Search Results (43)

The increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices has led researchers to explore alternative methods for controlling plant diseases and pests. Among these alternatives, essential oils (EOs) derived from various plant species have gained significant attention due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, which can be utilized in plant protection. Essential oils are volatile compounds that possess strong aromatic characteristics and are found in many medicinal and aromatic plants. They are known for their antifungal, antibacterial, and insecticidal activities, making them viable candidates for eco-friendly pest and disease management strategies. In this research, six essential oils—pine, patchouli, geranium, spruce, coriander, and eucalyptus oil—have been tested in vitro for controlling mycelium growth of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria brassicicola, and Cylindrosporium concentricum. The study also covers experiments in controlling pollen beetle and cabbage seed weevil (laboratory trials). In greenhouse conditions, the phytotoxicity of EOs to oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) and the effect of these substances on the control of cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) were also tested. The results obtained indicate a large diversity of different essential oils in terms of their action on pathogens, pests, weeds, and winter rapeseed. Differences in their effectiveness were also found, depending on the applied dose. Full article

Vertebrate pollination is widespread in Musaceae, with birds and bats serving as the main pollen vectors across the family. While these systems are typically well defined, the Golden Lotus (Musella lasiocarpa) has long been regarded as an exception, presumed to rely on insect, particularly bee, pollination. In this study, we challenge that assumption by providing the first comprehensive evidence of bird visitation and putative pollination in M. lasiocarpa. Through field surveys complemented by citizen science observations, we documented an unexpectedly rich assemblage of avian visitors: twelve bird species from five families regularly foraged at flowers and likely acted as pollinators. This represents a striking expansion of the known potential pollinator spectrum for the species and highlights a previously overlooked dimension of its reproductive ecology. The floral traits of M. lasiocarpa, including vivid bracts, accessible nectar, and extended flowering, align closely with adaptations to bird pollination. Beyond clarifying the natural history of the Golden Lotus, our findings reveal broader insights into the ecological and cultural significance of bird pollination in the Chinese flora, with implications for both biodiversity conservation and horticultural practices. Full article

Grass pollen allergies significantly contribute to atopic diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, resulting in considerable healthcare burdens. Objective: In this study, molecular sensitization patterns to grass pollen in Swiss patients were addressed. The research utilized a retrospective cohort approach using ImmunoCAP™ ISAC testing from October 2015 to July 2020. Clinical histories, demographics, and skin prick test results were collected for analysis. The minimum patient age was 18 years and the average patient age was 41.3 years, with a female predominance (68.5%). In total, 4814 measurements were analyzed. Allergic rhinitis was the most common clinical symptom, followed by asthma and urticaria. A total of 1963 patients (40.8%) revealed sensitization to grass pollen. The most common sensitizations were found to the major allergens Phl p 1 (86%) and Phl p 5 (65%), but also to Phl p 4 (62%). Monosensitization was mostly found to allergens Phl p 1 (266/13.5%) and Phl p 4 (157/7.9%), and less so to Phl p 5 (33/1.7%). Notably, the Phl p 4-monosensitized subgroup showed only an 18% positivity rate in skin prick tests and presented mostly with urticaria. This study gives insights into the spectrum of grass pollen allergies in a Central European setting and underscores the possibly underestimated role of Phl p 4 among grass pollen allergens, especially in a subgroup that suffers mainly from seasonal urticaria. Monovalent sensitization to Phl p 4 can also cause seasonal rhinitis and might therefore be missed if only Phl p 1/p 5 are tested. A better understanding of sensitization patterns will further improve diagnosis and treatment options. Full article

Bee venom is a complex natural beekeeping product, traditionally used in apitherapy, with a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties. Research on the mineral content of bee venom is limited and challenging to compare across studies due to the varying regions where they are conducted. Our study aimed to assess the mineral content of bee venom and how supplementary feeding of bee colonies with probiotic products, essential oils, as well as rapeseed and acacia nectar and pollen, affects the mineral content and antioxidant activity of the venom. The parameters analyzed included moisture, pH, dry matter, ash, impurities, and levels of macro and micro elements and antioxidant activity. The moisture content of the samples was 10–22%, and pH ranged between 5.84 to 6.41. The macro element content of the venom showed that potassium was the most abundant macro element, followed by calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Pb was identified in samples collected indicating lead pollution in the area where the hives were located in the case of the three harvests. In all samples, the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed at a concentration of 2.00 mg/mL, with sample V6 showing the maximum value of 87.05%. Full article

