Oral Paper

         Development and Structure

DUST POLLUTION AFTER EFFECTS ON MORPHOPHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS ON FOOD CROPS PLANT

Presenting Author
Benjamin Ajayi
Description
Benjamin Aderemi Ajayi, Sunday Adeniran & Akeem Babalola Kadiri  Corresponding author: aderemibenjamin@gmail.com ABSTRACT Many air pollutants seriously affect morphological traits of the plant. Dust is the major and important part of air pollutants, generated by coal mines, thermal power plants, cement industries, cursor industries, road transport etc. When this dust comes with contact with the plants it causes many negative effects on morphology and physiology of the plant. In this study, dust deposition on the leaves decrease the productivity e.g., chloroplast content, stomatal blockage etc. Agbara is a industrial city of the Ogun State, Nigeria West Africa. Many coal based power plant and coal mines are situated here which produced plenty of dust. In this study three parameters have been taken e.g., dust load, leaf area and pH of leaf wash and understanding the effect of dust on Mangifera indica, the Mango plant. In this study four different sites have been selected where thermal power plants and coal mining produce plenty of dust and ash particles. Leaves collected from the Agbara (Industrial sites), which is mining area are suffering badly from dust stress. The results show that the leaves of the Mangifera indica have been damaged morphologically and physiologically due to the dust. Dust load and high pH cause physical injury, necrosis, stomata blockage, reduce photosynthesis etc. Dust pollution decreases the economical and nutritional value of the Mango. These results highlight the importance of morpho-physiological data for diagnosis of injury, and the sensitivity of roadside plants to different environmental pollutants.