Air Pollution Tolerance Index Values Research Articles

Assessing the relationship between the biochemical and the morphological factors (leaf surface area and leaf surface texture) of industrial and roadside plants.

The study of biochemical parameters provides an idea of the resistance of plants against air pollutants. Biochemical and Physiological parameters are studied with the help of Air pollution tolerance index (APTI). Fifteen plant species were evaluated to assess biochemical and APTI from two polluted sites (Phagwara Industrial area and Phagwara Bus stand area). The values of APTI were found to be highest for Mangifera indica (19.6), Ficus religiosa (19.3), and Ficus benghalensis (15.8) in the industrial area. On the roadside, Mangifera indica (16.8), Ficus benghalensis (16.5), and Ficus religiosa (16.4). Mangifera indica, Ficus religiosa, and Ficus benghalensis were found to be excellent performers in reducing pollution at both the sampling sites as per the APTI values. The order of tolerance was Mangifera indica > Ficus religiosa > Ficus benghalensis > Polyalthia longifolia > Mentha piperita in both the polluted sites. Morphological changes were observed in the plants, suggesting the possibility of pollution stress, which is probably responsible for the changes in biochemical parameters. As a result, the relationship between morphological and biochemical parameters of selected plant species growing in roadside and industrial areas was explored. The findings revealed that relative water content showed a significant positive and negative correlation with leaf surface texture and leaf surface area. On the other hand, ascorbic acid showed a significant positive correlation with them. In conclusion, it has been studied that morphological parameters including biochemical parameters can be proved to be important in investigating the ability of plants to cope with air pollution and in calculating tolerance index.

Detect urban trees air pollution sensitivity & tolerance by leaf trait analysis in the industrial zone of Kumaun Himalaya Uttarakhand India

The plant absorbs gases and particulate matter through its leaves and contributes to cleaning the atmospheric pollutants. Sensitive plant species act as bioindicators of air pollution, while tolerant species are sinks of air pollutants. However, in ecologically sensitive regions like the Himalayas, there are no guiding rules for the selection of roadside plants for urban development due to a lack of scientific research. To address this, this study aimed to identify roadside plant species sensitivity and tolerance to air pollution near the industrial hub Rudrapur located in Kumaun Himalaya using the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI). The APTI is used as a tool for evaluating and categorizing plants according to their levels of tolerance or sensitivity to air pollutants. In this study, the APTI of five plant species has been measured. A One-Way ANOVA was conducted to assess variations in biochemical parameters of five chosen roadside plant species situated at two distinct sites. Mangifera indica and Nerium species were recorded with high APTI values, indicating their tolerance to air pollution. However, the Eucalyptus species was identified as the most sensitive species with low APTI. Selecting suitable tree species to combat air pollution can improve the urban environment.

Impact of automobile exhaust on biochemical and genomorphic characteristics of Mimusops elengi L. growing along roadsides of Lahore city, Pakistan

Automobile exhaust releases different types of pollutants that are at great risk to the air quality of the environment and incidental distress to the nature of roadside plants. Mimusops elengi L. is an evergreen medicinal tree cultivated along the roadside of Lahore City. This research aimed to investigate physiological, morphological and genomorphic characteristics of M. elengi under the influence of air pollution from vehicles. Healthy and mature leaves were collected from trees on Canal Bank and Mall roads of Lahore as the experimental sites and control sites were 20 km away from the experimental site. Different physiochemical, morphological, air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and molecular analysis for the detection of DNA damage were performed through comet assay. The results demonstrated the mean accumulated Cd, Pb, Cu and Ni heavy metal contents on the leaves were higher than the control plants (1.27, 3.22, 1.32 and 1.46 μg mg−1). APTI of trees was 9.04. Trees in these roads significantly (p < 0.01) had a lower leaf area, petiole length and leaf dry matter content in comparison to control site. Increased comet tail showed that DNA damage was higher for roadside trees than trees in the control area. For tolerance of air pollution, it necessary to check the APTI value for the M. elengi at the polluted road side of Lahore city. For long-term screening, the source and type of pollutants and consistent monitoring of various responses given by the trees should be known.