Honey can be classified based on its geographical or botanical origin according to Directive 2001/110/EC. Geographical origin is determined when the pollen collection occurs entirely in a specific location, allowing producers to label the honey with the name of the region. Verification typically involves melissopalynological analysis to match the pollen spectrum with regional vegetation. Botanical origin applies when honey predominantly comes from a single floral species, characterized by specific organoleptic, physico-chemical, and microscopic properties. However, defining “predominantly” and identifying distinct physico-chemical parameters remain ambiguous. This review evaluates the use of chemical analysis as a complement or alternative to melissopalynological methods for determining honey’s origin. The focus is on inorganic composition, particularly metals and semimetals, as potential fingerprints to identify botanical or geographical provenance. Relevant studies were reviewed, with data reprocessed and analyzed using chemometric techniques, including Principal Component Analysis and Agglomerative Cluster Analysis. These methods reveal common traits distinguishing honeys by origin. Chemical analysis combined with chemometric processing enhances honey identification, prevents fraud, assesses environmental pollution in collection areas, and evaluates the impact of processing on the final product. Full article

Airborne pollen monitoring in the city of Vukovar (Northeastern Croatia) was carried out using a Hirst-type spore trap, which was placed on the roof of a building at a height of 15 m above ground level. Over 5 consecutive years of airborne pollen monitoring, 76 pollen types from 45 plant families were identified. Of these, 29 pollen types belonged to arboreal species and 47 to non-arboreal species. Sixty-two percent of the total pollen was non-arboreal pollen. The main pollen types present in the airborne spectrum were Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Betula, Urtica, and Poaceae. Among the arboreal types, the genus Betula is the only taxon producing a high percentage in the pollen spectrum. Regarding allergenicity, A. artemisifolia, Betula, and Poaceae pose the highest allergy risk, while Urtica has a low risk of pollen allergy. Large differences in annual pollen sum and the seasonal dynamics of these dominant taxa during the study period were verified. The presence of the pollen in the air was influenced by weather conditions, showing in particular a positive correlation with the minimum air temperature for Betula and mean air temperature for Urtica, Poaceae, and A. artemisiifolia. However, the pollen concentration in the air was negatively correlated with precipitation for Betula, Urtica, and Poaceae and with humidity for A. artemisiifolia. Full article

Hive products, encompassing honey, propolis, bee venom, royal jelly, and pollen, are recognized for their antimicrobial and therapeutic properties. This review examines their chemical composition, explores their mechanisms of action, and discusses their potential applications in both human and veterinary medicine, particularly in addressing the challenge of antimicrobial resistance. This study utilized a comprehensive literature search strategy, gathering data from Google Scholar, MEDLINE PubMed, SciELO, and SCOPUS databases. Relevant search terms were employed to ensure a thorough retrieval of the pertinent literature. Honey, rich in bioactive compounds such as hydrogen peroxide and methylglyoxal, effectively disrupts biofilms and combats multi-drug-resistant pathogens, showing promise in treating a range of infections. Propolis, with its flavonoids and phenolic acids, demonstrates synergistic effects when used in conjunction with antibiotics. Bee venom, particularly its component melittin, exhibits antibacterial and immunomodulatory properties, although further research is needed to address toxicity concerns. Pollen and royal jelly demonstrate broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, which is particularly relevant to animal health. Existing pre-clinical and clinical data support the therapeutic potential of these hive products. Hive products represent a vast and largely untapped natural resource for combating antimicrobial resistance and developing sustainable therapies, particularly in the field of veterinary medicine. However, challenges remain due to the inherent variability in their composition and the lack of standardized protocols for their preparation and application. Further research is essential to fully elucidate their mechanisms of action, optimize formulations for enhanced efficacy, and establish standardized protocols to ensure their safe and effective clinical use. Full article

Anemophilous weeds from the Asteraceae family are highly allergenic and represent a significant source of aeroallergens in late summer and autumn. Ragweed and mugwort pollen allergies have become a significant health burden in Europe. Some people with respiratory allergies to weed pollen may also suffer hypersensitivity reactions to herbal medicines obtained from certain cross-reactive plants in the Compositae family, such as chamomile, marigold, and purple coneflower. General physicians, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists, and pulmonologists need to be familiar with the diagnostic tests used by allergists in clinical practice to support accurate diagnosis in such patients. Allergists must also be aware of the suggestions of the European Medicines Agency (EMA)’s Herbal Medicinal Products Committee and the broad spectrum of herbal therapies to educate their patients about potential risks. Full article

Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is a versatile crop belonging to the Cannabaceae family, and is dioecious, typically with separate male and female plants. The flowers of female plants, especially the trichomes, accumulate relatively higher contents of cannabinoids compared with those of male plants. For this reason, to obtain seeds that are genetically female, it is desirable to induce the development of male flowers on a female plant that produces genetically female haploid gametes. Silver thiosulfate (STS) is a highly effective chemical for male flower induction. We investigated male flower induction in three commercial cultivars of female cannabis (Spectrum303, SuperwomanS1, and CBGambit) regarding the treatment frequency, stage of application, and concentration of STS applied as a foliar spray. All three cultivars showed adequate induction of male flowers in response to 1.5 mM STS applied at the early reproductive stage. In particular, SuperwomanS1 was most highly responsive to induction of male flowers, even when treated with 0.3 mM STS at the early reproductive stage. Treatment with three applications of STS was more effective compared with a single application, but a single application of 1.5 mM STS at the early reproductive stage was sufficient for male flower induction. A single STS application during the middle stage of reproductive growth was inadequate for induction of male flowers. However, 6 weeks after three applications of STS, CBGambit exhibited approximately 54% male flower induction at 0.3 mM STS, Spectrum303 showed approximately 56% induction at 3 mM STS, and SuperwomanS1 yielded approximately 26% induction at 1.5 mM (expressed as percentage of total number of individuals with the induced male flowers). Pollen stainability tests using KI-I₂ solution and Alexander’s staining showed high pollen viability with over 65% at different single STS concentrations, indicating that pollen grains induced by STS have sufficient viability for the self-pollination. This study demonstrated that different cultivars of cannabis respond diversely to different STS concentrations and highlighted the potential benefits of three STS applications during the middle reproductive stage for cannabis breeding. Full article

Sensitively detecting hazardous and suspected bioaerosols is crucial for safeguarding public health. The potential impact of pollen on identifying bacterial species through fluorescence spectra should not be overlooked. Before the analysis, the spectrum underwent preprocessing steps, including normalization, multivariate scattering correction, and Savitzky–Golay smoothing. Additionally, the spectrum was transformed using difference, standard normal variable, and fast Fourier transform techniques. A random forest algorithm was employed for the classification and identification of 31 different types of samples. The fast Fourier transform improved the classification accuracy of the sample excitation–emission matrix fluorescence spectrum data by 9.2%, resulting in an accuracy of 89.24%. The harmful substances, including Staphylococcus aureus, ricin, beta-bungarotoxin, and Staphylococcal enterotoxin B, were clearly distinguished. The spectral data transformation and classification algorithm effectively eliminated the interference of pollen on other components. Furthermore, a classification and recognition model based on spectral feature transformation was established, demonstrating excellent application potential in detecting hazardous substances and protecting public health. This study provided a solid foundation for the application of rapid detection methods for harmful bioaerosols. Full article

Plant proline-rich proteins (PRPs) are cell wall proteins that are widely distributed in plants. Previous studies have shown that these proteins play a crucial role in adversity stress processes, but their function in the regulation of pollen fertility in rice remains unknown. In this study, we identified that OsPRP1 contains a Pollen_Ole-e_I allergenic structural domain, obtained the OsPRP1 quadruple mutant named osprp1.1/1.2/1.3/1.4, and observed significant reductions in pollen fertility, seed-setting rates, and the deformation and collapse of microspores during the late stages of pollen development. RNA-Seq analysis indicated the down-regulation of genes involved in anther development in osprp1.1/1.2/1.3/1.4, suggesting that OsPRP1 plays a role in regulating pollen fertility. In conclusion, a loss of function in OsPRP1.1/1.2/1.3/1.4 leads to decreased pollen fertility and seeding rates, which not only expands the functional spectrum of plant PRP genes but also provides new theoretical insight into the mechanism of fertility regulation in rice. Full article

