EFFECTS OF GASEOUS AIR-POLLUTANTS ON SECONDARY CHEMISTRY OF SCOTS PINE AND NORWAY SPRUCE SEEDLINGS

plant secondary compounds have an important role in defense responses against herbivores and pathogens. This study summarises published and some unpublished data from a series of fumigation experiments where Sc ots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Kar st.) seedlings were exposed to different concentrations of gaseous air pollutants, ozone (O-3), sulphur dioxide (SO2) or nitrogen dioxide (N O2), in growth chambers. Concentrations of monoterpenes, resin acids a nd total phenolics were studied. Overall, needle monoterpenes were not affected by pollutants. Only very high level of O-3 (600 ppb) decreas ed concentration of some individual monoterpenes in pine needles. O-3 did not have effect on concentrations of resin acids in pine needles. In contrast, the concentration of some individual resin acids increase d in O-3-exposed pine shoots and in O-3-exposed needles of one spruce clone. The highest dose of SO2 decreased concentrations of resin acids in pine needles, but low exposure levels did not have effects. Howeve r, SO2 had no effects on the resin acids concentrations of spruce need les, except some minor individual compounds were affected in clonal sp ruces. Increased concentrations of resin acids was found in pine shoot s exposed to NO2. Total phenolics of needles were not affected by poll utants. These observations suggest that among secondary compounds ther e is variation in sensitivity to air pollutants and genetically differ ent trees have different responses to air pollutants.