Incidence of allergenic pollen of Acer spp., Fraxinus spp. and Platanus spp. in the city of La Plata, Argentina: preliminary results

This work studies the airborne pollenconcentrations of Acer spp.,Fraxinus spp. and Platanus spp. sincethe pollen of these three taxa has beencharacterized as etiological agents ofpollinosis. These tree species are present inlarge amounts in the streets of La Plata city.The aeropalynological monitoring was performedwith a Hirst-type spore trap (Lanzoni VPPS,2000). The emission period of the three taxaextends from approximately late August to October.The maximum cumulative totalof arboreal pollen was found to be 30824.7from September 12 to 18. This period coincideswith the peak of total pollen concentration.Pollen grains trapped were analysed andexpressed as daily averages of 5-hour bandsper day during the whole year. Maximum pollenconcentration was registered between 10 a.m.and 2 p.m. During the studied period, 67 patients examinedat the Allergy Service of ``Hospital Interzonalde Agudos R. Rossi' (La Plata) showed allergicdisease. These allergenic episodes may beproduced by the large amount of pollen trees inthe city area.     

Intradiurnal variation of allergenic pollen in the city of Porto (Portugal)

This study reports the hourly distribution of the allergenic airborne pollen types more abundant in the atmosphere of Porto (Portugal) during the studied period. This knowledge will allow an adequacy daily routine for allergic patients during the hours of higher airborne concentrations. The airborne pollen concentration was continuously performed from January 2003 to December 2007 in the city of Porto using a Hirst-type volumetric sampler. Urticaceae, Cupressaceae, Acer spp., and Plantago spp. airborne pollen presented higher concentrations in the morning, while Alnus spp. and Betula spp. pollen were mainly present during the afternoon. Olea europaea and Platanus spp. pollen were regularly distributed along the day, while Poaceae and Pinus spp. pollen presented two diurnal maxima.     

Transport of airborne pollen into the city of Thessaloniki: the effects of wind direction, speed and persistence

We examined the effect of the wind vector analyzed into its three components (direction, speed and persistence), on the circulation of pollen from different plant taxa prominent in the Thessaloniki area for a 4-year period (1996–1999). These plant taxa were Ambrosia spp., Artemisia spp., Chenopodiaceae, Corylus spp., Cupressaceae, Olea europaea, Pinaceae, Platanus spp., Poaceae, Populus spp., Quercus spp., and Urticaceae. Airborne pollen of Cupressaceae, Urticaceae, Quercus spp. and O. europaea make up approximately 70% of the total average annual pollen counts. The set of data that we worked with represented days without precipitation and time intervals during which winds blew from the same direction for at least 4 consecutive hours. We did this in order to study the effect of the different wind components independently of precipitation, and to avoid secondary effects produced by pollen resuspension phenomena. Factorial regression analysis among the summed bi-hourly pollen counts for each taxon and the values of wind speed and persistence per wind direction gave significant results in 22 cases (combinations of plant taxa and wind directions). The pollen concentrations of all taxa correlated significantly with at least one of the three wind components. In seven out of the 22 taxon-wind direction combinations, the pollen counts correlated positively with wind persistence, whereas this was the case for only two of the taxon-wind speed combinations. In seven cases, pollen counts correlated with the interaction effect of wind speed and persistence. This shows the importance of wind persistence in pollen transport, particularly when weak winds prevail for a considerable part of the year, as is the case for Thessaloniki. Medium/long-distance pollen transport was evidenced for Olea (NW, SW directions), Corylus (NW, SW), Poaceae (SW) and Populus (NW).     

Fifteen years' record of airborne allergenic pollen and meteorological parameters in Thessaloniki,Greece

