Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Betula pendula Pollen Viability in Suburban Biocenoses with Different Technogenic Loads

  • Published:
Contemporary Problems of Ecology Aims and scope

Abstract

Betula pendula Roth. is tolerant to technogenic air pollutants. However, the viability of pollen decreases under stress conditions, as well as under air pollution. This research was conducted in Middle Siberia on eight plots of motley birches near the industrial city of Krasnoyarsk. In each plot on the west side, the male twigs of 15–20 trees were cut at pollination time. Pollen was extracted from the male generative organs for size and viability (potential (by starch test) and actual (by in vitro germination)) determination. The results were analyzed by statistical methods. A reduction in pollen viability under technogenic pollution and reliable differences in pollen grain (PG) diameters under different growing conditions is revealed, but deformed PG is not. The variability of PGs in diameter in the biocenosis does not exceed 9.3–9.9%. The maximum number of sprouted PGs is observed under background conditions and the minimum is at the eastern border of the city in the main direction of the transfer of technogenic aerosols. The length of pollen tubes in trees growing under these conditions decreased by more than twice in comparison with the critical value (namely, PG diameter of 18–20 µm). Regression analysis has shown correlations between pollen germination and the accumulation of dust on foliage, as well as of lead and aluminum content in the foliage (r = − 0.1−0.3, р ≥ 0.05). Despite the tolerance of the species to air pollution, Betula pendula male generative structures are sensitive to contamination. Pollen viability can be used as a bioindicator of environmental pollution upon monitoring.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Bazhina, E.V., Skripal’shchikova, L.N., and Barchenkov, A.P., Fruiting specifics of drooping birch in the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe, Sib. Lesn. Zh., 2018, no. 6, pp. 112–120. https://doi.org/10.15372/SJFS20180610

  2. Bobbink, R., Impacts of tropospheric ozone on airborne nitrogenous pollutants on natural and semi-natural ecosystems: a commentary, New Phytol., 1998, vol. 139, pp. 11–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Cherednikova, Yu.S., Molokova, N.I., and Perevoz’nikova, V.D., Peculiarities of typological structure of Krasnoyarsk green zone forests, in Botanicheskie issledovaniya v Sibiri (Botanical Studies in Siberia), Krasnoyarsk: Inst. Lesa Sib. Otd. Ross. Akad. Nauk, 1999, vol. 7, pp. 176–180.

  4. Darbah, J., Kubiske, M.E., Nelson, N., Oksanen, E., Vapaavuori, E., David, F., and Karnosky, D.F., Effects of decadal exposure to interacting elevated CO2 and/or O3 on paper birch (Betula papyrifera) reproduction, Environ. Pollut., 2008, vol. 155, pp. 446–452.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Detri, G., Atmosfera dolzhna byt’ chistoi: zagryazniteli atmosfery i bor’ba s nimi (Atmosphere should be Pure: Air Pollution and Air Pollution Control), Moscow: Progress, 1973.

  6. Emberlin, J., Detani, M., Gehrig, R., Jaeger, S., Noland, N., and Ratio-Letimaki, A., Response in the start of the Betula (Birch) pollen seasons to recent changes in spring temperature across Europe, Int. J. Biometeorol., 2007, vol. 51, no. 3, pp. 159–170.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Frolova, G.D., The biology of flowering in some birches, Bot. Zh., 1957, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 885–889.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Gorden, J., Millington, W., and Bailey, J., UK regional variations in Betula pollen (1993–1997), Aerobiologia, 2000, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 227–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Gosudarstvenyi doklad “O sostoyanii i okhrane okruzhayushchei sredy v Krasnoyarskom krae v 2017 godu (State Report About State and Environmental Protection in Krasnoyarsk Region in 2017), Krasnoyarsk: Minist. Ekol. Prirodopol’z. Krasnoyarskogo Kraya, 2018.

  10. Gosudarstvenyi doklad “O sostoyanii i okhrane okruzhayushchei sredy v Krasnoyarskom krae v 2021 godu (State Report About State and Environmental Protection in Krasnoyarsk Region in 2021), Krasnoyarsk, 2022.

