Chronic cement dust load induce novel damages in foliage and buds of Malus domestica

Abstract

cement industry-derived pollutants appear to play multiple roles in stimulating abiotic stress responses in plants. Cement dust deposition on agriculture fields can affect soils, photosynthesis, transpiration and respiration of plants. Here, we characterised the acute physiological responses of Malus × domestica leaves to different cement dust concentrations. The cement dust was sprinkled over plants daily for 2 months at 10 and 20 g/plant, with 0 g/plant serving as the control. Leaf physiological responses revealed significant increases in oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activity levels. Additionally, ascorbic acid, soluble sugar, free amino acid, and pigment levels decreased after exposure to cement dust. Macroscopic morphometric parameters, such as weight, dry matter content, and lengths and widths of leaves and buds, were significantly reduced in the cement-treated groups. A histological analysis of leaves and buds revealed decreased cellular areas, cellular damage, and abridged leaf thickness, while an ion leakage assay confirmed the negative effects on tissue integrity. These results provide evidence that cement dust is a hazardous pollutant that induces abiotic stress responses and has degradative effects on leaf health, pigment and biochemical metabolite levels, and anatomical features. Studies to determine the elemental residues of cement dust present in edible plant parts and the adverse impacts of their consumption on human health are strongly recommended. Anthropogenic processes involved in rapid industrialisation and mechanisation are polluting the earth 1 by releasing significant amounts of pollutants into the atmosphere. Harmful gases and other wastes, such as dust and heavy metals, are also emitted into the atmosphere regularly, resulting in substantial negative effects on human health, plant development, agriculture output, and natural ecosystems 2,3. The addition of toxic pollutants into the atmosphere at the global level has contributed to climate change and increased the severity of stresses affecting living organisms 4. For example, poor air quality is harmful to plants, because they directly interact with the atmosphere and are, generally, immobile 5. The poor air quality associated with the cement manufacturing industry is receiving attention owing to its increased concentration of particulate matter, which causes major damage to leaves and hinders the growth and development of horticultural plants 6,7. Cement manufacturing processes generate a tremendous amount of dust particulates (coarse and fine), which decrease the surrounding air quality. Their emission of considerable amounts of toxic gases and particulate matters into the atmosphere is causing significant air pollution 8. Cement contains oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, which damage vegetation by affecting their gas exchange processes 9,10. Cement dust deposits on plants interfere with the biosynthesis of chlorophyll and damage leaf cells, resulting in a reduction in photosynthesis 11-13. In some cases, the dust deposition st...

Regulation of Flowering Time by Improving Leaf Health Markers and Expansion by Salicylic Acid Treatment: A New Approach to Induce Flowering in Malus domestica

“…The growth and expansion of leaves enables plants to capture the appropriate ratio of red to far-red light signals and triggers a variety of processes, such as plant growth, photosynthetic mechanisms, and flowering. Leaf vigor and growth involve responses of many cell types to various environmental and internal cues ( Shah et al, 2020 ). Here, SA-treated plants showed greater dry matter contents, which ultimately triggered leaf growth and expansion during the FIS ( Figure 1 ).…”

“…For leaf pigments analysis, we used an acetone reagent to extract the leaf pigments and perform the extraction under subdued light as described in our previous report ( Shah et al, 2017 , 2018 , 2019a , b , 2020 ).…”

“…Histological analysis of leaves was performed as described in our previously published reports (Shah et al, 2019a(Shah et al, , 2020.…”

Performance of Plain Concrete and Cement Blocks with Cement Partially Replaced by Cement Kiln Dust

“…One of waste materials that researchers have used in concrete is CKD, a fine powdery material resulting from cement manufacture. Studies showed that the greatest health danger in cement production comes from dust, and several studies have been conducted by references [8][9][10][11] to assess the influence of cement dust in the workplace and how it stimulates abiotic stress responses in plants.…”

Dust Emission Monitoring in Cement Plant Mills: A Case Study in Romania

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