Uptake and metabolism of sulphur dioxide by Arabidopsis thaliana

Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. was exposed to various concentrations of SO2 during almost the entire life cycle. No negative effects of SO2 on shoot biomass production were observed. There was a linear relation between the deposition of SO2 and the atmospheric SO2 concentration. Sulphur accumulated substantially in the shoots upon SO2 exposure. SO2 was either oxidized to sulphate or converted into extra organic sulphur compounds in a sulphate to organic sulphur ratio of 3:1:, independently of the atmospheric SO2 concentration. Exposure to SO2 resulted in an increase in water soluble non-protein sulphydryl content and a slight increase in the amount of glucosinolates, but both of these play a minor role as sinks for the excess sulphur. The ratio of total nitrogen to total sulphur decreased upon SO2 exposure as a result of the increased sulphate content. The organic nitrogen to organic sulphur ratio did not change upon SO2 exposure, indicating no changes in the composition of sulphur-containing compounds.