Studies on the Physiological Effects of Soil Dust Adhesion to Plant Surfaces (I)

Physiological effects of soil dust adhesion to plant surfaces were studied. Nozawana (Brassica rapa L. cv. Nozawana), radish (Raphanus sativus L.) , pea (Pisum sativum L. ) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentm Moench.) were used as plant materials. 1. As the intensity of incidence of radiation into leaves was reduced by soil dust adhesion to plant surfaces, plant height, fresh weight and chlorophyll and carbohydrate contents were decreased, but changes of nitrogen contents were less. 2. Numbers, size and chlorophyll concentration of chloroplasts were affected with soil dust treatments to leaves. 3. In spite of the decreased amount of chlorophyll in the dust treated leaves, lowering in the height of light absorption spectra of the treated leaves by use of opal glass was less. 4. It is required to study the physiological reaction of various plants treated with soil dust, because of the inverse properties of physiological changes of nozawana and radish to dust treatments