STRESS-PHYSIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS AND CHROMOSOMAL ANALYSES ON CLONED NORWAY SPRUCE TREES EXPOSED TO VARIOUS LEVELS OF OZONE IN OPEN-TOP CHAMBERS

Antioxidants and pigments in needles as well as chromosomal aberration s in root tip meristems of young clonal Picea abies trees were investi gated after exposure to different ozone concentrations (charcoal filte red, non-filtered, non-filtered +25ppb, non-filtered +50ppb) in open-t op chambers for three months. The same analyses were conducted after k eeping the trees under ambient conditions for one year. Ozone treatmen ts induced a dose dependent increase in chromosomal aberrations (up to nearly 10%) which could be found even after one year. Antioxidants an d pigments in needles varied between sample times but differences amon g ozone treatments were not observed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.