Impact of Urban Air Pollution on Epidermal Traits of Amaranthus viridis Growing along the Road Side

Dr. Anita Pawar

Associate Prof. & Head of Botany Department

N.R.E.C. College, Khurja, U.P. India.

The present paper deals with the study of the impact of urban air pollution on epidermal traits. The light microscopic studies of Amaranthus viridis leaves showed marked alteration in the micromorphological parameters. Increase in the number of epidermal cells was recorded in the samples of polluted area on both upper & lower surface of leaf. But decline was noticed in stomatal frequency, dimensions of stomata and stomatal Index in stressed area leaf samples on both the surfaces. These parameters are useful as indicators of environmental stress or pollution.

Keywords: Epidermal traits, Amaranthus viridis, Stomatal frequency, Stomatal index.

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