Effects of Air Pollution on Some Chemical Compounds of Cherry Laurel (Prunus Laurocerasus L.) in Kastamonu

Abstract

Industrialization and overuse of automobiles result in the release of toxic matter in the air which may induce harmful effect on the living system such as plant, animal, soil fauna. All pollutants from traffic and factories suppress plant growth and development by preventing physiological and biochemical reactions. However, trees can play an important role in improvement the air quality by prevention of environmental pollution in the urban environment. The present study was conducted in Kastamonu city. It purpose was to point out the impacts of air pollution caused traffic on chemical compositions in Prunus laurocerasus L. For this purpose, we collected leaf sample of trees from areas away from the traffic for control, while polluted sample were selected from regions where the traffic was heavy (Salıpazarı) and less dense (Kısla park) in Kastamonu city center. In each of leaf sample, the amount of chlorophyll pigments, carotenoid, total soluble protein, MDA-malondialdehyde, H2O2, enzymatic antioxidants such as APX, CAT, GPOX and SOD activities, and non-enzymatic antioxidants measurements were performed. According to data, the amount of chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll, and CAT and GPOX activities was determined higher in non-polluted plant but chlorophyll a, proline, total soluble carbohydrate and SOD activity enhanced excessively contaminated leaf. APX activity was the highest in lighter contaminated leaf samples but H2O2 was the lowest. As a result, it could be concluded that the growth and development of cherry laurel was found to be affected traffic pollution depended on the severity of pollution. And also, on the basis of this study it can be said that cherry laurel is resistant to air pollution, and the results could be used in the future research to understand the role of individual tree species in air pollution.