Impact of Aeolian Dust on Leaf Biochemical and Biophysical Attributes of Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.): A Case Study for the Kashan (Central Iran) Pistachio Orchards

Dust is considered as one of the most widespread air pollutants. The objective of the study was to analyze the effect of dust load on the leaf attributes of the nut pistachio tree (Pistacia vera L.) planted in Badrood region (Kashan, central Iran) with a relatively high aeolian dust pollution. Some leaf characteristics including specific leaf area (SLA), relative water content (RWC), leaf nitrogen content (LNC), leaf phosphorus content (LPC), total chlorophyll content (TCC), total soluble sugars (TSS), ascorbic acid (AC) and air pollution tolerance (IPTI) indices were evaluated. Increasing of dust load led to aggravation of state of stress in most of the parameters studied. However, IPTI and AC indices were increased with increasing the dust load. Even though all studied traits were affected by the dust load but RWC, LNC, TCC were amongst those that were less affected and SLA, AC, IPTI, TSS and LPC were more influenced by different quantities of dust load. It may be concluded that the long-term exposer of the plant photosynthetic surfaces to dust particles leads to significant changes in biochemical and biophysical attributes, which can lead to a decrease in pistachio productivity.