Selected Plant Species Research Articles

Manipulation of phyllosphere bacterial communities reversibly alters the plant microbiome and leaf traits in the field

Bacterial communities in the phyllosphere are shaped by host genotype and phenotype and spatio-temporal variation of the environment. In turn, bacteria have the potential for altering the plant phenotype. Field experiments can help to estimate bacterial effects on plant functional traits under natural conditions. We used a transplantation approach of culturable bacterial communities to explore how manipulation of leaf-associated microbial communities in two different successional stages within a glacier foreland can influence microbial composition and functional plant traits. Our study documents successional stage-specific variations in the composition of foliar bacterial communities and shifts therein throughout a season and between years. We show that cultured bacteria transferred between plant communities can alter diversity and composition of the microbiome on plant community level as well as species-specific functional plant traits of two selected plant species within one growing season. Furthermore, our results demonstrate a strong resilience of plant-associated bacterial communities and of plants in response to bacterial invaders. Our study illustrates that inoculation experiments in the field with naturally occurring microbial communities of wild plants are suited to investigate complex interactions between microbial communities, the environment, and plant traits.

Limited foraging overlap between introduced Apis mellifera and native Melipona eburnea in a Colombian moist forest as revealed through pollen analysis

Honey farming is a young industry in Colombia, where it is gaining relevance as a source of jobs and food security, especially in post-conflict low-income communities that place bee colonies in native forests. Previous studies on the palynological composition of this honey are insufficient and the role of native plants for the production of honey is therefore unknown. Here we present a palynological analysis of honey produced by two bee species, the introduced Apis mellifera and the native Melipona eburnea, both commonly used by low-income communities in the eastern region of the Department of Antioquia, in the Central Cordillera of Colombia. We analyzed species richness and diversity of pollen, characterized some life history traits of those species preferred by bees, and estimated the interaction web between the bee and selected plant species. The overlap between the two species was very small. We found that the source of nectar for A. mellifera were plants with different growth habits, both native and introduced. Instead, M. eburnea used mostly native tree and shrub species, at a constant height level. Our results suggest that setting bee colonies of A. mellifera close to those of M. eburnea may not result in competition between them. However, it is key to evaluate whether this pattern is the same using other sources of food, such as pollen, or in other geographic regions.

Herbicidal effects of essential oils from selected plant species against common coffee (Coffea arabica L.) weed species

Herbicidal effects of essential oils from selected plant species against common coffee (Coffea arabica L.) weed species

Importance of the Indigenous Plant Knowledge: Study of Selected Plant Species Culturally Used by the Karbi Community of Karbi Anglong District, North-East India

The North-East region in India is recognized as a major hotspot of biodiversity with a vast range of flora and fauna. The region extends from the plain areas such as the Barak-Brahmaputra Valley of Assam to the mountainous regions of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. The population in the region is just as diverse as its biodiversity with people residing in plain areas as well as in the hilly and mountainous areas. The vast forest area and availability of forest resources provide food, medicine, and, to some extent, livelihood for the different Indigenous people residing in the region; and hence their dependency and relationship with forest resources are tight knitted. The Karbi tribe is an ethnic community residing in the Karbi Anglong district in Assam state of the NE region. Their knowledge of forest resources, familiarity with the intricacies associated with it, utilization of various plants is found in the natural habitats for everyday purposes along with owning small and micro-farms have made them quite adaptable to the hilly environment. In the past, the Karbis mainly resided in the mountainous and hilly areas; but to access better facilities, most of the people have migrated and settled in the plains. The era of connectivity and urbanization has affected the forest areas that have gradually led to the loss of plants in their wild natural habitat, some of which hold a significant cultural identity and religious beliefs. In the present day, the younger generation has shifted from old ties and traditions, which might have contributed to the loss of knowledge about plants used for various purposes and certain Indigenous practices.

Plants and Bacteria as Rescue for Contaminated Soil

It is no secret that both bacteria and some plant species are able to survive in the most unfavorable, even extreme conditions. Such places certainly include areas contaminated with various organic and inorganic compounds, including hydrocarbons or heavy metals. Research shows that some organisms manage very well in such an environment… by naturally cleansing it of pollutants. Scientists are trying to learn about these extraordinary abilities of certain strains of bacteria or selected plant species in order to create a unique “arsenal” supporting the process of remediation of contaminated areas.

