Effect of trichome structure of Tillandsia usneoides on deposition of particulate matter under flow conditions

Selective capture of PM2.5 by urban trees: The role of leaf wax composition and physiological traits in air quality enhancement

Human health risks from particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) highlight the role of urban trees as bio-filters in air pollution control. However, whether the size and composition of particles captured by various tree species differ or not remain unclear. This study investigates how leaf attributes affect the capture of PM2.5, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and pose significant health risks. Using a self-developed particulate matter (PM) resuspension chamber and single-particle aerosol mass spectrometer, we measured the size distribution and mass spectra of particles captured by ten tree species. Notably, Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J.Presl and Osmanthus fragrans Lour. are more effective at capturing particles under 1 µm, which are most harmful because they can reach the alveoli, whereas Ginkgo biloba L. and Platanus × acerifolia (Aiton) Willd. tend to capture larger particles, up to 1.6 µm, which are prone to being trapped in the upper respiratory tract. Leaf physiological traits such as stomatal conductance and water potential significantly enhance the capture of larger particles. The Adaptive Resonance Theory neural network (ART-2a) algorithm classified a large number of single particles to determine their composition. Results indicate distinct inter-species variations in chemical composition of particles captured by leaves. Moreover, we identified how specific leaf wax compositions-beyond the known sticky nature of hydrophobic waxes-contribute to particle adhesion, particularly highlighting the roles of fatty acids and alkanes in adhering particles rich in organic carbon and heavy metals, respectively. This research advances our understanding by linking leaf physiological and wax characteristics to the selective capture of PM2.5, providing actionable insights for urban forestry management. The detailed exploration of particle size and composition, tied to specific tree species, enriches the current literature by quantifying how and why different species contribute variably to air quality improvement. This adds a crucial layer of specificity to the general knowledge that trees serve as bio-filters, offering a refined strategy for planting urban trees based on their particulate capture profiles.

Foliar uptake screening: A promising strategy for identifying wheat varieties with low lead accumulation

Lead (Pb) contamination in wheat grain is of great concern, especially in North China. Atmospheric deposition is a major contributor to Pb accumulation in wheat grain. Screening low Pb accumulating wheat varieties has been an effective method for addressing Pb contamination in wheat grain. However, identifying wheat varieties with low Pb accumulation based on foliar uptake of atmospheric Pb has been neglected. Therefore, two field trials with distinct atmospheric Pb deposition were conducted to screen for stable varieties with low Pb accumulation. It was verified that YB700 and CH58, which have high thousand-grain weights and stable low Pb accumulation in field 1 (0.19 and 0.13 mg kg-1) and field 2 (0.17 and 0.20 mg kg-1), respectively, were recommended for cultivation in atmospheric Pb contaminated farmlands in North China. Furthermore, indoor experiments were conducted to investigate Pb uptake by the roots and leaves of different wheat varieties. Our findings indicate that Pb accumulation in different wheat varieties is primarily influenced by foliar Pb uptake rather than root Pb uptake. Interestingly, there was a positive correlation (p < 0.05) between the Pb concentrations in leaves and the stomatal width and trichome length of the adaxial epidermal surface. Additionally, there is a positive correlation (p < 0.01) between the Pb concentration in the wheat grain and trichome length. In conclusion, the screening of wheat varieties with narrower stomatal widths or shorter trichomes based on foliar uptake pathways is an effective strategy for ensuring food safety in areas contaminated by atmospheric Pb.

Trichome-Like Biomimetic Air Filters via Templated Silicone Nanofilaments

Air pollution threats to human health have increased awareness of the role of filter units in air cleaning applications. As an ideal energy-saving strategy for air filters, the slip effect on nanofiber surfaces can potentially overcome the trade-off between filtration efficiency and pressure drop. However, the potential of the slip effect in nanofibrous structures is significantly limited by the tight nanofiber stacks. In this study, trichome-like biomimetic (TLB) air filters with 3D-templated silicone nanofilaments (average diameter: ≈74 nm) are prepared based on an in situ chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method inspired by plant purification. Theoretical modeling and experimental results indicate that TLB air filters make significant use of the slip effect to overcome the efficiency-resistance tradeoff. The selectable filter class (up to U15, ≈99.9995%) allows TLB air filters to meet various requirements, and their integral filtration performance surpasses that of most commodity air filters, including melt-blown cloth, ePTFE membranes, electrospun mats, and glass fiber paper. The proposed strategy directly transforms commercial filter media and filters into TLB air filters using a bottom-up, one-step approach. As a proof-of-concept, reusable N95 respirators and air purifiers equipped with TLB air filters are fabricated, overcoming the limitations of existing filter designs and fabrication methods.

