Responses of Mentha piperita L. and Arabidopsis thaliana L. to fumigation with SO₂ at different concentrations

Abstract

Leaf necroses, chlorophyll destruction and sulphur accumulation followed from SO₂ fumigation of Mentha piperita L. and Arabidopsis thaliana L. A SO₂ dependent decrease in the cell sap pH occurred in both species, but A. thaliana showed a less effective buffering capacity as compared with M. piperita. Exposure to SO₂ resulted in a decreased N content in H. piperita and in an increased N content in A. thaliana. M. piperita appeared to be able to remove SO₂ from the air bringing about a pollutant sink.

Key words:

• SO₂ fumigation
• Mentha piperita
• Arabidopsis thaliana