Sporopollenin chemistry and its durability in the geological record: an integration of extant and fossil chemical data across the seed plants

Sporopollenin is a highly resistant biopolymer that forms the outer wall of pollen and spores (sporomorphs). Recent research into sporopollenin chemistry has opened up range new avenues for palynological research, including chemotaxonomic classification morphologically cryptic taxa. However, there have been limited attempts to directly integrate extant fossil chemical data. Of particular importance impact sample processing isolate from fresh sporomorphs, extent changes occur once sporomorphs enter geological record. Here, we explore these issues using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy data grass, Nitraria (a steppe plant), conifer pollen. We show 98% success rate at subfamily level with grass pollen, demonstrating strong taxonomic signature in isolated sporopollenin. also reveal substantial differences between sporopollenin, which can be tied both early diagenetic acting on derivates processing. Our results demonstrate integrating late Quaternary should tractable as long comparable routines are maintained. Consistent deeper time however, suggests classifying specimens training sets will challenging. Further work therefore required understand simulate effects processes chemistry.