LUCKNOW, March 28 -- A recent study by scientists at CSIR-NBRI found that rose and jasmine can help eradicate urban air pollution. The scientists at National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) associated with the study claimed that it is the first-of-its-kind study to systematically evaluate the tolerance strategies of ornamental flowering plants to ambient air pollution. "The study not only identifies resilient floral species suitable for parks, rooftops, and vertical greenery systems in polluted urban environments but also introduces an evidence-based framework for linking physiological integrity with pollution tolerance," said Soumit Kumar Behera and Richa Rai, scientists associated with the research. CSIR-NBRI being a nodal of CSIR-Floriculture mission conducted the study to evaluate the tolerance strategies of three ornamental flowers Rose, Jasmine, and Rajnigandha. The findings propose Rose and Jasmine as promising candidates for parks, rooftops, and vertical greenery, underscoring the role of floral ornamentals in air pollution mitigation. "Among ornamental plants, flowering plants have an aesthetic value and are mostly planted in the gardens, parks, and roadside dividers. They have a great potential to be used in vertical greenery, green walls, and green roofs. Flowering is the critical stage of a plant and is sensitive to air pollution and plants which can maintain their tolerance at the time of flowering are resilient to any abiotic stress," said Behera. He shared that Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) and Anticipated Performance Index (API) are widely used in identification of air pollution tolerant species. Results of the APTI for Rose and Jasmine were 13.95 and 13.45 respectively which were in the intermediate category. The API score for the selected plants showed that Rose and Jasmine are good performers in mitigating air pollution, said Richa Rai. Rose and Jasmine showed an efficient CO2 assimilation mechanism, where the rate of carbon fixation keeps pace with CO2 influx. "The present study represents one of the first attempts to quantify the APTI of flowers and to evaluate their adaptive responses to atmospheric pollutants. The present research contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by addressing the role of pollution-tolerant ornamental plants in promoting healthier and more resilient urban environments. It provides a scientific basis for integrating pollution-tolerant ornamental plants into urban greening strategies, thereby contributing to healthier communities, climate-resilient cities, and sustainable urban ecosystems," said Richa Rai. Ajit Kumar Shasany, director, CSIR-NBRI, said, "The findings of this study provide a scientific basis for selecting suitable ornamental plants for cleaner and healthier cities," he added....