The measuring system PlantVital^® 5000 as an instrument detecting the current state of vegetation

 

1. Introduction

The basic idea of the device PlantVital^® 5000 is to investigate the vitality of Chlorophyll "a" containing species on the basis of  the oxygen production during photosynthesis ( primary metabolism of  plants under investigation). All necessary information about the technical data of this system as well as their detailed description are comprised in Information Letters 01/04 and 02/04. Furthermore, full description of the general philosophy of the measuring methods can be found in the Information Letter 03/04 whereas the Application Letter 01/04 offers an extensive depiction of the ways in which the device can be applied. The instances presented below will reveal that this bio-indication method is of great significance for the future control of one of the fastest developing problems of the modern world/environment concerning the exploitation of the vegetation either in rural or urban areas as well as its natural resources. Taking everything into account, it is of great importance to introduce special means of monitoring that will turn away the danger from the natural environment. The vegetation plays very significant role in our life as far as our health and the aesthetics of the environment we live in are concerned. Green areas of the city not only make the place more beautiful but they also contribute to the reduction of harmful factors that affect the natural environment. Furthermore, such green areas provide a special micro climate due to reduction of  air motions and sound levels. Undoubtfully, the vegetation needs special attention and care. To great extend this is the social and economic life of the city that has an enormous impact on the vitality of the vegetation. Chemical substances, the impact of micro particles in the air as well as soil pollution belong to the most basic environmental influences. It is widely known that all factors mentioned above very much affect the vegetation. Additionally, these modifications have a great impact not only on the physiological as well as morphological parameters but also on phenotype, longevity, growth and development. They reduce the resistance of the vegetation from various harmful factors such as drought, cold or pesticides.

 

2. The improvement of the air quality

 

The role the trees play in the preservation of the environment as well as in providing renewable raw material is invaluable.

The state of trees to a great extend depends on different factors. However, it must be mentioned that the ability to produce oxygen varies and depends on the type of a tree.

The comparison of the oxygen production by deciduous trees (Illustration 1) and coniferous trees (Illustration 2) enables the introduction of certain means that could considerably improve the quality of the air in congested urban areas. (Other economic aspects have to be also considered).

 

 

Illustration 1: The comparison of the oxygen production "S" of some deciduous trees at comparable conditions. 1-acacia, 2-black cherry, 3-cherry tree, 4-lilac, 5-jasmine, 6-lime-tree, 7-ligusta, 8-black currant, 9-chestnut, 10-beech-tree hedge, 11-maple, 12-snowball bush, 13-rosehip, 14-willow, 15-poplar, 16-birch-tree.

Illustration 2: The comparison of the oxygen production "S" of different conifers at comparable conditions.

1-thuja (green), 2-thuja (blue), 3-pine tree, 4-pinus cembra, 5-spruce, 6-fir (green), 7-fir (blue), 8-larch.

 

 

 

 

3. The damage of the avenue trees in urban areas

 

Illustration no.3 presents the findings of investigations carried out on the species of trees that were suspected of suffering. By means of the measurements made by the PlantVital^® technology, the minor damages of at the first sight sound trees  (tree 3) as well as very strong impacts on the efficiency of the photosynthesis (tree 4,5). As a comparison two trees derived of any damages were used in the research (tree 1,2). In the case of trees 4 and 5 subjective evaluation revealed only minor alterations. However, in the case of the tree no.3 no changes were observed. More advanced research showed some minor diminutions in the underground gas conveying that were the basic cause for the damages. After removing the damages the trees were able to come to their normal state after 2 years.

The new bio-indication method may very much contribute not only to the monitoring and controlling of the process of exploitation of the landscape and its natural resources but may also be an indicator for the introduction of certain means of monitoring in the state of overcoming the values of tolerance and protect the environment from the danger resulting from it.

 

Illustration 3: The power of photosynthesis of the lime-trees detected by means of the PlantVital^® method.

 

4. The research on the pines in the open air areas  

 

In cooperation with the Institute for Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding biological populations of pine trees were investigated. The plant material for the research came from two test facilities of the Institute for Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding (the tree nursery Waldsieversdorf and clone tree archive in the research area). The test conditions are relatively homogenous. The investigation of  the individual tree in the 4 samples collecting points (N-North, O-East, S-South, W-West) and in two age groups of needles (2003, 2002) show relatively minor deviation. It accounts for all the measurements over 8,6 %. Among the two age groups of the needles no difference is observed. This is the exposition that plays the most important role here. The needles on the southern side were the most effective in the oxygen production (proved). Other directions did not differ at all. The comparison of the values of the needles from the tree in comparable age shows only minor deviations, which means that he needles of a tree with the similar position act in the same way.

The comparison of the oxygen production of needles that come from different places of the test branch showed small diversities. The alteration of the needle's colour is various and depends on the type of genes. Plants of the same descendents (similar genotype, the same parent trees) act similarly.

The highest values were measured only in the case of needles located in the middle of the branch. The lowest values however were obtained in the case of needles on the top of the same branch. One can conclude that the youngest needles are very much affected by low temperatures. The value's fall at the end of the branch indicates the old types of needles with the regressing photosynthetic activity. The comparison of the oxygen production of various individual trees shows significant differences. The plants under investigation are of different origins which means, they have different parent trees as well as the genotype.

