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Environmental and Stress Physiology

Emission of Volatile Sulfur Compounds from Spruce Trees ¹

Fraunhofer Institut für Atmosphärische Umweltforschung (IFU), Kreuzeckbahnstrasse 19, D-8100 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Federal Republic of Germany

Spruce (Picea Abies L.) trees from the same clone were supplied with different, but low, amounts of plant available sulfate in the soil (9.7-18.1 milligrams per 100 grams of soil). Branches attached to the trees were enclosed in a dynamic gas exchange cuvette and analyzed for the emission of volatile sulfur compounds. Independent of the sulfate supply in the soil, H₂S was the predominant reduced sulfur compound continuously emitted from the branches with high rates during the day and low rates in the night. In the light, as well as in the dark, the rates of H₂S emission increased exponentially with increasing water vapor flux from the needles. Approximately 1 nanomole of H₂S was found to be emitted per mole of water. When stomata were closed completely, only minute emission of H₂S was observed. Apparently, H₂S emission from the needles is highly dependent on stromatal aperture, and permeation through the cuticle is negligible. In several experiments, small amounts of dimethylsulfide and carbonylsulfide were also detected in a portion of the samples. However, SO₂ was the only sulfur compound consistently emitted from branches of spruce trees in addition to H₂S. Emission of SO₂ mainly proceeded via an outburst starting before the beginning of the light period. The total amount of SO₂ emitted from the needles during this outburst was correlated with the plant available sulfate in the soil. The diurnal changes in sulfur metabolism that may result in an outburst of SO₂ are discussed.

³ Present address: Institut für Botanik und Pharmazeutische Biologie, Universität Würzburg, Mittlerer Dallenbergweg 64, D-8700 Würzburg, FRG.

¹ Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) under contract No. Re 515/3-2.