Studies on the Effect of Sulphur Dioxide on Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenneL.)

Abstract

The response to SO₂ fumigation was examined in long-established perennial ryegrass populations from the same climatic region, which had experienced widely different ambient SO₂ concentrations. The results provide strong evidence of the evolution of SO₂ tolerance in populations from the high SO₂ areas. Populations from these areas exhibited greater tolerance to SO₂ and showed reduced clonal variability in response. Furthermore, the degree of tolerance exhibited appeared to depend on the severity of SO₂ pollution experienced by the populations in the field.