A pollen calendar has been constructed for the area of Thessaloniki and relationships between pollen transport and meteorological parameters have been assessed. Daily airborne pollen records were collected over a 15-year period (1987-2001), using a Burkard continuous volumetric pollen trap, located in the centre of the city. Sixteen allergenic pollen types were identified. Simultaneously, daily records of five main meteorological parameters (mean air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, sunshine, wind speed) were made, and then correlated with fluctuations of the airborne pollen concentrations. For the first time in Greece, a pollen calendar has been constructed for 16 pollen types, from which it appears that 24.9% of the total pollen recorded belong to Cupressaceae, 20.8% to Quercus spp., 13.6% to Urticaceae, 9.1% to Oleaceae, 8.9% to Pinaceae, 6.3% to Poaceae, 5.4% to Platanaceae, 3.0% to Corylus spp., 2.5% to Chenopodiaceae and 1.4% to Populus spp. The percentages of Betula spp., Asteraceae (Artemisia spp. and Ambrosia spp.), Salix spp., Ulmaceae and Alnus spp. were each lower than 1%. A positive correlation between pollen transport and both mean temperature and sunshine was observed, whereas usually no correlation was found between pollen and relative humidity or rainfall. Finally, wind speed was generally found to have a significant positive correlation with the concentrations of 8 pollen types. For the first time in the area of Thessaloniki, and more generally in Greece, 15-year allergenic pollen records have been collected and meteorological parameters have been recorded. The airborne pollen concentration is strongly influenced by mean air temperature and sunshine duration. The highest concentrations of pollen grains are observed during spring (May).     

Airborne pollen of entomophilous plants and spores of pteridophytes in Rzeszów and its environs (SE Poland)

Airborne pollen of entomophilous plants occurred in low or very low concentrations, and constituted 4 of the total pollen sum. In 1997–2002, between 18 and 26 taxa were identified. Out of this large group the following taxa were represented in larger concentrations every year– Salix, Acer, Morus, Cichorioideae, Asterioideae, Plantago major/media, Sambucus nigra and Tilia. Microscopic examination revealed that pollen grains of the above mentioned species were often glued together, which is a typical adaptation to this kind of pollination. Club moss (Lycopodium spp.) and horsetail (Equisetum spp.) spores were recorded sporadically. Fern spores were found frequently but in very low numbers. In 2002 the occurrence of the airborne pollen of entomophilous plants in the city and in the countryside was compared. A higher percentage value of pollen was found in the atmosphere of the city rather than in the countryside, due to the high concentration of Acer pollen, which is a partly entomophilous species and common in municipal plantings. In the countryside air there was a higher concentration of pollen from purely entomophilous species, such as Viburnum and Asteroideae.     

Nectar and Pollen Sources for Honeybee （Apis cerana cerana Fabr.） in Qinglan Mangrove Area, Hainan Island, China

In the present study, nectar and pollen sources for honeybee （Apls cerana cerana Fabr.） were studied in Qlnglan mangrove area, Hainan Island, China, based on microscopic analysis of honey and pollen load （corblcular and gut contents） from honeybees collected In October and November 2004. Qualitative and quantitative melittopalynologlcal analysis of the natural honey sample showed that the honey is of unlfloral type with Mimosa pudlca L. （Mlmosaceae） as the predominant （89.14%） source of nectar and pollen for A. cerana cerana In October. Members of Araceae are an Important minor （3%-15%） pollen type, whereas those of Arecaceae are a minor （〈3%） pollen type. Pollen grains of Nypa fruticans Wurmb., Rhlzophora spp., Excoecarla agallocha L., Lumnitzera spp., Brugulera spp., Kandella candel Druce, and Ceriops tagal （Perr.） C. B. Rob. are among the notable mangrove texa growing In Qinglan mangrove area recorded as minor taxa In the honey. The absolute pollen count （I.e. the number of pollen grains/10 g honey sample） suggests that the honey belongs to Group V （〉1 000 000）. Pollen analysis from the corblcular and gut contents of A. cerana cerana revealed the highest representation （95.60%） of members of Sonneratia spp. （Sonneratlaceae）, followed by Bruguiera spp. （Rhizophoraceae）, Euphorblaceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Arecaceae, Araceae, Anacardlaceae, and Rublaceae. Of these plants, those belonging to Sonneratla plants are the most Important nectar and pollen sources for A. cerana cerana and are frequently foraged and pollinated by these bees in November.     

