VIEW ARTICLE

Ozone Response of Tobacco Cultivars Unrelated to Root System Characteristics. A. Rhoads, Research Intern, Department of Plant Biology, Cook College, Rutgers University, The State University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903; E. Brennan, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Biology, Cook College, Rutgers University, The State University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903. Phytopathology 65:1239-1241. Accepted for publication 2 June 1975. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-65-1239.

Using the technique of reciprocal grafts we have provided decisive evidence that the mechanism of ozone resistance in Bel-B tobacco plants does not depend on the root system. Although Bel-B root systems are consistently smaller than those of Bel-W3, the foliage of each cultivar retains its characteristic response to ozone when grafted onto roots of the other. We therefore concluded that the resistance of Bel-B and sensitivity of Bel-W3 must be due to some structural and / or biochemical characteristic of the leaves themselves.