The effect of ozone on pollen development in Lolium perenne L.

Perennial ryegrass plants (Lolium perenne L.) were exposed in “Closed-Top Chambers” to different ozone concentrations and to charcoal filtered ambient air to study the effect of ozone on the development of pollen. Ozone at ambient (65 nl l−1, 8 h) and elevated (110 nl l−1, 4 h) concentrations affected the maturing of pollen by inhibiting starch accumulation in pollen throughout the anther. Affected pollen persisted in the vacuolated state while normal pollen in the same anther were filled with amyloplasts. The percentage of underdeveloped pollen—determined in transversal sections—was significantly higher in exposed plants than in plants grown in filtered air. Results indicate that ozone stress was responsible for the disrupted development of pollen in L. perenne.