Central and Northern European caterpillar assemblages show strong phylogenetic structure

AbstractPhylogenetic diversity metrics have been used to tackle an increasing number of questions in ecology and evolutionary biology. Here we present a novel use of phylogenetic diversity metrics namely the investigation of insect herbivore assemblages on select plant species in order to investigate possible drivers shaping the phylogenetic structure of those assemblages.We investigated the phylogenetic structure of lepidopteran herbivore assemblages on 208 species of central European vascular plants. A dataset of 2,553 species of Lepidoptera from 68 families, comprising 8,584 individual herbivore‐host associations, was analysed for patterns of phylogenetic α‐ and β‐diversity in relation to plant growth form, plant phylogeny and the accumulation of some characteristic major classes of secondary plant metabolites.Distinct patterns of phylogenetic β‐diversity were detected when plants were partitioned into three growth form categories (graminoid, herbaceous and woody). In contrast, groupings of plants according to higher taxa or key secondary metabolites did not yield similarly clear patterns. Notable exceptions were assemblages on graminoid plants, especially those containing silica, which could be distinguished by both plant phylogeny and their phytochemical characteristics. Additionally plants containing highly toxic glucosinolates (all of the family Brassicaceae) harbour highly distinct lepidopteran assemblages. Phylogenetic α‐diversity of associated caterpillars differed greatly between graminoid, herbaceous and woody plants. Assemblages on graminoid plants were found to be the most phylogenetically clustered, followed by herbs and woody plants which showed the least degree of phylogenetic clustering. In conclusion, our results indicate that the phylogenetic structure of the investigated herbivore assemblages in the nemoral and boreal zones of the Western Palaearctic region is most heavily influenced by plant growth form while categories derived from higher plant systematics or classifications reflecting secondary metabolites leave far less signal at this macroecological scale.The approach taken in this study proved to be very successful in identifying patterns in the phylogenetic structure of herbivore assemblages. Our findings are in line with the ‘classical’ plant apparency hypothesis. Plant secondary compounds were found to have only limited explanatory power on our scale of analysis.A freePlain Language Summarycan be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

Phytoremediation of Toxic Metals: A Sustainable Green Solution for Clean Environment

Contamination of aquatic ecosystems by various sources has become a major worry all over the world. Pollutants can enter the human body through the food chain from aquatic and soil habitats. These pollutants can cause various chronic diseases in humans and mortality if they collect in the body over an extended period. Although the phytoremediation technique cannot completely remove harmful materials, it is an environmentally benign, cost-effective, and natural process that has no negative effects on the environment. The main types of phytoremediation, their mechanisms, and strategies to raise the remediation rate and the use of genetically altered plants, phytoremediation plant prospects, economics, and usable plants are reviewed in this review. Several factors influence the phytoremediation process, including types of contaminants, pollutant characteristics, and plant species selection, climate considerations, flooding and aging, the effect of salt, soil parameters, and redox potential. Phytoremediation’s environmental and economic efficiency, use, and relevance are depicted in our work. Multiple recent breakthroughs in phytoremediation technologies are also mentioned in this review.

Review on Adoption of Agroforestry Innovation by Farmers’ Social Forestry Program

ABSTRACT Agroforestry can offer a balance between conservation and production in agricultural systems to provide socio-economic and ecological benefits. Agroforestry is a land use system that is applied in the social forestry program . The social forestry program aims to improve community welfare while still paying attention to environmental aspects and sociocultural dynamics. This paper aims to describe the adoption of agroforestry innovations in social forestry programs. The method used in this research is a literature study or review of various research results related to adoption and agroforestry innovation and social forestry from international journals, national journals, international proceedings, and national proceedings. Data analysis was carried out descriptively. The result of the study shows that a groforestry innovations in social forestry are needed by communities to increase benefits and reduce costs. Agroforestry innovation can be applied well in aspects of production/cultivation, such as the selection of plant species , arrangement of growing spaces or cropping patterns, maintenance, as well as in post-harvest ing , marketing , and institutional aspects. So far , there have been many agroforestry innovations result ed from the agroforestry-based forest and land management, both innovations derived from local farmers' knowledge and innovations result ed from scientific research es or a combination of the m . The agroforestry innovations that are most attractive to the community are agroforestry innovations along the cycle , which provide communities with longer opportunities to use the land. The main factors influencing the adoption of agroforestry innovations that must be considered are economic factor s . Keywords: adoption, agroforestry, innovation, social forestry

