Quality of Scots Pine Pollen Depending on the Aerotechnogenic Pollution Level with Emissions from Reftinskiy GRES Power Plant

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to investigate the process of microgametogenesis and diagnostic of condition of the Pinus sylvestris male generative system in the tree stands exposed to the influence of Reftinskiy GRES power plant (RGpp) emission during ontogenesis in connection with the level of technogenic pollution. It was detected that in the impact area, smoke emissions from the RGpp in the south-west direction zones of technogenic pollution were formed. Those vary in qualitative composition of the snow pack pollutants and their quantitative characteristics. The content of water insoluble compounds in melt snow water and the compile suspended matter, decreases regularly at the longer distance from the source of air pollutants. The highest content of water soluble compounds in the melt snow water was indicated at the distances of 5, 8 and 14 km from the source of air pollutants, authentically lower in the nearest and farthest sampling points of the snow trials. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) pollen significative with high prognostic value in relation to the level of toxic load upon the eco-systems and the condition of male generative system were discovered. It was detected that the significative meanings of pollen with morphological abnormalities decreased, and the meanings of functional significatives increased at the longer distance from the source of air pollutants. Pollen fertility, pollen tube length and reserve substances content significative is negatively related to the presence of micro and macro elements in the snow water; those identify the toxic load level on the ecosystem probably to the highest degree. Pine male gametophyte elimination, while forming in the impact zone of the GRES power plant, takes place at the stage of pollen grain germination as well as pollen tubes’ growth stage.