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An Assessment of Morphological, Physiological and Biochemical Biomarkers of Industrial Air Pollution in the Leaves of Brachylaena discolor

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Abstract

Bioindicators are useful in monitoring air pollution. This study assessed the efficacy of various tree leaf morphological, physiological and biochemical biomarkers in reflecting different intensities of air pollution. Leaves from Brachylaena discolor trees growing 0, 2.5, 6 and 11 km from an industrial hub (pollution source) in eThekwini, South Africa, were analysed for leaf area, chlorophyll (Chl) content, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production, electrolyte leakage, total antioxidant activity and concentration of selected minerals. B. discolor saplings grown under greenhouse conditions served as an ex situ control. Surface SO2 and NOx levels which were measured at the in situ and control sites declined significantly with increasing distance from the source but were below detectable limits at the control site. At the site closest to the source, leaf area was significantly lower and Chl, electrolyte leakage, and copper (Cu) and phosphorous (P) levels were significantly higher than the control. Leaf area was significantly positively, and Chl content significantly negatively, correlated with distance from the source, while H2O2 production, electrolyte leakage and Cu and P concentrations were all significantly negatively correlated with distance from the source. The aforementioned parameters represent potential biomarkers of air pollution in B. discolor and in some cases (e.g., H2O2 and electrolyte leakage; leaf area and leaf Chl content) should be measured in conjunction with each other to accommodate for interactive effects. Using B. discolor leaves as bioindicators of air pollution may represent a more viable option for monitoring air pollution than monitoring stations.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks to the National Research Foundation of South Africa for the necessary funding, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, for providing the laboratory facilities and resources for this research. Thanks to Mr. Bongani Mdamba for the extra pair of hands. Heavenly Father this is for your glory.

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  1. School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, 4001, South Africa

    Candyce Ann Areington, Boby Varghese, Syd Ramdhani &  Sershen

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  1. Candyce Ann Areington
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  2. Boby Varghese
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Correspondence to Sershen.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Fig. 8
figure 8

Leaves of B. discolor obtained from 0 km site. The two healthy leaves (left) show a significant decrease in leaf area, the next leaf indicates a discolouring and the right leaf indicates a deformity in the growth (photo: CA Areington, 23 June 2013)

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Areington, C.A., Varghese, B., Ramdhani, S. et al. An Assessment of Morphological, Physiological and Biochemical Biomarkers of Industrial Air Pollution in the Leaves of Brachylaena discolor . Water Air Soil Pollut 226, 291 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-015-2541-0

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