Ethylenediurea (EDU) effects on Japanese larch: an one growing season experiment with simulated regenerating communities and a four growing season application to individual saplings

Abstract

Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr.) and its hybrid are economically important coniferous trees widely grown in the Northern Hemisphere. Ground-level ozone (O₃) concentrations have increased since the pre-industrial era, and research projects showed that Japanese larch is susceptible to elevated O₃ exposures. Therefore, methodologies are needed to (1) protect Japanese larch against O₃ damage and (2) conduct biomonitoring of O₃ in Japanese larch forests and, thus, monitor O₃ risks to Japanese larch. For the first time, this study evaluates whether the synthetic chemical ethylenediurea (EDU) can protect Japanese larch against O₃ damage, in two independent experiments. In the first experiment, seedling communities, simulating natural regeneration, were treated with EDU (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg L⁻¹) and exposed to either ambient or elevated O₃ in a growing season. In the second experiment, individually-grown saplings were treated with EDU (0, 200 and 400 mg L⁻¹) and exposed to ambient O₃ in two growing seasons and to elevated O₃ in the succeeding two growing seasons. The two experiments revealed that EDU concentrations of 200–400 mg L⁻¹ could protect Japanese larch seedling communities and individual saplings against O₃-induced inhibition of growth and productivity. However, EDU concentrations ≤ 200 mg L⁻¹ did offer only partial protection when seedling communities were coping with higher level of O₃-induced stress, and only 400 mg EDU L⁻¹ fully protected communities under higher stress. Therefore, we conclude that among the concentrations tested the concentration offering maximum protection to Japanese larch plants under high competition and O₃-induced stress is that of 400 mg EDU L⁻¹. The results of this study can provide a valuable resource of information for applied forestry in an O₃-polluted world.

Keywords

Air pollution / Antiozonant / Ethylenediurea (EDU) / Plant protection / Tropospheric ozone (O₃)

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