Native Plants as Bioindicators of Air Pollution: A Systematic Review of Pollution Syndrome Traits and Their Applications in Environmental Monitoring

Abstract

One of the most significant environmental issues affecting terrestrial ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health globally is air pollution. Because native plant species react strongly to atmospheric pollutants through a variety of visual, physiological, biochemical, and anatomical alterations together referred to be pollution syndrome features, they are becoming more widely acknowledged as trustworthy bioindicators. Chlorosis, necrosis, leaf damage, early senescence, stomatal changes, decreases in chlorophyll content, shifts in relative water content, fluctuations in the pH of leaf extract, ascorbic acid buildup, and dust collection on leaf surfaces are some of these characteristics. An efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable method for tracking air quality and assessing ecosystem health is provided by the evaluation of these reactions in conjunction with indices like the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI). By combining research from various urban, industrial, roadside, agricultural, and forest environments, this review summarizes the state of the art regarding the use of native plants as bioindicators of air pollution. It looks at the physiological and biochemical processes that underlie stress reactions brought on by pollution, contrasts the characteristics of pollution syndrome in various native plant species, and talks about how they might be used in environmental assessment and biomonitoring. The review also identifies significant research gaps, highlights current developments in pollution monitoring, and stresses the significance of integrating native plant-based biomonitoring into conservation planning and air quality management. This review offers a thorough framework for comprehending the importance of native plants as natural indicators of environmental pollution and promotes their broader application in sustainable ecosystem management by fusing pollution ecology, plant physiology, and conservation science.