Indicators of adaptability of representatives of the genus Acer in an urban environment

Abstract

A topical task has been set to assess the state of arboreal vegetation used in the landscaping of the city on the example of five species of the genus Acer. The main physiological and biochemical characteristics associated not only with the functionality of plants, but also involved in the formation of the plant's response to stress are involved for evaluation. It is shown that species differ in their physiological and biochemical characteristics and different reactions are observed in species to anthropogenic stressors. A significantly lower number of all groups of photosynthetic pigments was observed in species A. negundo and A. saccharinum, A. negundo it also differs in low indicators of the specific surface area of the sheet. In all five maple species in the urban environment, there was a significant increase in the total fund of green and yellow pigments compared to the background; there is an increase in the ratio Σchl / Σcar by 1.1-1.7 times, mainly due to a decrease in the level of chlorophylls and an increase in the proportion of carotenoids. A. negundo has significantly lower water deficiency and water loss by leaf tissues. The highest values of ascorbic acid were noted in the species A. saccharinum. To interpret the responses of species to the stressors of an urbanized area, cluster analysis was used, which divided the species into two clusters; at the same time, common mechanisms of responses were identified in maples that are introduced from different habitats.