Certain morpho-biochemical responses of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) to cement kiln dust pollution

An attempt has been made to study the impact of cement kiln dust pollution on certain morphological and biochemical features of Coriandrum sativum plants grown in the experimental plot exposed to the simulated cement kiln dust pollution. The study of morphological features such as length of shoot and root, size of leaves, number of branches, leaves, flowers and fruits, and phytomass, root/shoot ratio, NPP reveals that there is reduction in the growth of C. sativum plants exposed to cement kiln dust pollution. An analysis of the epidermal features of the leaves of C. sativum plants exhibited decreased values of the most of the studied parameters in the plants exposed to cement kiln dust pollution. The declining trend, except for the total phenols, has also been observed in the majority of presently studied biochemical parameters of plants exposed to the cement kiln dust pollution. Besides, reduction in the levels of total phytomass and NPP of plants grown in the experimental plot substantiates the view that cement kiln dust pollution has influence on the growth and yield of Coriandrum sativum.