned trees exposed at the sites for at least 3 months. For calibration, these data were compared to responses of cloned spruce trees to different experimental exposures to clean air, ambient air, and ozone: Under clean air conditions, root meristematic tissues of spruce trees responded with 2% of chromosomal aberrations, whereas the root tip tissues from trees grown under ambient air showed up to 5% of chromosomal defects. Ozone treatments (100 nl l-Ü) induced a significant, longlasting increase of aberrations. Although an identification of specific stressors is not possible in the field, these investigations provide a risk assessment at natural spruce stands: Aberration rates of 5% indicate average site qualities, and increased rates point to stress impacts on trees.