The effect of air pollution on the morphological traits of the leaves of Platanus orientalis

Subject Areas : Environmental pollutions (water, soil and air)

sara  abbasi ¹ (PhD. Student, Faculty of Environment and Energy, Science and Research Branch of Tehran Islamic Azad University.)
Seyed Mohsen  Hosseini ² (Professour, Faculty of Natural Resources & Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Noor, Mazandaran, Iran. * (Corresponding Author))
Nematollah  Khorasani ³ (Professour, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Tehran University, Iran.)
Abd al-Reza  Karbasi ⁴ (Assosiate Professour, Faculty of Environment University of Tehran, University of Tehran, Iran)

Received: 2017-08-11 Accepted : 2019-03-06 Published : 2021-01-20

Keywords: leaf morphology, Platanus orientalis, Tehran, Heavy Metals,

Abstract :

Background and Objective: The study of the response and adaptation of the trees' leaves exposed to air pollutants is a good indicator of plant yield in contaminated environments. In this study, the effect of metal contaminants on changing the morphological traits of platanus orientalis leaves in Chitgar and Azadi Square in Tehran was investigated. Method: Two areas were selected for sampling. Area one was a low-traffic environment (from the interior space of Chitgar Park) and a high-traffic environment (Azadi Square). In each area, five healthy and disease-free tree base of plantain type (Platanus orientalis) were randomly selected at the shortest distance from the street. Completely healthy leaves were collected from the outermost part of each tree canopy from the street side in the first half of September. The leaves were collected at 10 to 11 am. To ensure that the stomata were open. The leaves were put in wrapped nylons in an ice tank with minimal hand contact and transported to the laboratory in the shortest time. Morphological traits of plantain leaves and stomata were measured. Metal concentration was also measured. Findings: Pb, Hg, Fe, Cu, Cr, Co, Cd, and Ni were more polluted than other metals and their toxicity in Azadi was more than Chitgar. The results of the study indicated that in the presence of heavy metal contaminants in the environment, the leaf length, width, area, fresh and dry weight, and the relative water content decreased while the dent per area unit, vein distribution per blade area, and special area of the leaf increased. As Cu increases, the leaf area decreases and the symptoms of Cholosis appear. The accumulation of cadmium, lead and nickel will reduce the size of Mesophile tissue and epidermal cells. Dry and fresh weight of platanus orientalis leaves in Azadi reduced in comparison to Chitgar. The decrease of dry weight is a complication of cadmium toxicity. Stomatal length, width, and size decreased while stomatal density increased. Stomatal strength, stomatal density, and stomatal size increased in upper leaf area. Discussion and Conclusion: By decreasing the contact surface with the pollutant and changing the stomatal size and density, platanus orientalis adjusts gas exchanges with the environment. The occurrence of these morphological adaptations increases the stability of platanus orientalis to the air pollutants stress.  

References:

1. Stevovi, S., Mikovilovi, V. S. & Dragosavac, D. A. (2010). Environmental impact on morphological and anatomical structure of Tansy. African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol.9 (16), pp. 2413-2421


2. Balasooriy, B. L., Samson, R., Mbikwa, F., Vitharana, W. A. U., Boeckx, P. & Van Meirvenne, M. (2009). Biomonitoring of urban habitat quality by anatomical and chemical leaf characteristics.Environmental and Experimental Botany, Vol.65,pp. 386–394


3. Nikula, S., Manninen, S., Vapaavuori, E. & Pulkkinen, P. (2011). Growth, leaf traits and litter decomposition of roadside hybrid aspen(Populus tremula L. and P. tremuloides Michx.) clones. Environmental Pollution,Vol.159 ,pp. 823 -1830


4. Pourkhabbaz, A., Rastin, N., Olbrich, A., Langenfeld-Heyser, R. & Polle, A. (2010). Influence of Environmental Pollution on Leaf Properties of Urban Plane Trees, Platanus orientalis L. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology,Vol, 85(3), pp.251–255.


5. Arriaga, M. O., Stampacchio. M. L. & Fernández Pepi, M. G. (2014). Use of epidermal characters as bioindicators of environmental pollution. Multequina, Vol, 23,pp. 41-53


6. Saebo, A. R., Popek. B., Nawrot. H. M., Hanslin. H., Gawronska. S. & Gawronski, W. (2012). Plant species differences in particulate matter accumulation on leaf surfaces. Science of The Total Environment, Vol,427-428(15), pp.347 – 354


7. Rani, M., Naresh Pal. R., & Sharma, K. (2006). Effect of railway engines emission on the micromorphology of some field plants. Journal of Environmental Biology, Vol, 27(2). pp. 373-376


8. Kovacic, S. & Nokolic, T. (2005). Relations between Betula Pendula (Betulaceae)leaf morphology and environmental factorsin five region of Croatia. Acta Biologica Cracoviensia. Series Botanica, Vol, 47(2), pp. 7-13.


