Morphological and physiological characteristics of the Betula pendula Roth pollen in Kryvyi Rih city conditions

Abstract

Objective – to analyze the quality and viability of pollen Betula pendula Roth, its morphometric characteristics, depending on the influence of emissions of metallurgical combines, exhaust gases of vehicles and urbantechnical environment of Kryvyi Rih. Material and methods. The object of the study was freshly harvested B. pendula pollen from eight plantations, which are subject of different quantitative and qualitative effects of air pollutants in Kryvyi Rih. Micropreparations were prepared according to the standard method, reviewed using the microscope Carl Zeiss Primo Star (Germany). The fertility of the pollen was determined by iodine method, and viability – by its germination under laboratory conditions. Measurements were made in AxioVision 4.8.2.0. (062010). Results. There was found out negative influence on male gametophyte B. pendula of industrial enterprises, exhaust gases of cars and even background level of pollution in the city. For the acute emission of metallurgical combines compared with the plants of the arboretum of the botanical garden a substantial decrease in the length of the polar axis was made to 6.6 % (30.3 and 27.6 μm), the equatorial diameter to 7.8 % (30.7 and 28.3 μm), the length of the pollen tube – in 1.4 times (45.9 and 33.7 μm) the amount of fertile pollen – in 1.5 times (91.4 and 60.5 %), the amount of viable pollen in 3.4 times (49.1 and 14.3 %), increasing the share of anomalies up in 3.2 times (3.5 and 11.1 %). The pollutant emissions are less influenced by exhaust gases of motor vehicles and in general the urbantechnical environment of the city. Conclusion. The male gametophyte of B. pendula is sensitive to the effects of atmospheric airpollutants, therefore the fertility and viability parameters of the pollen and the level of its abnormalities, can be used to reflect the degree of exposure of the airpollutants and the level of pollution in the industrial cities of the Steppe zone of Ukraine as well.