ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION OF THE PINUS SYLVESTRYS L., P. SIBIRICA DU TOUR AND P. PUMILA (PALL.) RE-GEL POLLEN

Abstract

This paper presents a study of macro- (potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium), microelements (copper, zinc, manganese, iron, nickel) and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury) in the pollen of Scots pine, Siberian pine and dwarf pine, growing within the territory of the Republic of Buryatia. The quantitative content of elements in the studied in 2017-2020 samples was determined by the atomic absorption method using a SOLAAR M6 spectrophotometer after acid mineralization in the MARS 6 microwave system. The study of the elemental composition of Siberian pine and dwarf pine pollen is carried out for the first time. It has been shown that pollen, in comparison with needles, contains higher contents of potassium, copper, zinc and lower contents of calcium, which is probably due to the plant organism's need for these elements for normal growth and fertilization. The paper presents a biplot of PCA-analysis, reflecting the effect of atmospheric pollution on the accumulation of heavy metals in Scots pine pollen, which is expressed in an increased content of iron, lead, cadmium, mercury, and a reduced manganese in comparison with the background territories. Biplot also shows the dependence of the studied elements content on the species origin of pine pollen. In general, the content of toxic elements does not exceed the maximum permissible values, and the concentrations of macro- and microelements in pine pollen are within the sufficient or normal limits for the plants vital function. The data obtained can be considered as one of the plant raw materials ecological and sanitary-hygienic safety indicators for indicated plant species of the flora of Buryatia (Russia).