Experimental analysis of PM2.5 reduction characteristics between Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) and sawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima) saplings under different densities and arrangement structures

As global air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5), has become a major environmental problem, various PM2.5 mitigation technologies including green infrastructure have received significant attention. However, owing to spatial constraints on urban greening, there is a lack of management plans for urban forests to efficiently mitigate PM2.5. In this study, we assessed the PM2.5 reduction capabilities of Pinus densiflora (Korean red pine) and Quercus acutissima (sawtooth oak) by measuring the changes of PM2.5 concentrations using an experimental chamber system. In addition, the PM2.5 reduction efficiency in 90 min (PMRE90) and the amount of PM2.5 reduction per leaf area (PMRLA) were compared based on arrangement structures and density levels. The results showed that the PM2.5 reduction by plants was significantly greater than that of the control experiment without any plants, and an additional reduction effect of approximately 1.38 times was induced by a 1.5 m s-1 air flow. The PMRE90 of Korean red pine was the highest at medium density. In contrast, the PMRE90 of sawtooth oak was the highest at high density. The PMRLA of both species was highest at low densities. The different responses of the species to total reduction were well explained by total leaf area (TLA). The PMRE90 of both species was positively correlated with TLA. The PMRLA of sawtooth oak was approximately 2.3 times greater than that of Korean red pine. However, there were no significant differences in both PMRE90 and PMRLA between the arrangement structures. Our findings reveal the potential mechanisms of vegetation in reducing PM2.5 according to arrangement structure and density. This highlights the importance of efficiently using urban green spaces with spatial constraints on PM2.5 mitigation in the future.

Uptake and distribution of the inorganic components NH4+ and NO3- in PM2.5 by two Chinese conifers

Plants can effectively purify PM2.5 in the air, thereby improving air quality. Understanding the mechanisms of the uptake and distribution of PM2.5 in plants is crucial for enhancing their ecological benefits. In this study, the uptake and distribution of the water-soluble inorganic compounds ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-) ions in PM2.5 by the two native Chinese conifers Manchurian red pine (Pinus tabuliformis) and Bunge's pine (P. bungeana) were investigated using a one-time aerosol treatment method combined with 15N tracing. The results showed the following: (1) Plants can efficiently uptake NH4+ (0.08-0.21 μg/g) and NO3- (0.03-0.68 μg/g) from PM2.5. Manchurian red pine uptakes these compounds more effectively with increases of 2.01-fold for NH4+ and 1.02-fold for NO3- compared with Bunge's pine. (2) The aboveground organs of the plants uptake and distribute more 15N than the belowground organs. The branches had the highest unit mass uptake (0.08-1.60 μg/g) and rate of distribution (16.91-53.60 %) for NH4+, while the leaves had the highest unit mass uptake (0.15-1.18 μg/g) and rate of distribution (50.78-84.88 %) for NO3-. (3) The ability of the aboveground organs to uptake 15N is influenced by the concentration of PM2.5, which showed an overall increase with increasing concentrations with some fluctuations in specific organs. However, the belowground organs were not affected by the concentration of PM2.5. (4) A larger specific leaf area, root-shoot ratio, branch biomass ratio, coarse root biomass ratio, and lower trunk biomass ratio favors the uptake of NH4+ from PM2.5, whereas these traits had a minimal influence on the uptake of NO3-. Manchurian red pine uptaked significantly more NH4+ compared with Bunge's pine, which benefited from the traits described above. These findings further revealed the mechanism of PM2.5 uptake by plants and its relationship with PM2.5 concentration and plant traits, and provided a scientific basis for how to effectively utilize plants to reduce PM2.5 pollution and purify the environment in areas with different pollution concentrations.

