Responses of herbaceous plants to urban air pollution: Effects on growth, phenology and leaf surface characteristics

Honour, Sarah L.; Bell, J.N.B.; Ashenden, T.W.; Cape, J. N.; Power, Sally A.

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2008.11.049

Cited by 180 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…These changes help plants minimize stress and maximize use of internal and external resources (Dineva, 2004). A relationship between traffic density and photosynthetic activity, stomatal conductance, total chlorophyll content and leaf senescence has been reported (Honour et al, 2009). One of the most common impacts of air pollution is the gradual disappearance of chlorophyll and concomitant yellowing of leaves, which may be associated with a consequent decrease in the capacity for photosynthesis (Joshi and Swami, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The long term, lowconcentration exposures of air pollution produces harmful impacts on plant leaves without visible injury . Species differed in the magnitude of response to pollutant exposure, although differences were not consistent within taxonomic or functional groups (Honour et al, 2009). The present knowledge of effects of air pollution on plants is mostly based on experiments where plants have been exposed to high concentrations of air pollutants for short periods under experimental conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, determination being tolerance or sensitive for one tested plant species could be changed during different seasons (Liu and Ding, 2008). It is suggested for some species that the biggest effects of pollution treatment are associated with the early stages of the life cycle (Honour et al, 2009). The long term, lowconcentration exposures of air pollution produces harmful impacts on plant leaves without visible injury .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Some morphological and biochemical responses due to industrial air pollution in Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC plant

Seyyednejad¹,

Koochak²

2013

Afr. J. Agric. Res.

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The current study was done to examine the impact of ambient air pollution on some biological factors in Prosopis juliflora plants using two sites; control and polluted (around one of the oil fields in south west of Iran). Various morphological and biochemical characteristics of the plants were studied in both sites and compared with each other. Plants exposed to pollution showed lower leaf area, petiole length, chlorophylls, carotenoids and soluble carbohydrate contents as compared to plants growing in control site. Proline levels in polluted leaves significantly increased (p < 0.01), suggesting the activation of protective mechanism in these plants under air pollution stress, and also the observed responses are regarded as adaptive and compensative to the adverse effects of air pollution.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Some morphological and biochemical responses due to industrial air pollution in Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC plant

Seyyednejad¹,

Koochak²

2013

Afr. J. Agric. Res.

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“…Scots pine is well adapted to acidic and low nutritional value soils, very sensitive to air pollut- ) of herbaceous species resulted in species-specific changes in growth and phenology, with a consistent trend for accelerated senescence and delayed flowering (Honour et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal dynamics of histological parameters of the needles of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in conditions of excess ammonia

Vilčinskas¹,

Kupčinskienė²

2012

Biologija

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Ammonia is one of the most important aerial pollutants which might affect morphology of conifers. The purpose of our study was to assess morphological and histological parameters of the needles of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing under elevated concentration (up to 17.5 µg m ). The investigation of the seasonal dynamics of the needle morphology (length, width, thickness) and the thickness of the needle tissues in the cross-section (epidermis, hypodermis, mesophyll and central cylinder tissues -transfusion parenchyma and sclerenchyma) in most other cases did not reveal statistically significant differences between the trees growing in ammonia-polluted and relatively clean sites. It was true for both middle-aged and young age stands. Under the elevated concentration of air-ammonia, only some tendencies were observed for thicker needles (up to 1.05 times), thicker adaxial mesophyll (up to 1.10 times) and adaxial transfusion parenchyma (up to 1.06 times) of the needles. For middle-aged stands significant (p < 0.01) needle age differences were observed according to the abaxial and adaxial mesophyll thickness (up to 1.21 times thicker in 1-yearold needles), the same was true for the needles of the young age stand (up to 1.25 times). At the end of August, the average length of 1-year-old needles was 76 mm, width 1.7 mm and thickness 0.76 mm. For some histological parameters statistically significant (p < 0.05) seasonal differences were observed: the thickness of adaxial transfusion parenchyma was decreasing and the sclerenchyma width was increasing within the June-August period.

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“…5,9 It was recently discovered that a large percentage of toxic trace metals find their way into the human diet through consumption of vegetables and agricultural products. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] In acceptable limits, trace metals play an important role in the health and physiological activities of plants, animals and humans. 15 They are required in minute quantities as natural components of the environment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban farming as a possible source of trace metals in human diets

Olowoyo¹,

Lion²

2016

S. Afr. J. Sci.

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HOW TO CITE:Olowoyo JO, Lion GN. Urban farming as a possible source of trace metals in human diets. S Afr J Sci. 2016;112(1/2), Art. #2014-0444, 6 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10. 17159/ sajs.2016/20140444 Rapid industrialisation and urbanisation have greatly increased the concentrations of trace metals as pollutants in the urban environment. These pollutants (trace metals) are more likely to have an adverse effect on peri-urban agriculture which is now becoming a permanent feature of the landscape of many urban cities in the world. This review reports on the concentrations of trace metals in crops, including leafy vegetables harvested from different urban areas, thus highlighting the presence of trace metals in leafy vegetables. Various pathways of uptake of trace metals by leafy vegetables, such as the foliar and roots, and possible health risks associated with urban faming are discussed and various morphological and physiological impacts of trace metals in leafy vegetables are described. Defensive mechanisms and positive aspects of trace metals in plants are also highlighted. IntroductionUrban farming can be defined as the act of cultivating food crops, mostly vegetables, wherever land is available around or in the immediate vicinity of a major city.1,2 Farming activities around urban areas have become a prominent feature of some urban city landscapes, especially in developing countries. 3 There are several reasons for farming activities around peri-urban areas and these include easy access to markets and transportation of goods. In some countries, poor urban households use urban farming to increase their household income by selling the yield or surplus to reduce part of daily expenses. 4 The other probable reason for the increase in urban farming is the shortage of land. This involves farming areas previously used for either household or industrial waste, 5 supported by the notion that the soil will be very fertile. Urban farming also supports the campaign for organic farming. Consumers, in most cases, evaluate quality of leafy vegetables on their dark green colour and on size of the leaves as opposed to where farming activities have taken place. 6 However, in urban city centres where farming activities are carried out around industrial areas, safety around the consumption of these vegetables cannot be guaranteed because various disposal practices often cause the accumulation of potentially toxic trace elements in the soil. 7,8 Anthropogenic activities such as mining, emissions from vehicles, wrong agricultural practices and improper waste disposal are major sources of trace metal pollution in the urban environment. 5,9 It was recently discovered that a large percentage of toxic trace metals find their way into the human diet through consumption of vegetables and agricultural products. 5-14In acceptable limits, trace metals play an important role in the health and physiological activities of plants, animals and humans.15 They are required in minute quantities as natural components of the environment. For exa...

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Responses of herbaceous plants to urban air pollution: Effects on growth, phenology and leaf surface characteristics

Cited by 180 publications

References 31 publications

Some morphological and biochemical responses due to industrial air pollution in Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC plant

Some morphological and biochemical responses due to industrial air pollution in Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC plant

Seasonal dynamics of histological parameters of the needles of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in conditions of excess ammonia

Urban farming as a possible source of trace metals in human diets

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