Pollution Response Score of Tree Species in Relation to Ambient Air Quality in an Urban Area.
Multivariate statistical techniques were employed on twelve leaf traits in four selected common tree species (Mangifera indica L., Polyalthia longifolia Sonn., Ficus benghalensis L. and Psidium guajava L.) to evaluate their responses with respect to major air pollutants in an urban area. Discriminant analysis (DA) identified chlorophyll/carotenoid ratio, leaf dry matter content, carotenoids, net water content and ascorbic acid as the major discriminating leaf traits, which varied maximally with respect to the pollution status. Pollution response score (PRS), calculated on the basis of discriminate functional coefficient values, increased with an increase in air pollution variables for all the tested species, with the highest increase in P. longifolia and the lowest in F. benghalensis. The study highlights the usefulness of DA for evaluation of plant specific traits and PRS for selection of tolerant species.
Laboratory of Air Pollution and Global Climate Change, Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
Arideep
A
Mukherjee
Laboratory of Air Pollution and Global Climate Change, Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India. madhoo.agrawal@gmail.com.
Madhoolika
M
Agrawal
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014197:Trees / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D000393:Air Pollutants; D002734:Chlorophyll
Leaf traits; Nitrogen dioxide; Pollution response score; Total suspended particles; Trees