The impact of air pollution control measures and the COVID-19 pandemic on photosynthesis in urban trees
Abstract Phytotoxic air pollutants such as atmospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are among the major stresses affecting tree photosynthesis in urban areas. We clarified the relationship between NO2 concentrations and photosynthetic function for three major urban trees, Prunus × yedoensis, Rhododendron...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-85080-x |
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| author | Takumi Matsuura Yousuke Okamoto Mayu Matsumoto Takashi Kiyomizu Luisa Kumpitsch Atsushi Kume Yuko T. Hanba |
| author_facet | Takumi Matsuura Yousuke Okamoto Mayu Matsumoto Takashi Kiyomizu Luisa Kumpitsch Atsushi Kume Yuko T. Hanba |
| author_sort | Takumi Matsuura |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Phytotoxic air pollutants such as atmospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are among the major stresses affecting tree photosynthesis in urban areas. We clarified the relationship between NO2 concentrations and photosynthetic function for three major urban trees, Prunus × yedoensis, Rhododendron pulchrum, and Ginkgo biloba, planted in Kyoto and surrounding cities, combining our published data and new data collected from 2020 to 2023. High NO2 increased long-term water use efficiency for all species. High NO2 decreased photosynthesis in P. yedoensis and R. pulchrum, while for G. biloba, NO2 imposed little effect on photosynthesis. We then focused on the decrease in NO2 due to (1) air pollution control measures from 2005 to 2023 and (2) the economic recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and examined whether these factors improved photosynthesis in urban trees. The historic decrease in NO2 improved leaf photosynthesis for P. yedoensis and R. pulchrum, while the COVID-19 pandemic reduced NO2 by only 0.3 ppb and did not further improve photosynthesis in these tree species. This report shows that air pollution control measures improved photosynthesis in urban trees over several years in Japan, and is valuable because it demonstrates that air pollution control measures can increase CO2 uptake by urban trees. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-368908a87cb44c3ea5c64875ddd95032 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-368908a87cb44c3ea5c64875ddd950322025-01-12T12:18:33ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111210.1038/s41598-024-85080-xThe impact of air pollution control measures and the COVID-19 pandemic on photosynthesis in urban treesTakumi Matsuura0Yousuke Okamoto1Mayu Matsumoto2Takashi Kiyomizu3Luisa Kumpitsch4Atsushi Kume5Yuko T. Hanba6Kyoto Institute of TechnologyKyoto Institute of TechnologyKyoto Institute of TechnologyKyoto Institute of TechnologyKyoto Institute of TechnologyFaculty of Agriculture, Kyushu UniversityKyoto Institute of TechnologyAbstract Phytotoxic air pollutants such as atmospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are among the major stresses affecting tree photosynthesis in urban areas. We clarified the relationship between NO2 concentrations and photosynthetic function for three major urban trees, Prunus × yedoensis, Rhododendron pulchrum, and Ginkgo biloba, planted in Kyoto and surrounding cities, combining our published data and new data collected from 2020 to 2023. High NO2 increased long-term water use efficiency for all species. High NO2 decreased photosynthesis in P. yedoensis and R. pulchrum, while for G. biloba, NO2 imposed little effect on photosynthesis. We then focused on the decrease in NO2 due to (1) air pollution control measures from 2005 to 2023 and (2) the economic recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and examined whether these factors improved photosynthesis in urban trees. The historic decrease in NO2 improved leaf photosynthesis for P. yedoensis and R. pulchrum, while the COVID-19 pandemic reduced NO2 by only 0.3 ppb and did not further improve photosynthesis in these tree species. This report shows that air pollution control measures improved photosynthesis in urban trees over several years in Japan, and is valuable because it demonstrates that air pollution control measures can increase CO2 uptake by urban trees.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-85080-xStable carbon isotope ratioCOVID-19Stomatal limitationNitrogen oxideVehicle emissions |
| spellingShingle | Takumi Matsuura Yousuke Okamoto Mayu Matsumoto Takashi Kiyomizu Luisa Kumpitsch Atsushi Kume Yuko T. Hanba The impact of air pollution control measures and the COVID-19 pandemic on photosynthesis in urban trees Scientific Reports Stable carbon isotope ratio COVID-19 Stomatal limitation Nitrogen oxide Vehicle emissions |
| title | The impact of air pollution control measures and the COVID-19 pandemic on photosynthesis in urban trees |
| title_full | The impact of air pollution control measures and the COVID-19 pandemic on photosynthesis in urban trees |
| title_fullStr | The impact of air pollution control measures and the COVID-19 pandemic on photosynthesis in urban trees |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of air pollution control measures and the COVID-19 pandemic on photosynthesis in urban trees |
| title_short | The impact of air pollution control measures and the COVID-19 pandemic on photosynthesis in urban trees |
| title_sort | impact of air pollution control measures and the covid 19 pandemic on photosynthesis in urban trees |
| topic | Stable carbon isotope ratio COVID-19 Stomatal limitation Nitrogen oxide Vehicle emissions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-85080-x |
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