Assessment for Variation of Air Pollution Tolerance Index of Selected Plants in Bengaluru Urban

Abstract

To develop the usefulness of Caesalpinia pulcherrima and Catharanthus roseus plants as bioindicators, which entail an utmost importance for a particular situation. This study focuses on the assessment of air pollution tolerance index (APTI) of two selected plant species commonly found along roadsides in Bengaluru, India. The plant species selected for the study were Caesalpinia pulcherrima and Catharanthus roseus. The plants were evaluated in terms of APTI by analyzing four different biochemical parameters: Leaf relative water content (RWC), Ascorbic acid content (AA), Total leaf chlorophyll (TCh), and pH of leaf extract. Based on APTI Caesalpinia pulcherrima was found to be more tolerant compared to Catharanthus roseus. Species with lower APTI value are considered sensitive species, which can be used as a biological indicator for further monitoring of air quality. Species with higher APTI value are tolerant species and thus, can be planted for pollution abatement in order to control and reduce environmental pollution. Key-wordsAir pollution tolerance index (APTI), biochemical parameters, roadside plants, Biomonitors INTRODUCTION Air Pollution can be simply defined as an undesirable change in the physical, chemical and biological properties of air due to anthropogenic or any other cause. An air pollutant is a substance in the air that can have adverse effects on humans and the ecosystem. The substance can be solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases. Air pollution is a serious problem throughout the world. Rapid industrialization and vehicular traffic especially in the urban areas of India lead to the deterioration of air quality by adding toxic gases and other substances to the atmosphere. All combustion releases gases and particulate matter into the air, which includes SO2, NO2, CO and soot particles as well as smaller quantities of toxic metals, organic molecules, and radioactive isotopes etc. The degradation of air quality is the major environmental problem that affects many urban and industrial sites and the surrounding regions worldwide. Although various efforts have been done for environmental restoration in India still it seems to be a formidable task. A pollutant can be of natural origin or manmade. Air Pollution results in huge harm to the living organisms. Access this article online Quick Response Code Website: