MORPHO-ANATOMICAL EFFECTS OF POLLUTANTS ON PINUS-PINEA L. NEEDLES

Italian coastal pinewoods (Pinus pinea L.) are frequently polluted by surfactants (contained in sea spray) and by ozone. This paper examines the morpho-anatomical features of needles collected from trees natura lly exposed to these two pollutants. While sea spray causes acute dama ge rapidly leading to the death of the needle, ozone and other gaseous pollutants induce histochemical alterations causing an increase in th e sclerophyllous conditions of the tissues. The paper examines the pos sible interaction of these two types of pollution in natural condition s and their effect on the entire needle. (C)1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.