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This study aimed to determine the effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria Bacillus subtilis JS on the growth and physiological changes of Populus euramericana and Populus deltoides × P. nigra. Poplar seedlings were treated with B. subtilis JS and their growth was monitored for up to 120 d. Three different types of treatments [control, B1 (B. subtilis:double-distilled water, 1:100, v/v), and B2 (1:50)] were established. B. subtilis JS enhanced seedling height by 62% and total biomass by 37% after 120 d. Physiologically, the photosynthetic rate increased by 54%, and the total chlorophyll (Chl) content, foliage nitrogen and phosphate content were significantly higher after treatment with B2 than that of the control. These results suggest that the total Chl content is directly related to not only the photosynthetic capacity of the foliage but also to the nitrogen content, indicating that the strain JS may promote the growth of poplar.

In the present study, photosynthetic traits and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters of Populus sibirica grown under different irrigation regimes were investigated to estimate seedling growth and vitality for reforestation of a desertification area. According to our results, photosynthesis and Chl fluorescence were significantly affected by water deficit only under severe drought conditions.

The present study revealed that Ginkgo biloba and Platanus occidentalis, the most abundant roadside trees in Seoul, grown under polluted environmental conditions, displayed lower contents of total chlorophyll (Chl), carotenoids (Car), and ascorbic acid (AsA) compared to the trees grown under clean conditions. The reduction in Chl, Car, and AsA contents was 59, 53, and 50%, respectively, in G. biloba, contrary to 26, 23, and 24%, respectively, in P. occidentalis. Furthermore, relative ion leakage and leaf temperature was higher in the trees grown under polluted conditions than in those grown under clean conditions. The increase in relative ion leakage and leaf temperature was 58 and 3% for G. biloba and 17 and 4% for P. occidentalis, respectively. Our results, therefore, highlighted the negative impact of urban environmental pollution on the physiological and biochemical parameters in roadside trees.

We investigated the physiological and biochemical differences in Pterocarpus indicus and Erythrina orientalis grown in four sites at different pollution levels in the Philippines: Makati, Pasig and Quezon (high pollution levels; HP) located in Metro Manila, and La Mesa Watershed (a non-polluted area; NP). Among these four areas, HP sites had higher net photosynthetic rates (P N) than NP sites, except for Makati. Among HP sites, Makati and Quezon had the lowest P N for P. indicus and E. orientalis, respectively. Chlorophyll (Chl) contents were significantly lower in HP than in NP sites. Trees in Makati had the lowest Chl contents among HP sites, and P. indicus had higher Chl contents than did E. orientalis. In addition, the chloroplasts in HP trees had small starch grains with numerous dark, large plastoglobuli. Furthermore, antioxidant enzymes, indicative of the defense mechanism, showed a significantly higher activity in HP than in NP trees.

Liriodendron tulipifera was exposed to gradually elevated ozone concentrations of 100–300 μg kg−1 in the naturally irradiated environment chamber. During 15 d of exposure to O3, net photosynthetic rate (PN) decreased and there was large difference between the control (C) and treatment with ozone (OT), while there was no significant difference in water use efficiency. Total chlorophyll content as well as the value of fluorescence parameter Fv/Fm decreased, while antioxidant enzyme activities related to ascorbate-glutathione cycle increased after 15 d of OT. Unchanged contents of ascorbate and glutathione indirectly suggest that the species hastened the antioxidant’s oxidization/reduction cycle using enzymes instead of expanding their pool against oxidative stress.

To determine the effectiveness of rehabilitation on improving ecosystem functions, we examined net photosynthetic rate (P N), tree species composition, soil enzyme activities, and the microclimate (air and soil temperature, relative humidity) of an area on Mt. Makiling that has been rehabilitated and protected from fire for over 12 years. After it was last burned extensively in 1991, restoration was initiated by planting Acacia mangium and Acacia auriculiformis. We selected three areas to study in 2003. Two areas were rehabilitated with A. mangium and A. auriculiformis, and one was still dominated by Imperata cylindrica and Saccharum spontaneum. P N of A. mangium and A. auriculiformis showed significantly lower values than those of I. cylindrica and S. spontaneum. The Acacia plantations had more naturally regenerated tree species than the grassland. Additionally, more tree species appeared in the A. mangium plantation than in the A. auriculiformis plantation. Ficus spetica was present in all of the study sites. Dehydrogenase and phosphatase activities were significantly higher in soil under the Acacia plantations than under grassland. Grassland showed higher air temperature, relative humidity, and soil temperature as well as a larger variation per hour in these parameters compared to the Acacia plantations. The highest air temperature, relative humidity, and soil temperature were measured in April during the dry season. From the regression analysis, soil temperature was significantly correlated with air temperature. Hence plantations, as a rehabilitation activity for grassland, promote natural regeneration and stabilize the microclimate. This stabilization of the microclimate affects establishment and growth of naturally occurring tree species.

Seedlings of four tree species (Bischofia javanica, Dracontomelon dao, Erythrina orientalis, and Pterocarpus indicus) were planted in flat and sloping grassland in plantation sites established in May 2002 in the La Mesa watershed, Philippines. Tree growth and net photosynthetic rate (PN) were monitored. The height, diameter at the root collar, and PN of the four species grown in the sloping grass site were larger than those of seedlings grown in the flat grass site. In addition, soil moisture contents in the sloping grass site were higher than those of the flat grass site. Growth of the four species was probably strongly associated with microenvironments (e.g. air temperature) in both tested sites.

We investigated net photosynthetic rate and antioxidative enzyme activities in Erythrina orientalis grown in three different sites: Makati and Quezon (cities with high levels of air pollution, HP) and La Mesa (a non-polluted area, NP). Photosynthetic activity of E. orientalis was significantly reduced in the HP cities. In contrast, activities of the antioxidative enzymes ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase were significantly higher in HP cities than in the NP area.

After SO2 fumigation, Quercus acutissima and Pinus densiflora maintained high net photosynthetic rate (P N) and did not show visible symptoms of damage. In contrast, Populus alba×glandulosa and Acanthopanax sessiliflorus had significantly reduced P N and showed visible necrosis.