Response of phosphorus sensitive plants to arsenate

Arsenate (As (V)) is a highly toxic species of arsenic (As) which is also an excellent phosphate analogue. Plant species that are adapted to phosphorus (P) impoverished soil display a negative response to elevated phosphate due to an inability to downregulate P acquisition. Despite widespread As contamination and shared transport systems for As (V) and P uptake, little to no information is available on the response of P-sensitive plants to As (V). The aim of the study was to investigate the response of P-sensitive plants to As (V). One high (Hakea prostrata R.BR) and one moderate (Banksia seminuda B.Rye) P-sensitive species and one vegetable plant species (Cucumis sativus L.) were grown in nutrient solution containing different As (V) concentrations. Based on EC50 data from nutrient culture, Hakea prostrata was the most sensitive species to As (V) followed by B. seminuda and C. sativus. Critical exogenous concentrations of As that reduced plant growth by 50 % (EC50) in H. prostrata, B. seminuda and C. sativus were respectively 0.64, 0.76 and 1.08 μM for shoot and 0.66, 0.51, 1.07 μM for root. Hakea prostrata had the highest translocation factor (ratio of As concentration in shoot to root) of 0.11, followed by B. seminuda (0.03), and C. sativus (0.01). Plant species with high and moderate P sensitivity were associated with high sensitivity to As (V) exposure and accumulation in shoots. The increased sensitivity has important implications in ecological risk assessment and selection of plant species for rehabilitation. The impacts of As(V) at low P levels in soil solution is needed to inform contaminated site assessment and rehabilitation.

Larvicidal potential of certain plant extracts of the family Lamiaceae against Anopheles subpictus (Diptera: Culicidae)

The present study was undertaken to check and compare the virtue of plant extracts in relation to larvicidal activities against Anopheles subpictus. The lethality and toxicity of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Ocimum sanctum, Ocimum basilicum, Leucas aspera and Coleus amboinicus to early 4th instar larvae of A. subpictus were determined in the laboratory. All plant extracts of Lamiaceae showed moderate effect against the larvae of A. subpictus after 24 hours exposure as evidenced by low lethal concentration and lethal time and the lethality varied in larvae and the crude plant extracts. The mortality rate was recorded after 24 hours of exposure and LC50 was determined. Larval mortality between 80% and 92% was observed in methanolic extract and 60-85% in aqueous extracts of selected plant species. The highest larvicidal activity against A. subpictus was obtained with methanol extract of O. sanctum. The present findings have paramount implications in the practical control of mosquito larvae and adults in the aquatic ecosystem as the medicinal plants studied are routinely accessible in enormous quantities. These plant extracts are easy to prepare, inexpensive, and safe for mosquito control which might be used directly as larvicidal agents in small dimension aquatic habitats or breeding sites around human dwellings.

Carbon absorption capability of single-leaf and compound-leaf plants in the BNI Urban Forest, Banda Aceh

The creation of Open Green Spaces is one of the options for mitigating the impact of global warming. In order to maximize the function of urban forests as carbon dioxide absorbers, plant species selection for urban forests must be considered. The goal of this study was to compare the ability of single-leaf and compound-leaved plants growing in urban forests to absorb carbon dioxide. Exploratory survey methods with purposive sampling were used. The single-leaf plant, B. asiatica (520 cm2), had the maximum leaf area, whereas the single-leaf species, M. elengi had the lowest leaf area (47.50 cm2). The plant with the highest water content in leaves was found in single-leaf plants, B. asiatica (ranging from 74.67 percent to 77.32 percent), while plant F.decipiens from the compound-leaf plant had the lowest water content (ranging from 44.34 percent to 46.14 percent). The plant with the highest percentage of carbohydrate mass at 06.00 am was M. elengi (531.63 percent), and the plant with the lowest percentage of carbohydrate mass was P.indicus (211.15 percent). At 11 am, the compound-leaf plant S.mahogani (496.76 percent) had the largest percentage of carbohydrate mass, B.asiatica had the lowest (289.29 percent). B.asiatica had the most carbon dioxide absorption per leaf area per hour (g/leaf/hour), whereas S. mahogany had the lowest. S.mahogani (32.514 Å) had the highest chlorophyll concentration in the 06.00 am sample, while P.indicus had the highest chlorophyll concentration in the 11.00 am sample (42.440 Å).

