Tropospheric ozone: Impacts on respiratory and photosynthetic processes

Abstract

Ozone is an important oxidant of the post-industrialised era. Numerous detrimental effects have been attributed to ozone on human health; plants too are gravely affected by its increasing concentration. Of about 15-16% of global temperature changes can be attributed to increase in tropospheric ozone levels in the present time. This chapter presents a review of effects on net primary productivity, photosynthesis and respiration of plants as a response to ozone exposure. In general, exposure to ozone decreases photosynthesis, increases dark respiration and decreases net primary productivity. These variations are however affected by other factors like level of exposure, age of plant and type of plant among many others.