Effect of Air Pollution on Carbohydrate and Nutrients Concentrations in Some Deciduous Tree Species

The concentrations of sugars, starch, nutrients and some heavy metals were examined during the growing season in four tree species (Ailanthus glandulosa DESF., Carpinus betulus L., Tilia argentea DESF. and Quercus cerris L.), growing in natural and planted stands in a region with considerable industrial emissions and in an unpolluted area. Trees in the polluted regions had lower concentrations of starch, total and soluble sugars than trees in the unpolluted regions. A high accumulation of heavy metals (better expressed at the end of the growing season) was recorded. The changes in the concentrations of nutrients in leaves were specific in the tree species studied. A comparison of the four tree species indicated that Q. cerris was the most tolerant to air pollution.