Influence mechanism of awns on wheat grain Pb absorption: Awns' significant contribution to grain Pb was mainly originated from their direct absorption of atmospheric Pb at the late grain-filling stage

The spike is the organ that contributes the most to lead (Pb) accumulation in wheat grains. However, as an important photosynthetic and transpiration tissue in spike, the role of awn in wheat grain Pb absorption remains unknown. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the influence mechanism of awn on grain Pb accumulation through two comparative treatments: with and without awns (de-awned treatment). The de-awned treatment decreased wheat yield by 4.1 %; however, it significantly lowered the grain Pb accumulation rate at the late filling stage (15 days after anthesis) and led to a 22.8 % decrease in grain Pb concentration from 0.57 to 0.44 mg·kg^-1. Moreover, the relative contribution of awn-to-grain Pb accumulation gradually increased with the filling process, finally reaching 26.6 % at maturity. In addition, Pb isotope source analysis indicated that the Pb in the awn and grain mainly originated from atmospheric deposition, and the de-awned treatment decreased the proportion of grain Pb from atmospheric deposition by 8.9 %. Microstructural observations further confirmed that the contribution of awns to grain Pb accumulation mainly originated from their direct absorption of atmospheric Pb. In conclusion, awns play an important role in wheat grain Pb absorption at the late grain-filling stage; planting awnless or short-awn wheat varieties may be the simplest and effective environmental management measure to reduce the health risks of Pb in wheat in regions with serious atmospheric Pb contamination.

Radon adsorption and air purification by Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) and its metabolic response to radon exposure

The capacity of Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides), an aerial plant, to adsorb radon (Rn) and absorb CO₂ was assessed to analyze its capacity to remove pollutants from indoor air and to determine its radon (Rn) tolerance mechanism. Transcriptomics and metabolomics techniques were used to analyze the response of the plant to Rn exposure. Spanish moss absorbed indoor CO₂ at night using the type of photosynthesis termed crassulacean acid metabolism. The CO₂ absorption efficiency of the plant was mainly affected by the light duration and diurnal temperature differences. The highest purification efficiency was 48.25%, and the scales on the Spanish moss leaf surface were the key sites for Rn adsorption. Metabolome analysis showed that Rn exposure induced differential metabolites significantly enriched in the metabolism of lipids, amino acids, nucleotides, and carbohydrates. Transcriptome analysis showed significantly upregulated expression levels of functional genes in Rn-exposed leaves. Rn had significant effects on respiratory metabolism, as indicated by upregulated expression of metabolites and functional genes related to the glycolysis pathway, pyruvate oxidation, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation pathway. These responses indicated that the internal mechanism by which Spanish moss alleviates Rn stress involves an enhancement of cellular energy supplies and regulation of respiratory metabolic pathways to allow adaptation to Rn pollution.

Accelerated settling velocity of airborne particulate matter on hairy plant leaves

Phytoremediation has emerged as an ecofriendly technique to reduce hazardous particulate matter (PM) in the air. Although previous studies have conducted statistical analyses to reveal PM removal capabilities of various plant species according to their leaf characteristics, the underlying physical mechanism of PM adsorption of plants remains unclear. Conventional methodologies for measuring PM accumulation usually require long-term field tests and provide limited understanding on PM removal effects of individual leaf traits of various plants. In this study, we propose a novel methodology which can compare the electrostatic interactions between PMs and plant leaves according to their trichome structures by using digital in-line holographic microscopy (DIHM). Surface characteristics of Perilla frutescens and Capsicum annuum leaves are measured to examine electrostatic effects according to the morphological features of trichomes. 3D settling motions of PMs near the microstructures of trichomes of the two plant species are compared in detail. To validate the PM removal effect of the hairy microstructures, a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) replica model of a P. frutescens leaf is fabricated to demonstrate accelerated settling velocities of PMs near trichome-like microstructures. The size and electric charge distributions of PMs with irregular shapes are analyzed using DIHM. Numerical simulation of the PM deposition near a trichome-like structure is conducted to verify the empirical results. As a result, the settling velocities of PMs on P. frutescens leaves and a PDMS replica sample are 12.11 ± 1.88% and 34.06 ± 4.19% faster than those on C. annuum leaves and a flat PDMS sample, respectively. These findings indicate that the curved microstructures of hairy trichomes of plant leaves increase the ability to capture PMs by enhancing the electric field intensity just near trichomes. Compared with conventional methods, the proposed methodology can quantitatively evaluate the settling velocity of PMs on various plant leaves according to the morphological structure and density of trichomes within a short period of time. The present research findings would be widely utilized in the selection of suitable air-purifying plants for sustainable removal of harmful air pollutants in urban and indoor environments.

