Salvia splendens adapted to moderate ozone concentration by growth compensatory rather than defense.

Salvia splendens adapts to moderate ozone by promoting growth rather than activating antioxidant defenses, with a 40 ppb ozone level enhancing vegetative development.

• Why it matters: Understanding how ornamental plants respond to ozone pollution is crucial for urban greening strategies, as many species lack clear adaptive mechanisms, risking plant health and aesthetic value.
• What they did: The study exposed S. splendens to ambient, moderate, and high ozone levels over 63 days, measuring growth, photosynthesis, carbohydrate content, stomatal traits, and antioxidant responses to identify adaptive strategies.
• The result: Moderate ozone stimulated growth and photosynthesis, enabling compensatory adaptation, while high ozone triggered antioxidant defenses but failed to prevent growth inhibition, highlighting growth compensation as a key resilience mechanism.