Emissionandutilizationofmethanolinhigherplants.doc

Emission and utilization of methanol in higher plants YANG Yueqin, YI Xianfeng* College of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China Abstract: Methanol, as one of the major volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in the atmosphere, has been proved to be emitted from leaves of most plant species. The formation, emission and metabolism of methanol in higher plants were reviewed in this paper. Photosynthetic processes and chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters were measured on peony leaves treated with different methanol concentrations. The primary results revealed that photosynthesis was greatly improved by methanol, as indicated by higher photosynthetic rates and stomata conductance (GS). Strikingly different patterns were observed for photochemical quenching (qP), non-photochemical quenching (qN and NPQ), and electron transport rate (ETR). Decreases in Fm/Fo, Fv/Fo and (PSII caused by methanol revealed dual effect of methanol (stimulation or inhibition) on the peony leaves, which were determined by the concentration of methanol and time duration. The data suggested that methanol can not only serve as carbon source, but also regulate energy distribution and dissipation, especially for non-photochemical quenching and photorespiration. Key words: methanol; emission and utilization; photosynthesis; chlorophyll a fluorescence; peony CLC number: Q945.11 Document code: A Article ID: 1672-2175（2006）06-1258-04We firmly know that plants produce a great deal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)[1-5]. These VOCs play a number of important roles in plant physiology, plant-herbivore plant-microorganism relationships, and in pollination and adaptation to abiotic factors[6]. As one of the major VOCs found in the atmosphere, methanol (CH3OH) has been proved to be a natural product of plant metabolism and evidenced to emit it from leaves of most plant species. Despite the fact that methanol emissions have been relatively difficult