Water Deficit of Pitch Pines Caused by Superficial Rooting and Air Pollutants in Seoul and Its Vicinity

To make regional comparisons of water status of pitch pine, the temporal changes of water status in pitch pine were investigated at different areas; urban Seoul (heavily polluted area), surburb of Seoul (lightly polluted area), and rural area (control). The effects of air pollutants, acid rain and chemical properties of soil on water deficit in pitch pine were also investiaged. Water content of needles growing at polluted areas were usually lower than that at unpolluted area. Water saturation deficit of needles growing at polluted areas were usually higher than that at unpolluted area especially in dry season. These results indicated that water in needles growing at polluted areas were usually more deficient than that at unpolluted area, and were more deficient in April than other months. At polluted areas, the older the needles were, the more quickly transpirated the water in the needle was. At unpolluted areas, however, water in old needles was not so quickly transpirated as those at polluted areas. Water potential of needles of pitch pine seedlings treated with simulated acid rain (SAR) of pH 3.5 decreased more quickly than that of needles treated with SAR of pH 5.6. Loss of water through epicuticular layer was greater in the following order: magnesium deficiency＋100 $\mu$M aluminium>100$\mu$M aluminium>magnesium deficiency>control. In addition to Mg deficiency and Al toxicity, growth decline of pitch pine widely occurring in polluated Seoul could to a large extent be due to cuticle degredation and abnormal vertical distribution of fine roots, which lead to water stress, particularly in dry seasons.