The growth of Albizia lebbeck benth., Peltophorum pterocarpum Baker and Ficus religiosa L. were slow during the initial period of May and early June, but during the later half the growth rate increased. All species showed less growth in the city areas of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Nazimabad and Liaquatabad as compared to the University campus, which is a clean area. Among the species studied, P. pterocarpum was more tolerant of automobile pollution and existing climatic conditions.
Pods of some roadside plants such as Albizia lebbeck, Pongamia pinnata, Dalbergia sissoo, Leucaena leucncephala, Parkensonia aculeata, Sesbania sesban and Tecoma stans collected from the city area showed significant decreases in weight and length as compared to pods collected from a clean area. Azadirachta indica, Delonix regia and Peltophorum pterocarpum showed enhancement in pod weight or length. The seeds of most of the species collected from the polluted areas also showed significant reduction in germination as compared to the seeds of the control area, except Cassia surattensis and Tecoma stans. These two species showed a comparatively higher rate of germination in the polluted seeds. In this germination study the species were found to be resistant in the following order: C. surattensis, T. stans, A. lebbeck, P. pinnata, P. pterocarpum, S. sesban, A. indica, L. leucocephala, P. aculeata, and D. sissoo.
The seeds of Albizia lebbeck, Leucaena leucocephala and Peltophorum pterocarpum show a high rate of germination in the soil extract of control (campus) as compared to polluted areas (city). Germination percentage was lowest in the soil extracts of Guruminder and M. A. Jinnah road. The seedling length of A. Lebbeck and P. pterocarpum was not significantly altered by the soil extract of city areas, whereas L. leucocephala showed significant results. Reduction in root length was high in P. pterocarpum; similarly, it also showed a reduction in dry weight. This would indicate that P. pterocarpum was found to be the most susceptible species to automobile pollution. It showed reduction in germination, root and seedling length and biomass production. Tolerance of this species was also lowest as compared to other species.
The effect of automobile pollutants on plants growing in Karachi during different seasons were studied. In response to the polluted environment, the phenology of Guiacum officinale and Peltophofum plerocarpum was highly affected at M. A. Jinnah road, the most polluted area of the city. Automobile emissions also significantly reduced the productivity of fruits and flowers in. G. officinale, whereas Azadirachta indica was found comparatively resistant to automobile emissions. The trees growing on the busy roads produced a significant effect on seed germination. The seeds of Albizia lebbeck showed significant reduction in germination as compared to Peltophorum plerocarpum. Effective identification of air pollutant sources and their accumulation in plants would be helpful for environmental protection. The findings would also be helpful for understading the ecological value of vegetation which maintains water, climatic conditions and protection from the hazardous effect of air pollutants.
Nucleus-controlled fertility restoration and cytoplasmic male sterility are important mechanisms to exploit heterosis. However, the effect of DNA methylation on cytoplasmic-nuclear interaction is not well understood yet. The current study used a methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism to characterize polymorphism in nuclear DNA methylation among cytoplasmic male sterile line (D62A), corresponding maintainer line (D62B), and two F1 hybrids (D62A × R527 and D62B × R527). In results, 495 fragments were amplified between the parental D62A and D62B lines. The total methylation (double + single-stranded) and full methylation (double-stranded) rates of D62A (33.13%, 24.24%) both were found to be lower than that of corresponding maintainer D62B (33.94%, 24.85%). Analysis of methylation revealed that male sterile line D62A was less methylated than that of corresponding maintainer line D62B in all methylation types I, II and III. A total of 516 fragments were amplified between two F1 hybrids (D62A × R527 and D62B × R527). The total methylation in both hybrids (D62A × R527 and D62B × R527) was identical (34.69%). While full methylation rates for D62A × R527 and D62B × R527 were 25.78% and 25.58%, respectively, that is non-significant. Moreover, polymorphism in DNA methylation was found higher in F1 hybrids (5.43%) than parents (4.24%). These results implied that different cytoplasm leads to changes in nuclear DNA methylation and sterile cytoplasm has reduced the effect on nuclear methylation than non-sterile cytoplasm. Current study explains the interaction between cytoplasmic male sterility and DNA methylation which may contribute to further research.
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