Effect of auto exhaust emission on the growth, morphology and bio chemical characteristics of marigold grown in different sites of Lucknow

The present study was planned to evaluate the effect of auto-exhausts on a very common ornamental plant i.e. African marigold (Tagetes erecta) plants which also possess aromatic & medicinal properties and natural source of antioxidants. The plant is also recommended for growing with rose for its allelopathic nature. The area under marigold cultivation is increasing every year due to its increasing demand throughout the world. To assess the effect of auto-exhaust on marigold plants transfer experiment study was conducted. Three sites (Road stretches) within the municipal premises of Lucknow city were identified based on survey of sites and the available data on air pollution loads, which differ with each other very significantly in terms of the number of vehicles (source of pollution) plying there. A comparison of contents of photosynthetic pigments, protein, proline and cysteine among Tagetes erecta plants kept at three different sites very explicitly indicates the bearing of auto exhaust effect on them. Marked alteration in bio-chemical haracteristics of plant was ob served in plants grown at highly polluted site as compared to plant grown at less polluted site.