Pollen calendar

MADRAS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE, CHENNAI (AUTONOMOUS)
A Brief Presentation On
POLLEN CALENDAR
Submitted By:
Alok Kumar
2nd BSc Botany

What is a pollen calendar ?
A pollen calendar is statistical representation to show the
pollen times for different type of plant pollen which can
be used in various fields of science .
A pollen calendar proves itself to be a boon for the
people who suffered a lot from pollen allergy in past.
Eg :
1) SOUTH-WEST CALIFORNIA POLLEN CALENDAR
2) WELEDA UK POLLEN CALENDAR

Method Of Preparing Pollen Calendar
•Collection Of Sample :
For this collection of pollen sample must be at a
minimum of 3 days per week . To avoid local pollen
sample, in case of aeroallergen , pollen sample collection
from more than one storey height. Such type of sampling
can be done by ‘Burkard Volumetric Air Sampler or
Rotorod Rotation impaction Sampler’.
Daily pollen counts are reported as daily average pollen
concentrations (pollen grains/m3) which is the number
of pollen grains divided by the volume of the air sampled
over 24 h.

• Laboratory Analysis:
Laboratory analysis includes –
Mounting and Preparing Slides.
Staining.
Microscopy.

Counting Methods :-
• Longitudinal Traverse:
Advantages: Provides average prevalence over 24 h and
requires less time to examine a daily slide.
Disadvantages: Due to uneven particle deposition across
the tape, a single traverse may not be representative.
• Twelve Traverses at 4 mm (2 h) Intervals :
The most accurate way of determining the mean pollen
count would clearly be to count all pollen grains on the
24 h trace. However, this would be time consuming and
uneconomic.

• Identification :
A. Scan each slide using a microscope to identify
deposited particles and organisms, and record
the data on a specially designed preform a
showing the date, time, location, and type of
pollen.
B. Identification of particles should be made at
the most specific classification possible, but
pollen can only rarely be identified to the
species level, and some may have to be placed
in groups of multiple genera or families.

• Atlases , Monographs , Literature and Manuals :
Consultation of identification manuals are recommended
for descriptions of distinctive features of particular types
of pollen. An atlas may be used to study the geography of
the local area. Literature and monographs may be used in
conjunction with reference slides, to further identify or
confirm the provisional identification.

Constructing Pollen Calendar :
A. We require at least 2 years of data and with an
average of three or more days per week of data
for all years sampled.
B. We exclude individual years of station data for a
given taxon if the annual sum of the daily pollen
concentration was 10 pollen grain*day/m3
C. We can classify into categories: “Total Pollen,”
“Other Tree Pollen,” “Other Weed Pollen,” “Other
Grass Pollen,” and “Unidentified Pollen” based
on surface morphology.

Uses Of Pollen Calendar :-
Pollen calendar is key tool for palynological studies
and surveys. For the same various pollen calendars are
developed for various areas and for various purposes.
Pollen Allergy Calendar and Pollen Crime Scene
Calendar are so significant type of calendar.
Where in pollen allergy calendar usually foreign pollen
have crucial role ; in crime scene pollen calendar , local
pollen are so important in solving relationship of pollen
with cause.

Pollen Allergy Calendars :
National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit
(University Of Worcester)

Some plants who liberates exteremely allergic Pollen:
1. Pinus sp (Forest Pine) :-

6. Phleum pratense (Timothy Grass) :-

References
‘Pollen Allergy in Changing World’ Book
University of Worcester studies.
Online article from www.aaaai.org
Articles on www.link.springer.com

Pollen calendar

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Pollen calendar