Dust Pollution Reduced Stomatal Conductance and Photosynthetic Pigments of Selected Medicinal Plants Growing at Lokpa Ukwu Quarry Site in Abia State, Nigeria

Aims: We investigated the influence of dust pollution on stomatal conductance and photosynthetic pigments in some medicinal plants growing at Lokpa Ukwu quarry site, Abia State, Nigeria.

Place and Duration of Study: Samples were collected from Lokpa Ukwu, Abia State while laboratory analyses were carried out in the Department of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicines, University of Nigeria, Nsukka between February and April, 2019.

Methodology: A total of nine (9) plants were sampled for the study. Leaf epidermises were prepared by clearing method and stomata were observed and studied quantitatively. Stomatal conductance was estimated from the anatomical variables following standard procedures. Total chlorophyll and β-carotene contents were also analysed and compared with control groups.

Results: We observed some physiological changes in the plants from dust-polluted site such as stretched epidermal cells, deformed stomata and plasmolysed guard cells. It reduced the potential conductance indices (PCI) of the plants by 87.4% in Aspilia africana and 67% in Chromolaena odorata. The least reduction in PCI was observed in Celosia trigyna (7.2%). Operating conductance (gop) and maximum conductance (gmax) were reduced by 69.2% and 72.3% in C. odorata and A. africana respectively. Celosia trigyna was least affected with percentage reductions of 18.3% and 1.4% for gop and gmax respectively. Reduction in PCI and gmax followed the order: C. trigyna ˂ C. papaya ˂ P. discoideus ˂ D. oliveri ˂ T. rhomboidea ˂ T. orientalis ˂ V. doniana ˂ C. odorata ˂ A. africana. Total chlorophyll and β-carotene contents were reduced the most in V. doniana (45.73%) and C. odorata (40.31%) respectively and least reduced in T. orientalis by 19.54% and 13.24% respectively.

Conclusion: Our findings validate previous reports of negative effects of dust pollution from quarry industries on both humans and plants alike.