Coagulation effect of atmospheric submicron particles on plant leaves: Key functional characteristics and a comparison with dry deposition

Submicron particles have become a new focus in research on air pollution control. The abilities of urban tree species to retain particles can be used to alleviate urban haze pollution. However, research has focused mostly on plants and environmental conditions rather than on particle itself. Particle migration and transformation at the leaf-air interface are the key to dust retention. Submicron particles coagulate when they are retained by leaves. In this study, NaCl was used to simulate submicron particles. The average sizes of the particles on the leaves of 10 greening tree species in Shanghai in different seasons were measured using the sweep-resuspension method to characterize the coagulation effect. Thereafter, the effects of leaf characteristics were investigated and analyzed in relation to dry deposition velocity. The results indicated that the particles on the leaves of Ginkgo biloba, Osmanthus fragrans, Sabina chinensis (L.) Ant. "Kaizuca," Cinnamomum camphora, and Metasequoia glyptostroboides were large. The seasonal variability of the sizes of the particles on the leaves of different tree species varied. The average particle size was positively correlated with wax content and negatively correlated with single leaf area; however, the other factors correlated with particle size varied by season. For example, in April, the average particle size was positively correlated with tensile strength, wind resistance, adaxial epidermal roughness, and water potential, whereas the effects of stomatal conductance were more complex. Non-significant correlation was identified between coagulation and dry deposition although both were positively correlated with roughness and wax content. This study explored the effects of leaf characteristics on coagulation. The results may serve as a theoretical foundation for explaining the microscopic process underlying dust retention in plants and may provide a clearer scientific basis for the prevention and control of submicron particle pollution and the selection of urban greening tree species.

Mechanism of Pb accumulation in Chinese cabbage leaves: Stomata and trichomes regulate foliar uptake of Pb in atmospheric PM2.5

Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) is one of the most popular and frequently consumed leafy vegetables. It was found that atmospheric PM_2.5-Pb contributes to Pb accumulation in the edible leaves of Chinese cabbage via stomata in North China during haze seasons with high concentrations of fine particulate matter in autumn and winter. However, it is unclear whether both stomata and trichomes co-regulate foliar transfer of PM_2.5-Pb from atmospheric deposition to the leaf of Chinese cabbage genotypes with trichomes. Field and hydroponic experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of foliar uptake of PM_2.5-Pb on Pb accumulation in leaves using two genotypes of Chinese cabbage, one without trichomes and one with trichomes. It was verified that open stoma is a prominent pathway of foliar PM_2.5-Pb transfer in the short-term exposure for 6 h, contributing 74.5% of Pb accumulation in leaves, whereas Pb concentrations in the leaves of with-trichome genotype in the rosette stage were 6.52- and 1.04-fold higher than that of without-trichome genotype in greenhouse and open field, respectively, which suggests that stomata and trichomes co-regulate foliar Pb uptake of from atmospheric PM_2.5. Moreover, subcellular Pb in the leaves was distributed in the following order of cytoplasm (53.8%) > cell wall (38.5%)> organelle (7.8%), as confirmed through high-resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS). The Leadmium™ Green AM dye manifested that Pb in PM_2.5 entered cellular space of trichomes and accumulated in the basal compartment, enhancing foliar Pb uptake in the edible leaves of cabbage. The results of these experiments are evidence that both stomata and trichomes are important pathways in the regulation of foliar Pb uptake and translocation in Chinese cabbage.

Domino-like water transport on Tillandsia through flexible trichome wings

Tillandsia usneoides in epiphytic bromeliads takes up water through absorptive trichomes on the shoot surface under extreme environmental conditions. Although previous studies revealed the way by which T. usneoides absorbs water and prevents water loss, its water transport remains unclear. We characterized structures of trichome wings of T. usneoides. Wing length-to-thickness ratio of 136 and trichome interval (d)-to-wing length (l) ratio (d/l) smaller than 1 caused the water film to flatten the wings sequentially, resulting in domino-like water transport. A hinge-like linkage between wing and outer ring cells and the wing size longer than the elastocapillary length (L_EC ) brought about this unique reconfiguration, which is the flattening and recovery of wings. Tillandsia usneoides transported water rapidly on the surface as the water film propagated on the exterior trichomes with flexible wings and the transport distance at the macroscopic scale grew as t^x with x = 0.68 ± 0.04, unlike the conventional scaling of t^0.5 . Empirical and theoretical investigations proved our assumption that external water transport with the domino-like effect predominated over internal vascular transport. Biomimetic trichome wings simulated the domino-like water transport, highlighting the important role of flexible wing arrays.

