Towards unravelling the complex interactions between microclimate, ozone dose, and ozone injury in clover

This paper describes the results of a series of experiments designed to identify the relative importance of various factors which modify the responses of a sensitive species to ozone. The experiments were conducted in a closed chamber exposure system, enabling clover plants (Trifolium subterraneum L. cv Geraldton) to be exposed to ozone doses ranging from 0 to 1800 ppb.h, accumulated over 40 ppb (AOT40), for 7 h d super(-1), over 1 to 3 days. Microclimatic conditions during exposure ranged from 80 to 460 mu mol m super(-2) s super(-1) photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), 26 to 61 percent relative humidity (%RH) and 16 to 36 degree C temperature. No clear dose response relationships were established for 1, 2 or 3 day exposures due to the influence of microclimatic and other factors during exposure. Artificial Neural Networks were used as a tool to identify patterns within the dose response data set and to clarify the effects of various microclimatic and dose topography responses, during multiple day exposures. Analysis of the trained neural network revealed that AOT40 on individual exposure days was the most important influences PAR on the first and third days of exposure, the mean relative humidity and the mean temperature for all days also had strong influences. Leaf age also had an influence but this was weaker. This paper describes these results in relation to the influences acting upon the plant and how these affect ozone uptake and resulting ozone injury.