Comparative Assessment of Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) of Selected Plants From Two Different Industrial Sites of Rajkot

Abstract

Urbanization, Industrialization, and increasing number of vehicles are mainly responsible for the air pollution. Plants and other animals are seriously affected by air pollution. Plants have the ability to reduce and survive in this pollution. This ability is measured by APTI (air pollution tolerance index). APTI value can be evaluated by using four different physiological and biochemical parameters, namely ascorbic acid content, total chlorophyll content, pH and relative water content. The study was carried out in two different industrial sites of the Rajkot city. One site was Samrat industrial zone and another site was Metoda industrial area, Rajkot. Total twenty plant species were selected for the study to assess their air pollution tolerance index from the both sites and their APTI were compared. Amongst studied plants from both sites, Delonix regia and Azadirachta indica showed highest APTI value in Samrat industrial area, while Cassia fistula and Ficus rumphii showed highest APTI value in Metoda industrial area.

Keywords: Samrat industrial area, Metoda industrial area, APTI, Relative water content, Total chlorophyll