Selection of tropical trees and shrubs for urban greening in coal mine complex: a case study of Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh.

An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the effectiveness of roadside trees for removing dust and the effects of dust load on the physiology and micromorphology of the foliage. The present study was conducted near an open coal mining complex situated in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, India, to assess the air pollution tolerance index (APTI), anticipated performance index (API), dust capturing capacity (DCC), and leaf morphology of trees and shrubs growing around the coal fields. Results showed that Azadirachta indica, Mangifera indica, Ficus religiosa, Ailanthus excelsa, and Ficus benghalensis were the most tolerant species towards air pollution (high APTI scores), while plants like Calotropis gigantea, Lantana camara, and Tectona grandis were proven to be bio-indicator species. Butea monosperma, Ficus benghalensis, Alstonia scholaris, and Terminalia arjuna were plant species with the highest DCC. Two-way ANOVA showed significant differences site-wise and season-wise in the biochemical parameters of APTI and a considerable difference site-wise with respect to dust capturing capacity. Correlation and regression analyses revealed a very high positive correlation between APTI and ascorbic acid value. The study recommends suitable plant species to manage rising air pollution in the coal mine and nearby areas apart from suggesting the development of a green belt.

Assessment of Plants Sensitivity to Air Pollution using Physiological and Biochemical Parameters

Plants act as a main green belt enhancement component. Green plants create a surface that may absorb air pollutants and act as a sink for them, making greenbelts an efficient method of controlling air pollution. Thus attention is needed to promote and develop green belt zones in polluted areas. The current study is focused on evaluating the air pollution tolerance levels of Mangifera indica, Ficus religiosa, Psidium guajava, Annona squamosa already grown in polluted and unpolluted sites. By taking into account biochemical markers such as total chlorophyll level, ascorbic acid level, pH, water content, the Air pollution tolerance index (APTI) was calculated. APTI is an empirical relationship that assesses the degree to which different plant species can tolerate air pollution .Plants that possess APTI value less than or equal to 11 are known as sensitive, between 12 and 16 are moderately tolerant and greater than 17 are tolerant. The results obtained from the study showed that M. indica is more tolerant in nature. The rest of the plants used in the study are found to be intermittently tolerant. From this study, it can be concluded that planting Mangifera indica, Psidium guajava ,Annona squamosa, Ficus religosa in urban areas can reduce air pollution. This study also concludes that use of the APTI evaluation for the identification of air pollution tolerant plants is a suitable method.

Assessment of air pollution tolerance index and anticipated performance index of roadside plants used for greenbelt development in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

The study emphasizes the significance of evaluating performance index of plants in urban vegetation. The performance of some common roadside plants like Ficus benjamina, Buddleja asiatica, Jacaranda mimosifolia, Cinnamomum camphora, and Callistemon viminalis were assessed for air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API). The study was conducted in polluted site (Balkhu-Koteshwor road section) and control site (Godawari Botanical Garden) in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The APTI values are 7.71–11.86 in the control site and 8.83–12.54 in the polluted site. Based on APTI, Ficus benjamina, Cinnamomum camphora and Jacaranda mimosifolia are intermediate tolerant, whereas Buddleja asiatica and Callistemon viminalis are sensitive to air pollution. The API values for Jacaranda mimosifolia and Cinnamomum camphora are better, indicating that they are good performers in terms of air pollution tolerance. In contrast, Buddleja asiatica is evaluated as poor performer among the selected plant species. Tolerant plant species hold the potential to serve as effective vegetative traffic barriers and contribute to urban green belts. Conversely, sensitive plants can be utilized as bio-indicators of air quality.

Assessment of air pollution tolerance potential of selected dicot tree species for urban forestry.

