Indirect effects of air pollutants: Changes in plant/parasite interactions

The impact of air pollutants on plant/parasite-interactions has been investigated. It could be demonstrated that fumigation of Vicia faba L. with 0.15 ppm SO2 (400 microg m(-3)) or 0.2 ppm NO2 (400 microg m(-3)) during 7 days caused changes in plant metabolism which resulted in higher growth rates of the aphid Aphis fabae Scop. feeding on these plants. Fumigation of V. faba with 0.085 ppm O3 during 2 or 3 days, however, caused decreased aphid growth on fumigated plants. That result could be reversed by higher O3 concentrations or through the presence of NOx during O3 fumigation. Ambient air comprising a mixture of pollutant gases had a strong enhancing effect on aphid performance. Thus, the growth of A. fabae on field bean plants was significantly higher in ambient summertime. London air than in charcoal-filtered air. Similarly, the growth of Macrosiphon rosae L. on rose bushes (Rosa sp., cv. Nina Weibull) was improved in ambient summertime Munich air; the increase in growth rate averaged about 20%.