Biochemical indicators for the evaluation of forest tree species resistance to SO2 pollution in synergism with heavy metals in Copsa Mica industrial area

Abstract

The aim of this paper is the evaluation of different biochemical indicators to foliagematerial and stems’ phloem in synergism with heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, Mn), in high and lowpolluted areas respectively.Thus, the assimilation pigments, total proteins and peroxidase activity analyses wereperformed in foliage material whereas peroxidase chemibioluminiscence, UV absorption spectra andelectrophoretic mobility of proteins were evaluated in stems’ phloem.A completely new experiment regarding the possible induction of resistance in sessile oakseedlings has been carried out in SO2controlled fumigation chambers. Therefore, the seedlings wereinfused with 2 glycoproteins, around their stems, using chromatographic paper. These 2 glycoproteinswere extracted from the stem of 40 years old, healthy sessile oak, using affinity chromatography. Theseedlings were divided into two lots; controlled with and without infused glycoproteins and affectedlot, with infused glycoproteins following controlled SO2 fumigation.The following conclusions have been drawn: 1) A significant reduction of the assimilationpigments were observed in high polluted areas to different forest species; 2) Total proteinconcentration showed extreme values, low or high in connection with different metabolic reactionsinvolved; 3) Phloems’ protein fractions, evaluated for the first time here, might be sensitive indicatorsof the degree of pollution, in the industrial areas; 4) Phloems’ peroxidase chemibioluminiscence hadlow response in high polluted areas, in comparison with low affected areas. It can be assumed that ametabolic selection pressure was taking place; 5) The foliage peroxidase activity in sessile oakseedlings might be regulated “in vivo” at least on glycoprotein, G2, under SO2fumigation stress; 6)These results may open an entirely new scientific way in forest research in connection with SO2induced stress with possible implication to global warming as well.