Pollen Production Research Articles

Nectar and pollen in Acer trees can contribute to improvement of food resources for pollinators.

In the present study, we quantified floral resources (nectar and pollen production) and their quality (nectar sugar composition, pollen protein content, pollen amino acid composition) in five Acer species (f. Sapindaceae) growing in forests and commonly planted in urban areas in the temperate zone. Acer trees provide high amounts of sugars and/or pollen. No nectar was produced by A. negundo flowers. The other species produced nectar in functionally female flowers. The floral nectar was composed of sucrose, glucose, and fructose and was classified as hexose-rich or sucrose-rich. The pollen of all the Acer species contained essential amino acids. Acer trees should be planted for improvement of cost-effective food resources in various landscape types (agroforestry, urban areas), with the exception of A. negundo (an invasive species with no nectar available). However, maple trees alone are not sufficient to support pollinators, and other plant species flowering before and after Acer spp. should be planted to ensure a continued supply of food for pollinators.

Widespread male sterility and trioecy in androdioecious Mercurialis annua: Its distribution, genetic basis, and estimates of morph-specific fitness components.

Angiosperms range in sexual system from hermaphroditism through gynodioecy and androdioecy to dioecy. Trioecy, where females and males coexist with hermaphrodites, is rare. Recently, trioecy was documented in hexaploid populations of the wind-pollinated herb Mercurialis annua in Spain. We surveyed the frequency of males, hermaphrodites, and females in M. annua across its distribution in the Iberian Peninsula, tracked sex-ratio variation in several populations over consecutive generations, and assessed evidence for pollen limitation. In a common garden, we estimated male, female, and hermaphroditic fitness. We used controlled crosses to infer the genetic basis of male sterility. Finally, we compared predictions of a deterministic model with the distribution of observed sex ratios in the field based on our fitness estimates and the inferred genetics of sex determination. Trioecy is widespread in Spanish and Portuguese populations of M. annua. Males are determined by a dominant (Y-linked) allele, and female expression results from the interaction between cytoplasmic male sterility and multiple nuclear male sterility restorers partially linked to the male determiner. Male pollen production is approximately 12 times that of hermaphrodites, while female seed production is less than 1.12 times the observed hermaphroditic levels. The distribution of sex ratios in natural populations conforms with predictions of our deterministic simulations. Our study documents and accounts for a clear case of trioecy in which sex is determined by both maternally and biparentally inherited genes.

An evaluation rule to manage productivity properties performance of male date palms

ABSTRACT Male palm trees almost prominently display minute morphological variations; however, date palm growers rely on readily available pollen from unproven male genotypes without giving correct type selection any thought, which may result in low productivity and/or poor fruit quality. This study sought to develop an evaluation rule by calculating an evaluation index for managing the productivity characteristics performance of nine male date palms, which were examined for their pollen productivity, nutritional status and morphological traits from their leaves, pinnae and spathes. The findings showed that the evaluation rule for a male date palm should depend on pollen grains productivity and germination percentage traits with a weight of 5, spathe morphological traits with a weight of 4, pinnae morphological traits with a weight of 3, leaf morphological traits with a weight of 2 and leaf nutritional status with a weight of 1. The best productivity characteristics performance of male date palms was male No. 8 ‘M8’ due to its high evaluation index. The proposed evaluation index criterion will contribute to better information and analytical support for management of the date palm industry to maximise the effectiveness of germplasm conservation and exploitation, as well as procedural and methodological aspects of the analysis.

