Effect of heavy metals in the cement dust pollution on morphological and anatomical characteristics of Cenchrus ciliaris L

Abstract

This present study illustrated the effect of heavy metals in cement dust pollution on Cenchrus ciliaris L. This wild plant species spread surrounding and within the contaminated area. The induced soil by cement dust was changed physically and chemically. There were alterations in morphological characters like chlorotic spot, stem shortening and leaf curling. Similarly, anatomical alterations appeared obviously like rupturing and thickening of cells. The data of control and induced plant species were analyzed statistically separately and combined respectively. The regression equations represented the interaction between control and induced plant species graphically. Cenchrus ciliaris L. can be regarded as a standard heavy metal tolerant plant species.

Keywords: Chlorosis; Leaf curling; Metaxylem; Regression; Soil; Thickening.