Abstract
Investigations were carried out on pollen grains of Scots pine (<em>Pinus sylvestris </em>L.) collected from trees at 1.5, 3, 4 km and control, 20 km from the Luboń factory producing mineral fertilisers. The percentage of germination of pollen formed close to the pollution source was ca 20% lower compared to the control pollen. Lowered vitality of the pollen was effected in changes of the structure of cytoplasmic membranes. Pollen from the polluted area contained ca 15% less total phospholipids, mainly phosphatidylcholine and phosphatytidylinositol and had a lower content of soluble proteins and less of low molecular antioxidants, such as thiols and ascorbic acid. Composition of total fatty acid in phospholipids fractions showed a significant reduction in the degree of unsaturation of fatty acids. Pollen originating from the polluted area and stored at -30°C showed considerably stronger degradation of cytoplasmic membranes than control.
Highlights
Pollen of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is sensitive to unfavourable environmental conditions (Cox 1992; Cha3upka 1998)
A highly significant correlation was observed between germination percentage of pollen grains and the content of soluble proteins (r = 0.916, p < 0.05), total phospholipids (PL), (r = 0.966, p < 0.05) and thiols content (r = 0.989, p < 0.01)
Our results indicate that the decades of environmental pollution had an influence on Scots pine causing a decrease both in the percentage of pollen germination and in the length of pollen tubes during germination on agar medium
Summary
Pollen of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is sensitive to unfavourable environmental conditions (Cox 1992; Cha3upka 1998) Numerous stress factors such as low and high temperature, desiccation or imbibition (Hoekstra et al 1991 and 1992; Sowa et al 1991), and industrial pollution, (Mulcahy and Mulcahy 1987), cause serious changes in the cytoplasmic membranes which affect vitality of the pollen grains. Most sensitive to injuries are water transportation and enzymes as well as the lipid-protein structure of membranes which carry the receptors of light, transmitters of signals, and channels of ions They are intensively investigated to identify the molecular basis for sensitivity of pollen to abiotic stress factors (acidity, heavy metals, sulphur dioxide, ozone, aluminium and fluoride, detergent which strongly affect pollen in laboratory conditions (Cox 1992; Paoletti 1992). Abbreviations FA fatty acid; 16:0 palmitic acid; 18:0 stearic acid; 18:1 oleic acid; 18:2 linoleic acid; 18:3 linolenic acid, PL phospholipids; PA phosphatidic acid; PC phosphatidylcholine; PE phosphatidylethanolamine; PG phosphatidylglycerol; PI phosphatidylinositol
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