Effect of automobile pollution on chlorophyll content of roadside urban trees

Abstract

The effect of automobile pollution was determined on chlorophyll content of four different tree species viz. <em>Azadirachta indica</em> L., <em>Conocarpus erectus </em>L.<em>, Guiacum officinale </em>L.and <em>Eucalyptus</em> sp. growing along the roads of the city. Significant changes in the level of chlorophyll “a", chlorophyll “b" and total chlorophyll “a+b" were found in the leaves of four tree species (<em>A. indica, C. erectus, G.officinale</em> and <em>Eucalyptus </em>sp.) collected from polluted sites (Airport, Malir Halt, Quaidabad) as compared to control site (Karachi University Campus). Lowest concentration of chlorophyll “a", chlorophyll “b" and chlorophyll “a+b" was recorded in the leaf samples of all tree species collected from Quaidabad site when compared with the leaf samples collected from control site. The highest levels of chlorophyll pigment were recorded in all tree species leave samples collected from Karachi University Campus. Similarly, better levels of chlorophyll “a", chlorophyll “b" and total chlorophyll “a+b" was observed in all tree species growing at Airport site as compared to plants growing at Malir Halt and Quaidabad sites. This study clearly indicated that the vehicular activities induced air pollution problem and affected on the level of chlorophyll pigments in trees which were exposed to road side pollution.