Biomonitoring with special reference to leaf and pollen morphology in Cassia sophera L. to detect roadside air pollution

ABSTRACT

The aim of biomonitoring study was to detect morphological deformities in leaf and pollen micro-morphology of Cassia sophera Linn. after exposure to vehicular air pollution. The study areas were selected based on three different roadsides such as control area designated as “C” at Serampore college campus as low vehicular movement area, Bi-lane roadside away 1.5 Km from Durgapur expressway as moderate vehicular movement designated as “M” and roadside near Durgapur Expressway designated as “H” because of continuous vehicular movements. Present studies attempted on Cassia sophera exposed to different levels of roadside air pollution were used to detect varying degrees of damage produced in its morphological characters with special reference to leaf shape and visible injuries as well as micro-morphological features of pollens at wet and dry conditions. In results, the damages were observed noticeable with chlorotic spots, necrosis, etc. It was not only showed morphological damage in leaf but also huge differences in the production of viable pollens with plants exposed to high levels of air pollution showed pollen production with no material content inside as well as with significantly (P<0.001 and P<0.01) reduced sizes compared to the plants exposed to low levels of air pollution. It is concluded that varying degrees of air pollution produces a huge impact at sub cellular, cellular and tissue levels. This biomonitoring study helps to know the alarming condition of roadside air pollution. Moreover, it can not be identified the effect of an individual or combination of air pollutant(s) such as particulates or CO or CO₂ or SO₂ or NO_x or PAN or O₃, etc. It is suggesting to further study with instruments to detect the load of air pollutants with special reference to particulates and gaseous pollutants.