Effects of Atmospheric Fluorides and Various Types of Injury on the Respiration of Leaf Tissue.

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Abstract
Seven species of plants were grown under various atmospheric hydrogen fluoride treatments for several weeks. The treatments had no detectable direct effect on the respiration of leaf discs even when very high fluoride concentrations were used. An increase in oxygen uptake, which appeared to be related directly to the development of leaf necrosis, was found in 2 varieties of gladioli. Injury to gladiolus leaves by scalding, crushing, and burning caused an increase in the respiration rate of the adjacent tissue comparable to that found when leaf scorch was produced by hydrogen fluoride. Removal of part of the leaf did not affect respiration of remaining leaf tissue. Increase in respiration was greatest near the injury and somewhat in proportion to amount of injury. The data indicate that it is unlikely that fluorides in the atmosphere of urban or industrial areas affect respiration; at least, not without first producing more obvious injury.