The Influence Of Water Relations On The Response Of Cutleaf Coneflower (RUDBECKIA LACINIATA) To Ozone

Ozone is the most important gaseous air pollutant causing foliar injury to plants. Cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata var. digitata), a native perennial sunflower in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), is sensitive to ozone and has the ability to live in environments from full shade to full sun. Because of its susceptibility to ozone, and the availability of plant populations in GSMNP, cutleaf coneflower has become the subject of much investigation for how ozone affects native wild flowers. The objective of my study was to determine the interactions between ozone and the water relations of cutleaf coneflower.