Assessment of Air Pollution Tolerance in Roadside Tree Species using Physiological and Biochemical Indicators in Urban Landscape of Patna, India

IJEP 46(8): 803-808 : Vol. 46 Issue 8 (August 2026)

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Urvashi Sinha*, Pinky Prasad, Hena Naz, Piyush Kumar Rai and Anjana Verma

Patna Women’s College (Autonomous), Department of Botany, Patna – 800 001, Bihar, India

Abstract

Urban air pollution poses a serious threat to environmental quality and public health in Indian cities. This study assessed the physiological and biochemical responses of ten commonly occurring roadside tree species in Patna using the air pollution tolerance index (APTI) to evaluate their suitability for biomonitoring and urban planting. Key parameters—ascorbic acid content, total chlorophyll content, leaf extract pH and relative water content—were measured to calculate APTI values. Results showed that Acacia catechu and Albizia lebbeck had higher APTI values, indicating greater tolerance to air pollution, whereas Polyalthia longifolia and Ficus religiosa were more sensitive. Among species, Acacia catechu had the highest leaf pH, while Syzygium cumini had the lowest. Albizia lebbeck recorded the highest relative water content, a trait that supports physiological stability under stress. These findings provide a scientific basis for selecting pollution-tolerant species for greenbelt development and air quality management in Patna and other urban environments.

Keywords

Air pollution tolerance index, Patna, Bioindicators, Urban greenbelt, Ascorbic acid, Chlorophyll, Relative water content

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