Particulate matter (PM) is among the most harmful pollutants inhaled by man. To reduce its concentration in air, plants could be used as biological filters, adsorbing PM on the foliage (_SPM) or stabilizing in waxes (_WPM). PM has also negative impact on the photosynthetic apparatus, but not much is known in regard to comparison of species responses to PM. In this work, an attempt was made to define the amount of PM and waxes on foliage and to evaluate the efficiency of photosynthetic apparatus in five species grown in two sites differing in level of PM in the air. Obtained results showed, that quantities of PM and waxes on foliage were greater in plants grown in the City centre. These plants had lowered efficiency of photosynthetic apparatus, usually manifested by lower: (1) chlorophyll content, (2) values of chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters and (3) photosynthesis rate, which coincides with an (4) increased stomatal resistance. Among tested species Sorbaria sorbifolia was the best acclimated to conditions of urban areas with simultaneous highest PM accumulation. Therefore S. sorbifolia is best suited for phytoremediation of PM from air in urban areas.

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