Air pollution is one of the killers of our age especially for the urban areas. Urban forestry which involves planting more trees has been considered as one of the prominent strategies to mitigate air pollution. Identification of trees tolerant to air pollution is important for plantation drives being organized across the country. The present study aimed to compare the air pollution tolerance potential of 46 tree species growing in Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) campus, Amritsar, using two indices, viz., Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) and Anticipated Performance Index (API). APTI is based on four biochemical parameters, viz., relative water content, leaf extract pH, total chlorophyll, and ascorbic acid contents of leaf samples, whereas API takes into consideration morphological and socioeconomic values of plant species along with their APTI. Based on APTI values calculated for 46 tree species, only 2 tree species, viz., Psidium guajava (46.26) and Cassia fistula (41.83), were found to be tolerant to air pollution, while 25 species showed intermediate tolerance. API scores revealed one tree species, namely, P. guajava, as an excellent performer, 8 species as very good performers, and 28 species as moderate to good performers against air pollution. In conclusion, tree species like Alstonia scholaris, C. fistula, Ficus tsjakela, Grevillea robusta, Kigelia africana, Mangifera indica, Melia azedarach, P. guajava, Pongamia pinnata, Pterospermum acerifolium, Putranjiva roxburghii, Syzygium cumini, Terminalia arjuna, and Toona ciliata can be considered as most desirable for plantations in areas around GNDU campus.

Environmental pollution biomonitoring around a cement factory based on the Air Pollution Tolerance Index of some tree species.

The present study examined the ability of Quercus castaneifolia C.A.M., Parrotia persica C.A.M., and Carpinus betulus L. for environmental pollution biomonitoring based on the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI). Four leaf traits, total leaf chlorophyll content, leaf extract pH, ascorbic acid content, and relative water content of leaf, were used to compute the APTI values. The study was conducted at five sites in the Hyrcanian forests at different distances from a cement factory close to the Neka city, northern Iran. Based on the results, a 22.5, 30.1, and 25.8% decrease was thus recorded in total chlorophyll content for Q. castaneifolia, P. persica, and C. betulus, respectively, compared to the reference site. However, ascorbic acid content shows an increment of 179.8, 116.8, and 97.3% for P. persica, C. betulus, and Q. castaneifolia, respectively, in the polluted sites as compared to the reference site. The relative water content of P. persica was significantly higher than of Q. castaneifolia and C. betulus in all studied sites. APTI was significantly different among the species, and P. persica was highly tolerant to air pollution, with the highest values of APTI ranging from 11.8 to 16.9. The APTI values of Q. castaneifolia ranged from 9.5 to 11.3 and showed an intermediate tolerance to air pollution. Also, the most sensitive species to air pollution was C. betulus, with a range of 6.6-7.9 in APTI values. Based on APTI values, it can be suggested that P. persica can be used as a biomonitor, while C. betulus can be used as a bioindicator for atmospheric dust deposition and heavy metal pollution.

Complex study of air pollution based on tree species in Vienna

Plants are especially useful as biological indicators to assess air pollution and the effects of urbanisation. The aim of this study was to investigate tree species’ sensitivity to air pollution using the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI), the dust content (PM10) of leaves, and the heavy metal concentration of leaves. Sampling sites were in a city park (urban area), a location on the edge of the city (suburban area), and a forested location (rural area) along an urbanisation gradient in the city of Vienna in Austria. Leaf samples were collected from Acer platanoides, Fraxinus excelsior, and Quercus robur tree species. The APTI was determined by measuring the content of relative water ascorbic acid and chlorophyll, and the pH of leaf extracts. We found significant difference among species in their relative water content, pH, and content of ascorbic acid and chlorophyll Additionally, we found significant differences in chlorophyll content and pH based on sampling site. The highest chlorophyll content was found in A. platanoides. There was a significant difference among species in Al, Ba, Cr, Ni, and Zn concentrations in each stage of urbanisation. Based on APTI values, the studied species were sensitive indicators of air pollution; thus, they are useful bioindicator species, and they are suitable for air pollution monitoring. We demonstrated the effects of urbanisation with these bioindicator species with elevated PM10, Al, Ba, Cu, Fe, Sr, and Zn concentrations in urban area samples.Graphical abstract

Identifying pollution scavenging potential of perennial plants growing in Maitreyi College Campus, University of Delhi

