Tropospheric O3, the nightmare of wild plants: A review study

Abstract

Ambient ozone (O3) poses a growing threat to the global ecosystems due to its high phytotoxicity: it may possibly reduce the productivity of wild plants as well as the species’ biodiversity. Asia hosts a remarkable number of wild plant species; thus, studies dealing with Asian species’ responses to O3 are of great importance. We have retrieved, from scientific databases, 195 papers dealing with the response of 473 wild plants species to O3. Some species we characterize as “ozonophobic” have been reported to be negatively affected by O3, even at O3 levels lower than the AOT40 threshold. This review revealed the lack of research dealing with the effects of O3 on endangered or threatened plant species, as well as on important medical plants. Such research is needed not only from an ecological point of view or in terms of biodiversity value, but also from an anthropocentric point of view. Several wild species carry unique substances that are used in medicines for healing human diseases or in agro-industry for the production of agrochemicals, thus securing human welfare.