New research shows that plants such as oak and poplar trees will emit more of a compound called isoprene as global temperatures climb. Isoprene from plants represents the highest flux of hydrocarbons to the atmosphere after methane. Although isoprene isn’t inherently bad — it actually helps plants better tolerate insect pests and high temperatures — it can worsen air pollution by reacting with nitrogen oxides from automobiles and coal-fired power plants. The new publication can help us better understand, predict and potentially mitigate the effects of increased isoprene emission as the planet warms.
shows that plants such as oak and poplar trees will emit more of a compound called isoprene as global temperatures climb. Isoprene from plants represents the highest flux of hydrocarbons to the atmosphere behind methane. Although isoprene isn't inherently bad -- it actually helps plants better tolerate insect pests and high temperatures -- it can worsen air pollution by reacting with nitrogen oxides from automobiles and coal-fired power plants.
"Do we want plants to make more isoprene so they're more resilient, or do we want them making less so it's not making air pollution worse? What's the right balance?" Sharkey asked."Those are really the fundamental questions driving this work. The more we understand, the more effectively we can answer them."Sharkey has been studying isoprene and how plants produce it since the 1970s, when he was a doctoral student at Michigan State.
Now, with support from the National Science Foundation, Sharkey and his team are working to better understand the biomolecular processes plants use to make isoprene. The researchers are particularly interested in how those processes are affected by the environment, especially in the face of climate change.
"Scientists have been trying to find this for a long time," Sahu said."And, finally, we have the answer." "Working with Tom, you realize plants really do emit a lot of isoprene," said Mohammad Mostofa, an assistant professor who works in Sharkey's lab and was another author of the new report.
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