PJB-2017-570
Evaluation of genotoxic impacts of cement dust pollution on biochemical attributes and biological damage of Crocus sativus L kashmirainus c.v.
syed sana mehraj
Abstract
Saffron plant (Crocus sativus L.) is a highly valued plant from which world�s most expensive spice, saffron is derived. Saffron plant is grown in few Mediterranean countries like Spain, France, Iran and Turkey. In India saffron is mainly cultivated in Kashmir around the Pampore karevas. A number of medicinal properties have been ascribed to various parts of this highly valuable plant. From past few decades there has been constant increase in the growth of cement factories around the area where saffron is cultivated. The discharge of cement factories generally consists of particulate matter, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides producing continuous visible clouds which ultimately settle on the surroundings as a result the whole ecosystem around the cement factories is subjected to extraordinary stress and abuse. This study was carried out, first of its type to evaluate the impacts of cement dust on growth and development of saffron. Five sampling sites were selected on the basis of distance from a cement factory (JK cement factory, Khrew) towards the control site (Lethpora, 12 km away from factory site). Current study was taken up for 2 years from March 2013�March 2015 extended over all the three developmental stages of saffron plant. From our findings it was observed that accumulation of heavy metals and other toxic substances beyond permissible levels in saffron plant and soil are having adverse affects on growth and development of saffron plant vis-a-vis its primary and secondary metabolite constituents.
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