Pine Pollen Grains Research Articles

The effect of clay reinforcement of pine pollen grains on the mechanical, anti-corrosion and anti-microbial properties of an epoxy coating

Abstract In this work, a new material (PP-Mag) was manufactured using pine pollen (PP) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTA-Mag). By combining PP and Maghnite with an epoxy resin (EP), innovative nanocomposite materials was developed. With different blend compositions, the effect of EP on the mechanical properties, polarisation tests, salt spray tests and morphological characteristics of the blends was studied. The storage modulus (E′) of EP is 2179 MPa, which increases to 2361 MPa with increasing PP-Mag content. The mechanical properties of the blends containing EP/wt%PP/Mag showed an improved performance due to a better adhesion between the two phases when EP is incorporated. It was shown that the PP/Mag materials present in the matrix improve the corrosion resistance according to the different polarisation tests and the salt spray test.

Spatial Distribution of Pine Pollen Grains Concentrations as a Source of Biologically Active Substances in Surface Waters of the Southern Baltic Sea

Pine pollen is a very important component of the marine environment: it is a valuable source of both carbon and macro- and microelements, and it is also a major food resource for many marine organisms. Its characteristic optical properties distinguish it from other suspended particulate matter (SPM), but it can also distort measurements of the latter. Hence, it affects a range of sea water properties as well as a number of key biogeochemical processes taking place in the marine environment. Pollen concentrations were determined with satisfactory accuracy in samples of sea water taken from selected stations in the southern Baltic Sea in May 2018. This paper aims to highlight the spatial differentiation of pollen levels in southern Baltic surface waters and to show that pollen in May is a significant, hitherto overlooked, source of a great many substances essential for the ecosystem’s functioning. Our measurements indicated that pollen was present over the entire area of the southern Baltic studied. Spatially, its concentrations in surface waters differed very widely. Very high levels were recorded both very close to the shore and a long way from it. Any analysis of the influence on the ecosystem of the various substances that pollen brings to the water must take into account the ratio of the concentration of pollen to that of other SPM in the ecosystem. This study showed that even a small concentration of SPM in the central Baltic means that pollen grains can periodically supply substances key to the ecosystem’s functioning. In many areas, pine pollen can make up as much as ca. 50% of the SPM in the 1.25–250 µm size range.

The origin of pine pollen grains captured from air at Calypsobyen, Svalbard

The origin of pine pollen grains captured from air at Calypsobyen, Svalbard

Determination of fipronil and its metabolites in edible oil by pollen based solid-phase extraction combined with gas chromatography-electron capture detection

In this study, a convenient and economic method for the determination of fipronil and its three metabolites in edible oil was developed based on pollen grain solid-phase extraction (SPE). As a natural material, pollen grains exhibit well absorption capacity for some polar compounds due to their special functional structures. Their stable composition and appropriate particle size also make them suitable for SPE. In the present study, natural pine pollen grains without broken wall were used as sorbent for selective isolation and enrichment of fipronil and its three metabolites from edible oils based on hydrogen bond interaction. Several parameters influencing the extraction recoveries were investigated. By coupling with gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD), a new method for analysis of fipronil and its metabolites in edible oils was established. The linearity range was 2–200 ng/g with correlation coefficient R2 more than 0.999. The recoveries in edible oils at three spiked concentrations were in the range of 80.1–96.0% with the RSDs less than 10.6% (intra-day) and 11.5% (inter-day). The limit of detection (LOD) for four target analytes were in the range of 0.2–0.6 ng/g, which was comparable to the previous reported methods. Finally, the established method was successfully applied to detect fipronil and its metabolites in several oil samples with different brands from local market.

Validation of measurements of pine pollen grain concentrations in Baltic Sea waters

Each spring, pine pollen coats considerable expanses of Baltic Sea surface waters. Measurements have shown that there are areas where its concentrations in this surface layer are so high that they are the dominant constituent of the suspended particulate matter (SPM) (Pawlik and Ficek, 2016). It then determines to a large extent the optical properties of the water surface, inter alia by modifying the sea colour. To date, however, the concentration of this constituent in the marine environment has rarely been studied, and its presence is not accounted for in the satellite algorithms used to define the composition and properties of sea water. This may well be the source of substantial errors in the remote sensing of the optical properties of the water and the measurement of concentrations of the optically important constituents it contains (chlorophyll a, TSM, CDOM). Measuring the concentration of pollen suspensions in Baltic Sea water, which often contains prodigious amounts of other SPM, is a daunting experimental challenge. Firstly, we characterized the pollen from pine trees growing near the southern shores of the Baltic Sea (northern Poland) using a microscope and two instruments routinely used in oceanography for measuring SPM size distributions: the LISST-100X and the Coulter counter. The measurements and analyses showed that a correct interpretation of the LISST-100X and Coulter measurements, is sufficient to count the number of pollen grains in distilled water alone. Furthermore, our laboratory analysis of the particle size distribution spectra enabled the fraction due only to pine pollen grains to be separated from the overall SPM. We then tested our method of analysing the SPM composition, which showed that the LISST-100x instrument is both a useful and an effective means for the in situ detection of the pine pollen that one sees in spring in Baltic waters.

