Abstract

One of the significant global issues in recent times is the pollution of atmospheric air due to extensive industrialization and mechanization. Plants can be distinguished as sensitive or tolerant types based on their physiological and morphological response towards various air pollutants like compounds of nitrogen, sulphur (SO_x, NO_x) and particulate matter. The plants sensitive to these air pollutants serve as indicators for their presence in the environment. The present investigation aimed at examining the effect of pollutants in on Saraca asoca plants grown in two sites (Indraprastha, Delhi and River Yamuna Bank, Delhi) which have highly polluted air in comparison to plants grown in non-polluted (control) site (Botanical Garden, Noida). Plants were assayed with respect to pigment content, reducing sugar content, proline content and relative water content in the leaf. The leaves collected from Saraca asoca plants grown in polluted sites displayed an inverse relation to chlorophyll content, reducing sugar content and relative water content with the extent of air pollution, whereas a direct correlation of proline was observed with extent of air pollution. Therefore it was inferred that the above parameters are highly significant consistent in the plant-air pollution interactions and can be used as bio-indicators.

Keywords: Air pollution; Saraca asoca; Chlorophyll content; Proline content