Stomatal Index of a few common tree species in the Kishangarh Marble Slurry Dump-yard area, Ajmer (Rajasthan): A case study

Abstract

The size and number of the stomata present on the foliar epidermis of Tree species is directly influenced by the Suspended Particulate Matter. Marble dust is a very fine powder having approximately 40% particles below 75?m diameter of which approximately 30% are having a size less than 25?m present in the atmosphere. A comparative micro-morphological study of stomatal index of the dominant tree speciesAlbizialebbeck, Azadirachta indica, Callistemon lanceolatus growing in the vicinity of Marble slurry dump-yard, Kishangarh (Ajmer) was done from the month of April 2014 to March 2015.The stomatal index of the lower epidermis of A. indica and A. lebbeck leaves from polluted sites was found to have greater value as compared to that with those of unpolluted site during the months of May to October while in case of the rough, leathery leaves of Callistemon lanceolatus, the stomatal index value in leaves from polluted site was less during these months. This may be attributed to the prevailing winds and weather conditions in the area of study which play a crucial role in the accumulated particulate matter on the phylloplane of the selected tree species viz.A. lebbeck, A. indica,C. lanceolatus.