• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 1995

Visible injury symptoms such as necrosis, chlorosis and premature senscence in the leaves of Ginkgo bloba and Pinus thunbergii treated with acid rain of pH 3.2 or below were observed. The epicuticular wax erosions were observed by SEM after exposure to acid rain of pH 2.4 and 3.2 in G. biloba and pH 4.0 below in P. thunbergii. The adaxial epidennal cells and sponge parenchyma cells were compressed, and those were distorted in the leaves of G. biloba treated with simulated acid rain of pH 3.2 or below. However, vascular tissue was intact. With increase of acidity, mesophyll cells were smaller than those of control while intercellular space in mesophyU was increased. In P. thunbergii, sponge parenchyma cells and vascular tissue except epidennis were distorted after exposure to acid rain of pH 2.4. The size change of stomata in foliar injury was not observed, but the stomatal index and size of stomatal aperture in leaves treated with acid rain increased. The stomata of injured leaf were opened in both species examined.amined.