Trees and Shrubs Relatively Insensitive to Oxidant Pollution in New Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania. Ann Rhoads, Plant Pathologist, Morris Arboretum, Philadelphia, PA 19118. Ronald Harkov, Graduate Student, and Eileen Brennan, Professor, Plant Pathology Department, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08902. Plant Dis. 64:1106-1108. Copyright 1980 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-64-1106.

A field survey was done to determine the extent of foliar oxidant injury on woody plants in New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania from 1973 to 1979. Oxidant injury was infrequent on 75 species of woody plants in a variety of sites including urban parks and streets, remnant woodlots, arboreta, state forests, suburban communities, and the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Slight injury occurred on only 18 species, and the response of susceptible species varied widely. Because of the paucity of foliar oxidant injury observed on trees, we conclude that woody vegetation is relatively insensitive to this air pollution complex.