On the occurrence of Tuckerella fossilibus (Acariformes: Tuckerellidae) in Bitterfeld amber

ABSTRACTAn inclusion of a peacock mite species Tuckerella fossilibus Khaustov, Sergeyenko & Perkovsky, 2014 of the plant-feeding family Tuckerellidae (Acariformes: Tetranychoidea) was found in a sample of Bitterfeld amber from Germany. The finding is noteworthy because of the rare occurrence of this species in the fossil record (currently restricted to the holotype from Rovno amber in the Ukraine), a stase which is at least a tritonymph, and pine pollen grains entangled with opisthosomal setae from row H. Under these circumstances, the present discovery supplements the original diagnosis of the species and allows discussion of some aspects of its morphology, ecology and biogeography.

Room-temperature fabrication of core-shell nano-ZnO/pollen grain biocomposite for adsorptive removal of organic dye from water

A new core-shell nano-ZnO/pollen grain (n-ZnO/PG) biocomposite has been successfully synthesized via simple and low-temperature two-step liquid precipitation method. The synthetic strategy consists of grafting the surface of pine pollen grains (PG) with Zn2+-organic complexes followed by a treatment in Zn(CH3COO)2/NaOH solution, thus producing a closed n-ZnO shell around the organic core, with a thickness of ∼450nm. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, FTIR, XPS and UV–vis spectroscopy measurements along with N2 adsorption/desorption were used to characterize the resulting n-ZnO/PG biocomposite. The as-prepared core-shell microparticles are meso-/macro-porous with BET surface area of 25m2g−1 and total pore volume of 0.26cm3g−1. The adsorption properties of n-ZnO/PG were evaluated through adsorption of Malachite Green (MG) from aqueous medium at room temperature (25°C). For the sake of comparison, the physico-chemical and adsorptive properties of the raw PG and pure n-ZnO were also examined. Results indicate that n-ZnO/PG is the most favorable for the adsorption of MG under the conditions used in this study. The adsorption kinetic data for PG, n-ZnO and n-ZnO/PG follow the pseudo-second order equation and the maximum adsorption capacity follows an order of n-ZnO/PG>n-ZnO > PG. For n-ZnO/PG an adsorption uptake up to 145.9mgg−1 is observed. The as-prepared core-shell biocomposite material is a promising cost-effective and environmentally friendly adsorbent due to its textural properties, surface chemistry, adsorption capacity and recyclability.

Identification of caleosin and oleosin in oil bodies of pine pollen

Unique proteins including steroleosin, caleosin, oleosin-L, and oleosin-G have been identified in seed oil bodies of pine (Pinus massoniana). In this study, mature pollen grains with wing-like bladders were collected from pine (Pinus elliottii). Ultrastructural studies showed that oil bodies were present in pollen grains, but not the attached bladders, and the presence of oil bodies was further confirmed by fluorescent staining with BODIPY 493/503. Stable oil bodies were successfully purified from pine pollen grains, and analyzed to be mainly composed of triacylglycerols. Putative oleosin and caleosin in pine pollen oil bodies were detected by immunoassaying with antibodies against sesame seed caleosin and lily pollen oleosin. Complete cDNA fragments encoding these two pollen oil-body proteins were obtained by PCR cloning. Sequence alignment showed that pine pollen caleosin (27 kDa) was highly homologous to pine seed caleosin (28 kDa) except for the lack of an appendix of eight residues at the C-terminus in accord with the 1 kDa difference in their molecular masses. Pine pollen oleosin (15 kDa) was highly homologous to pine seed oleosin-G (14 kDa) except for an insertion of eight residues at the N-terminus in accord with the 1 kDa difference in their molecular masses.