Floral morphology and pollen placement strategies of bat-pollinated flowers: a comparative analysis within a guild of chiropterophilous plants in a neotropical dry forest

BackgroundSynchronopatric plant species, coexisting and flowering simultaneously, often engage in intense competition for pollen deposition on shared pollinators. This study focuses on the intricate dynamics of chiropterophilous flowers within the neotropical bat-pollination plant guild, specifically investigating the mechanical fit of reproductive structures to pollinating bats at the community level.MethodsUtilizing a diverse guild of bat-pollinated plant species from the Caatinga, the largest dry forest in the Neotropics, our research integrates various key components. Initially, we identified specific contact sites for floral reproductive structures on the bat's body, exploring diverse pollen placement strategies. Subsequent efforts involved characterizing floral traits within the guild and examining their associations with different pollen placement strategies. Precision in the contact of floral reproductive structures was estimated, and findings were integrated by associating pollen placement strategies and precision with the investment in pollen production.ResultsWe found that certain bat body parts, particularly the face and neck, were more frequently contacted by reproductive structures. The three identified categories of pollen placement strategies were evenly distributed among plant species, each linked to specific floral traits. Notably, the absence of oriented herkogamy prevailed in 70% of the species. Morphometric analyses unveiled significant variations in operative distances among species, emphasizing exceptional variability in certain outliers. While precision in pollen transfer was influenced by key factors, surprisingly, investment in pollen production did not differ among plants with distinct pollen placement strategies. Furthermore, it showed no correlation with fundamental accuracy.ConclusionsThe subsequent exploration delves into the intricate associations between distinct floral characteristics and various pollen placement strategies, shaping the complex pollen landscape on bat bodies. This research provides valuable insights into the community-level dynamics of chiropterophilous flowers in the Caatinga Dry Forest, emphasizing the role of different pollen deposition strategies in facilitating the coexistence of multiple plant species within the chiropterophilous guild.

Subfossil pollen spectra in the altitudinal belts of the Sikhote-Alin

This paper presents the characteristics and comparison of subfossil pollen spectra of modern plant communities in the altitudinal zones of the Northern Sikhote-Alin and the Southern Sikhote-Alin, using the cases of the Tordoki-Yani Mountain (absolute altitude 2090 m) and Oblachnaya Mountain (absolute altitude 1858 m). All pollen spectra from high mountains reflect the forests caused by long-distance transport of tree pollen. Due to the abundance of Picea pollen, the pollen spectra of the mountain tundra and upper part of the subalpine belts of the Northern Sikhote-Alin correspond to the most common type of vegetation at the upper forest borde r–the high-mountain spruce forest with Betula lanata, where Pinus pumila thickets can reach from the overlying belt. The largest amount of allochthonous pollen was found in the pollen spectra on the site without forest canopy. The pollen of broad-leaved trees was brought to high hypsometric levels by mountain-valley winds, rising air currents, from the underlying belts. The quantitative content of pollen of the main dominants of each altitudinal plant zone does not always accurately reflect the role of these taxa in the composition of the communities. The pollen productivity of Betula lanata exceeds the pollen productivity of the main forest forming species in all altitudinal zones, with the exception of the stone birch forests, therefore the share of its participation in the composition of the pollen spectra is overestimated. In the studied pollen spectra the content of Larix pollen is greatly underestimated compared to the role of this species in the forest stand, especially in soil samples from larch forest. It is associated with low pollen productivity, distribution and fossilization characteristics.

Ecological and allergenic significance of atmospheric pollen spectra from a Grassland-Savanna ecotone in North West province, South Africa