  11. Gottardini, E., Cristofolini, F., Paoletti, E., Lazzeri, P., and Pepponi, G., Pollen viability for air pollution bio-monitoring, J. Atmos. Chem., 2004, vol. 49, p. 149.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Grant, V., Evolutsionyi protsess (Process of Evolution), Moscow: Mir, 1991.

  13. Grover, A., Twell, D., and Schleiff, E., Pollen as a target of environmental changes, Plant Reprod., 2016, vol. 29, pp. 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00497-016-0285-7

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Hak, O. and Russel, J.N., Environmental Effects on Yellow-Cedar Pollen Quality, FGC Extension Note, 2004, pp. 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Houston, D.B. and Dochinger, L.S., Effect of ambient air pollution on cone, seed and pollen characteristics in eastern white and red pines, Environ. Pollut., 1977, vol. 12, pp. 1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Kabbata-Pendias, A. and Pendias, X., Mikroelementy v pochvakh i rasteniyakh (Microelements in Soil and Plants), Moscow: Mir, 1989.

  17. Kaleda, V.M., Pollen viability and size of Betula pendula in conditions of West Siberia, Izv. Sib. Otd. Akad. Nauk SSSR, 1979, no. 15, pp. 75–78.

  18. Khlebova, L.P. and Yereshchenko, O.V., The quality of birch pollen (Betula pendula Roth.) under conditions of Barnaul, Izv. Altai. Gos. Univ., 2012, vol. 3-1, no. 75, pp. 89–92.

  19. Koski, V., Embryonic lethals of Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris, Commun. Inst. For. Fenn., 1971, vol. 75, no. 3, pp. 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kupriyanova, L.A. and Alyeshina, L.A., Pil’tca i spori rastenii flori evropeiskoi tchasti USSR (Pollen and Spores of Plants of Flora of European Part of the USSR), Leningrad: Nauka, 1972, vol. 1.

  21. Kurdiani, S., From the biology of seed set of wood species, Lesn. Zh., 1914, vols. 9–10, pp. 1498–1502.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Letopis’ prirody Gosudarstvennogo prirodnogo zapovednika “Stolby” (Chronicle of State Nature Reserve “Stolby”), Krasnoyarsk, 2014.

  23. Lomonosova, M.N., Bol’shakov, N.M., Krasnoborov, I.M., Kashina, L.I., Tupitshina, N.B., Gel’tman, D.V., and Shemberg, M.A., Flora Sibiri, T. 5. Salicaceae – Amaranthaceae (Flora of Siberia, Vol. 5. Salicaceae – Amaranthaceae), Krasnoborova, I.M. and Malisheva, L.I., Eds., Novosibirsk: Nauka, 1992.

  24. Lyah, V.A., Peresipkina, T.N., Dubovaya, E.V., and Fendur, L.M., Effect of heavy metals on pollen viability of some plants, Nauchn. Vestn. Sumskogo Gos. Univ., Ser. Tekh. Nauki, 2004, vol. 2, no. 61, pp. 177–179.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Malayeri, B.E., Noori, M., and Jafari, M., Using the pollen viability and morphology for fluoride pollution biomonitoring, Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 2011, vol. 147, nos. 1–3, pp. 315–319. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-9290-8

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Maurin, A.M. and Kaurov, I.A., Comparison of methods of pollen viability determing of woody plants, Bot. Zh., 1956, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 81–84.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Metodicheskie ukazaniya po ionometricheskomu opredeleniyu soderzhaniya ftora v rastitel’noi produtsii, kormakh i kombikormakh, (utverzhdeno zamestitelem Ministra sel’skogo khozyaistva i prodovol’stviya RF 14.04.1995 (Guidance on Ionometric Determination of Fluorine Content in Plant Production, Feeds and Mixed Fodders (Proved by Deputy Minister of Agriculture)), Moscow: Tsentr. Nauchno-Issled. Inst. Agrokhim. Obslu-zh. Sel’sk. Khoz., 1995.

  28. Nekrasova, T.P., Pyl’tsa i pyl’tsevoi rezhim khvoinykh (Pollen and Pollen Regime of Conifers), Novosibirsk: Nauka, Sib. Otd., 1983.

  29. Nikolayevskaya, T.S., Vetchinnikova, L.V., Titov, A.F., and Lebedeva, O.N., Study of polen in native and introduced Betula L. species in Karelia, Tr. Karel’sk. Nauchn. Tsentra Ross. Akad. Nauk, 2009, no. 4, pp. 90–95.

