Verlag des Forschungszentrums Jülich

JUEL-3622
Heiden, Arnd Christian; Kobel, Klaus; Wildt, Jürgen
Einfluß verschiedener Streßfaktoren auf die Emission pflanzlicher flüchtiger organischer Verbindungen
314 S., 1999



Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from several biosynthetic pathways were investigated. Beside the well-known emissions of terpenes, that are synthesized from dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP), emissions following lipoxygenase (LOX) activity or from the shikimate pathway were found. Furthermore, it was shown that several VOCs like toluene and C6- to C10-aldehydes, where no biosynthetical pathway is known, are emitted by plants.
For monoterpene emissions it was shown that:

· Absolute emission rates vary for different vegetative stages.

· Despite these differences in absolute emission rates the dependencies of the emission rates on temperature and light intensity can be described independent of the vegetative state with the same set of parameters using the algorithm of SCHUH ET AL. (1997). Just the standard emission rates are dependent on the vegetative state.

· Emissions of monoterpenes from rape are limited by the availability of DMAPP. This limitation is independent on the vegetative state and therefore, a description of emissions with the same set of parameters is possible.

· Exposure of rape plants with high amounts of ozone (130-170 ppb O3) leads to reduced emissions of monoterpenes that can be explained by a reduced DMAPP availability.

· The underlying model idea of the algorithm of SCHUH ET AL. (1997) that monoterpenes are emitted from two independent mechanisms was confirmed by isotopic measurements. The model idea was extended to isoprene.

· Mechanical wounding results in increased emissions of monoterpenes from sunflower and tomato.

· As a result of nitrate deficiency monoterpene emissions are increased for rape and sunflower. For sunflower an exponential increase of emission rates on a time scale of hundred to several hundred hours was found.

· Emissions of sesquiterpenes that are synthesized by the same biochemical pathway as isoprene and monoterpenes cannot be described by the algorithm of SCHUH ET AL. (1997). Theses compounds are effective phytoalexins. They are actively produced by the plants after action of stress factors (stressors) on the plants. Therefore, the sesquiterpene emissions show a time dependency that cannot be described by the algorithm of SCHUH ET AL. (1997).

Emissions of compounds resulting from LOX activity were quantified for the first time. It was found that:

· Beside the well-known emissions of C6-alcohols and -aldehydes several other compounds are emitted during LOX activity.

· The emissions resulting from LOX activity are qualitatively very similar for tobacco, corn, sunflower, broad beans and pine. Probably the same emissions occur generally from higher plants.

· Differences in the composition of emissions from different plant species can be explained through different activities of alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH) in different species.

· The composition of emissions resulting from LOX activity in tobacco is similar for different stress factors like ozone fumigation and pathogen attack. This gives further evidence to the hypothesis that the exposure with ozone resembles pathogen attack in triggering the hypersensitive response (e.g. SANDERMANN ET AL., 1998).

· The amount of VOCs that are emitted as a result of LOX activity can be comparable to the VOC amount emitted under stress free conditions over the whole vegetative period.

· The dynamics of LOX activity were examined by measurements of the delay time of emissions of several compounds.

· Compared to the uptake of atmospheric peroxides the amount of peroxides that are produced inside the plants resulting from LOX activity is by far higher.

Emissions of aromatic compounds by plants that are considered unlikely up to now, have been identified. It was shown that:

· Regarding the amounts, methyl salicylate (MeSA) is the most important emitted aromatic compound. Under stress conditions emissions of MeSA can be as high as those of monoterpenes.

· Besides MeSA emissions, emissions of other aromatic compounds from the shikimate pathway were found. Some of these compounds may be regarded as precursors of MeSA. · Emissions of compounds produced by the shikimate pathway are always found after a hypersensitive response occurred, but a hypersensitive response is not a necessary requirement for emissions of those compounds.

· Steady state emissions of MeSA can appear, if stress factors act on plants on longer time scales. In these cases the light intensity dependence of the MeSA emissions can be described by the algorithm of SCHUH ET AL. (1997).

It was shown that compounds like toluene and C6- to C10-alkanales are emitted by plants. The biosynthetical pathway for these compounds is not known. It was found that:

· Emission rates of toluene from sunflower are highly correlated with a-pinene emissions. They are dependent on light intensity, temperature, nitrate availability and wounding.

· The aromatic ring of toluene is synthesized within few hours from the CO2 fixed in photosynthesis.
· For sunflower direct or indirect toluene pools have to be postulated.

· Under stress conditions emission rates of C6- to C10-alkanales from agricultural plant species may be as high as those of monoterpenes.

· An algorithm for the description of emissions of C6- to C10-alkanales as a function of the ozone flux into the plants and the temperature was developed. VOC emissions from agricultural plant species are much lower than those from pines. Especially the VOC emissions from wheat plants are that low that areas cultivated with wheat can be neglected in biogenic VOC emission inventories as long as no stress factors are applied to the plants.

Neuerscheinungen

Schriften des Forschungszentrums Jülich

Ihre Ansprechperson

Heike Lexis
+49 2461 61-5367
zb-publikation@fz-juelich.de

Letzte Änderung: 07.06.2022