Southern Africa’s floral, topographic and climatic diversity manifests in distinctive bioregions where aerobiology studies are needed to manage allergenic health problems, especially in urban areas. Previous studies underline different seasonal pollen fluctuations for the biomes, encouraging regional studies. These studies have been previously restricted to large cities such as Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria whereas small cities such as Potchefstroom in the North-West province are understudied. The South African Pollen Monitoring Network (SAPNET) seeks to fill this lacuna, enhancing ecological and health-related knowledge, with regard to the allergenicity of the recorded pollen. Here, we investigate plant phenology and resulting pollen production within the Grassland and Savanna biomes around Potchefstroom, a fast-growing city in the North West province, comparing it with other SAPNET sites. As a SAPNET initiative, pollen monitoring in Potchefstroom involved monthly collections using a Lanzoni 7-day spore trap over 13 months from December 2022 to 2023. This facilitated the development of a preliminary pollen calendar and a pollen atlas, detailing pollen types’ morphology, ecology, pollination modes, and allergenicity. Initial findings revealed Potchefstroom’s pollen calendar, with tree pollen (60% of the Annual Pollen Index (API)) mainly from northern hemisphere species such as Cupressus (c. 11% of API) and Platanus (c. 18%), which released pollen in spring. Grass pollen was predominant from November to April (c. 18% of API). Potchefstroom recorded South Africa’s highest levels of Ambrosia pollen (c. 7% of API), a major allergen, in March and April. Noteworthy is the unusual abundance of pollen of the neophyte Ulmus (c. 14%) in December. This study highlights the pollen patterns of the Grassland and Savanna biomes around Potchefstroom. The region, with its mosaic of urban spaces, natural grass-/woodland, and agricultural land, exhibits distinct characteristics when contrasted with major, more densely populated cities such as Bloemfontein, Pretoria, and Johannesburg.

The evolution and maintenance of trioecy with cytoplasmic male sterility.

Trioecy, the co-existence of females, males and hermaphrodites, is a rare sexual system in plants that may be an intermediate state in transitions between hermaphroditism and dioecy. Previous models have identified pollen limitation as a necessary condition for the evolution of trioecy from hermaphroditism. In these models, the seed-production and pollen production of females and males relative to those of hermaphrodites, respectively, are compromised by self-fertilization by hermaphrodites under pollen- limitation. Here, we investigate the evolution of trioecy via the invasion of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) into androdioecious populations in which hermaphrodites co-occur with males and where the male determiner is linked to a (partial) fertility restorer. We show that the presence of males in a population renders invasion by CMS more difficult. However, the presence of males also facilitates the maintenance of trioecy even in the absence of pollen limitation by negative frequency-dependent selection, because males reduce the transmission of CMS by females by siring sons (which cannot transmit CMS). We discuss our results in light of empirical observations of trioecy in plants and its potential role in the evolution of dioecy.

Study of Pollen Traits, Production, and Artificial Pollination Methods in Zea mays L.

The optimization of artificial pollination is crucial in breeding programs for allogamous plants. In maize, achieving a balance between the labor-intensive nature of controlled pollinations and the need for large-scale production of hybrid seeds, along with considerations of germinability and pollen production, determines the success of genetic improvement programs. Breeding programs in maize have resulted in a reduction in the number of tassel branches to increase light interception and plant density in production fields. However, despite this genetic improvement, the decreased pollen production per plant has raised critical concerns regarding pollination and subsequent ear filling, especially under adverse environmental conditions. The aim of this work was the analysis of factors that can contribute to increasing the efficiency of controlled pollination in maize. The data obtained showed that pollen diameter, flavonoid, and phenolic acid content do not influence the percentage of germination and therefore the efficiency of pollination. The quantity of pollen is a central factor in ensuring the efficiency of controlled pollinations, and the data obtained by comparing traditional varieties with modern hybrids of maize showed that an increase in pollen production is determined by the increase in branching of the male inflorescence. Furthermore, we propose the use of a “smart” pollination method to make this step in maize breeding programs easier and faster.

Modern Pollen Signatures and Vegetation Dynamics in Northwestern Himalaya, India

ABSTRACT Palynological studies have been conducted for the first time in the Renukaji Wildlife Sanctuary (RWS), a Sal-dominated region within the foothills of Northwestern (NW) Himalaya in Himachal Pradesh, India. This research enhances our understanding of the relationship between modern pollen rain and vegetation, as well as pollen representation in sediments. Furthermore, it contributes to palaeovegetation reconstruction based on paleoclimatic trends by improving our interpretation of pollen deposition patterns. The study area was delineated into three distinct zones based on biological niche characteristics: Zone 1 (Recreation Zone), Zone 2 (Buffer Zone), and Zone 3 (Core Zone). Pollen analysis conducted on 30 surface soil samples and moss cushions, collected from all three zones, reveals the dominance of dry deciduous taxa, followed by extra-terrestrial taxa and wet deciduous taxa. Land Use Land Cover (LULC) analysis performed using satellite data reveals that Shorea robusta (Sal) mixed forest covers 32% of land, followed by Pinus spp. (8%) and their associates (25%). Shorea robusta, a mixed wet deciduous taxon and high pollen producer, exhibits low pollen counts, possibly due to chemical and microbial decomposition or low pollen dispersal efficiency. This study utilises a comparative database correlating pollen data with contemporary vegetation patterns to establish a robust framework for assessing sedimentary pollen sequences. Through this approach, we aim to elucidate past vegetation dynamics and infer climate fluctuations within the NW Himalaya.