Pine pollen grains in coastal waters of the Baltic Sea

Abstract Measurements relating to a yellow deposit covering large areas of the Baltic Sea in spring are reported. Analysis of water samples showed it to be of terrestrial origin and to consist mainly of pine pollen grains. The equivalent spherical diameter (ESD) of these grains ranged from 29.1 to 78.4 μm, with a maximum between 47.7 and 56.3 μm. Surface water concentrations of pollen in the coastal zone near Ustka showed that its proportion in the total suspended particulate matter (SPM) might be as high as 30-40%. Such high surface water concentrations of hitherto neglected substances critical to water color formation can give rise to serious errors in remote measurements of water composition and properties.

Pollen analysis of three seventeenth-century lead coffins

Three lead covered wooden coffins containing the remains of a man, a woman, and a child were found during excavations inside the foundation of the 17th-Century Jesuit Chapel at Historic St. Mary's City, Maryland. Pollen analysis of physical samples and alcohol swabs from the coffins was complicated by pollen from agricultural produce stored with the coffin structural materials, the natural background pollen rain, and pollen from soil disturbance plants. The absence of pollen on the man's physical remains and on the interior of his wooden coffin indicates that his death occurred during the winter. Ragweed-type pollen dominated the woman's body and woman's wooden coffin samples, suggesting that she was died during the Fall. Perfectly preserved pine pollen grains in soil placed in the child's wooden coffin to raise the upper portion of the body suggest that the child died and was buried during the Spring. Rosemary sprigs and aster-type pollen found on the woman's chest and pea family pollen found on the woman's lumbar area are interpreted as indicating floral funerary tributes and the practice of traditional English burial rituals.

Terminal settling velocity and physical properties of pollen grains in still air

Numerical simulation of wind pollination requires knowledge of pollen grain physical parameters such as size, shape factor, bulk density, and terminal settling velocity. The pollen grain parameters for Japanese cedar, Japanese cypress, short ragweed, Japanese black pine, and Japanese red pine were assessed for dry condition. Terminal settling velocities of dry pollen grains in still air were measured using image analysis of scattered light tracks in a dark settling tube. The measurement system was validated by comparing results to those obtained for standard microspheres of known size and density. Dry pollen grain shape factors indicate the resemblance of particles to spheres, except for pine pollen. Circularity factors of dry pine pollen grains were 0.90–0.86, suggesting more irregular shape than those of other pollen species. Aerodynamic diameters of dry pollen grains were calculated based on the terminal settling velocity. Aerodynamic diameters of Japanese cedar, Japanese cypress, and short ragweed closely resembled the projected area equivalent diameters, suggesting that aerodynamic behaviors of these pollen grains can be managed simply in numerical simulations. However, aerodynamic diameters of dry pine pollen grains were nearly 30 % smaller than projected area equivalent diameters. Sacci on dry pine pollen can reduce the terminal settling velocity through low density and shape effects attributed to their non-sphericity, engendering aerodynamic diameter smaller by more than 10 µm from area equivalent diameters.

Effects of fluorides and sulphur dioxide on pollen germination and growth of the pollen tube

The action of fluorides and sulphur dioxides from emissions from a phosphate fertilizer factory significantly reduced the germination of Scots pine pollen grains. The pollen tube length indicated that its growth is uninhibited even though the pollen was collected under conditions of air-pollution. There are statistically significant differences showing longer tubes in the sensitive trees pollen grains. l he ageing of pollen from the sensitive trees occurs probably more rapidly than in the tolerant trees.

Long‐distance pine pollen still germinates after meso‐scale dispersal

Viability of long-distance pollen links ecological models to the genetic structure of forest tree populations, determining how forests will adapt to climate change and how far genes flow from genetically modified (GM) pine plantations. Addressing this landscape-scale inquiry is feasible when the pollen source, the delivery system, and the receiver field can be made explicit. To this end, I measured long-distance pollen germination along a 160-km transect along the North Carolina coastline, including 45000 ha of mature Pinus taeda plantations and barrier islands. Using this system, I tested three hypotheses: (1) pine pollen germinates after dispersal on meso-scale distances, (2) sodium chloride exposure reduces germination of pollen captured over open saltwater, and (3) viable pine pollen is present at high altitudes before local peak pollen shed. The experimental findings are as follows: pine pollen had germination rates of 2 to 57% after dispersal at distances from 3 to 41 km, sodium chloride solutions mildly reduced P. taeda pollen germination, and viable pine pollen grains were captured at an altitude of 610 m. GM pine plantings thus have a potential to disperse viable pollen at least 41 km from the source. Wind and rainfall, as integral parts of regional atmospheric systems, together exert a powerful influence on the genetic structure of forest tree populations.

