High Altitude Biology Division, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, CSIR, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176 061, India.
Environ Monit Assess. 2018 Apr 21;190(5):302. doi: 10.1007/s10661-018-6682-7.
Loss of green cover, and increasing pollution is a prime global concern. The problem calls for screening of pollution-tolerant tree species that can be integrated into plantation drives. Recognizing this, the study analyzed bio-indicator responses and performance of commonly occurring plant species along a pollution gradient in western Himalaya. Based on distance from the road, three sites viz., highly polluted (HP), moderately polluted (MP), and least polluted (LP), were identified. From these sites, leaves of commonly occurring 26 tree species were collected and analyzed for dust accumulation, total chlorophyll, relative water content (RWC), ascorbic acid, and pH using standard protocols. Later, assessment of Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) and Anticipated Performance Indices (API) was carried out. The results revealed variations in biochemical characteristics. The pH, RWC, and total chlorophyll increased with decreasing pollution while ascorbic acid increased with increasing pollution. Dust capturing potential of Ficus carica (1.191 mg/m) and Toona ciliata (0.820 mg/m) was relatively higher. Based on the results of APTI, Grevillea robusta was classified as tolerant. It scored significantly higher values (21.06, 21.19, and 19.61 in LP, MP, and HP sites, respectively). Quercus floribunda, G. robusta (68.75% each), Juglans regia (68.7%), and T. ciliata (62.50%) were good performers in HP sites. Acer caesium, Betula utilis, and Morus alba that had low API scores (43.75%) were predicted as poor performers. Thus, G. robusta, Q. floribunda, J. regia, T. ciliata, and F. carica were evaluated as best performers. They could be integrated into plantations drives for environmental management.
绿色覆盖物的减少和污染的加剧是一个全球性的主要关注点。为了解决这个问题，需要筛选出能够融入造林计划的耐污染树种。有鉴于此，本研究分析了沿喜马拉雅山西部污染梯度常见植物物种的生物指标反应和表现。根据与道路的距离，确定了三个地点：高度污染（HP）、中度污染（MP）和最低污染（LP）。从这些地点采集了 26 种常见树木的叶子，并按照标准程序分析了灰尘积累、总叶绿素、相对水含量（RWC）、抗坏血酸和 pH 值。之后，进行了空气污染耐受指数（APTI）和预期表现指数（API）的评估。结果显示了生化特征的变化。pH 值、RWC 和总叶绿素随污染程度的降低而增加，而抗坏血酸随污染程度的增加而增加。Ficus carica（1.191 mg/m）和 Toona ciliata（0.820 mg/m）的灰尘捕获潜力相对较高。根据 APTI 的结果，Grevillea robusta 被归类为耐受。它在 LP、MP 和 HP 地点的得分分别为 21.06、21.19 和 19.61，显著较高。Quercus floribunda、G. robusta（各 68.75%）、Juglans regia（68.7%）和 T. ciliata（62.50%）在 HP 地点表现良好。Acer caesium、Betula utilis 和 Morus alba 的 API 得分较低（43.75%），预测为表现不佳。因此，G. robusta、Q. floribunda、J. regia、T. ciliata 和 F. carica 被评估为最佳表现者。它们可以被整合到造林计划中，用于环境管理。