Aim: Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) represents the potential of a plant to combat air pollution. In the present study, APTI value of 77 perennials growing in the Maitreyi College Campus, New Delhi was calculated, and these plants were classified into tolerant and sensitive species. Methodology: APTI was calculated by assessing four physiological and biochemical parameters, pH, Relative Water Content (RWC), Total Chlorophyll (TCh), and Ascorbic Acid (AA). Results: The highest APTI was observed in Musa sp. (10.52) indicating it to be the most tolerant, while the lowest in Aegle marmelos (1.93), showing it to be the most sensitive for pollution. Results showed Musa sp., Salmelia sp., Terminalia arjuna, Murraya exotica, Hamelia patens, Ravenala madagascariensis, Ficus racemosa, Cascabela thevetia, Eugenia uniflora, Nyctanthes arbortristis to have good potential in reducing air pollution in a sustainable manner. Species such as Aegle marmelos, Plumeria rubra, Dracaena, Carissa carandas, Eucalyptus sp. were sensitive to air pollution. Interpretation: Analysis of results suggested the importance of APTI analysis in a campus for cataloging the pollution tolerant and sensitive plants. The pollution tolerant plants could be used for the green belt formation, while plants, which are sensitive to pollution can be used as an indicator of pollution. Moreover, mapping and compilation of information of trees (deciduous and evergreen) and shrubs growing in the campus helped in documenting the rich flora of the campus with pollution tolerance potential. Key words: Air Pollution, Air Pollution Tolerance Index, Air quality, Trees

Air pollution tolerance index of Persea bombycina: Primary food plant of endemic muga silkworm (Antheraeaassamensis)

Air pollution poses a significant threat to human health, ecosystems, and the livelihood of tribal communities. This study focuses on understanding the impact of air pollution on the primary food plant som (Persea bombycina Kost.) of the endemic Muga silkworm (Antheraea assamensis) and its implications for muga silk production. The study was conducted at two sites in northeastern India, one free from atmospheric pollutants (FAP) and the other affected by pollution from an oil refinery (PAS). Various atmospheric pollutants, including particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and heavy metals, were found to be higher at the PAS site. The study investigated biochemical parameters like ascorbic acid, relative water content, total chlorophyll, and extractable pH in the leaves of P. bombycina to determine its air pollution tolerance index (APTI). Results showed that the ascorbic acid content in the leaves increased significantly at the PAS site (p < 0.05), indicating the plant's adaptation to air pollution stress. Similarly, the APTI values were higher during summer compared to winter, suggesting better tolerance during the former season. Positive correlations were found between APTI and ascorbic acid content (p < 0.05), emphasizing the role of ascorbic acid as an antioxidant in mitigating the effects of air pollution. The study highlights the importance of understanding the tolerance levels of P. bombycina to develop protective measures for sustaining Muga silk production in the face of rapid industrialization and increasing pollution. This research can aid policymakers in balancing economic growth with environmental conservation and protecting traditional practices of tribal communities.

Assessing the air pollution tolerance index (APTI) of trees in residential and roadside sites of Lahore, Pakistan

Industrialization and extensive use of automobiles cause air pollution which indicates the inability of trees plants due to changes in their biochemical and physiological processes for absorbing the air pollutants. Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) is an important indicator for determining the ability of trees plants for their efficient ability for controlling air pollution. To estimate it and its effects a comparitive study of the air pollution tolerance index was examined in 14 species of plants between residential areas (University of the Punjab) and roadside areas (orange train line). To calculate the APTI value, four physiological and biochemical parameters—ascorbic acid, relative water content (RWC), pH, and chlorophyll concentration of leaf samples—were integrated. Present study results reveal that the plant tolerance against pollution is site specific, and that integrating a number of biochemical parameters give more accurate results as compared to single. Results show that Alstonia scholaris show maximum and Magnifera indica show minimum APTI values in residential areas while Magnifera indica shows maximum and Bougainvillea glabra shows minimum APTI value in roadside areas. Present study results show that plants with higher APTI values are tolerant of pollution, whereas those with lower APTI values are susceptible to it. Thus Plants with more APTI values are tolerant and use as a sink to control pollution in urban and industrial sites.

