Urban climate and its effect on biochemical and morphological characteristics of Arjun (Terminalia arjuna) plant in National Capital Region Delhi

Abstract

This paper reports impacts of urban pollution on the biochemical and morphological characteristics of Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) in particular the effects of urban industrial dustfall deposition on its foliar surface at a residential site (Jawaharlal Nehru University, JNU) and an industrial site (Sahibabad, SB) in Delhi region. Atmospheric dustfall fluxes were estimated for major anions and cations. Morphological analysis of foliar samples was carried out by using the scanning electron microscope. Biochemical parameters, namely chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, total soluble sugar, proline amino acid and ascorbic acid were also analysed in foliar samples. Results showed that the dustfall fluxes of () at the industrial site were almost three times higher than that of the residential site. This can be attributed to the emissions of industrial activities and diesel-driven vehicular traffic in the area. It was observed that these elevated fluxes of and had significant impacts on the biochemical constituents of the plant and foliar morphology. Concentrations of chlorophyll and carotenoids were recorded decreasing with increasing dustfall fluxes of (), whereas proline and ascorbic acid were found to be increasing with the increase in the dustfall fluxes of () indicating the effect of pollution stress. The study showed that the deposition of dustfall was responsible for damage to stomata and leaf surface morphology, more significantly at the industrial site.