European pollen reanalysis, 1980–2022, for alder, birch, and olive

The dataset presents a 43 year-long reanalysis of pollen seasons for three major allergenic genera of trees in Europe: alder (Alnus), birch (Betula), and olive (Olea). Driven by the meteorological reanalysis ERA5, the atmospheric composition model SILAM predicted the flowering period and calculated the Europe-wide dispersion pattern of pollen for the years 1980–2022. The model applied an extended 4-dimensional variational data assimilation of in-situ observations of aerobiological networks in 34 European countries to reproduce the inter-annual variability and trends of pollen production and distribution. The control variable of the assimilation procedure was the total pollen release during each flowering season, implemented as an annual correction factor to the mean pollen production. The dataset was designed as an input to studies on climate-induced and anthropogenically driven changes in the European vegetation, biodiversity monitoring, bioaerosol modelling and assessment, as well as, in combination with intra-seasonal observations, for health-related applications.

Modern pollen–plant diversity relationships for reliable pollen-based reconstruction of past plant taxonomic and functional diversity: A case study in southwest Shandong, China

Pollen diversity provides insights into our understanding of past plant diversity, a wide variety of diversity indices have been used to characterize plant diversity from sedimentary pollen. However, studies reported inconsistent associations between pollen-plant taxonomic diversity, this could be partly accounted for by biases due to interspecies differences in pollen production, pollen diffusion/deposition, and poorly specified dispersal distance of pollen-source plants. It is therefore crucial to improve the interpretation of the sedimentary pollen diversity by systematic studies of palynological and floristic diversity associations in contemporary landscapes.To test the reliability of pollen assemblages as a proxy of plant diversity, we collected pollen and vegetation from 36 surface sites in southwest Shandong. We detected the correlation between pollen-plant taxonomic and functional diversity indices from different spatial scales.Our results show pollen-plant correlations vary in spatial scales for different indices, the Spearman correlation analysis indicates significant and the strongest correlations between pollen-plant Shannon index around the RSAP (0.399 < ρ < 0.520), while the Pielou’s evenness shows significant and the highest correlations (0.411 < ρ < 0.425) around and beyond the RSAP, but only weak positive relationships can be detected between pollen-plant richness. Functional composition based on whole plant height and specific leave area and functional dispersion based on combined traits of whole plant height, specific leave area, seed mass, and leave dry mass shows significant positive pollen-plant associations, indicating that functional diversity may improve the pollen-plant link.Our results confirm that pollen data performs well in presenting plant taxonomic and functional diversity, which provides a solid theoretical basis for quantitative reconstruction of the long-term plant diversity dynamics and response of ecosystem functions to the environment in the future. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that the spatial scale of vegetation survey plays an important role in the representation of pollen diversity.

Pollinator behaviour and prevalence of the anther smut Antherospora vindobonensis in its host, the Hungarian two-leaf squill (Scilla vindobonensis).