Suitability Assessment of Six Tree Species through Combined Analysis of PM2.5 Capture Ability and Air Pollution Tolerance Index for Urban Green Belt

Increasing concentrations of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) can cause a serious threat to urban air quality and human health. To reduce PM pollution in urban environments, pragmatic screening and planting of tolerant tree species can be effective and sustainable ways. However, our understanding of the effects of the capture ability of PM2.5 on plant tolerance, and efforts to devise explicit assessment tools for suitability analysis for urban green belt plantations, are still inadequate. In this study, six common green tree species (Pinus tabuliformis, Abies holophylla, Juniperus chinensis, Salix babylonica, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Populus alba) from three pollution sites in Shenyang City, China, were collected in order to assess their PM2.5 capture ability, biochemical characteristics, leaf microstructures, and air pollution tolerance index (APTI). The results revealed that different sites and tested plant species can significantly affect the amount of PM2.5 retained by leaf surfaces. The PM2.5 retention amount of Abies holophylla was the highest at the SFH site and 1.41–8.89 times that of other tested species (p &lt; 0.05). Morphological plant attributes, such as leaf surface roughness (r = 0.52 **) and contact angle (r = −0.57 **), were strongly related to the PM2.5 retention amount. The PM2.5 retention amount per unit leaf area had the strongest and most significant negative influence on total chlorophyll content (r = −0.743 **), indicating that the accumulation of leaf PM2.5 reduced the photosynthetic efficiency of the plants. Among the tested plants, Robinia pseudoacacia had the highest APTI value and was identified as the most resilient plant at all three sites, whereas Juniperus chinensis had the lowest APTI at all study sites. However, the integration of PM2.5 capture ability with APTI showed Pinus tabuliformis to be the best species for the construction of urban green belts in Shenyang City.

Evaluation of air pollution tolerance index of tree species of Bikaner city (Rajasthan)

The air pollution tolerance index (APTI) is one of the modern tools for assessing the impacts of air pollutants on plant physiology. The value of APTI is different for different plant species. Plants with higher values of APTI are tolerant and act as a sink due to their bioaccumulation ability for air pollutants. Hence, they can be planted to establish green belts in areas with severe air pollution, especially in industrial zones. The present investigation was carried out to assess the APTI values of top twenty urban tree species of the Bikaner city of North-Western Rajasthan. The leaf samples were taken from selected roadside trees distributed in the residential, commercial and industrial zones of the city. On the basis of APTI values, it was observed that Leucaena leucocephala (23.41), Eucalyptus camaldulensis (21.87) and Cassia siamea (21.39) had an APTI value above 20 and they are therefore classified as tolerant species. Similarly, Pongamia pinnata (9.48) showed APTI under 10, therefore it falls into the sensitive category. 80 % of the total species in the studied area are categorized as a moderately sensitive category. There were no plant species in very sensitive (APTI &amp;lt; 1) and very tolerant (APTI &amp;gt; 30) category.

Air pollution tolerance, anticipated performance, and metal accumulation indices of four evergreen tree species in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Trees in urban forests are able to better air quality by removing particulate matter (PM) from the atmosphere through the accumulation of particles on their leaf surfaces. When exposed to air pollutants, the physiology, morphology, and biochemistry of a plant may be affected, which will result in alterations to that plant’s function and growth. In this study, we assessed, for the first time, the tolerance or sensitivity of four evergreen trees (Ficus benghalensis, Ficus religiosa, Mangifera indica, and Polyalthia longifolia) towards air pollution by employing several indices. The trees, which are commonly grown along the roadside in Dhaka, Bangladesh, were evaluated by using the air pollution tolerance index (APTI), the anticipated performance index (API), and the metal accumulation index (MAI). The deposition of four heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni) on the leaves of four aforementioned tree species was studied employing ICP-MS, and subsequently, a predictive foliar MAI was created. APTI values of the studied plants varied from 10.31 to 12.51 implying that they were either intermediately tolerant or sensitive. A significantly strong positive correlation was obtained between APTI and relative water content (RWC) (r = 0.864; p < 0.001) and between APTI and ascorbic acid content (AAC) (r = 0.748; p < 0.01). The API revealed M. indica as a good performer, which maintained the highest score (68.75%) among the tree species irrespective of different sites. The Pb concentrations were anomalously high in the atmosphere of Dhaka, suggesting its anthropogenic origin. A significant (r = 0.722; p < 0.01) relationship was found between Cd and Pb indicating their common origin. Among the species, F. benghalensis had the highest MAI value (13.60). The MAI value was found to have a significant association with pH, AAC, and total chlorophyll content. Based on APTI, API, and MAI values, the most suitable plant species for urban forest development was identified to be M. indica followed by F. benghalensis and F. religiosa.