  30. Pasonen, H.-L., Pulkkinen, P., and Kärkkäinen, K., Genotype-environment interactions in pollen competitive ability in an anemophillous tree Betula pendula Roth, Theor. Appl. Genet., 2002, vol. 105, pp. 465–473.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Pausheva, Z.P., Praktikum po tsitologii rastenii (Workshop on Plant Cytology), Moscow: Kolos, 1980.

  32. PND, F., Quantity chemical analysis of soil. Teqniques of measurement of metals content in soled object using inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy, Moscow: Gos. Komitet Ross. Fed. Okhr. Okruzh. Sredy, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Sarvas, R., On the flowering of birch and quality of seed crop, Commun. Inst. For. Fenn., 1952, vol. 40, no. 7, pp. 1–37.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Sergeyev, G.I., Ostrovniyie lesostepi i podtaiga Prieniseiskoi Sibiri (Island Forest Steppes and Sub-Boreal Forest of Yenisei Siberia), Irkutsk: Vost.-Sib. Kn. Izd., 1971.

  35. Skripal’shchikova, L.N., Ponomaryova, T.V., Bazhina, E.V., Barchenkov, A.P., and Belyanin, A.V., Technogenic loads on birch stands in Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe, Sib. Lesn. Zh., 2017, vol. 6, pp. 130–135.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Smirnova, N.G., Rentgenographicheskoe izuchenie semyan listvennikh rastenii (X-ray Study of Seed of Woody Plants), Moscow, Nauka, 1978.

  37. Solntseva, M.P. and Glazunova, K.P., Influence of industrial and traffic pollution on reproduction of spermatophytes, Zh. Obshch. Biol., 2010, vol. 71, no. 2, pp. 163–175.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Sousa, R., Duque, L., Duarte, A.J., Gomes, C.R., Ribero, H., Cruz, A., Esteves da Silva, J.C., and Abreu, I., In vitro exposure of Acer negundo pollen to atmospheric levels of SO2 and NO2: effects on allergenicity and germination, Environ. Sci. Technol., 2012, vol. 46, pp. 2406–2412.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Vaclav, E., Collection germination and preservation of birch pollen Betula verrucosa Ehrh, in Sbor. Ceskosl. Akad. Zemedel. Ved. Sborn. Lesnictivi., 1958, no. 11, pp. 939–970.

  40. Wolters, J.H. and Martens, M., Effect of air pollution on pollen, Bot. Rev., 1987, vol. 63, no. 3, pp. 372–414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Yakovleva, O.V., Phytotoxicity of aluminum ions, Tr. Prikl. Bot. Genet. Sel., 2018, vol. 179, no. 3, pp. 315–331. https://doi.org/10.30901/2227-8834-2018-3-315-331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Zamyatin, B.N., Genius Betula, in Derev’ya i kustarniki SSSR. Dikorastushchiye, kul’tiviruemye i perspektivnye dlya introduktsii (Trees and Shrubs of the USSR. Wild, Cultivated and Promising for Introduction), Leningrad: Akad. Nauk SSSR, 1951, pp. 295–296.

Download references

Funding

This work was carried out as part of State Task scientific topics no. FWES-2021-0009 and 0287-2021-0008.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sukachev Institute of Forest, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 660036, Akademgorodok, Krasnoyarsk, Russia

    E. V. Bazhina, L. N. Skripal’shchikova & A. S. Shushpanov

  2. Siberian Federal University, 660041, Krasnoyarsk, Russia

    E. V. Bazhina

  3. Reshetnev State University of Science and Technology, 660037, Krasnoyarsk, Russia

    A. S. Shushpanov

  4. Tomsk State University, 634050, Tomsk, Russia

    A. S. Shushpanov

Authors
  1. E. V. Bazhina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. N. Skripal’shchikova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. S. Shushpanov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. V. Bazhina.

Ethics declarations

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bazhina, E.V., Skripal’shchikova, L.N. & Shushpanov, A.S. Betula pendula Pollen Viability in Suburban Biocenoses with Different Technogenic Loads. Contemp. Probl. Ecol. 16, 593–599 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1995425523050037

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1995425523050037

Keywords:

Search

Navigation