Understanding the Effects of Acid Rain on Tree Leaves

[PPonte]

My schoolbook states:

Acid rain can destroy forests danificating the leaves of trees.

My question is: What are the reactions that occur in the leaves that cause their danification?

I googlelize and found:

By removing useful nutrients from the soil, acid rain slows the growth of plants, especially trees. It also attacks trees more directly by eating holes in the waxy coating of leaves and needles, causing brown dead spots. If many such spots form, a tree loses some of its ability to make food through photosynthesis. Also, organisms that cause disease can infect the tree through its injured leaves. Once weakened, trees are more vulnerable to other stresses, such as insect infestations, drought, and cold temperatures.

It also attacks trees more directly by eating holes in the waxy coating of leaves and needles, causing brown dead spots.

That's ok, but how it eats holes?

 

[Astronuc]

This source might give some insight - http://www.nap.edu/nap-cgi/skimit.cgi?isbn=0309040787&chap=333-340

The acid rain may damage the surface or the subsurface in some way. The key factor is the production and distribution of the epicuticular wax which protects the leaves. It is a production of certain cells involving certain enzymes which are affected by 1) pH levels and 2) metal ions (from minerals). The textbook may be oversimplifying the matter.

Brown or black spots could be a virus, bacteria or a fungus, which may be preceded by a reduction in or damage to the epicuticular wax.

As for 'danification or danificating', I cannot find either term. Perhaps one means denitrification or denitrifying?

 

[Hamhiu]

My schoolbook states:
My question is: What are the reactions that occur in the leaves that cause their danification?

Simply the plant cells are partially/fully damaged due to acidic rain drops.
Do you know typically what acid is in them ?? You can then think of what chloroplast is mainly composed of to write yourself a pretty meaningless chemical equation. :P

 

[PPonte]

Astronuc, thank you very much for your help. Danification or danificating are words from my "awesome" english.

Do you know typically what acid is in them ??

Nitric and sulfuric acid. Am I correct?

You can then think of what chloroplast is mainly composed of

Photosynthetic pigments?