9. Ritchie, S. W. & Nguyen, H. T. (1990). Leaf water content and gas exchange parameters of two wheat genotypes differing in drought resistance. Crop Science, Vol, 30, pp.105 -111.


10. Kardel, F. k., Wuyts, M., Babanezhad, u. w. A., Vitharana, T., Wuytack, G. & Samson, R. (2010). Assessing urban habitat quality based on specific leaf area and stomatal characteristics of Plantago lanceolata L. Environmental Pollution, Vol,158, pp.788 –794.


11. Olyslaegers, G., Nijs, I., Roebben, J., Kockelbergh, F., Vanassche, F., Laker,M., Verbelen, J.P., Samson, R., Lemeur, R. & Impens, I. (2002). Morphological and physiological indicators of tolerance to atmospheric stress in two sensitive and two tolerant tea clones in South Africa. Experimental Agriculture, Vol,38, pp.397–410.


12. Hakanson, L. (1980). Ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control. A sedimentological approach. Water Research, Vol, 14(5), pp.97- 1001.


13. Kulshreshtha, K., Rai, A., Mohanty, C. S., Roy, R. K. & Sharma, S. C. (2009). Particulate Pollution Mitigating Ability of Some Plant Species. International Journal of Environmental Research, Vol,3(1), pp.137-142.


14. Tiwari, S. S., Sikka, K. J. & Joshi, O. P. (2008). Air Pollution induced changes in foliar morphology of two species of classia at Indore City India. Journal of Environmental Research and Development, Vol,2 , pp.3.


15. Prasad, M. N. V. & Strzalka, K. (1999). Impact of heavy metals on photosynthesis. In heavy metal stress in plants: from molecules to ecosystems (EDS). Heavy Metal Stress in Plants. From Molecules to Ecosystems. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.


16. Ali, E. A (1993). Damage to plants due to industrial pollution and their use as bioindicators in Egypt. Environmental Pollution, Vol,81, pp. 251–255.


17. Souza, J. F. & Rauser, W. E.(2003). Maize and radish sequester excess cadmium and zinc in different ways. Plant Science, Vol, 165(5), pp.1009 –1022.


18. Gratani, L., Crescente, M. F. & Petruzzi, M. (2000). Relationship between leaf life-span and photosynthetic activity of Quercus ilex in polluted urban areas (Rome). Environmental Pollution, Vol, 110, pp.19 -28.


19. Wuytack, T., Verheyen,K., Wuyts, K., Kardel, F., Driaenssens, S.,  & Samson, R. (2010). The potential of biomonitoring of air quality using leaf characteristics of white willow (Salix alba L.). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Vol 171(1), pp197-204.


20. Vollenweider, S., Cosio, C., Gunthardt-Georg, M. & Keller, C. (2006). Localization and effects of cadmium of cadium-tolerant willow (Salix viminalis) II. Microlocalization and cellular effects of cadmium. Environmental and Experimental Botany, Vol,58, pp.25-40.


21. Kulkarni, M. B., Schneider, E. & Raveh, T. N. (2010). Leaf anatomical characteristics and physiological responses to short-term drought in Ziziphus mauritiana(Lamk).Scientia Horticulturae, Vol,124, pp.316-322.


22. Subbaro, G., Nam, N. H., Chauhan, Y.S. & Johansen, C. (2000). Oosmotic adjustment, water relation and carbohydrate remobilization in pigeonpea under water deficits. Journal of Plant Physiology, Vol,157 (6), pp.651- 659.


23. Azmat, R., Haider, S. & Askari, S. (2006). Phyotoxicity of Pb:I Effect of Pb on germination, growth, morphology and histomorphology of Phaseolus mungo and Lens culinaris. Pakistan Journal Biological Sciences, Vol, 9, pp.979 - 984.


24. Raina, A. k. & Bala, C. (2011). Effect of vehicular pollution on Duranta repens L. in Jammu City. Journal of Applied and Natural Science, Vol,3(2), pp.211-218. 


25. Pompelli, M.F., Martins, S.C.V., Celin, E.F., Ventrella, M C., & DaMatta, F.M. (2010). What is the infuence of ordinary epidermal cells and stomata on the leaf plasticity of coffee plants grown under full-sun and shady conditions?. Brazilian journal of biology, Vol,70(4), pp.1083-1088.


26. Erofeeva, E. A. (2015). Hormesis and Paradoxical Effects of Drooping Birch(Betula pendula Roth) Parameters Under Motor Traffic Pollution. Dose-Response: An International Journal, Vol,13(2), pp.1-12.


27. Xu, F., Guo, W., Xu, W. & Wang, R. (2008). Habibtat effects on leaf morphological plasticity in Quercus Acutissima. Acta Biological Cracoviensia. Series Botanica, Vol,50 (2), pp.19 – 26.