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EFFECT OF AIR POLLUTANTS ON CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT

S. W Suradkar, R.S. Kale*


Dept. Of Botany
* Dept. of Biophysics,
Govt. Institute of Science, Aurangabad.
Abstract
In plants, chlorophyll plays a vital role in the process of photosynthesis.
Chlorophyll concentration of leaf is strongly affected by numerous external factors for
example air, electrical current, light, pollutants etc. The qualitative study of plant
chlorophyll is strongly recommended. This paper deals with the effect of undesirable air
quality on total chlorophyll of three selected plants these are, Ficus religiosa and
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. The available data indicates that chlorophyll content reduced by
the polluted air. In order to study the content of chlorophyll in polluted and less polluted
plant the present study were carried out.
Key words: chlorophyll, Air pollution, Road side plants, Aurangabad.
Introduction
Generally these plants are constantly exposed to air they absorb, accumulate
and integrate pollutants confining on their foliar surface and show specific
response. Thus, plants are used as bioindicators in various field of research.
(Joshi et al, 1997., Kalyani and Singaracharya, 1995).
Aurangabad is an important tourist center and industrially developing
city also it is densely populated with heavy vehicular traffic. Air pollution
has became a major threat to the survival of plants in a heavily polluted
areas. The rapid addition of toxic substances to environment are responsing
for the altering the ecosystem (Niragau J.D., Davidson, 1986). Plants
growing in heavy trafficular area are thus exposed to variety of pollutants
such as SMP, RSMP, NoX, & So2 etc.

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Materials and Methods

Present investigation deals with comparative study of plants under


heavy trafficular pollution with those growing in unpolluted areas. For this
purpose leaf samples of Ailanthus excelsa, Ficus religiosa and Hibiscus
rosa-sinensis were collected form Aurangupura the most polluted area of
Aurangabad city (polluted) and from Institute of Science,(less polluted).
a) Determination of leaf Area:
Leaf area of three polluted leaves of each species was determined by
using Leaf area meter 211.( Systronics )

LP P LP P P LP

Photo: Leaf showing the variation in leaf area & color due to pollution.
b) Determination of air born particulate:
The polluted leaf samples were weighed it was then washed and dried
with hot air drier the decrease in weight indicated air borne particulate
matter.
c) Determination of chlorophyll contents:
Fresh leaves were crushed in 20 ml 80% acetone and the extract was
filtered through muslin cloth. It was 100 ml by 80% acetone. The

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absorbance of the filtrate was determined at 663 nm and 645 nm and
chlorophyll content was calculated following Harborn (1963).
Air quality monitoring was done in polluted experimental site.

Result and Discussion


Table 1 shows leaf area and particulate matter deposited on respective
leaf
Table1: Leaf area and amount of dust deposited on leaves.
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Plant Leaf Area (cm ) Particulate matter (gm)
Ailanthus excelsa 30.9333 ±. 0.10082 0.2466 ±.0.010082
Ficus religiosa 43.9660 ±. 0.1454 1.269 ±.0.01031
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 38.7000 ±.0.0806 0.69333 ±.0.01875

Table 2 shows total chlorophyll content reduced in polluted area


comparision with less polluted.

Table 2: Effect of air pollution on chlorophyll content of road side plants.

Plant Total Chlorophyll contents(mg/g)


Polluted Less polluted

Ailanthus excelsa 30.2683 ±.03880 38.4886 ±.09320

Ficus religiosa 25.738 ±0.06044 38.963 ±.01319

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 14.9223 ±0.01969 25.45733 ±0.007734

Total chlorophyll content reduced in polluted area composition with less


polluted area.

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Fig1.: Comparison of chlorophyll content between polluted & very less
polluted plants.

