Ecological Effects Of Particulate Matter On The Histochemical Content Of Alchonea Cordifolia Musa Paradisiaca And Manihot Esculenta

Abstract A comparative study was carried out to show the effect of particulate matter generated from asphalt on the phytochemical content of plant species in the environment. Asphalt is a sticky black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It is primarily used in road construction and also for bituminous waterproofing products. Samples from the following species Manihot esculentus Crantz Cassavafamily Euphorbiaceae Musa paradisiaca L. Plantain family Musaceae and Alchornea cordifolia Schum. 26 Thonn. Mull. Arg. Christmas bush family Euphorbiaceae were collected from asphalt polluted and unpolluted environment. For localization of calcium oxalate crystals and silicon fresh stems leaves and petioles of plant specimens were fixed in FAA formalin acetic acid and absolute ethanol solution in the ratio 1118 respectively. Specimens were rinsed in several changes of water and hand-sectioning method was used. For calcium oxalate crystals sections were stained with an equal mixture of 5 silver nitrate and 30 hydrogen peroxide under an intense light which was supplied with a 60-watt electric bulb kept at a distance of about 20cm from the slides. The staining took place for about 30 minutes at 10 minutes interval. For Silicon localization sections were covered with methylene blue and sufficient heat was provided and then cleared with clove oil and mounted in glycerin. Tannin localization was carried out using the fixative stain method. Specimens were placed in a fixative stain containing a solution of 20ml of 10 ferrous sulphate with 100ml of 4 formaldehyde. They were rinsed in several changes of distilled water and free-hand sectioning method was used. A reduction in the content of tannin calcium oxalate crystal and silicon in the highly polluted site as compared to the unpolluted site was recorded. Growth of plants in the polluted site was found to be affected by asphalt particulate matter which might be due to the presence of different toxic pollutants in asphalt dust. The plants are exposed to both biotic and abiotic stresses which are detrimental to plant health and metabolism.