Author

Anjana Anand1,2

Abstract

Acid rain, adversely affects plant biodiversity particularly impacting growth, physiology and reproduction. This research investigates the comparative effects of s.a.r. (simulated acid rain) on Zinnia elegans L. (Zinnia) and Helianthus annuus L. (Sunflower), two widely cultivated ornamental and agricultural species. S.a.r. of different concentrations of pH 5.6 (control), 4.5, 3.5 and 2.5 was sprayed on alternate days to study the derived growth attributes at an interval of 20, 40, 60 and 80 days. An appreciable reduction in growth parameters was noted in both plants on increasing acidity. Zinnia elegans showed higher sensitivity to acid rain compared to Helianthus annuus, which exhibited greater tolerance to oxidative stress. These findings highlight interspecies variability in responses to acid stress and the implications for plant management in acid rain-affected regions. Data recorded was analyzed statistically using ANOVA (One-way) and compared with the table value of F test at 5% and 1% levels of significance.

Pages:241-246

Doi Number 0.61289/jibs2026.04.20.0464

Keywords simulated acid rain (s.a.r.), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)