Biochemical, Morphological and Anatomical Changes in Tree Foliage Exposed to Vehicular-Pollution

Abstract

In the quest of biomonitoring urban environmental health, the present study focuses on the assessment of tree foliage exposed to vehicular-pollution in Thane city, India. Tree species being continuously exposed to air pollution tends to absorb the pollutants by their foliage surface. Biochemical, morphological and anatomical changes in four selected tree species namely Alstonia scholaris, Cassia siamea, Ficus religiosa and Mangifera indica growing at Teen Haat Naka (polluted site) and Yeoor hills (forest area as control site) were investigated. It was observed that vehicular emissions strike air pollution tolerance index, leaf pigments (proline, carotenoids, phaeophytine), anticipated performance index, along with anatomical variations in stomata, palisade ratio and vein-islet ratio in selected tree species. The analysis revealed that for combating vehicular-pollution in urban areas Mangifera indica was found to be tolerant and excellent categorized tree species while Alstonia scholaris, Ficus religiosa and Cassia siamea as sensitive to vehicular exhaust. The variations in foliage architecture can serve as a biomonitoring tool of vehicular emissions in urban areas.