Ethnobotanics used as an external application to manage wounds in Sri Lankan traditional medicine; A scientific validation of Ola leaf manuscript evidences

Indigenous medicine is a unique entity of a medical system which has been proven as an effective and is in practice from ancient times in Sri Lanka. In this system, use of medicinal plants in different ailments are driven by popular knowledge through traditional healers. However, these claimed activities are neither scientifically proven nor refuted. This evidence-based study is focused on the scientific validation of commonly used herbs included in external applications to treat wounds in indigenous medicine. The data were gathered referring ancient Ola leaf manuscripts based on different herbal applications used for the treatment of wounds and analysed to reveal the plants which were mostly used in those different applications. The selected plant species were evaluated in terms of the current state -of-the-art for their pharmacology and effectiveness in wound healing. Many external applications are used in treating wounds in different dosage forms such as oils, fresh juices, mellum, bolus fermentation, powders and fumigation. Pongamia pinnata and Vernonia zeylanica were found in highest number of remedies followed by Curcuma longa, Jasminum sambac, Azadirachta indica, Glycyrrhiza glabra and Desmodium triflorum. Current evidences suggest that the majority of the plants used were studied for their wound healing potential by in vivo studies as the current maximum level of scientific evidences available. Vernonia zeylanica is the least studied plant in the literature. Perhaps the endemicity of this plant to Sri Lanka could be the major reason for the scarcity of literature. This is the first study systemically assessing of evidences from modern literature to support Ola leaf evidences on wound healing activity mentioned in traditional indigenous medical system of Sri Lanka.

Sinapis alba L. and Triticum aestivum L. as biotest model species for evaluating municipal solid waste leachate toxicity

The volume of municipal solid waste (MSW) inputs is rapidly increasing with a growing human population, and its composition is changing due an increased diversity of materials being deposited. There is an associated increase in leachate, a common toxic byproduct of MSW facilities that must be collected and treated prior to its release into the environment. There is growing interest in plant-based methods that are economical and efficient for leachate toxicity assessment such as biological tests that use indicator species. In the present study, the tolerance thresholds of two herbaceous species, Sinapis alba L. (mustard) and Triticum aestivum L. (wheat) to increasing shares of leachate sourced from an MSW facility in the Czech Republic were assessed through a variety of physiological parameters. Soil-based biotests showed a stimulation in the shoot biomass, leaf expansion, primary root elongation and carbon assimilation rate of the selected plant species to leachate concentrations between 20 and 50 %. Higher leachate concentrations led to reductions in most physiological parameters, especially the elongation of seedling roots when growth solutions with >50 % leachate were applied. While S. alba was more sensitive to increasing proportions of leachate in terms of growth parameters of the shoot tissues, photosystem II efficiency and chlorophyll pigment concentrations were more responsive in T. aestivum, indicating species-dependent differences. The present biotests provide further support for the use of both Sinapis alba L and Triticum aestivum L. as indicator species of phytotoxicity.

Selection of medicinal plants for traditional medicines in Nepal

BackgroundThere are handful hypothesis-driven ethnobotanical studies in Nepal. In this study, we tested the non-random medicinal plant selection hypothesis using national- and community-level datasets through three different types of regression: linear model with raw data, linear model with log-transformed data and negative binomial model.MethodsFor each of these model, we identified over-utilized families as those with highest positive Studentized residuals and underutilized families with highest negative Studentized residuals. The national-level data were collected from online databases and available literature while the community-level data were collected from Baitadi and Darchula districts.ResultsBoth dataset showed larger variance (national dataset mean 6.51 < variance 156.31, community dataset mean 1.16 < variance 2.38). All three types of regression were important to determine the medicinal plant species selection and use differences among the total plant families, although negative binomial regression was most useful. The negative binomial showed a positive nonlinear relationship between total plant family size and number of medicinal species per family for the national dataset (β1 = 0.0160 ± 0.0009, Z1 = 16.59, p < 0.00001, AIC1 = 1181), and with similar slope and stronger performance for the community dataset (β2 = 0.1747 ± 0.0199, Z2 = 8.76, p < 0.00001, AIC2 = 270.78). Moraceae and Euphorbiaceae were found over-utilized while Rosaceae, Cyperaceae and Caryophyllaceae were recorded as underutilized.ConclusionsAs our datasets showed larger variance, negative binomial regression was found the most useful for testing non-random medicinal plant selection hypothesis. The predictions made by non-random selection of medicinal plants hypothesis holds true for community-level studies. The identification of over-utilized families is the first step toward sustainable conservation of plant resources and it provides a baseline for pharmacological research that might be leading to drug discovery.