Anther smuts are fungal diseases that have detrimental effects on the biology of their host plants. We investigated the transmission of Anther smut Antherospora vindobonensis to its host, Scilla vindobonensis under natural and laboratory conditions. Plants flowering early in spring were less vulnerable to disease (∼ 20-30% of plants which appeared early in the season were diseased) than flowers that bloom at the end of the season (∼ 60% of plants which appeared late in the season were diseased) which contradicts the patterns observed for other anther smuts species. Diseased plants showed thicker stems, lower nectar production and smaller flower radius than healthy plants. The disease prevalence in S. vindobonensis was not influenced by plant density. The production of spores in diseased flowers was 125 times higher than the production of pollen in healthy flowers. The number of pollen grains attached to pollinator bodies from healthy plants under controlled conditions was similar to the number of spores attached from diseased plants. Experienced honeybees in the field showed almost identical preferences for healthy plants (65%) over diseased ones, as did naïve bumblebees under controlled laboratory conditions (69%). eDNA metabarcoding revealed that healthy flowers attracted a significantly higher number of arthropod species (M = 6.23, SE = 1.48) than diseased flowers (M = 2.32, SE = 0.31). Strong seasonal differences in the risk of infection suggest that S. vindobonensis solves the trade-off between low pollinator availability and low risk of infection at the beginning of the season and high risk of infection and high pollinator availability at the end of season. By reproducing early in the season, plants can reduce the risk of disease.

Host-driven phenotypic and phenological differentiation in sympatric races of a parasitic plant

Host specificity is a key factor influencing the ecology and evolutionary diversification of parasitic organisms. Host specialisation and geographic isolation are known to lead to the genetic differentiation of allopatric races in parasitic plants. However, how divergence can co-occur in sympatry remains largely unknown. We investigated phenological and phenotypic differentiation and potential reproductive isolation among three sympatric genetic races of Cytinus hypocistis (Cytinaceae) - an extreme endophytic holoparasite with a high degree of host specialisation. We compared spatio-temporal variations in flowering phenology, flower production, floral longevity, floral rewards, and morphology, and conducted inter-race pollinations among three races parasitising Cistus ladanifer, C. salviifolius, and Halimium halimifolium (Cistaceae) in six co-occurring populations. We found that host-defined genetic races differed significantly across multiple phenotypic and phenological aspects – a phenomenon previously overlooked due to the plants’ cryptic morphology. The race parasitising H. halimifolium showed earlier blooming, higher floral display, longer flowers, and higher pollen production and nectar concentration; the race on C. salviifolius showed later flowering, significantly lower floral display and smaller flowers with lower floral rewards; the race on C. ladanifer had intermediate characteristics. Genetic races were interfertile yet may remain differentiated by restricted gene flow and host-driven selection pressures. Together, our data point to a rare case of sympatric divergent evolution hiding in plain sight: apparently morphologically similar co-occurring parasite races can be genetically, phenotypically, and phenologically distinct. This hitherto unreported example of host-driven sympatric diversification challenges how species concepts are applied to cryptic parasitic plant races.

Identification and variation of a new restorer of fertility gene that induces cleavage in orf138 mRNA of Ogura male sterility in radish

Key messageA new restorer of fertility gene, Rfs, of Ogura cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in radish encodes a pentatricopeptide repeat protein that binds to 15 nucleotides in mRNA of the CMS gene, orf138. Nucleotide substitutions in both Rfs and orf138 determine effectiveness and specificity of restoration.Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in plants caused by the expression of abnormal mitochondrial genes results from impaired pollen production. The manifestation of CMS is suppressed by the restorer of fertility (Rf) genes in the nuclear genome. Thus, the CMS-Rf system is a suitable model for studying the direct interactions of mitochondrial and nuclear genes. At least nine haplotypes, of which Type B is ancestry, have been reported for the Ogura CMS gene, orf138, in radish (Raphanus sativus). We previously observed that Rfo encoding a pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein, ORF687, which inhibits the translation of orf138 is ineffective in one haplotype (i.e., Type H). Here, we carried out map-based cloning of another Rf gene (Rfs) that cleaves the orf138 mRNA of Type H. Rfs produces a PPR protein consisting of 15 PPR motifs that binds to the mRNA, cleaving the mRNA at about 50nt downstream of the binding site. However, Rfs was ineffective for Type A because of a single nucleotide substitution in the binding site. Both Rfo and Rfs suppress orf138 expression in ancestral Type B, but they are rendered ineffective in Type H and Type A, respectively, by a single nucleotide substitution in orf138.

