Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Ph.D of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, I.R. Iran
2
Associate Prof., Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, I.R. Iran
3
Assistant Prof., Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, I.R. Iran
4
Associate Prof., Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, I.R. Iran
5
Assistant Prof., Islamic Azad University, Saveh Branch, Saveh, I.R. Iran
Abstract
Urban pollution can damage animals and plants. Leaf is one of the most sensitive organs to air pollution, which can be changed morphologically and physiologically under pollution stress. The present study was conducted to evaluate the accumulation of heavy metals in Platanus orientalis and Pinus eldarica leaves and also their morphological (leaf area, leaf moisture and specific leaf area) and physiological (malondialdehid, proline and catalase) responses in the polluted (Center of Tehran) and non-polluted area (Chitgar Forest Park). For this purpose, 20 healthy tress (10 trees of polluted area and 10 tress of non-polluted area) with same age, height and DBH were selected. The results showed the concentration of lead, cadmium, and chromium in the urban area was higher than those obtained in non-polluted area for Platanus orientalis and Pinus eldarica. Zinc concentration in Platanus orientalis leaves of polluted area was less than that in non-polluted area, while there was not observed a significant difference between these areas for Zn in Pinus eldarica needles. Leaf moisture of Platanus orientalis in polluted area was less than that in non-polluted area, but there was not found a significant difference for leaf area and specific leaf area. Proline and catalase activity in polluted area were more than those in non-polluted area for both Platanus orientalis and Pinus eldarica, whereas malondialdehid in polluted area was more in respect to non-polluted area only for Platanus orientalis. There was found an increase for malondialdehid in Platanus orientalis leaves in polluted area compared to non-polluted area, but this value was not significant for Pinus eldarica. According to the findings, it can be said that Pinus eldarica is relatively more tolerate in respect to Platanus orientalis, but Platanus orientalis is more stronger in accumulating pollutants, which is the main reason of large variations of Platanus orientalis compared to Pinus eldarica.
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