Air pollution is a worldwide problem. Screening of plants for their sensitivity/tolerance level to air pollutants is important because the sensitive plants can serve as bio-indicator and the tolerant plants can resist air pollution in urban and industrial areas. The present study was carried out with the aim that A.B road of Indore city (MP) is heavily polluted due to enormous increase in vehicle numbers. The present study was done by selecting five heavily polluted sites of the Agra-Bombay highway (NH-3). Thevetia neriifolia (kaner), Magnifera indica (Aam), Psidium guajava (Jam) plants growing along the A.B road were selected. Chlorophyll and Proline content of leaves of the selected plants from the selected sites were analyzed. At most of the sites chlorophyll content was decreased in the leaves of the studied plants when compared with the plants of reference site. Maximum reduction in Chlorophyll-a, Chlorophyll-b and total Chlorophyll were observed in leaves of M. indica at LIG square. Proline content was increased when compared with the reference site. Maximum increase in Proline content (↑340%) was observed in leaves of M. indica at LIG square polluted site. It was concluded that these parameters are highly significant in understanding the plant-environment interactions and are used for developing of bio-indicator groups.

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