Trends in land cover and in pollen concentration of Quercus genus in Alentejo, Portugal: Effects of climate change and health impacts

Mediterranean forests dominated by Quercus species are of great ecological and economic value. The Quercus pollen season, peaking in April, varies in concentration due to geographical and climatic factors and has a remarkable allergenic potential. This study investigates Quercus trends in the Alentejo region of Portugal and examines the influence of meteorological parameters on DPC, PSD and SPIn, as well as the impact on allergic respiratory disease. The results show a progressive increase in Quercus Forest area from 1995 to 2018. Temperature and Precipitation are a key factor influencing pollen concentration, especially before peak of pollen season and prior to the pollen season. Particularly prior to the season, the precipitation of t-6 before influence, significantly, the pollen production. On the other hand, Global Srad and RH determine the beginning of the season. Using quartile-based categorization and multivariate statistical analysis, we identified years and scenarios within the IPCC projections where meteorological conditions influence may SPIn production. The study found a statistically significant correlation between high Quercus pollen concentrations in April and increased antihistamine sales. These findings are crucial for enhancing pollen forecast models and early warning systems.

Effect of viruses infection symptoms on pollen viability in different horticultural crop species

A preliminary in vitro investigation was carried out to assess the impact of virus infection symptoms on in vitro pollen germination in different horticultural crop species. Pollen from healthy and virus-infected papaya (papaya ring spot virus—PRSV), gherkin (Ilar virus), okra (Ilar virus), bottle gourd (mosaic virus), chow-chow (mosaic virus), okra (yellow vein mosaic virus -YVMV), watermelon (mosaic), pumpkin (mosaic), watermelon (bud necrosis) and bitter gourd (yellow mosaic) flowers was collected, and pollen was extracted and to assessed viability in vitro via the hanging drop method. After incubation, the viability profiles of the pollen were computed. There was a significant reduction in the pollen germination profiles of pollen from infected plants compared to those from healthy plants. The impact of virus infection on pollen production, germination and viability is discussed in light of the overall reproductive ability of virus-affected plants.

Genomic diversity of major tree species in the Eurasian relict forests of northern Iran

We investigated population genetics of the native tree species Acer velutinum Boiss., Fagus orientalis Lipsky, and Quercus castaneifolia C.A. Mey. in the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran and also F. orientalis populations in the Euro-Siberian and Colchic subregions of northern Türkiye. We used the double-digest RADseq method and genotyped 90 populations and 1,589 individuals across the distribution range of the species. Genome-wide SNPs from 28 populations of A. velutinum, 32 populations of F. orientalis, and 30 Q. castaneifolia revealed higher genetic differentiation among A. velutinum populations than among F. orientalis and Q. castaneifolia. The global FST value was lowest for F. orientalis populations and highest for A. velutinum populations, while the global FIS value was negative for A. velutinum. Demographic history analysis revealed a bottleneck during the last glacial period (11,500—115,000 Kya) for the A. velutinum populations with reduced effective population size (Ne). All three species show multiple bottlenecks and reduced Ne during the Quaternary. Pronounced genetic divergence among A. velutinum populations in the Hyrcanian forests compared to the other two species suggests cryptic speciation. Conversely, F. orientalis and Q. castaneifolia populations showed low levels of genetic structure, suggesting that species-specific factors, such as pollen production and pollination efficiency, may have influenced the genetic patterns within these species in similar environments. The nucleotide diversity of F. orientalis populations in Iran is negatively correlated with altitude (p = 0.046). In contrast, A. velutinum populations show a significant correlation between nucleotide diversity and longitude (p = 0.008). Furthermore, the F. orientalis populations from Türkiye showed a distinct west–east genetic structure and were highly diverged from the Iranian F. orientalis populations.

