ABSTRACT
Air and soil pollution are becoming of increasing concern for ecologists, environmental protection agencies, and the general public. Although the effects of air and soil pollution on the growth of plants mostly forest trees have been the subject of numerous studies. Plants grown under water stress may have a different taste and flavor as compared with well-watered plants. Experiments conducted under controlled conditions have shown that increased water supply to the plants may reduce the ascorbic acid concentration in cabbage, cauliflower, celeriac, cucumber, muskmelon, radish, snap beans, and tomato, but may increase its content in potato. Carrots grown under low soil moisture are known to have a better color, which is in agreement with the observation that rainy climatic conditions, and increased soil moisture under controlled conditions decrease the carotene content in carrots. NaCl has been reported to reduce the concentration of carotene in the leaves of radish, cabbage, lettuce, and tomato.
