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The growth of vegetative organs, the rate of seed germination, and fruit developement of Arabidopsis thaliana were analyzed to evaluate the effects of simulated acid rain under the different pH condition (pH 3.0, 4.0 and 5.6). Results indicated that generally Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Col-O was more sensitive to simulated acid rains than ecotype Sei-O. Ecotype Col-O with acid rain treatment of pH 3.0 showed more inhibition of shoot and root growth compared to ecotype Sei-O. In case of ecotype Col-O, there was little effect of acid rain treatment on seed germination rate. Both ecotypes of Sei-O and Col-O both showed higher germination rate under pH 5.6 condition. Seed germination of ecotype Sei-O was inhibited by acid rain treatment of pH 3.0, but the fruit development was not affected by acid rain treatment, even under the condition of pH 3.0. In contrast, the fruit development of ecotype Col-O was inhibited by acid rain treatment. This experiment can be the model system for studying plant growth and development when exposed to acid rains, because different Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes showed different responses to simulated acid rain.
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