Effects of Chronic Ozone Exposure on the Growth of Trifolium subterraneum and Trifolium repens

Abstract

Plants of Trifolium subterraneum and T. repens were exposed to 9 parts per hundred million ozone for 4 h per day, 5 days per week for 5 weeks. Leaf necrosis was apparent after the first week of exposure and this was followed by the death of some leaves and stems. At the end of the exposure, significant reductions were found in total dry weight (30-40%), plant part dry weight and leaf area (ͭ6 30%). Ozone caused a rapid decline in relative growth rate which was related to a reduction in net assimilation rate.