Comparative evaluation of the effects of gaseous pollutants, acidic deposition and mineral deficiencies: structural changes in the cells of forest plants

The effects of air pollutants and nutritional disorders can be detected in the plant cell ultrastructure during the early phases of injury development. In this paper the literature dealing with ultrastructural studies concerning forest vegetation is reviewed and the early symptoms and injuries caused by several natural and anthropogenic stresses are described. The possibilities of using ultrastructural studies for identification of the injury mechanisms and diagnosis of the stress factors concerned are discussed.