An observation study of airborne pollen fall in Didim (SW Turkey): years 2004–2005

Pollen grains in the atmosphere of Didim, collected using a Durham sampler, were investigated in 2004 and 2005. Weekly pollen grains per square centimetre were calculated. Over a period of 2 years, 17,518 pollen grains/cm² belonging to 40 taxa and unidentified pollen grains were recorded. In 2004, 9,879 pollen grains were counted per cm², and in 2005 the value was 7,639 per cm². The majority of pollen grains investigated were Pinus spp. (45.58%), Cupressaceae/Taxaceae (13.49%), Olea spp. (9.19%), Platanus spp. (7.62%), Gramineae (6.33%), Pistacia spp. (4.34%), Morus spp. (3.81%), Quercus spp. (2.02%), Abies spp. (1.39%), and Plantago spp. (1.11%). During the month of April, 40.46% of total pollen grains were recorded. According to our results, pollen season durations for the dominated pollen grains in Didim were: the 7th–33rd weeks for Pinus spp., nearly the whole year except summer for Cupressaceae/Taxaceae, the 17th–29th weeks for Olea spp., the 10th–24th weeks for Platanus spp., the 8th–46th weeks for Gramineae, the 8th–20th weeks for Pistacia spp., the 11th–21st weeks for Morus spp., the 17th–21st weeks for Quercus spp., the 9th–27th weeks for Abies spp., and the 7th–26th weeks for Plantago spp.     

Annual pollen spectrum in the air of Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain)

This aeropalynological study documented the pollen of 13 taxa with the highest concentration in the air of Palma de Mallorca during the years 2004–2010, using a Hirst-type volumetric spore trap. The taxa were Cupressaceae, Olea europaea, Platanus hispanica, Pinus spp., Parietaria judaica, Urtica membranacea, Quercus ilex, Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae, Plantago spp., Castanea sativa, Pistacia lentiscus and Betula spp. These taxa accounted for 91.85 % of the total annual pollen recorded during the period. The mean annual pollen index was 20,027. The highest pollen counts occurred in February–June, representing 88.74 % of the annual total collected. Every year, there was a substantial increase in the concentration and types of pollen from March to May, followed by a decrease from July to January. The maximum annual total pollen count was recorded in 2005 with 25,870 and the minimum in 2009 with 14,726. The mean daily average pollen concentration count showed a declining trend over the study period. With respect to seasonal phases analysed, the later phase of the pollen season is more variable than the beginning. To observe the overall dynamics of the different pollen types better, a pollen calendar was established for Palma de Mallorca. The pollen calendar had typical Mediterranean features and is a useful tool for allergological and botanical awareness.     

A 2-year aeropalynological survey of allergenic pollen in the atmosphere of Kastamonu, Turkey

Knowledge of airborne pollen concentrations and the weather conditions influencing them is important for air quality forecasters, allergists and allergy sufferers. For this reason, a 7-day recording volumetric spore trap of the Hirst design was used for pollen monitoring between January 2006 and December 2007 in Kastamonu, Turkey. A total of 293,427 pollen grains belonging to 51 taxa were recorded during the study period. In the 2?years of study, the period March–August was identified as the main pollination season for Kastamonu. The highest monthly pollen counts were observed in May in both years. Six taxa made up 86.5% of the total amount of pollen recorded in the atmosphere of Kastamonu. These were as follows: Pinaceae (42.9%), Cupressaceae (20.6%), Poaceae (9.7%), Quercus (5.5%) Betula (5.3%) and Carpinus (2.6%). Four of these are considered to be highly allergenic (Betula, Carpinus, Cupressaceae and Poaceae). There were also a greater percentage of highly allergenic taxa found within the city, including Betula pendula that is not part of the local flora. This shows that through urban planting, the public and municipalities can unconsciously create a high risk for allergy sufferers. Daily average pollen counts from the six most frequently recorded pollen types were entered into Spearman’s correlation analysis with meteorological data. Mean daily temperature, relative humidity, daily rainfall and wind speed were found to significantly (p?<?0.05) affect atmospheric pollen concentrations, but the relationships between pollen concentrations and meteorological variables can vary and so there is a need for more local studies of this nature.     