Adsorption of nanoparticles suspended in a drop on a leaf surface of Perilla frutescens and their infiltration through stomatal pathway

Particulate matter (PM) has become a severe environmental issue, and ultrafine PM particles such as PM2.5 or PM1 can cause various complications and respiratory diseases to human beings. In particular, heavy metals contained in PM particles can contaminate edible plants; for example, plant leaves are exposed to PM particle-laden raindrops. The contaminated edible plants can injure the human health by ingestion, so a detailed understanding on the accumulation of PM particles inside edible plants is essential. In this study, we investigate the infiltration of PM particles in plant tissues with a hypothesis that ultrafine PM particles are absorbed through stomatal pathways. As an edible test plant, Perilla frutescens is selected. Drops of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) suspension are deposited on a leaf of P. frutescens to simulate the scenario where PM particle-laden raindrops fall on patulous stomata of the test plant. To examine AuNP adsorption on the P. frutescens foliar surface and diffusional AuNP absorption through stomatal apertures, we investigate three physical dynamics of AuNPs suspended in a sessile drop: sedimentation, evaporation-driven convective flow, and shrinkage of the drop interface. Quantitative information on the 3D spatial distribution of AuNPs in plant tissues was measured by X-ray imaging and two-photon excitation microscopy.

Three-dimensional volumetric monitoring of settling particulate matters on a leaf using digital in-line holographic microscopy

Plants are considered as a possible modality to reduce particulate matter (PM) particles from ambient air in an ecofriendly manner. A new precise monitoring technique that can explore interactions between individual PM particles and a leaf surface is necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms of PM removal of plant leaves. In this study, a digital in-line holographic microscopy (DIHM) was employed to experimentally investigate the settling motions of PM particles over the leaf surface. The in-plane positions and sizes of opaque PMs with irregular shapes were obtained from the projection images of numerically reconstructed holographic images. The depth positions of PMs were determined by using proper selection of an autofocusing criterion with automatic segmentation method. The edge of a hairy Perilla frutescens leaf was detected by adopting several digital imaging processing techniques. The DIHM technique was applied in this study to accurately detect 3D settling trajectories of PMs with velocity information of PMs in the midair and near leaf surface, simultaneously.

Foliar uptake and transport of atmospheric trace metals bounded on particulate matters in epiphytic Tillandsia brachycaulos

Epiphytic Tillandsia species are uniquely suitable for the study of foliar uptake of atmospheric trace metals (ATM) because these plants can only rely on their leaves for this purpose. Therefore, we analyzed the uptake and transport of different metals (Fe, Al, Zn, Mn, Ba, Ti, Cu, Ni, Cr, Sn, Pb, Co, As, and Se) bounded on atmospheric particulate matters (APM) in Tillandsia brachycaulos Schltdl. The results showed that the metal contents inside leaves significantly (p < .05) increased after APM exposure. There was a significant (p < .05) positive correlation between the content of 14 trace metals accumulated on the leaf surface and inside the leaf, which indicated that APM is the main source of ATM uptake. The subcellular analysis showed that the Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, and Cr absorbed by T. brachycaulos were stored primarily in the cell walls and organelles. After the removal of foliar trichomes of T. brachycaulos, the metal contents on the leaf surface decreased, whereas the contents of most metals inside the leaf increased. This is an evidence that foliar trichomes serve a protective function by intercepting ATM onto the leaf surface.Novelty statementsThere was a significant positive correlation between the contents of 14 trace metals accumulated on the leaf surface and in the leaf of T. brachycaulos, which indicated that atmospheric particulate matters are the main source of trace metals in the leaves.After the removal of foliar trichomes of T. brachycaulos, the trace metal contents on the leaf surface decreased, whereas the contents of most trace metals inside the leaf increased. This is an evidence that foliar trichomes serve a protective function by intercepting atmospheric trace metals onto the leaf surface.