ABSTRACT
The influence of air pollutants on the architecture of Calabrian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) needles was examined in polluted and control forest sites around the Yeniköy thermal power plant (YTPP) in Muğla, Turkey. The aim of this research was to test the hypothesis that air pollutants emitted from the YTPP cause the dilation of resin canal diameter on the cross-sections of Calabrian pine needles. For this, the anatomical and morphological anomalies on the cross-sections of Calabrian pine needles were examined. It was determined that the air pollutants caused resin canal dilation and epidermis/hypodermis layers slimming on the cross-sections of Calabrian pine needles. It was also observed that the endodermis layer, the transfusion tissue cells had deformed, and the intra-cellular material had disappeared in the inner side of the cells. At the end of the land researches carried out around the YTPP, visible injury was observed and the ends of needles had withered, so the two and three-year old needles fell very early. Leak of resin on the surface of the needles especially in extensive dusty areas appeared. 0.217-0.423 mg/cm(2) fly ash on the needle surfaces in these areas were obtained. By means of the elemental analysis, it was found out that fly ash had some toxic elements on plants.