Airborne pollen grains in Yalova,Turkey, 2004

In this study, airborne pollen grains of Yalova province were investigated using VPSS 2000 from January to December 2004. During studying period, a total of 22409 pollen grains/m³ which belonged to 46 taxa and 74 unidentified pollen grains were recorded. From the identified taxa, 26 belong to arboreal and 20 to non-arboreal plants. Total pollen grains consist of 80.50% arboreal, 19.17% non-arboreal plants and 0.33% unidentified pollen grains. In the investigated region, from arboreal plant taxa Platanus spp. (29.08%), Cupressaceae/Taxaceae (21.22%), Pinus spp. (7.34%), Alnus spp. (4.75%), Castanea spp. (3.03%), Quercus spp. (3.07%), Olea spp. (2.50%), Acer spp. (2.21%), Corylus spp. (1.41%) and Fagus spp. (1.15%), and from non-arboreal plant taxa Poaceae (10.01%), Asteraceae (2.86%), Plantago spp. (1.47%) and Artemisia spp. (1.11%) were responsible for the greatest amounts of pollen.     

Apicultural pollen from the Andean region of Chubut (Argentinean Patagonia)

An analysis of pollen loads of Apis mellifera was performed in order to identify the pollen sources that support the hives in the Andean region of Chubut. During the apicultural period (from 9 September 2010 to 12 March 2011), pollen loads were collected every fortnight in a selected apiary located in a transition area between the sub-Antarctic forests and the Patagonian steppe. Forty-six pollen types belonging to 26 plant families were found in the pollen spectrum of pollen loads, of which the most diverse were Asteraceae (11 types) and Fabaceae (six types). Families with major biomass contribution were Asteraceae (49%), Fabaceae (10%), Salicaceae (10%), Rhamnaceae (7%), Rosaceae (7%) and Brassicaceae (4%). Thirty-one per cent of the identified pollen belonged to the native flora. The major contribution of indigenous species occurred in late spring. Mutisia spp., Discaria type, Senecio spp., Adesmia spp. and Maytenus spp. were the most collected native taxa. Most plants providing pollen to the beehive are also nectariferous resources in the Andean region of Chubut. The protein content of the collected pollen ranged from 7.78% to 32.48%. The most collected types had protein content between 13.09% and 30.93%.     

Pollen calendar for Vigo, North-West Spain (1995)

This is the first data from a pollen survey in Vigo, an Atlantic city in northwest Spain. The pollen calendar for Vigo is presented, as well as the pollination period for the nine most important allergenic plants. Through 1995, 30 083 pollen grains belonging to 52 taxa, were recorded using the Lanzoni VPPS 2000 volumetric spore-trap. The most relevant taxa found were: Urticaceae,Pinus, Poaceae andQuercus (75% of the total pollen),Betula, Castanea, Cupressaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Ericaceae, Myrtaceae,Olea, Plantago, Platanus andRumex (21%), and the final 4% was distributed mainly among pollen types, such as:Corylus, Alnus, Fabaceae, Compositae,Artemisia andCedrus. Of the total annual pollen count, 56% was found in March and April. Another, secondary peak was recorded in June corresponding to the flowering period of herbaceous species. The high pollen total of Urticaceae (7625 grains, 25% of the total) should be highlighted. The percentages ofOlea europaea (565 grains) should be noted as well, taking into account its geographical distribution.     

Spatial and temporal variations of pollen concentrations in Islamabad (Pakistan): effect of meteorological parameters and impact on human health

This study focuses on the identification and quantification of airborne pollen grains from allergenic plant species and their relationship with meteorological factors, i.e. maximum and minimum daily temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and wind speed in the city of Islamabad, Pakistan. An aerobiological data set (2010–2012), collected using rotorod samplers in five different sectors of the city, was supplied by the Pakistan Meteorological Department. Pollen of eight allergenic species was identified amongst which Broussonetia papyrifera exceeded the highest pollen level and, therefore, likely played a key role in aggravating the symptoms of pollen allergy in the city. The mean weekly pollen counts were next correlated with the weekly number of allergic patients visiting hospitals during 2010–2011. Clinical data were acquired from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. The highest number of allergic patients visiting hospital was usually observed during weeks with high pollen level. These results suggest a close relationship between the pollen concentration in the air and the allergy symptoms. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis was performed to establish the relationships between meteorological parameters and daily average pollen counts. A pollen calendar for the Islamabad city was also prepared to provide a guide for the timing and duration of season for all encountered pollen types.     

