The response of three species of Trigonella, namely, Trigonella stellata, Trigonella hamosa and Trigonella anguina to gamma irradiation stress was investigated with respect to antioxidant enzyme induction. When dry seeds were subjected to gamma rays (0, 40, 60, 80, 100 Krad) from a cobalt source ⁶⁰Co at a dose rate of 233.5 rad/ min, a dose dependent increase in the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APOX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR) was observed in both shoots and roots of the studied species. On the contrary, catalase activity was repressed, particularly at the higher applied doses. Shoots were more significantly affected by irradiation than roots. The three species differed in their radio-sensitivity with respect to the characters concerned. Changes in the activity of the key antioxidant enzymes which confer tolerance to irradiation stress were discussed

Cement factory emissions into air cause serious air pollution and affect the plant and animal life in the environment. Herein, we report the effects of cement industry emissions (O3, SO2 and NO2) in air, as pollutants, at Riyadh City on Datura innoxia Mill. plant. Morphological characters including plant height, leaves area and number, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root systems of D. innoxia showed a significant reduction from their normal control plants as a response to exposure to pollutant emissions. Chlorophyll and carotenoid contents recorded reductions in values compared to control plant, and the lowest values of chlorophyll A, B, total chlorophyll, carotenoids and total pigments were 0.431, 0.169, 0.60, 0.343 and 0.943 mg/g respectively at a distance of 1-5 m from the cement factory in fruiting stage. These changes in values may be attributed to a probable deceleration of the biosynthetic process rather than degradation of pigments. Further D. innoxia showed a significant (P < 0.01) reduction in non-reducing and total sugars, protein and total lipid contents compared with the control plant. The root system recorded the lowest values of reducing sugars (0.350 mg/g f. wt.), non-reducing sugars (0.116 mg/g f. wt.), total sugars (0.466 mg/g f. wt.), protein content (0.931 mg/g f. wt.) and total lipids content (0.669 mg/g f. wt.) in fruiting stage at a distance of 1-5 m from the cement factory. The peroxidase activity of shoot and root systems of the studied plant was also significantly higher than those of control plant. Thus a highest value of (29.616 units/g f. wt.) peroxidase activity was recorded in vegetative stage of shoot system at a distance 1-5 m from the cement factory. Results of the study indicated that cement industry emission strongly influence the physiology and morphology of date palm D. innoxia which contribute date fruits, a staple food in the Arab world.

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