The natural color of biological specimens plays a crucial role in body protection, signaling, physiological adaptations, etc. Full-color optical sectioning structured illumination microscopy (OS-SIM) color is a promising approach that can reconstruct biological specimens in three-dimension meanwhile maintaining their natural color. Full-color OS-SIM takes the advantages of rapid imaging speed, compatibility with fluorescence and non-fluorescence samples, compact configuration, and low cost. However, the commonly used HSV-RMS reconstruction algorithm for full-color OS-SIM faces two issues to be improved. One is the RMS (root-mean-square) OS reconstruction algorithm is prone to background noise, and the other is the reconstruction is bound in RGB and HSV color spaces, consuming more reconstructing time. In this paper, we propose a full-color Fourier-OS-SIM method that allows for the OS reconstruction using the high-frequency spectrum of the sample and thus is immune to the low-frequency background noise. The full-color Fourier-OS-SIM directly runs in the RGB color space, providing an easy way to restore the color information. Simulation and experiments with various samples (pollen grains and tiny animals) demonstrate that the full-color Fourier-OS-SIM method is superior to the HSV-RMS method regarding background noise suppression. Moreover, benefiting from the background noise suppression merit, the quantitative morphological height map analysis with the full-color Fourier-OS-SIM method is more accurate. The proposed full-color Fourier-OS-SIM method is expected to find broad applications in biological and industrial fields where the 3D morphology and the color information of objects both need to be recovered. Full article

Pollen, a remarkably versatile natural compound collected by bees for its abundant source of proteins and nutrients, represents a rich reservoir of diverse bioactive compounds with noteworthy chemical and therapeutic potential. Its extensive biological effects have been known and exploited since ancient times. Today, there is an increased interest in finding natural compounds against oxidative stress, a factor that contributes to various diseases. Recent research has unraveled a multitude of biological activities associated with bee pollen, ranging from antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties to potential antiviral and anticancer applications. Comprehending the extensive repertoire of biological properties across various pollen sources remains challenging. By investigating a spectrum of pollen types and their chemical composition, this review produces an updated analysis of the bioactive constituents and the therapeutic prospects they offer. This review emphasizes the necessity for further exploration and standardization of diverse pollen sources and bioactive compounds that could contribute to the development of innovative therapies. Full article

Barleria albostellata C.B. Clarke (grey barleria, Acanthaceae) is an indigenous shrub to South Africa and has been relatively understudied. This shrub is a valuable medicinal plant with a wide spectrum of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. Detailed studies on the floral and pollen morphology on B. albostellata are rare. This study was conducted to observe the morphology of the flower and pollen grains using stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Morphological observations showed numerous non-glandular trichomes on the bracteoles and bracts of B. albostellata. Three types of trichomes were identified on these structures: I—unicellular, II—multangulate-dendritic branched non-glandular trichomes, and III—capitate glandular trichomes. A taxonomical description of the floral structures using stereo and SEM micrographs is provided. SEM micrographs revealed the pollen grains as globose tricolporate with a rough honeycomb exine, and small granules inside the lumina. The diameter of the pollen grains was 77.53 ± 5.63 μm, whereas the aperture of these grains was 14.31 ± 0.59 µm. This study provides insight into the floral biology of B. albostellata, and the results presented here will add to the body of knowledge and encourage further research on this species. Full article

Oilseed rape is frequently damaged by insect pests. Much attention is paid to the protection of oilseed rape against Brassicogethes aeneus (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), which is one of the most significant pests of spring and winter oilseed rape. The presence of different pollen beetle species was monitored in the Czech Republic in the years 2011–2013. A minimum of 500 individuals were captured at each site. Morphometric characteristics and the morphology of male and/or female genitalia were used to determine species. B. aeneus, B. subaeneus, B. viridescens and B. coracinus were most abundant. Other species presented in oilseed rape were B. coeruleovirens, B. czwalinai, B. matronalis, B. anthracinus, Boragogethes symphyti, Cychramus luteus, Fabogethes nigrescens, Genistogethes carinulatus, Meligethes atratus, Sagitogethes maurus, and Lamiogethes atramentarius. Our main conclusion is that the reason for the presence of the pollen beetle species associated with their development into non-cruciferous plants in oilseeds is the sufficiency of pollen as food for beetles. In addition, they may occur here incidentally, as they can be transported relatively long distances by air. Accompanying species of pollen beetles probably also have a positive effect on abundance reduction in species considered to be harmful as they are hosts to parasitoids of the oilseed rape pest. Full article