Blooming Phenograms, Pollen Production, and Pollen Quality during Storage of Pistachio Cultivars in New Mediterranean Growing Areas.

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is a dioecious, anemophilous, and drought-resistant fruit tree species. It is cultivated in new Mediterranean areas, including the regions of southern Italy (Apulia and Basilicata). It has been estimated that over 40,000 ha are suitable for pistachio cultivation in areas infected by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca. As a newly introduced species, knowledge of its biological reproductive behaviors in its new areas of spreading is essential for appropriate agronomic planning and management. This two-year study (2022 and 2023), carried out in the countryside of Stigliano (MT, Italy), had the objective of evaluating the flowering phenograms, pollen production, and assessing protocols for the conservation and extension of pollen viability, of the most widespread cultivars. A slight delay was observed in the blooming phenograms, compared to other cultivation Mediterranean areas, such as Spain or Sicily. Furthermore, the overlap between female and male phenograms was partial. No significant differences were observed in the polliniferous aptitude of the two male cultivars. Among the different protocols tested, the pollen storage at 33% relative humidity and a temperature of -80 °C maintained the pollen germinability above 50% for up to three weeks. These findings highlight the importance of controlled environmental conditions in preserving pollen viability over extended periods, providing valuable insights for agricultural and botanical research that relies on maintaining pollen viability for breeding and genetic studies.

Amaranthaceae Pollen Trends in the Air

Understanding the trends of airborne pollen allergens is of great importance given the high prevalence and socioeconomic impact of pollen-related allergic diseases globally. To study the morphological features of Amaranthaceae pollen, assess its contribution to the aerobiological situation in the city of Karakol and identify periods of increased concentration in order to improve the diagnosis and prevention of pollinosis symptoms in patients. Aerobiological sampling using a Lanzoni pollen trap was carried out from April to October over a three-year period (2015–2017) in Karakol city. Pollen identification and differential counting were performed according to current standard methodology and specially developed guides and atlases. Pollen characteristics of 4 Amaranthaceae species were visualized using scanning electron microscopy (Hitachi) to provide a detailed understanding of the surface structure and ornamentation of pollen grains. The decadal curve of Amaranthaceae pollen concentration in Karakol is unimodal, with often overlapping quantitative characteristics: 6615 (2nd decade of August 2015), 1326 (1st decade of 2016), 444 pollen grains / m3 (1st decade of 2017). At the same time, strong interannual variability of atmospheric pollen levels was observed, depending both on the pollen production of the plants themselves and on meteorological parameters, especially temperature and precipitation, changes in the traditional farming system. The response of summer-flowering Amaranthaceae weeds to climate change was demonstrated, which consists in a decrease in the annual pollen index, which corresponds to the global trend. Peak concentrations of Amaranthaceae pollen many times exceeded clinical threshold values in the air. On the surface of the Bassia scopariapollen exine, the ultrastructure study revealed the smallest (1.5-2.0 μm) granules of sporopollenin or orbicules (Ubisch bodies), which play a role in the spread of allergens. The obtained data are important in terms of increasing public awareness of the dominant pollen of the Amaranthaceae family, optimizing diagnostics, treatment and prevention of pollinosis.

Diagnostic Workup in IgE-Mediated Allergy to Asteraceae Weed Pollen and Herbal Medicine Products in Europe.

Anemophilous weeds from the Asteraceae family are highly allergenic and represent a significant source of aeroallergens in late summer and autumn. Ragweed and mugwort pollen allergies have become a significant health burden in Europe. Some people with respiratory allergies to weed pollen may also suffer hypersensitivity reactions to herbal medicines obtained from certain cross-reactive plants in the Compositae family, such as chamomile, marigold, and purple coneflower. General physicians, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists, and pulmonologists need to be familiar with the diagnostic tests used by allergists in clinical practice to support accurate diagnosis in such patients. Allergists must also be aware of the suggestions of the European Medicines Agency (EMA)'s Herbal Medicinal Products Committee and the broad spectrum of herbal therapies to educate their patients about potential risks.