Pollen morphology of the East Asiatic genus Chelonopsis (Lamioideae: Lamiaceae) and allied genera,with reference to taxonomic implications and potential pollination ecology

Pollen grains of 15 taxa of the genus Chelonopsis (14 spp. and 1 variety) from China and Japan and 6 species of the closely related genera Bostrychanthera (1 species) and Gomphostemma (5 species) were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Of these, the pollen morphology of 18 taxa was studied for the first time. Pollen grains were found to be tricolpate with polar lengths of 20.8–30.0 μm and equatorial widths of 17.5–27.3 μm. The basic shape of the pollen in most taxa is subprolate or prolate-spheroidal, but spheroidal, subprolate-spheroidal, oblate-spheroidal, and prolate-subprolate grains are also found in some species. The surface is generally reticulate or suprareticulate in Chelonopsis and granulate in Bostrychanthera. In comparison with those of Chelonopsis and Bostrychanthera, the pollen grain surfaces of Gomphostemma are more diverse. In Chelonopsis, pollen is taxonomically useful at the sectional level, and some grains provide enough characters for species delimitation. The potential pollination ecology of cellular hairs on the anthers of Chelonopsis and Bostrychanthera is also briefly discussed.     

Changes in the pollen seasons of the early flowering trees <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alnus</Emphasis> spp. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corylus</Emphasis> spp. in Worcester,United Kingdom, 1996–2005

Previous work on Betula spp. (birch) in the UK and at five sites in Europe has shown that pollen seasons for this taxon have tended to become earlier by about 5–10 days per decade in most regions investigated over the last 30 years. This pattern has been linked to the trend to warmer winters and springs in recent years. However, little work has been done to investigate the changes in the pollen seasons for the early flowering trees. Several of these, such as Alnus spp. and Corylus spp., have allergens, which cross-react with those of Betula spp., and so have a priming effect on allergic people. This paper investigates pollen seasons for Alnus spp. and Corylus spp. for the years 1996–2005 at Worcester, in the West Midlands, United Kingdom. Pollen data for daily average counts were collected using a Burkard volumetric trap sited on the exposed roof of a three-storey building. The climate is western maritime. Meteorological data for daily temperatures (maximum and minimum) and rainfall were obtained from the local monitoring sites. The local area up to approximately 10 km surrounding the site is mostly level terrain with some undulating hills and valleys. The local vegetation is mixed farmland and deciduous woodland. The pollen seasons for the two taxa investigated are typically late December or early January to late March. Various ways of defining the start and end of the pollen seasons were considered for these taxa, but the most useful was the 1% method whereby the season is deemed to have started when 1% of the total catch is achieved and to have ended when 99% is reached. The cumulative catches (in grains/m³) for Alnus spp. varied from 698 (2001) to 3,467 (2004). For Corylus spp., they varied from 65 (2001) to 4,933 (2004). The start dates for Alnus spp. showed 39 days difference in the 10 years (earliest 2000 day 21, latest 1996 day 60). The end dates differed by 26 days and the length of season differed by 15 days. The last 4 years in the set had notably higher cumulative counts than the first 2, but there was no trend towards earlier starts. For Corylus spp. start days also differed by 39 days (earliest 1999 day 5, latest 1996 day 44). The end date differed by 35 days and length of season by 26 days. Cumulative counts and lengths of season showed a distinct pattern of alternative high (long) and low (short) years. There is some evidence of a synchronous pattern for Alnus spp.. These patterns show some significant correlations with temperature and rainfall through the autumn, winter and early spring, and some relationships with growth degree 4s and chill units, but the series is too short to discern trends. The analysis has provided insight to the variation in the seasons for these early flowering trees and will form a basis for future work on building predictive models for these taxa.     