Potassium Bioavailability in a Tropical Kaolinitic Soil

Some plant species are able to acquire non-exchangeable forms of K, which improve K availability and cycling in cropping systems, and which may explain the lack of response to K. However, this would not be expected in soils dominated by kaolinite. The aim of this study was to assess non-exchangeable K (Kne) use by three selected plant species grown in a tropical Haplic Plinthosol with low exchangeable K (Ke). A greenhouse experiment was conducted with soybean (Glycine max L., Merr.), maize (Zea mays L.), and ruzigrass (Urochloa ruziziensis) with or without K fertilization for three growing cycles. The crop treatments were compared with a control without plants. In the absence of K fertilization, all the tested plants were able to use non-exchangeable K and non-exchangeable K contributed more than 80% of the K demand of the plants in the first growing cycle, even in this kaolinitic soil. In the first growing cycle, soybean and maize took up more non-exchangeable K than ruzigrass, concomitant with higher dry matter yields. Over the three crop cycles, as both biomass yield and K uptake decreased in the unfertilized systems, the dependence of plants on non-exchangeable K decreased. Unfertilized ruzigrass showed a strong ability to acquire non-exchangeable K from the soil. Over the course of three growing cycles, K application decreased the absolute uptake of non-exchangeable K as well as its fractional contribution to total K uptake by the crops.

Particle Retention Capacity, Efficiency, and Mechanism of Selected Plant Species: Implications for Urban Planting for Improving Urban Air Quality.

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has been of concern owing to its negative effects on human health and its role in environmental degradation. For mitigation purposes, it is important to select the most efficient plant species in urban greening. Here, a fast, cost-saving methodology was first added to the conventional method to investigate the size-resolved PM retention capacity and efficiency of twenty plant species. Surface PM (SPM), which can be removed by water and brushing, accounted for 44.9–66.9% of total PM, in which the water-soluble PM (DPM) accounted for 12.9–22.1% of total PM. A large mass proportion of in-wax PM (14.1–31.7%) was also observed. Platycladus orientalis, Eriobotrya japonica, Viburnum odoratissimum, Magnolia grandiflora had the highest AEleaf (retention efficiency on per unit leaf area) to retain SPM within different diameter classes (DPM, PM0.1–2.5, PM2.5–10, PM>10). AEplant (retention efficiency of individual tree) varied greatly among different plant species, mainly due to the dependence on the total area of a tree. AEland (retention efficiency on per unit green area) is a suitable index for PM retention ability and efficiency. In general, P. orientalis, V. odoratissimum, Pittosporum tobira, Photinia serrulate, M. grandiflora, E. japonica were the efficient species in retaining PM at different scales (i.e., leaf, individual tree, green area). The species like Trifolium repens, Phyllostachys viridis, were the least efficient plant species. The investigated species are all evergreen species, which will remove PM throughout the whole year, even in winter. So, we recommended that the plant species with the highest PM retention efficiency can be used in urban greening. Meanwhile, horticulture practices should also be considered to improve the leaf area index to improve their PM retention and air purification abilities.

Distribution of ingenol derivatives in Euphorbia plants and UV-dependent promotion of ingenol production in greenhouse-grown Euphorbia plants

Resource discovery for producing biologically active phytochemicals plays an important role in industrial crops area. Ingenol-3-angelate, one of the most concerned macrocyclic diterpenoids, has been approved for clinical treatment of actinic keratosis and industrially produced by a semi-synthesis approach using hydrolysis products of ingenol derivatives. Ingenol derivatives are considered exclusive among Euphorbia genus at a quite low level. In search for high-ingenol plant species from the Euphorbiaceae family, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) was performed for the quantitative analysis of the free ingenol content in the hydrolyzed methanol extract of 61 selected plant species, including 50 Euphorbia plants, 9 plants from other Euphorbiaceae genera, and 2 Phyllanthaceae plants. The ingenol derivatives in E. milii and E. cotinifolia which contained high level of ingenol esters were further identified by UHPLC-MS. Amounts of ingenol diterpenes varied among the samples. The highest free ingenol content (527.82 ± 38.19 μmol/kg of dry herb weight) was found in a variation, E. tithymaloides 'Nanus', followed by E. tithymaloides (402.81 ± 28.89 μmol/kg), E. milii (391.30 ± 43.51 μmol/kg), E. ammak (379.75 ± 34.68 μmol/kg), and E. trigona (357.07 ± 34.29 μmol/kg). The results revealed the trace amount of ingenol derivatives in some Jatropha, Acalypha, Codiaeum, and Excoecaria plants for the first time and confirmed the higher level of ingenol esters in some Euphorbia plants cultivated under polycarbonate panel with higher UV transmission than those grown under double layer glass. The secondary metabolites varied distinctively among different Euphorbia sections. This work suggested more applicable sources for ingenol production and better greenhouse covering material for Euphorbia plants cultivation in consideration of ingenol derivatives.

