Olive (Olea europaea L.) plant reactions to atmospheric pollutants and UV-B radiation: current state of the research

Human activities have increased the number of environmental constraints for olive plants. Water, soil and air pollution are rapidly becoming important environmental concerns for plant growth and productivity. In addition to pollution problems, modifications in gaseous composition of the atmosphere, as well as terrestrial solar radiation changes associated with pollution, are the new factors studied by olive physiologists. Significant changes in atmosphere composition have, in fact, been observed for several gases, such as sulphur dioxide, tropospheric ozone and carbon dioxide. Long-term depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer has substantially contributed to an increase in terrestrial solar ultraviolet-B radiation, which may also affect plants. In this paper the recent literature on the response of olive plants to elevated CO2 concentration, tro p o s p h e r i c ozone, sulphur dioxide and UV-radiation is reviewed.