Six tree species physiological responses to air pollution in Pulogadung Industrial Estate, East Jakarta, Indonesia and Universitas Indonesia Campus, Depok, Indonesia

&lt;span&gt;Air pollution is a global issue that has a harmful impact on living things and the environment. It is commonly recognized that bioremediation, including the use of tree plants, helps reduce air pollution. Tree plants can respond physically to air pollution. The value of the air pollution tolerance index (APTI) can be used to determine the physiological response. Based on APTI values, this study seeks to determine the tolerance levels and physiological response differences of six tree plant species (&lt;em&gt;Mangifera indica, Pterocarpus indicus&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Cerbera odollam&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Pometia pinnata&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Syzygium myrtifolium&lt;/em&gt;, and &lt;em&gt;Swietenia macrophylla&lt;/em&gt;) in Pulogadung Industrial Estate, East Jakarta and Universitas Indonesia (UI) Campus, Depok. Environmental factors and APTI values with relative water content parameters, leaf extract pH, ascorbic acid content, and total chlorophyll content were measured in six kinds of tree plants at both research sites. The maximum APTI score in the Pulogadung Industrial Estate was 9.79 0.13, indicating that &lt;em&gt;Mangifera indica&lt;/em&gt; plants are air pollution tolerant. Meanwhile, &lt;em&gt;Pterocarpus indicus &lt;/em&gt;is classified as sensitive to air pollution, with the lowest APTI score of 6.59 0.18 at the UI Campus, Depok. The APTI test results revealed that tolerant species had high relative water content (RWC) values and ascorbic acid concentration, whereas sensitive species had low RWC values and poor total chlorophyll content.&lt;/span&gt;

Health assessment of industrial ecosystems of Isfahan (Iran) using phytomonitoring: Chemometric, micromorphology, phytoremediation, air pollution tolerance and anticipated performance indices

The present study evaluated the air pollution tolerance index (APTI), anticipated performance index (API), enrichment factor (EF), pollution load index (PLI), bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC), and metal accumulation index (MAI) in grown plants of industrial ecosystems of Najafabad County near the Isfahan megacity (Iran). The existence of major, minor and trace mineral elements, physiological (pH of leaf extract and relative water content) and biochemical (proline, reducing sugar, ascorbic acid, and total chlorophyll content) factors in Clerics siliquastrum, Melia azedarach, Caesalpinia gilliesii, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Morus alba were evaluated to assess their suitability for phytoremediation and/or phytomonitoring. The results showed that M. azedarach and E. camaldulensis had higher APTI and API values and were categorized in the tolerant plant group. The most important factors influencing the APTI of R. pseudoacacia, E. camaldulensis, C. gilliesii, M. azedarach, C. siliquastrum and M. alba were ascorbic acid (88.1%), the pH of leaf extract (45.7%), ascorbic acid (78.9%), the pH of leaf extract (98.8%), the total chlorophyll content (56.1%), and the relative water content (54.6%), respectively. Proline showed a strong and negative correlation with the APTI (r = −0.72). Reducing sugar showed a moderate and negative correlation with the total chlorophyll (r = −0.63). The PLI showed a high pollution load for all species, especially M. azedarach. The highest values of EF, BAC, and MAI were obtained in C. siliquastrum (117.46), R. pseudoacacia (417.79), and M. azedarach (8.92), respectively. Based on the overall results of this study, it is recommended that M. azedarach be used as a tolerant species for green space development and C. siliquastrum and R. pseudoacacia as both passive bio-monitors and bio-mitigators in industrial ecosystems.

