Photosynthetic pigments content in the urban habitat herbaceous plants leaves under the volatile organic compounds effect

Abstract

It is necessary to find and develop new methods for evaluating open air pollution by volatile organic compounds due to the current changes in the structure of industrial production. While applying these methods, plants can be used quite efficiently. Therefore, the purpose of the article was to study the nature and conditions of change of chlorophylls a, b and carotenoids content in the urban habitat herbaceous plants leaves at different doses of volatile organic compounds and their mixtures effect under the specified experimental conditions. The results of the experiment show that our hypothesis has been confirmed. It is the following: there are features and conditions of formation in reed fescue plants photosynthetic pigments of different levels under the effect of different amounts of pollutants having various volatility at different stages after their appending. Groups of substances which have the equal effect on pigment content have also been identified: pentane and hexane (have a strong effect) at early stages after treatment; benzene, benz(a)pyrene and o-xylol (have a weaker effect); butylacetate has practically no inhibitory effect; later: benz(a)pyrene, o-xylol and pentane (have a strong effect); butylacetate, hexane and benzene (have a weaker effect). The results of the studies can be used to develop a method for evaluating open air pollution by volatile organic compounds using herbaceous plants pigments. They contribute to the study of the toxic effects of volatile organic compounds on the change in photosynthetic pigments content.