The objective of this study was to determine the effect of application of pesticides on morphology, viability, and germination of pollen grains of Blackberry (Rubus glaucus Benth.) and Tree tomato (Solanum betaceum Cav.). The study was performed at Patate, Tungurahua province, Ecuador and was divided into two phases. Phase one dedicated to the study of morphology, viability, and identification ...

Pollen undergo a maturation process to sustain pollen viability and prepare them for germination. Molecular mechanisms controlling these processes remain largely unknown. Here, we report an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant, dayu (dau), which impairs pollen maturation and in vivo germination. Molecular analysis indicated that DAU encodes the peroxisomal membrane protein ABERRANT PEROXISOME MORPHOLOGY...

This study compares phenological observations of Corylus (hazel) and Alnus (alder) flowering with airborne pollen counts of these taxa recorded using volumetric spore traps (2009-2011). The work was carried out in the Polish cities of Szczecin and Rzeszów that are located in different climatic regions. Correlations between pollen concentrations and meteorological data were investigated using Sp...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine trends in the airborne pollen concentration and pollination period for the principal sources of pollen in Badajoz (southwest Spain) over 15 years of monitoring (1994-2008). METHODS Airborne pollen was monitored by continuous sampling with a Hirst volumetric sampler. Pollen trends were investigated by linear regression and correlation analysis ...

Insect pollinations of tree species with high-density populations have rarely been studied. Since the density of adults can affect effective pollen dispersal, short-distance pollination, even by insects, may frequently occur in high-density populations. To test this prediction, we investigated pollination patterns in a high-density population of the insect-pollinated canopy tree species Castano...

Potassium (K(+)) influx into pollen tubes via K(+) transporters is essential for pollen tube growth; however, the mechanism by which K(+) transporters are regulated in pollen tubes remains unknown. Here, we report that Arabidopsis thaliana Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase11 (CPK11) and CPK24 are involved in Ca(2+)-dependent regulation of the inward K(+) (K(+)in) channels in pollen tubes. Using p...

Birch pollen allergy is highly prevalent, with up to 100 million reported cases worldwide. Proteases in such allergen sources have been suggested to contribute to primary sensitisation and exacerbation of allergic disorders. Until now the protease content of Betula verrucosa, a birch species endemic to the northern hemisphere has not been studied in detail. Hence, we aim to identify and charact...

Platanus is a major cause of pollen allergy in many Spanish cities. The present paper reports an analysis of Platanus pollen season throughout the Andalusia region (southern Spain), which has among the highest pollen counts and the highest incidence of Platanus-related allergies in Europe. The main aim was to analyze pollen season trends from 1992 to 2010 in Andalusia; models were also construc...

allergic rhinitis and asthma share common  epidemiological features and inflammatory processes. the aim of the present study was to document the influence of natural allergen exposure in exhaled no  (eno)  and in spirometric parameters of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis(sar) and to investigate the differences among subjects with positive versus negative bronchial provocation to metacho...

The identification of environmental changes by human action in the past is crucial for recovery plans and preservation of natural areas. Changes of the landscape (by human action) and natural shifts of vegetation can be showed by pollen records analysis. In this sense, pollen description of modern plants is important for use as a database for the identification of pollen samples of past. The in...