Role of Plants for Evaluation of Air Pollution Tolerance Index on the Basis of Some Biochemical Parameters: A Concise Review

Several common plants such as, Mangifera indica, Pinus roxburghii, Thuja occidentalis, Tamarindus indica, Cassia fistula, Dalbergia sissoo, Quercus sp., Bauhinia recemosa etc. are available to absorb various pollutant gases. Plant leaves are the ideal indicator to measure the degree of air pollution and most plant have exhibited various physiological changes before showing any visible symptom in the leaves. Air pollution tolerance index (APTI) is a simple and efficient method for identifying plant species that can tolerate air pollution. It only requires four different types of leaf biochemical parameters, including the pH of plant leaf extract, the relative water content of the leaf, ascorbic acid, and the total chlorophyll content of the leaf. The amount of plant susceptibility to air pollution was assessed using the APTI score. Higher APTI-valued plants are extremely beneficial as a bio-monitoring tool for improving the atmosphere. For plantation programmes in newly constructed urbanized areas and avenues to produce pollution-free green environments, plant species with higher APTI values can be prioritized.

TREES PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO AIR POLLUTION IN TAMAN MARGASATWA RAGUNAN AND UI DEPOK CAMPUS

Air pollution is a common environmental problem. Planting trees can minimize the adverse effects of air pollution. Plants can absorb and accumulate air pollutants through stomata. Biochemical changes in the leaves will appear as a physiological response of plants to air pollution that can be known by calculating the APTI (Air Pollution Tolerance Index) value. This study aimed to analyze the differences in physiological responses of five tree species in Taman Margasatwa Ragunan (TMR) South Jakarta and Universitas Indonesia (UI) Depok Campus as well as to find out the proper tree species planted in areas with high levels of air pollution. The leaves of five species (Hevea brasiliensis, Manilkara kauki, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Ficus septica, and Mangifera indica) were used to examine the effect of air pollution. Biochemical parameters (relative water content, leaf extract pH, total chlorophyll content, and ascorbic acid content) were observed from each species. The value of each parameter was calculated into the APTI equation. H. brasiliensis, F. septica, and M. indica were categorized as moderately tolerant plants, M. kauki were included as intermediate plants, and A. heterophyllus was a sensitive plant to air pollution in both locations. The highest APTI values were observed in M. indica in both locations. Thus, the recommended species planted in a polluted area was M. indica.

Urban dust pollution tolerance indices of selected plant species for development of urban greenery in Delhi.

The rise in urbanization has led to an increase in dust pollution which is hazardous to the health of living beings. The role of roadside plant species in intercepting particulate matter and improving air quality is well reported. Hence, this study was carried out to determine the ability of various plant species to intercept atmospheric dust and withstand the abiotic stress triggered by dust deposition. In the present investigation, three sites (viz., control, commercial, and industrial) differing in anthropogenic activities and vegetation were selected. Sixteen plant species entailing both trees and shrubs that are commonly occurring at all three sites were selected to estimate their dust interception capacity (DIC). The impact of dust pollution on foliage biochemistry and their tolerance in winter and summer seasons were analyzed. Based on biochemical, biological, and socio-economic parameters, air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API) were evaluated. Both dust load and DIC were found to be two times higher in winter than in the summer season. Terminalia arjuna, Ficus benghalensis, and Plumeria alba were the best dust accumulators, while Prosopis juliflora accumulated least. The highest DIC was observed at the industrial site, for Terminalia arjuna (0.025mg/cm2/d) in winter and Plumeria alba (0.023mg/cm2/d) in the summer season. Photosynthetic pigments showed a negative correlation with dust load, while pH, ascorbic acid, electrolytic leakage (E.L.), and proline content showed a positive correlation. In the present study, APTI and API values were highest for Ficus religiosa, Ficus benghalensis, Alstonia scholaris, Dalbergia sissoo, and Terminalia arjuna. Such plant species with wide canopy, large and rough leaf surface area with perforated veins are found to be more suitable and, hence, recommended for the development of greenery to improve air quality in urban areas like Delhi.