Assessment of Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) of Selected Roadside Plant Species in Urban Environments of Telangana, India

Abstract

Air pollution is a major environmental problem in rapidly urbanizing regions due to vehicular emissions and industrial activities. Urban vegetation plays an important role in mitigating atmospheric pollutants by absorbing gaseous contaminants and trapping particulate matter. The present study assessed the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) of five commonly occurring roadside tree species (Azadirachta indica, Pongamia pinnata, Ficus religiosa, Polyalthia longifolia, and Mangifera indica) growing in urban environments of Nalgonda, Suryapet, and Miryalaguda in Telangana State, India. Biochemical parameters including ascorbic acid content, total chlorophyll content, leaf extract pH, and relative water content were analyzed to calculate APTI values. The APTI values ranged from 10.98 to 14.91, indicating varying tolerance levels among species. Ficus religiosa showed the highest APTI value and was classified as a tolerant species, followed by Azadirachta indica and Mangifera indica as moderately tolerant species, while Polyalthia longifolia exhibited the lowest APTI value and was identified as sensitive to pollution stress. The results suggest that tolerant species such as Ficus religiosa and Azadirachta indica can be recommended for urban plantation and green belt development programs aimed at improving air quality in polluted environments.