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Effects of air pollutants on pollen

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Abstract

In vivo and in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth are affected by air pollutants. The stimulation and inhibition of these pollen characteristics depend on the pollen species as well as on the pollutant and its concentration, the exposure time, the relative humidity during exposure and some other factors. Mitosis, gas exchange, size and chemistry of pollen can also be influenced by air contaminants. Pollen germination and tube elongation differ in their response to air pollution stress, and both are more susceptible in vitro compared to the in vivo situation. Some possible mechanisms of action are reported in this review study. The effects of air contaminants on pollen are discussed in relation to sexual reproduction, gametophytic selection and adaptation to stress. Pollen may be used as sensitive biological indicators of pollution

Zusammenfassung

Pollenkeimung und das Wachstum des Pollenschlauches werden in vivo und in vitro von Luftverunreinigungen beeinflusst. Sowohl die Stimulation, als auch die Hemmung dieser Vitalitätsmerkmale des Pollens sind abhängig von der Pollenart, der Art der Verunreinigung, deren Konzentration, der Expositionszeit, der relativen Luftfeuchtigkeit und Temperatur während der Exposition, sowie chemischen Faktoren.

Die Mitose, der Gasaustausch und die Stoffwechselprozesse der Pollenkörner werden von Luftverschmutzungen gestört. Die Keimung des Pollens und das Wachstum des Pollenschlauches reagieren auf den Luftverunreinigungen verschieden. In vitro reagiert die Pollenkeimung stets empfindlicher als in vivo.

In dieser Literaturübersicht wird über einige, möglichen Reaktionsmechanismen berichtet. Die Effekte der Luftverunreinigungen werden diskutiert hinsichtlich der sexuellen Reproduktion, der gametophytischen Selektion und der Stressadaptation. Pollen kann als empfindlicher Bioindikator der Luftverschmutzung benutzt werden.

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  1. Department of Botany, Laboratory of Experimental Plant Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, Catholic University, NL-6525, ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    J. H. B. Wolters & M. J. M. Martens

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  1. J. H. B. Wolters
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Wolters, J.H.B., Martens, M.J.M. Effects of air pollutants on pollen. Bot. Rev 53, 372–414 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02858322

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