PJB-2023-323
EFFECT OF AIR POLLUTION ON THE LEAF MORPHOLOGY AND ANATOMY OF COMMON PLANT SPECIES OF KATHMANDU VALLEY
Anjana Devkota
Abstract
The present study was mainly aimed to study the effect of air pollution on the morphological and anatomical characteristics of leaf of 6 common plant species viz., Bougainvillea glabra, Callistemon citrinus, Euphorbia pulcherrima, Jasminum mesnyi, Lagerstroemia indica and Nerium oleander from different location of Kathmandu Valley. Results showed that all plant species exhibited significant (p<0.05) reduction at polluted site in their leaf length, width, and area when compared with the same plant species of non-polluted site. Results also showed that the overall reduction % in leaf length, width and area during different seasons at heavily polluted sites with respect to those of less polluted sites were found maximum during post monsoon than in pre-monsoon. Results also interpreted that maximum reduction in leaf length (25. and leaf width(18.62%) was recorded in E. pulchirrima, and leaf area (28%) was recorded in L. indica.; while minimum decrease in leaf length (7.58%) in N. oleander and width(11.3%) as well as area (13.90%) in C. citrinus. was recorded. Likewise, the highest stomatal index (20.58%) and number of epidermal cells (30.4) were recorded in Lagerstroemia indica; while highest stomatal density (134.8mm-2) and number of clogged stomata (8.33mm-2) was recorded in Bougainvillea glabra and Nerium oleander respectively.
Results further indicated that as the plants get ages, the reduction % of various leaf attributes of polluted plants also increased as compared with less polluted plant species. This could be mainly due to maximum exposure of plants to air pollutants come from various auto emission sources. This study showed that plants generally respond to air pollution with reduction in foliar features and the response is species specific.
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