Palynology

• Palynology


  The study of pollen and other spores and their dispersal, and applications thereof
• The term 'palynology' was coined by Hyde and Williams


  1944
• Palynology includes the study of both modern and fossil pollen and spores
• Palynology


  The study of small sprinkled things
• The glossary of pollen and spore terminology was first presented to the International Palynological Community (IPC)
• Pollen


  The microspores of seed plants
• Spores


  A general term for the usually microscopic, unicellular, asexual, reproductive units of cryptogams
• Nehemiah Grew - 1st microscopically observed pollen in Britain


  1640
• Robert Brown - 1st noted the importance of pollen in systematic studies of spermatophytes


  1809
• Goeppert - 1st described fossil pollen/spores


  1838
• Dr. D.D. Cunningham - the first report of an illustrated account of airborne bio-particles including pollen grains, fungal spores, insect fragments, scales from Calcutta


  1873
• Schopf et al. - 1st microphotograph of fossil spore (Reinschospora) was published

  1884
• Holocene sediment analysis for pollen

  • Gunnar Erdtman - Father of Palynology
  • Knut Faegri
  • J. Iversen
  • Franz Firbas
• Scanning Electron Microscope + Transmission Electron Microscope + Ultramicrotome - New era of Palynology
• Palynology


  An interdisciplinary science which deals with the study of extant and extinct palynomorphs
• Applications of Palynology


  • Palynotaxonomy and evolutionary studies
  • Aerobiology and Allergy study
  • Melissopalynology - study of pollen and spores found in honey
  • Forensic palynology - study of pollen and other palynomorphs for evidence in criminal investigations
  • Biostratigraphy and geochronology
  • Palaeopalynology - to reconstruct past vegetation and environmental/palaeoclimatic conditions
  • Improvement of crop plants
• Palynology depends mainly on four characteristics of pollen and spores: greater resistance to degradation, small size, morphological complexity, and production in enormous numbers
• Sporoderm


  The covering or coating of a spore
• Aperture


  A region of the pollen wall that differs significantly from the rest of the wall in its morphology and/or anatomy, and is presumed to function usually as the site of germination and to play a role in harmomegathy
• Pollen wall


  Consists of two main layers: the outer exine and the inner intine
• Exine


  Consists mainly of sporopollenins, which are acetolysis- and decay-resistant biopolymers
• Intine


  Mainly composed of cellulose and pectin
• Sporopollenin


  The 'diamond of the plant kingdom'
• Exine


  Consists of an outer layer (sexine) and an inner layer (nexine)
• Sexine


  May consist of an outer layer (ektosexine) and an inner layer (endosexine)
• Nexine


  May be divided into three layers: nexine 1, nexine 2, and nexine 3
• Tectate-columellate pollen wall


  Described by Knut Faegri
• Sulcus


  A furrow-like aperture located at one of the two (distal or proximal) poles of the pollen grain
• Colpi


  Thinning, thickening or other modification of the wall of pollen or spores that serve as an exit for its contents or to allow shrinking and swelling of the grain in response to changes in moisture content
• Laesura


  The proximal aperture of trilete and monolete spores
• Trilete laesura


  The triradiate mark at the proximal pole of tetrahedral spores
• Monolete laesura


  The straight line mark at the proximal pole of bilateral spores
• Pore


  A circular or elliptic aperture
• Monoporate


  Pollen grains provided with a single pore
• Monosulcate


  Having a single germinal furrow or colpus or sulcus
• Tricolpate/tricolprate


  Three ectocolpi, three compound apertures
• Anastomose


  Muri radiate out in numerous directions
• Muri


  A ridge that is part of the ornamentation
• Rugulate


  Ornamentation pattern consisting of radial projections elongated
• Pollen characters grouped into seven categories

  • Aperture type
  • Pollen wall architecture
  • Pollen unit
  • Polarity
  • Symmetry
  • Shape
  • Size