Assessing the impact of industrial pollution stress on the physiological defense, proximate composition and morphological traits of riparian vegetation

Abstract The untreated disposal of industrial effluents that contain hazardous toxic metal elements such as cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe), causes major threats to the ecosystem. The present study aims to focus on the health of water bodies and ripa...

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Main Authors: Anum Sajid, Kafeel Ahmad, Zafar Iqbal Khan, Ahlam Khalofah, Iftikhar Ahmad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Plant Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-07034-3
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author Anum Sajid
Kafeel Ahmad
Zafar Iqbal Khan
Ahlam Khalofah
Iftikhar Ahmad
author_facet Anum Sajid
Kafeel Ahmad
Zafar Iqbal Khan
Ahlam Khalofah
Iftikhar Ahmad
author_sort Anum Sajid
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The untreated disposal of industrial effluents that contain hazardous toxic metal elements such as cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe), causes major threats to the ecosystem. The present study aims to focus on the health of water bodies and riparian vegetation in the Sargodha district. Industrial effluents from sugar mill industries drain the Jhelum River and eventually pose a major threat to the riparian vegetation of the area as it does in other parts of the world. The results suggested the presence of a high level of pollution in drains carrying the industrial effluents and inside the river in the form of increased salinity, metal toxicity, and the acidic and alkaline nature of industrial drainage. Additionally, a few acclimated species such as Eclipta alba, Desmostachya bipinnata, Cynodon dactylon, Paspalum distichum, and Cyperus rotundus were identified and examined for their physiological, proximate, and morpho-anatomical attributes. Most of the species exhibit a high degrees of anatomical modification, such as sclerification and aerenchyma formation which support their survival in such a polluted environment. These plants presented increased production of crude fibers, carbohydrates, and proteins, as well as enhanced photosynthetic pigments, allowing them to cope with stress conditions. This study highlights the need for urgent measures to mitigate the impact of industrial pollution on the environment and ecosystem, and underscores the importance of identifying and conserving plant species that can tolerate and adapt to polluted conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-5c9ec0f31bf34799ba614cb7c4be13402025-08-20T03:42:35ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-07-0125112210.1186/s12870-025-07034-3Assessing the impact of industrial pollution stress on the physiological defense, proximate composition and morphological traits of riparian vegetationAnum Sajid0Kafeel Ahmad1Zafar Iqbal Khan2Ahlam Khalofah3Iftikhar Ahmad4Department of Botany, University of SargodhaDepartment of Botany, University of SargodhaDepartment of Botany, University of SargodhaBiology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid UniversityDepartment of Botany, University of SargodhaAbstract The untreated disposal of industrial effluents that contain hazardous toxic metal elements such as cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe), causes major threats to the ecosystem. The present study aims to focus on the health of water bodies and riparian vegetation in the Sargodha district. Industrial effluents from sugar mill industries drain the Jhelum River and eventually pose a major threat to the riparian vegetation of the area as it does in other parts of the world. The results suggested the presence of a high level of pollution in drains carrying the industrial effluents and inside the river in the form of increased salinity, metal toxicity, and the acidic and alkaline nature of industrial drainage. Additionally, a few acclimated species such as Eclipta alba, Desmostachya bipinnata, Cynodon dactylon, Paspalum distichum, and Cyperus rotundus were identified and examined for their physiological, proximate, and morpho-anatomical attributes. Most of the species exhibit a high degrees of anatomical modification, such as sclerification and aerenchyma formation which support their survival in such a polluted environment. These plants presented increased production of crude fibers, carbohydrates, and proteins, as well as enhanced photosynthetic pigments, allowing them to cope with stress conditions. This study highlights the need for urgent measures to mitigate the impact of industrial pollution on the environment and ecosystem, and underscores the importance of identifying and conserving plant species that can tolerate and adapt to polluted conditions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-07034-3Chloroplastidic pigmentsCrude fibersIndustrial effluentsPrimary metabolites
spellingShingle Anum Sajid
Kafeel Ahmad
Zafar Iqbal Khan
Ahlam Khalofah
Iftikhar Ahmad
Assessing the impact of industrial pollution stress on the physiological defense, proximate composition and morphological traits of riparian vegetation
BMC Plant Biology
Chloroplastidic pigments
Crude fibers
Industrial effluents
Primary metabolites
title Assessing the impact of industrial pollution stress on the physiological defense, proximate composition and morphological traits of riparian vegetation
title_full Assessing the impact of industrial pollution stress on the physiological defense, proximate composition and morphological traits of riparian vegetation
title_fullStr Assessing the impact of industrial pollution stress on the physiological defense, proximate composition and morphological traits of riparian vegetation
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the impact of industrial pollution stress on the physiological defense, proximate composition and morphological traits of riparian vegetation
title_short Assessing the impact of industrial pollution stress on the physiological defense, proximate composition and morphological traits of riparian vegetation
title_sort assessing the impact of industrial pollution stress on the physiological defense proximate composition and morphological traits of riparian vegetation
topic Chloroplastidic pigments
Crude fibers
Industrial effluents
Primary metabolites
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-07034-3
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