Search

Introduction and objective. The timings of Fraxinus and Betula flowering and pollen release overlap, which may cause increased allergic reactions in sensitive people. The aim of the present study was to characterize Fraxinus pollen seasons in Lublin (central-eastern Poland) and to identify meteorological factors that most determine the occurrence of airborne pollen of this taxon, as well as obtain forecast models for the basic characteristics of the pollen season. Materials and method. The study was conducted in Lublin during the period 2001–2016, employing the volumetric method. The seasons were compared by PCA (Principal Component Analysis). To determine relationships between meteorological conditions and the pattern of pollen seasons, regression analysis was used. Data for the period 2001–2015 were used to create forecast models by applying regression analysis, while the 2016 data served to verify these models. Results. Season end date and seasonal peak date were characterized by the lowest variation. The biggest differences were found for peak value and total annual pollen sum. The average dates of occurrence of ash pollen grains in the air of Lublin were between 13 April 13 – 3 May 3, whereas, on average, the pollen peak date occurred on 23 April. The factor loading values for the PC1 variable indicate that it is most strongly correlated with peak value and total pollen sum, while the PC2 variable correlated with the pollen season start date and season duration (a negative correlation). Regression models were developed for the following pollen season characteristics: season start, end and duration, seasonal peak date, and total annual pollen sum. Conclusions. The fit of the forecast models was at the level of 62–94%. Analysis of the data showed that weather conditions mainly in February were important factors controlling the Fraxinus pollen season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study compared the occurrence of airborne pollen of 7 arboreal taxa (Corylus, Alnus, Cupressaceae/Taxaceae, Populus, Fraxinus, Betula and Carpinus) during the period 2007-2009 from two sites in Lublin city, SE Poland. The sites differed in the character of building development and surrounding vegetation. Pollen monitoring was conducted by the volumetric method using two Hirst-type samplers. Daily and intradiurnal pollen counts were determined. For all the taxa, Spearman's test revealed statistically significant positive correlations between daily pollen fluctuations at two sites. Nevertheless, the Mann-Whitney U-test showed differences for Cupressaceae/Taxaceae, Fraxinus, Populus and Corylus between sites. The intradiurnal pattern of pollen concentration was characterized by high variation. Cupressaceae/Taxaceae and Populus, clearly differed in hourly pollen concentrations at both sites. Moreover, in the case of Betula and Alnus it was shown that a part of pollen recorded in Lublin can originate from long-distance transport. High pollen concentrations can be expected at different hours of the day. The lowest average pollen concentrations at both sites were found during morning hours at 5 and 6 a.m. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that data from a single pollen-sampling device are not representative of some taxa in the particular districts of the city. Average data obtained from at least two pollen samplers could provide optimum results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agrobotanica is the property of Polish Botanical Society / Polskie Towarzystwo Botaniczne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

An aerobiological study was conducted to investigate the quantity and quality of pollen in the atmosphere of Lublin in central-eastern Poland. Pollen monitoring was carried out in the period 2001-2012 using a Hirst-type volumetric spore trap. The atmospheric pollen season in Lublin lasted, on average, from the end of January to the beginning of October The mean air temperature during the study period was found to be higher by 1.1 °C than the mean temperature in the period 1951-2000. 56 types of pollen of plants belonging to 41 families were identified. 28 types represented woody plants and 28 represented herbaceous plants. The study distinguished 5 plant taxa the pollen of which was present most abundantly in the air of Lublin, which altogether accounted for 73.4%: Betula, Urtica, Pinus, Poaceae, and Alnus. The mean annual pollen index was 68 706; the largest amount of pollen was recorded in April and accounted for 33.3% of the annual pollen index. The pollen calendar included 28allergenic plant taxa.The pollen of woody plants had the highest percentage in the pollen spectrum, on average 58.4%. The parameters of the pollen calendar for Lublin were compared with the calendar for central-eastern Europe with regard to the start of the pollen season of particular taxa. The pollen calendar for Lublin was demonstrated to show greater similarity to the calendar for Munster (Germany) than to the calendar for Bratislava (Slovakia). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Similarly to fungal spores and pollen grains, pteridophytic spores can cause allergies in humans. Pteridophyta spore concentrations in the air of Lublin, under the conditions of central-eastern Poland, were first studied over the period 2013-2014. The volumetric method was used in this study. The research showed that that spores of ferns belonging to the following genera: Asplenium, Athyrium, Blechnum, Botrychium, Cystopteris, Dryopteris, Matteuccia, Osmunda, Polypodium and Pteridium, occur in aeroplankton. Spores were recorded in low concentrations and they occurred in a dispersed pattern during the season. They were found to be absent on some days. Among the above-mentioned genera, Dryopteris and Athyrium showed the highest content of spores in aerosol. In both years of the study (2013 and 2014), similar annual spore counts were recorded, respectively 69 and 63. The most spores were identified in August. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe Ambrosia is included in invasive species. Its pollen contains very strong allergens that can be the cause of pollinosis at the turn of summer and autumn. The aim of the present study was to compare Ambrosia pollen concentrations in the air of Lublin and Lviv and to analyse the effect of weather conditions on Ambrosia pollen content in the air. The study was carried out in 2011 and 2012. In Lublin the volumetric method was applied using a Lanzoni VPPS 2000 trap, whereas in Lviv the gravimetric method was applied using a Durham trap. To make the results comparable, the data obtained by the gravimetric method were properly counted and expressed as the number of pollen grains per 1 m³ of air. This research shows that the Ambrosia pollen season started about a month earlier in Lviv and lasted longer than in Lublin. In Lviv ragweed pollen was recorded from the beginning of July, while in Lublin from the second week of August. The pollen season in both cities ended on different days of October. The seasonal peaks in both years and the annual pollen count in 2011 were much higher in Lublin than in Lviv. In both cities air temperature was the most important meteorological factor affecting pollen concentrations. During the pollen season in Lublin, the wind was predominantly from NE and E directions, whereas in Lviv from N and SE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The content of Aesculus pollen in aeroplankton of Lublin, located in central-eastern Poland, was studied during the period 2001-2012. The volumetric method was used for the study. The following parameters were determined: start, end, and duration of the pollen season, days of maximum concentration, and total annual pollen counts. Correlation coefficients were calculated between the start of the pollen season and meteorological parameters. The study showed that during the period 2007-2012 the onset of the Aesculus pollen season occurred on average 4 days earlier than in the years 2001-2006. The total annual pollen counts were in the range of 53-271, with an average number of 117. The average pollen counts did not differ significantly in the first and second year of a 6-year period of the study. The analysis of the correlation coefficients showed that there were significant positive correlations only between the season start date and minimum temperature of the first decade of May. The highest Aesculus pollen concentration occurred between 6 and 22 May. The flowers of A. hippocastanum demonstrate an ambophilous pollination strategy due to partial insect and wind pollination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]