Charakterystyka reakcji tytoniu szlachetnego na ozon troposferyczny na terenie miasta Poznania i okolic

Characteristics of the response of tobacco plants to tropospheric ozone in the Poznan city area and its surroundings Air pollution monitoring carried out all over Poland revealed that tropospheric ozone and particulate matter concentrations exceed their limited values in many regions of the country. The occurrence of tropospheric ozone is connected mainly with the emission of its precursors (such as nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, hydrocarbons) from car traffic which has increased considerably in recent years. Ground level ozone is a very reactive air pollutant affecting negatively both plants and animals. That is why it is necessary to measure its impact on living organisms and whole ecosystems. In the presented study tobacco plants were employed as bioindicators for tropospheric ozone levels. Sensitive and resistant cultivars were exposed to tropospheric ozone in three sites situated in the city of Poznan and its surroundings in 2006. Visible leaf injuries as well as other external and internal response parameters of both cultivars were measured after their exposition to ambient air conditions. The performed investigations revealed visible symptoms of ozone influence only in the case of leaves of the sensitive cultivar and differences in the internal response (cell membrane stability, chlorophyll content, dry mass) of both examined cultivars to different concentrations of the stress factor. The obtained research results can be used as reference information for species which can be utilized to manage urban and countryside environments.