ENUMERATION OF AIR POLLUTION TOLERANCE INDEX OF PLANTS GROWING IN URBAN AND INDUSTRIAL AREAS OF GANAPATHY, COIMBATORE, TAMILNADU, INDIAM. RAMA PRABHA 1 AND R. KARTHIYAYINIAbstract An air pollutant is a substance in the air that can have adverse effects on humans and the ecosystem. Air pollution is both anthropogenic and natural but it is a major concern in developing countries like India. Since, pollution is an upcoming issue; we aimed at assessing the air pollution tolerance index of plants present in the urban and industrial area of Ganapathy, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. To evaluate the impact of air pollution on plant species, 30 different plant species were selected for biochemical analysis (total chlorophyll, ascorbic acid, pH of leaf extract and relative water content) by using standard methods. Phyllanthus acidus was the most tolerant species with its APTI value (196.17 ± 50.87) found around urban areas of Ganapthy and the sensitive species was Terminalia catappa (9.18 ± 1.07). Tolerant species can be utilized for urban plantation and green belt development in urban and industrial areas to reduce the level of air pollution. Plants which are sensitive to air pollution should be utilized as bioindicators of urban air quality. Thus this vast data base would be useful in identifying tolerant plants, sink plants and indicator species for effective air pollution management program.
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