A phytopharmacological review on an important indigenous medicinal plant Hyoscyamus gallagheri

Since the ancient time, medicinal plants play a central role in the day-to-day life of humankind as crucial additive agents in foods, drinks and drugs and also as components in perfumes and cosmetics. The nutritional, pharmacological, biological and toxicological properties of the medicinal plants also have extensive applications. Globally, the majority of people nowadays rely on alternative and complementary medicines as safe sources for the treatment of various ailments obtained from natural sources. Plenty of plant and marine sources are available worldwide including the Sultanate of Oman with notable medicinal values. Hyoscyamus gallagheri ( H. gallagheri ), is one of the leafy plants grown in the desert areas of the Sultanate of Oman which belongs to the family of Solanaceae. Omanis have used the selected plant species traditionally to increase hair density, hair fall, dental pain, relieve snake bite, scorpion sting pain, motion sickness, asthma and cough. This plant is considered as a new species because still now there is no evidence on phytochemicals, pharmacological and toxicological studies available of the selected species. Previously, our group from Nizwa University has conducted two studies on the pharmacological and phytochemicals of the selected plant species and the results showed that the plant extracts contain different groups of phytochemicals, which possess notable biological activity. This present review is to summarize the updated scientific information available on the selected plant species grown in Oman. Therefore, the main objective of this current review is to compare and contrast the morphology, toxicity, pharmacological activity, phytochemicals, potential uses with other species belong to this family including the selected plant species of H. gallagheri . In conclusion, the raw plant materials, its crude extracts and isolated ingredients might be used as a novel therapeutic or herbal medicine to treat various ailments.

Plant species selection and biomass nutrient content on post-mine sites of the Kursk magnetic anomaly, Russia

The article presents data on the assessment of the different tree and shrubs species for a reclamation of the hydraulic dump of the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly, Russia. The purpose of the work is to identify highly productive tree and shrub species with the maximum content of nitrogen and ash elements in the biomass. The objects of research are protective plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia L., Caragana arborescens L., Betula pendula L., Hippophae rhamnoides L., Pínus sylvestris L., Populus balsamifera L. Under the influence of different type of vegetation, the fertility of the dump substrates increases and the initial substrates gradually turns into soil. The rate of formation of primary soils depends on the biomass of plantations and the content of chemical elements in it. The article analyzes data on the content of the main chemical elements in different parts of plants aged 8-9 years. Trees and shrubs are arranged in sequential rows in terms of nitrogen accumulation, ash elements and overall biological productivity. The authors identified sea-buckthorn and robinia pseudoacacia, which, already at a young age, are characterized by high productivity (146.2 and 118.0 dt/ha) and have a positive effect on the fertility of the dump substrates.

Biochemical and Physiochemical Assessment of Air Pollution Tolerance Index of Selected Plant Species at Ikpoba Okha Gas Flaring Site, Edo State, Nigeria

The Air Pollution Tolerance index (APTI) of six plants located within Ikpoba Okha gas flaring site in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria during wet and dry seasons were assessed. Plant samples for this research work were randomly collected from the vicinity of the flaring site. Six (6) sample of each plant was used for laboratory analysis. The plant parameters assessed include relative water content (RWC), the ascorbic acid content (AAC), total leaf chlorophyll (TLC) and pH extract of the leaves and were used to compute the Air pollution tolerance indices (APTI). Based on the analyzed result, the RWC in Drypetes leonensis, Ficus exasperata Vahl, Chromolaena odorata (Linn) and Gmelina arborea Roxb. ex Smith species in dry season were higher than those in wet season. Icacina tricantha showed a relatively high level of acidity when compared to others. A. boonei De Wild has the highest ascorbic acid content in the leaves in both seasons. The highest level of chlorophyll contents was recorded in the dry season with Drypetes leonensis having the highest, followed by Icacina trichantha. There was no statistically significant difference in pH and total chlorophyll contents between samples collected in wet and dry season; however, there were significant difference observed in ascorbic acid and RWC in both seasons. APTI in wet and dry season showed a statistically significant difference. This study recommends planting of tolerant species that can acts as bio-indicators especially in gas flaring stations in Nigeria.