Journal of Environmental Biology

Ambient air sulphur dioxide and sulphate accumulation

in deciduous and evergreen plants

Author Details

Anil K. Dwivedi

(Corresponding author)

Pollution and Environmental Assay Research Laboratory (PEARL), Department of Botany,

DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur - 273 009, India

e-mail: anil.k.dwiwedi@gmail.com

Shashi

Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Complexes, Department of Chemistry, Udai Pratap

Autonomous P.G. College, Varanasi - 221 002, India

Publication Data

Paper received:

09 July 2009

Revised received:

1 October 2010

Re-revised received:

25 February 2011

Accepted:

26 February 2011

Abstract

Present study is an attempt to evaluate the difference in rate of sulphur dioxide (SO2) absorption by deciduous (Ficus religiosa) and evergreen (Carica papaya) plants, under elevated concentration of the gas in ambient air. Two-way ANOVA for SO2?in air and sulphate (SO4) accumulation in both the selected plants showed significant difference (p<0.01) at different study sites; different months as well as interaction effect of both site and months. The linear correlation coefficient among ambient air SO2?and SO4?in leaves was always significant (p<0.001) in case of deciduous plant; however, the same in evergreen plants showed heterogeneous result. Air pollution tolerance index (APTI) of F. religiosa (deciduous) and C. papaya (evergreen) was found to be 19.73 and 81.10 respectively, proving that the former has low tolerance capacity and is sensitive, while the latter is resistant to the elevated ambient air SO2.

Key words

Sulphate accumulation, Cysteine, Brick kilns, Coal, Ficus religiosa, Carica papaya

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