MICRO-MORPHOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL RESPONSE OF MUNTINGIA CALABURA L. AND IXORA COCCINIA L. TO AIR POLLUTION

Abstract

The present study was carried out to assess the air pollution effects on micro morphological and biochemical parameters of Muntingia calabura and Ixora coccinia. In polluted area samples the number of stomata and unclogged stomata were found to be less then control, where as the number of clogged stomata are found to be higher in the polluted site when compared to control. The stomatal pore length and breadth were also found to be less in polluted area in both the plants when compared to control. The number of epidermal cells, trichome length values was found to be less then control in both the plants. While the trichome number was found to be less than control in Muntingia calabura and more then control in Ixora coccinia. The stomatal index in both the species is higher than the control. The amount of chl. a, chl. b, total chlorophyll content were found to be higher in control samples when compare to polluted samples. But relative water content, ascorbic acid, pH and air pollution tolerance index were found to be higher in polluted site samples when compare to control samples.