Evaluation of air pollution tolerance index of different tree species growing in Jhansi city of Uttar Pradesh

The present study was conducted to screen the pollution tolerant index of nine trees species namely Azadirachta indica, Cassia fistula, Delonix regia, Dalbergia sissoo, Ficus benghalensis, Ficus religiosa, Holoptelia integrifolia, Nerium indicum, and Pongamia pinnata which are growing either naturally or planted in the Jhansi city of Uttar Pradesh. Samples were collected from the polluted areas of Jhansi city and their test results were compared with the samples collected from the trees growing in the campus of Rani Lakshmi Bai CentralAgricultural University Jhansi. The parameters analyzed were total chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, relative water content and leaf extract pH. Present study revealed that ascorbic acid content ranged from 0.26 mg/g-3.93 mg/g in polluted sites while under controlled sites ranged from 0.009 to 2.56 mg/g. The highest ascorbic acid content was in Cassia fistula (3.94 mg/g) and least in Dalbergia sissoo (0.27 mg/g). The total chlorophyll content varied from 0.72-2.20 mg/g. Maximum chlorophyll content was in A. indica (2.21 mg/g), whereas, F. benghalensis showed least (0.73 mg/g). Under university campus (controlled) conditions A. indica recorded with highest total chlorophyll (2.90 mg/g) content and least in N. indicum (1.53 mg/g). For leaf extract pH of tree species under study varied from 6.33-8.24. Under Jhansi city sites F. benghalensis recorded highest leaf extract pH (8.24) and least was observed in C. fistula (6.33). Under controlled condition F. benghalensis recorded highest leaf extract pH value 8.09 and lowest in N. indicum (6.07). Relative water content of tree species varied from 59.69-84.0%. Jhansi city the highest relative water content was observed for Ficus religiosa (84%) and minimum for A. indica (59.69%). Under controlled conditions P. pinnata recorded highest relative water content of 67.3% and the lowest was found in A.indica (46.7%). On comparing the results from two studied sites it was highest APTI values was observed for C. fistula (10.30) followed by F. religiosa and F. benghalensis.