Detection of some woody plants in Late Oligocene forests of İstanbul

A paleopalynological study was performed on the fossilized pollen found in the coal and clay layers of the Akçelik Coalmine, which is one of the open lignite quarries located at the northern part of İstanbul, and 15 genera belonging to 14 families were identified from the late Oligocene of İstanbul. Of these 14 families, 4 families belong to Gymnospermae, and 10 of them belong to Angiospermae. In the study, 85.8% of pollen is arboreal (AP) (woody plants), 10.4% is non-arboreal (NAP) (herbal plants), and rest of them (3.8%) could not be identified. The middle coal layer has a significant number of pollen grains. While lower part of the middle coal layer is mainly represented by broad-leaved tree pollen and its upper part is mainly Juniperus. A clear change from plants of humid conditions to the plants of drier conditions is observed. The lower number of pine pollen grains shows that there was no forest of this genus in that site. Sequoia and Taxodium, which had wide forests during Oligocene but are completely disappeared at present, are represented with low number of pollen grains in that time.

Enhanced airborne radioactivity during a pine pollen release episode.

A single episode of pine pollen release in the highly contaminated area of Novozybkov, Russian Federation, which led to enhanced atmospheric concentrations of 137Cs is discussed. The pollen grains were sampled by a rotating arm impactor and analysed by gamma-spectrometry for 137Cs activity and by image analysis for their size. In the vicinity of a forest, a maximum concentration of 4.5+/-0.4 mBq m(-3) was measured, and a mean activity per pollen grain of 260+/-80 nBq was determined. The emission rate of the Novozybkov mixed pine forest was estimated to be approximately 400 Bq m(-2) per year. Because of the large size of pine pollen grains (about 50 microm) and the short emission period of 5-8 days per year, the estimated potential annual inhalation doses are very low. Biological emissions including pollen release may be a source of increased airborne radionuclide concentrations at larger distances from the source areas as well.

Simulation and analysis of pollen coronas

By numerical simulation of light scattering by birch and pine pollen grains, we create color plates of coronas with vertical elliptical shapes and strong brightenings, respectively. The shape of the pollen is modeled by the union of n ellipsoids. The Fraunhofer integral is solved by the use of the fast Hartley transform. The sensitivity of the patterns to pollen orientation, Sun elevation, and pollen shape and size is discussed. Good agreement is obtained with amazing photographs made by a Finnish network of amateur astonomers, in the case of strong vertical orientation of the pollen axis.

Localization of the Site of Action of Tube Growth Stimulation by X Irradiation of Single Pollen Grains of Pinus silvestris

With x-ray-microbeam irradiation of single pine pollen grains, tube growth stimulation could be achieved corresponding to the results obtained after uv-microbeam irradiation. These effects depend upon the dose, the dose rate, and the conditions of the pollen during irradiation. Assuming a linear superposition of the radiation effects of the two nuclei and of the cytoplasm, the total radiation effect was calculated. The stimulation effect was localized in the cytoplasm and in the generative nucleus, while the vegetative nucleus caused mostly tube growth inhibitions.

Two Neustonic Fungi

SUMMARYTwo chytridiaceous fungi were found in the neuston of a Florida lake. Both parasitized living pine pollen grains dropped in the water. Phlyctochytrium macrosporum was characterized by having apophysate sporangia bearing one or more hemispherical protrusions, empty at maturity, and a small number of large (10–15 yum in diam) zoospores. Sporophlyctidium neustonicum forms in its epibiotic or stalked sporangia, spherical aplanospores which after discharge produce long straight setae, one of which makes contact with a pollen grain and enters it. The attached aplanospore then enlarges into a sporangium. Resting spores were also found but their germination was not seen. No sexuality appeared to be present.

Localisation of the site of action of tube growth stimulation by micro UV-irradiation of pine pollen.

Micro-irradiation of pine pollen grains was carried out with different doses at four different dose rates and the tube growth was observed. The irradiation of the whole pollen grains in the dehydrated state and dorsal position and of those in the hydrated state and ventral position induced stimulated tube growth after receiving low doses of UV light. The effect of stimulation depended on the ratio between dose and dose rate. After partial irradiation of pollen grains at low doses, carried out with the technique of "blind shot", a stimulation effect could also be observed. It was calculated that the irradiation of the cytoplasm had a strong, the irradiation of the active nucleus (vegetative) had a moderate and the irradiation of the dormant nucleus (generative) had little or no dose rate dependance. The dose effect of the nuclei showed a reverse tendency to the dose effect of the cytoplasm. Experiments with different light filters suggested that the dose rate dependence of the cytoplasm is probably not caused by a repair mechanism. The vegetative nucleus showed an effect of photoreactivation and probably also of a dark repair. The generative nucleus exhibited only an effect of photoreactivation.