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EFFECTS OF AUTOMOBILE POLLUTION ON THE PHENOLOGY AND PERIODICITY OF SOME ROADSIDE PLANTS

MUHAMMAD SHAFIQ* AND MUHAMMAD ZAFAR IQBAL

Abstract: The phenology of Alstonia scholaris and Pongamia pinnata was significantly (p<0.05) affected in the Karachi city polluted environment. Plants were highly affected by pollutants at Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Nazimabad, Shahrah-e-Faisal and M.A. Jinnah Road as compared to Karachi University Campus. Leaf length, width and area of A. scholaris were found lowest in July-September at M.A. Jinnah Road as compared to Shahrah-e-Faisal, Nazimabad, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Karachi University Campus, respectively. Leaf length, width and area of P. pinnata were significantly (p<0.05) reduced in January-March at the highly polluted sites of M.A. Jinnah Road as compared to Karachi University Campus. In this study, A. scholaris was comparatively less affected to automobile pollution of the city as compared to P. pinnata. It is, therefore, suggested that A. scholaris should be given more preference for future plantation in the city areas, particularly along the roads.

Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.
Corresponding Author: shafiqeco@yahoo.com