Ozone-Induced Stress Responses in Plant Systems
Summary
Tropospheric ozone enters plant leaves predominantly through open stomata, where it decomposes into reactive oxygen species (ROS) that inflict oxidative damage on cellular membranes, proteins and nucleic acids. Plants have evolved multilayered defence systems combining enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, osmoprotectants and complex signalling networks mediated by phytohormones such as abscisic acid, ethylene, salicylic acid and jasmonic acid. Ozone exposure often triggers an oxidative burst—an early, transient surge of ROS—that activates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades and transcriptional reprogramming. This can lead to stomatal closure, modulation of photosynthetic efficiency and, in severe cases, programmed cell death. Differential sensitivity among species and even within cultivars reflects variation in stomatal conductance, antioxidant capacity and the speed of stress signal perception. Interactions with other environmental factors—drought, elevated temperature or nutrient status—further modify ozone responses, with important implications for global crop productivity and ecosystem resilience under climate change.
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Ozone-Induced Stress Responses in Plant Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in ozone-induced stress responses in plant systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules derived from oxygen, including hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, which can damage cellular components but also act as signalling messengers.
Stomatal conductance: A measure of the rate at which carbon dioxide enters and water vapour exits the leaf through stomatal pores, influencing ozone uptake and gas exchange.
Phytohormone: A class of plant hormones (for example abscisic acid, ethylene, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid) that regulate growth, development and stress responses.
Oxidative burst: A rapid, transient production of ROS following stress perception that initiates downstream defence signalling.
References
- Untangling the role of leaf age specific osmoprotectant and antioxidant responses of two poplar clones under increasing ozone concentrations. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry (2024).
- Ozone Induced Stomatal Regulations, MAPK and Phytohormone Signaling in Plants. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2021).
- Ozone responses in Arabidopsis: beyond stomatal conductance. Plant Physiology (2021).
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