Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EFFECT OF CEMENT DUST ON STOMATA L STRUCTURE

P. SHANMUGHAVEL

Abstract

The paper deals with the effect of cement dust on stomata of ilcalypa indica, Eclipta alba. Cassia attriculota, Calotropis gigantea and Vinca rosea. The stomata! index (S.I) of normal leaves (control) varied from 10.0 to 20.1/unit area for cement dusted leaves the index ranged 18.3 to 39.3 unit area. The frequency of altered cells from cement dusted leaves varied from 5.2 to 10.1/unit area. Cement dusted leaves showed various types of stomatal abnormalities such as stomata with a single guard cell, stomata with 4-5 subsidiary cells, and giant stomata