Effect of road traffic pollutants on vitis vinifera, L and citrus sinensis osbeck

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the accumulation of some heavy metals of road traffic along Alex.-Cairo highway in roots and leaves of fruit trees, Vitis vinifera and PARTIAL Citrus sinensis, and the soil underneath, and the effect of these pollutants on carbohydrate and chlorophyll contents. The results of this study revealed that the amount of dead fine roots [in terms of dry weight] was higher in the two species as they get nearer to the road. The average live/dead root ratio at 120m away from the road was 6.72 compared with 1.36 close to the road. The concentrations of Zn, Pb and Cd in the roots and leaves of grape and orange and in the soils underneath were of highest values close to the road. The same was noticed for chlorophyll, but carbohydrate content was not affected