First aerobiological study in Mediterranean part of Croatia (Dalmatia): pollen spectrum and seasonal dynamics in the air of Split

The aim of this study was to investigate aerobiological dynamics of pollen in the Mediterranean part of Croatia in the air of the city of Split. Pollen monitoring during the period from 2005 to 2013 was performed using a Hirst volumetric trap. Among the identified pollen of 50 taxa, 21 were allergenic. The average annual pollen index was 33,513. Three pollination seasons were established: early winter season dominated by tree pollen, spring–summer season dominated by herbaceous plants and summer–autumn season with lower amounts of Parietaria and Cupressaceae pollen. According to the abundance, the main taxa were: Cupressaceae, Parietaria/Urtica, Pinus, Quercus, Olea, Carpinus/Ostrya, Poaceae, Platanus and Ambrosia. The annual pollen index together with the daily maximum concentrations showed an upward trend for selected taxa during the study period. The highest monthly pollen index and the highest biodiversity were recorded in April and the lowest during the late autumn and winter months. The pollen calendar created for the city of Split confirmed Mediterranean features of the pollen spectrum. The longest pollen seasons were recorded for Cupressaceae, Parietaria/Urtica and Poaceae pollen types. The correlations between pollen concentrations and meteorological parameters were analyzed. The correlations between pollen concentrations and temperature were positive, while the humidity and the precipitation mostly showed negative influence.     

Identification of in situ Canadian Arctic bivalves using underwater photographs and diver observation

Summary In situ bivalves in the Barrow Strait region of the Canadian Arctic can be identified accurately to genus from siphon characteristics or general appearance. Identification characteristics are described for seven taxa found in the area including Mya truncata, Serripes groenlandicus, Hiatella arctica, Musculus spp., Astarte spp., Macoma spp. and Delectopecten greenlandicus. Contribution No. 15 from the Resolute Marine Laboratory     

Effects of environmental factors on pollen production in anemophilous woody species

The aim of this study was to estimate the amount of pollen produced by anemophilous woody taxa with allergenic properties and with considerable contribution in the concentration of pollen in the air of a Mediterranean city (Thessaloniki, Greece). The taxa selected are Corylus avellana, Cupressus sempervirens var. horizontalis and var. pyramidalis, Olea europaea and Platanus orientalis; each was studied in more than one sampling stations differing in elevation, direction or both. O. europaea produced the highest number of pollen grains per flower (1.3 × 10⁵ ± 0.1 × 10⁵) and P. orientalis the highest per inflorescence (3.3 × 10⁶ ± 0.2 × 10⁶). At the level of crown, pollen grains produced were of the order of 10⁹ per surface/volume unit for O. europaea and the two C. sempervirens varieties; for the other two taxa, they were of the order of 10⁶. Pollen production was lower at higher elevation and northern direction and depended on the size of the floral unit sampled (flower for O. europaea, inflorescence for all other species): the bigger the floral unit, the more pollen it contained. Our results and reports from other areas, where C. sempervirens and O. europaea grow, show that these two Mediterranean species produce comparable amounts of pollen at the levels of inflorescence or flower, respectively, wherever they occur.     

Pollen morphology of Stachys (Lamiaceae) in Iran and its systematic implication

Pollen grains of 30 taxa of the genus Stachys (29 spp. and one subsp.), representing 9 of the currently recognized sections and 1 species of the closely related genus Sideritis (Si. montana) distributed in Iran were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Twenty-eight taxa are studied for the first time under aspects of pollen morphology. The basic shape of the pollen grains in most taxa studied is prolate-spheroidal, but subprolate, spheroidal and oblate-spheroidal pollen grains can also be found in few species. The grains are usually tricolpate (the amb triangular), but also tetracolpate (the amb circular to more or less square) in some species (S. iberica, S. atherocalyx and Si. montana). The surface is microreticulate (the frequent type), reticulate, perforate, foveolate-psilate or foveolate. The lumina are separated by smooth or sinuate muri which make them polygonal, more or less rounded and elongate. Major pollen morphological features of the taxa studied are compared and discussed on the basis of taxonomical concepts. In some cases, these characters are useful in delimitation of formerly introduced sections while they mostly provide further characters in separating related species from each other. For example, all members of S. sect. Aucheriana are characterized by elongated lumina. Based on the oblate-spheroidal shape of its pollen as well as tetracolpate aperture type, the results of the present study confirm sect. Pontostachys as including S. angustifolia, S. iberica, S. sparsipilosa as well as S. atherocalyx. Our results also suggest that although some species like S. fruticolosa and S. lavandulifolia are morphologically well characterized, they cannot be separated from other species of Stachys based on pollen morphology.