Abstract
Artemisia pollen is an important aeroallergen in late summer, especially in central and eastern Europe where distinct anemophilous Artemisia spp. produce high amounts of pollen grains. The study aims at: (i) analyzing the temporal pattern of and changes in the Artemisia spp. pollen season; (ii) identifying the Artemisia species responsible for the local airborne pollen load.Daily pollen concentration of Artemisia spp. was analyzed at two sites (BZ and SM) in Trentino-Alto Adige, North Italy, from 1995 to 2019.The analysis of airborne Artemisia pollen concentrations evidences the presence of a bimodal curve, with two peaks, in August and September, respectively. The magnitude of peak concentrations varies across the studied time span for both sites: the maximum concentration at the September peak increases significantly for both the BZ (p < 0.05) and SM (p < 0.001) site. The first peak in the pollen calendar is attributable to native Artemisia species, with A. vulgaris as the most abundant; the second peak is mostly represented by the invasive species A. annua and A. verlotiorum (in constant proportion along the years), which are causing a considerable increase in pollen concentration in the late pollen season in recent years.. The spread of these species can affect human health, increasing the length and severity of allergenic pollen exposure in autumn, as well as plant biodiversity in both natural and cultivated areas, with negative impacts on, e.g., Natura 2000 protected sites and crops.
Highlights
The genus Artemisia (Compositae family) comprises about 500 species worldwide, with its principal distribution in the northern hemisphere
According to the study by Bogawski et al (2016) conducted in Poland, Artemisia vulgaris and Artemisia absinthium produce more pollen compared to Artemisia campestris, due to a higher number of pollen grains per single flower and/or to a higher number of single flowers per inflorescence
This paper evaluates Artemisia pollen concentration data gathered in 25 years (1995–2019) of aerobiological monitoring carried out at two sites in Trentino-Alto Adige, an Alpine region in Northern Italy
Summary
The genus Artemisia (Compositae family) comprises about 500 species worldwide, with its principal distribution in the northern hemisphere. The genus shows a wide range of life forms, from small alpine specimens up to 2-m-high herbaceous plants or shrubs at lower altitudes. For pollination to be successful, the anemophilous Artemisia species are required to produce high amounts of pollen grains. The quantity of pollen grains produced varies between different species and between different specimens of the same species. According to the study by Bogawski et al (2016) conducted in Poland, Artemisia vulgaris and Artemisia absinthium produce more pollen compared to Artemisia campestris, due to a higher number of pollen grains per single flower and/or to a higher number of single flowers per inflorescence. Piotrowska (2008) calculated, for example, that one flower of Artemisia vulgaris may produce up to nearly 50,000 pollen grains, while Bogawski et al (2016) determined values of 4000–16,000 pollen grains According to the study by Bogawski et al (2016) conducted in Poland, Artemisia vulgaris and Artemisia absinthium produce more pollen compared to Artemisia campestris, due to a higher number of pollen grains per single flower and/or to a higher number of single flowers per inflorescence. Piotrowska (2008) calculated, for example, that one flower of Artemisia vulgaris may produce up to nearly 50,000 pollen grains, while Bogawski et al (2016) determined values of 4000–16,000 pollen grains
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