Entgiftung von Peroxiden in Fichtennadeln am Schwerpunktstandort Kalkalpen -Wank-

Photooxidants have been assumed to play a major role in the new-type forest decline observed in the northern Alps. This group of air pollutants may raise the cellular content of toxic oxygen species and can affect the detoxification metabolism in these harmful compounds. Therefore, in the current project we investigate the content of peroxides, the content of antioxidants, as well as the activity of enzymes related to the metabolism of toxic oxygen species in needles of damaged and healthy spruce trees. As an example, we report on seasonal changes of the activity of superoxide dismutase, its dependency on the degree of injury of the trees, and its relation to the evaluation of the forest.