The findings provided by comparable investigations of other individual species of one descendants (Chinese cross-breeding) shows the great variety. On one hand, one is able to find descendants that give homogenous results (minor deviation of the value of individual trees). As far as the full-siblings (the same mother and father) are concerned these minor diversifications can be easily explained. However, individual trees of the descendents 13 and 14 (Illustration 4) reveal very diversified values and what follows it, the middle value characterizes an appropriate diversification. The situation described above concerns the half-siblings that possibly indicate the higher genetic variety within the descendents.

At this point, the relation between the yellowish discolouring (stains, stripes) or necrosis and the oxygen production can be obtained. Branches with symptoms of damages produce only slender amounts of oxygen. These symptoms were partially caused in summer due to damage stimulators such as plant louses (necrosis).

 

 

Illustration 4: The comparison of the oxygen production "S" of different pine trees. (No. 13, 14,..- description of the descendants according to the tree nursery in Waldsieversdorf)

 

In terms of the pine trees, it is indicated that the deviations of an individual tree or among certain populations are not bigger than the whole dispersion (the feature of an oxygen release can be used to define a certain plant material).

Illustration 5: The comparison of the oxygen production of different trees among the same descendants. (Numbers 13, 23 description of the same descendants according to the tree nursery in Waldsieversdorf, 1, 2 .- number of a tree among the descendants).

Illustration 6: The comparison of the oxygen production "S" at different pine needles from the Clone-archive. (Gl 19.,Bor 9.- the tree description in the Clone - archive).

 

5.  The investigation of in - vitro shoots

 

In cooperation with the Institute for Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding the investigations of different biological populations of trees were carried out.

The first run aimed at finding some differences in the photosynthesis-activity of in-vitro shoots in differently configured cultivation time and some information about the activity level of various types of trees under investigation.

The examined material used in the research included in-vitro shoots from which two samples of every type were examined. Species of trees under investigations were: Betula pendula var.carelica, Robinia pseudoacacia, Fagus sylvatica and Quercus robur.  Biological populations used in the research were provided with the fresh nutrient solution for either a very short or longer period of time. The oxygen production was measured on the basis of two young and full developed leaves from the Erlenmeyer flasks. Due to three measurements the middle value as well as the standard deviation were formed.

 

     Illustration 7: Quercus robus    Illustration 8: Robinia pseudoacacia

 

Findings: Due to the research it was found that in all targets and types of trees under investigation there is a significant difference between the relatively fresh biological populations and those that have been provided with the nutrition for longer period of time.

Conclusions: The measurements of the oxygen production of in-vitro biological populations of various trees' types show a great spectrum of interesting findings that can be put under further and more detailed examination with the use of other targets and after longer preparation.

It is of some importance to examine how does the run of the photosynthesis- activity of shoots looks like over the period of cultivation time in order to find out whether the currently held period of sub-culture time which means, from 4 to 5 weeks for deciduous trees and 6 weeks for the conifers is really optimal.  Previously, the specified periods under discussion relied mostly either on wide references or many years' observations of the in-vitro biological populations of various trees' types.

 

Table 1: Samples from in-vitro shoots

 

Illustration 9: The comparison of the oxygen production "S" of different trees' types (In-vitro shoots) in various cultivation time periods. (N1100A., 2/97.,BB24..- description of the trees' types in the Clone-archive, a,b - repeated run, 25.07...- date of the set in of biological populations into the nutrition).

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. The investigation of the street trees at different urban sites

 

With a view to determining the quality of life in urban areas some investigations of the air quality are being carried out (see also the appropriate EU Directive).

The measurements of the air quality enable the record of the actual state value to the time of measuring. However, even though the actual vegetation period is dominant, the long-term plants in the same region (trees and bushes) tend to store the impacts of the past vegetation period. Due to the measurement of the parameters of vitality of the species mentioned above it is possible to illustrate what kind of ecological damage the region is concerned with over a period of time.

Furthermore, the measurements provide very important data about the impact of damages that have battered the vegetation for a very long time. The three diagrams presented below demonstrate the comparison of the vitality "S" of lime-trees from two sites: Berlin and Strausberg.

The site Berlin is marked by heavy traffic, commuter and mainline passenger system, railway, transportation of cargo and public transport whereas the site Strausberg is characterized as an area with conditions of a spa region.

The following illustrations (11 and 12) present the parameters of vitality of the chestnut tree that was infested by Camerania ohidella. Thus it appears that in more favourable areas the resisting power of trees to damages is bigger.

 

Illustration 10: The comparison of vitality values "S" of the lime - trees in Strausberg and Berlin

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illustration 11: The comparison of vitality values "R" (Respiration) and "S" (Emission), presented in the case of chestnut, oak trees and lime-trees in different urban regions (Berlin and Strausberg).

                                                                                                               

Illustration 12: The presentation of the resisting power of chestnut to the Camerania ohidella infestation according to the site (Berlin and Strausberg).

 

 

 

 

 

7. The comparison of the measuring methods of photosynthesis of some plant - classes

 

The plants' signals during their primary production can be obtained either with help of the measurement of fluorescence or trough the detection of the oxygen- and the CO₂ balance. Because of the fact that in all three cases the procedure of investigation and the stage of the process are different, it is of great interest to compare these measuring methods. In terms of CO₂ measurements, several industrial measuring systems are already available offering an extensive informative literature that give an insight into this method. In the latter cases, however, only few references are available. The table below presents the comparison of the two methods mentioned above (in accordance to certain references): the values for the CO₂ measurements (literature) and the middle values for the oxygen measurements (the data provided by the company Inno-Concept GmbH).

 

 

Table 2: The comparison of the measuring methods of photosynthesis of some plant-classes presented in the form of values of the CO₂  intake (references) and the O₂ emission (individual measurements).