Meteorological factors and airborne Rumex L. pollen concentration in Lublin

Krystyna Piotrowska

doi:10.5586/aa.2012.042

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyse the <i>Rumex</i> pollen season dynamics in Lublin in 2001-2010 and to find relationships between season parameters and meteorological conditions. This study was carried out by the volumetric method using a Lanzoni VPPS 2000 trap. The start and end dates of each season were determined based on the 98% method. The effects of meteorological factors on the <i>Rumex</i> pollen seasons were analysed by employing Spearman’s correlation test. On average, the sorrel pollen season started on 13 May (±7 days), ended on 7 September (±6 days), and lasted nearly four months (±9 days). The highest pollen concentrations were recorded in June and July. A significantly negative correlation was found between season duration and Seasonal Pollen Index (SPI). During shorter pollen seasons, higher pollen counts were recorded. In all study years, the seasons were right-skewed. The pollen concentration was most strongly correlated with humidity and mean air temperature. The season parameters (onset, end, peak date, peak value, SPI value) were primarily dependent on air temperature before and during the pollen season.

Highlights

According to Fijałkowski (1994), 13 species of the genus Rumex L. occur in the Lublin region
The Rumex pollen seasons during the period 2001-2010 were characterized by high variability
The peak value and Seasonal Pollen Index (SPI) belonged to the season parameters with the highest variability

Summary

Introduction

According to Fijałkowski (1994), 13 species of the genus Rumex L. occur in the Lublin region. They occur on poor forest and field soils and grow on river banks, roadsides, meadows, and fallow land. The flowering period of individual Rumex species occurs at different times. Already in May. The other species start blooming in June or July and end in August or September (Rutkowski , 1998). Rumex pollen is collected by bees and they form large pollen loads (with an average weight of 7.9 mg) (Maurizio and Grafl , 1969). The presence of Rumex pollen in honeys is evidence of bees’ interest in this pollen (Warakomska , 1997; Wróblewska , 2002)

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