Effect of cement dust deposition on physiological behaviors of some halophytes in the salt marshes of Red Sea

Abdel- Rahman, Amal M.; Ibrahim, Mohamed M.

doi:10.21608/eajbsh.2012.17001

Effect of cement dust deposition on physiological behaviors of some halophytes in the salt marshes of Red Sea

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ -Alexandria University, Faculty of Science- Botany and Microbiology department P.O. Box. 21511; Alexandria. EGYPT -Umm Al Qura University, Faculty of Education for Girls, Makkah, K.S.A.

² -Alexandria University, Faculty of Science- Botany and Microbiology department P.O. Box. 21511; Alexandria. EGYPT -King Saud University, Teachers College; Science department; P.O. Box 4341 Riyadh 11491, K.S.A.

10.21608/eajbsh.2012.17001

Abstract

Deposition effect of cement dust on pigmentation was studiedin Zygophyllum coccineum, Salsola tetrandra, Cyperus conglomeratus, Limonium axillare and Suaede vermiculata. Measurements were taken for plants in two cites , one close to early constructed cement factory at (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) about 500 meters and other one far from the factory about 5 kilometers. The rate of mortality of young branches were high in the area subjected to the cement dust in all five species, whereas Salsola tetandra and Suaede vermiculata arethe most sensitive among them. Unless Cyperus conglomerotus, It is noted that amount of chl a, b and carotenoids in all investigated plants that are far away from cement dust more than that near from the factory. Carbohydrates and protein contents are significantly decreased in non polluted Salsola tetandra and Suaeda vermiculata, whereas these parameters increased significantly parallel to the dust accumulation rate on plants near to the factory. In general, pollution by the cement dust has caused adverse effects on the photosynthetic pigments, the pH of the cell sap, metabolism of soluble amino acids and soluble sugars.

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