Assessment of Tolerance of Some Tree Species to Air Contamination Using Air Pollution Tolerance and Anticipated Performance Indices in Isfahan City, Iran

Abstract

Background: In the present study, the tolerance of plantain tree species (Platanus orientalis, Morus nigra and Ailanthus altissima) to air pollution was evaluated using Air Pollution Tolerance Index (ATPI) and Anticipated Performance Index (API) index in Isfahan city (Iran). Methods: For this purpose, three dominant trees growing at six stations in Isfahan was selected and then sampling of the tree leaves was performed, after being transferred to the laboratory, the ATPI and API index were calculated. Results: The results of calculating the ATPI in the leaves of M. nigra, P. orientalis and A. altissima species showed that the highest values of ATPI index was obtained in M. nigra at 20.77 and then detected in P. orientalis and A. altissima with the values 14.90 and 14.33 respectively. According to API values Morus nigra had the best performance (Score = 6 so it classified as the Excellent) while P. orientalis and A. altissima had very good and intermediate performance, respectively. Conclusion: According to ATPI and API index most tolerant tree species was Morus nigra, so it would be the most suitable species for plantation programme in urban and pollutant areas followed by Platanus orientalis and Ailanthus altissima. As well as our results suggest that Platanus orientalis and Ailanthus altissima can be used as bio-indicators of air pollution due to their low ATPI scores (lower than 16). The present study suggests that the combination of both the ATPI and API indices for identifying and selection of plant species is very useful for plantation in urban areas.

Screening of Plant Species Response and Performance for Green Belt Development: Implications for Semi-Urban Ecosystem Restoration

“…Theobroma cacao and Citrus sinensis with an ascorbic acid content of 1.86 and 2.89 showed the highest pH of 5.96 and 5.72 in ILO and NIC sites, respectively. Ascorbic acid acts as strong anti-oxidant in plants by inducing their defense mechanisms in diverse environmental stressed conditions against the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is induced in plants from the absorbed pollutants [69][70][71][72][73]. Hence, a higher concentration of ascorbic acid in leaves increases their tolerance ability towards air pollution [68].…”

Estimation of Air Pollution Tolerance Index of Plants Across the Industrial Zone in Kanpur City, Uttar Pradesh

“…Communicated the issue has multiplied over the last few decades, endangering both people and the ecosystem severely. Other human activities have exacerbated pollution and its detrimental effects on people and the environment, including open dumping of industrial and hospital waste and the burning of firewood, which is particularly problematic due to incomplete combustion (Hatamimanesh et al, 2021). Morphological, biochemical, and physiological characteristics (Yadav & Pandey, 2020).…”