45
40
35
30
25 Polluted
20 Very less polluted
15
10
5
0
Ailanthus Ficus Hibiscus
excelas religiosa rosa
cinensis

Figure 1 shows the graphical representation of chlorophyll content between


polluted and very less polluted leaf samples.
Table 3: Ambient Air Quality Monitored at SBES College, Aurangapura,
and Aurangabad.
Frequency: Two days in a week
Concentration of Air Pollutants
SO2 NOx RSPM SPM
Sr.No. Date µg/m3 µg/m3 µg/m3 µg/m3
Standards 80 80 100 200
January
1 9/1/09 13 33 140 407
2 10/1/09 13 32 113 382
3 16-01-09 14 29 128 420
4 17-01-09 15 33 119 367
5 23-01-09 11 31 109 470
6 24-01-09 12 31 179 522
7 30-01-09 11 34 144 645
8 31-01-09 12 32 136 571
February
9 6-02-09 10 33 194 363
10 7/2/2009 11 38 102 318
11 13-02-09 9 32 121 466
12 14-02-09 10 30 94 409
13 20-02-09 10 38 134 500
14 21-02-09 11 40 163 504
15 27-02-09 13 34 91 334
16 28-02-09 10 33 128 421
Min Max Avg Mi Max Avg Min Max Avg Min Max Avg

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n
9 15 11.56 29 40 33.31 91 194 130.94 318 645 443.69
Table 3 shows the concentration of pollutants of two months at experimental
site.

The reduction in chlorophyll content can be attributed to So2 induced in


removal of Mg++ ions ( Malhotra 1977 ). The reduction in chlorophyll is
caused by toxic ions formed by the dissolution of So2 in water inside the leaf
tissue, which preferentially incorporates into thylakoid membrane (Ziegler I.
1977). The study also state that super oxide radicals formed might also
oxidize chlorophyll pigments (Schlmazaki K. et al, 1980). Air pollutants
directly affect the net carbon dioxide exchange rate and dry matter
accumulation of many forest tree species (Lorenc-Plucinska, 1982a,b)
Acknowledgments:
Authors thanks Dr. S.K. Markandeya Director, Govt. Institute of
Science, Aurangabad. For providing laboratory facilities and to Prof. Mangal
Dharwadkar for guidance.

Reference:
Harborn, (1963). : “Phytochemical meathods”, Academic press, New York.

Joshi O.P., Wagela D.K. and Pawar K. (1997).: “Urban air pollution effect

on two species of cassia.” poll res. 16(1):1-3.

Kalyani V. and Singaracharya M.A.(1995).: “Biomonitoring of air

pollution in Warangal city (A.P.)”. Acta Botanica indica 23:21-23.

Lorenc-Plucinska, G., (1982a). “Influence of SO2 on CO2 assimilation and


carbon metabolism in photosynthetic processes in Scots pine”. Arboretum
Kornickie, rocznik XXVII, 285–310 (In Pol.).

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Lorenc-Plucinska, G., (1982b). “Effect of sulphur dioxide on CO2
exchange in SO2 tollerant and SO2 succeptible Scots pine seedlings”.
Photosyntetica, 16 (1), 140–144.
Malhotra S.S.(1977). : “ Effect of aqueous SO2 on chlorophyll destruction

in Pinus contorta ” New Phytologists. 78:101-109.

Niragau J.O. and Davidson C.L. (1986). : “ Toxic metals in atmosphere”

John Wiley & sons. New York.

Schlmazaki K. SakakiT. and Sugahara, K. (1980): “Active SO2

participation in chlorophyll destruction & lipid per-oxidation in SO2 leaves

of spinach” .National Institute of Environmental studies: Japan: 81-101.

Ziegler I. (1977).: “ Subcellular distribution 35-SO4-2 ,35-SO3-2 &35-SO2.”

Planta, 135:25-32.

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45
40
35
30
25 Polluted
20 Very less polluted
15
10
5
0
Ailanthus Ficus Hibiscus
excelas religiosa rosa
cinensis

Sadashivam S. andManickam A.( 2005).: “Estimation of total chlorophyll

contain”. Biochemical meathods: 190-191.

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Plant Total Chlorophyll contents(mg/g)
Polluted Less polluted

Ailanthus excelsa 30.2683 ±.03880 38.4886 ±.09320

Ficus religiosa 25.738 ±0.06044 38.963 ±.01319

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 14.9223 ±0.01969 25.45733 ±0.007734

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