Histological assessment of Pinus sylvestris L. needles along the transect near the nitrogen fertilizer factory

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of nitrogen compounds on the histology of Scots-pine needles growing in the areas affected by nitrogen fertilizer factory. Totally 5 pine stands, 10 morphological parameters of each needle age classes were examined along the transect from the factory. Along the transect for 1-year-old needles needles needle width, adaxial mesophyll thickness, abaxial mesophyll thickness and adaxial transfusion parenchyma negativelly correlate with defoliation. In 2-year-old needles hipodermis thickness negativelly correlate with needle retention. In the case of our study the pollution with nitrogen compounds was not so large and we could not find elevated mesomorphism features in the needles