Answer to Question #255961 in Biology for Gu²

Question

Explain by means of various examples how chemical atmospheric pollution as well as UVB radiation affect plant anatomy.

Answer 1

Air pollutants have a negative impact on plant growth, primarily through interfering with resource accumulation. Once leaves are in close contact with the atmosphere, many air pollutants, such as O3 and NOx, affect the metabolic function of the leaves and interfere with net carbon fixation by the plant canopy.

UV-B impairs photosynthesis in many species. Overexposure to UV-B reduces size, productivity, and quality in many of the crop plant species that have been studied (among them, many varieties of rice, soybeans, winter wheat, cotton, and corn). UV-B increases plants' susceptibility to disease.