Articles tagged with Pollen
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A study published in Nature Communications reveals that a leaf beetle can significantly reduce pollen from common ragweed, benefiting over 2 million allergy sufferers in Europe. The research also estimates the economic benefits of biological control in Europe, suggesting countries in the Balkan Peninsula will benefit most.
Research suggests that plant species maintain both light and dark pollen due to distinct survival advantages. Lighter morphs have higher seed production ability, while darker morphs produce higher-quality pollen with increased anthocyanidin production, which helps relieve heat stress.
Researchers created pollen-based paper with responsive properties to humidity, allowing fine-tuning of responsiveness through variations in thickness and surface roughness. The material absorbs moisture, curls, and resumes its shape, demonstrating self-actuation and environmental sensitivity.
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University created a paper-like material from pollen that responds to changing humidity levels. The pollen paper can bend, flip, and move, making it useful for applications such as soft robots, sensors, and artificial muscles.
The TU Graz pollen measurement system uses machine learning algorithms to analyze pollen samples automatically, reducing the need for manual evaluation. The system is simple, lightweight, energy-saving, and can be implemented at low cost, making it a game-changer for pollination services.
Scientists at NTU Singapore have developed a way to turn pollen into soft and flexible microgel particles, which could serve as building blocks for new eco-friendly materials. The resulting pollen-based particles show promise for applications such as wound dressing, prosthetics, and implantable electronics.
A team of UMass Amherst biologists discovered how plants maintain an optimal sperm-egg ratio by controlling the environment in their ovules. FERONIA regulates a gene that interacts with pectin, a sugar polymer in cell walls, to create a receptive environment for pollen tubes and prevent polyspermy.
Researchers at Cornell University found that squash and pumpkin pollen deter bumblebees from collecting and eating pollen, potentially providing an evolutionary benefit to cucurbit plants. This is because the pollen causes damage and distorted digestive tracts in adult bees and prevents them from reproducing.
Bumble bees prefer normal, low-fat pollen over high-fat versions, which can negatively impact their reproduction and survival. The bees' ability to distinguish between nutrients allows them to make informed food choices.
The study challenges scholarly consensus on the Justinianic Plague's effects, finding no detectable decrease in economic vitality or demographic decline. Historical texts exaggerate plague mortality, and burial customs remained unchanged despite the outbreak.
A newly discovered fossilized beetle with pollen on its legs has pushed back the earliest known physical evidence of insect flower pollination to 99 million years ago. The discovery provides insight into the evolution of plants and animals during this time period.
Researchers have discovered evidence of beetle pollination in Cretaceous Burmese amber, confirming a key contributor to the Cretaceous radiation of angiosperms. The discovery extends the history of insect pollination of flowering plants by around 50 million years.
A beetle preserved in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber exhibits a suite of features suggesting its role as a pollinator, including curved body and fine hairs for holding pollen. The discovery deepens the history of insect pollination by around 50 million years, dating back at least to 99 million years ago.
Researchers found that allergy shots significantly improved PFAS symptoms in 11 out of 20 surveyed children, with no reported worsening. The treatment showed promise for kids receiving allergy shots and suffering from PFAS.
Researchers have found that fossil pollen can be preserved in floodplain soils, allowing scientists to reconstruct past climate dynamics and land use patterns. The study used soil properties such as organic matter concentration and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio to predict pollen abundance, providing a new tool for climate reconstruction.
A new study found that almond, cherry, and meadowfoam provide ample pollen to honeybees, while highbush blueberry and hybrid carrot seed crops may not. Pollen diversity is crucial for colony growth and survival of the western honeybee.
Researchers from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology found that Japanese cedar and cypress trees' pollen dispersal patterns synchronizes across Japan, with strong phase synchronization in eastern regions. This discovery can help improve pollen forecasting, crucial for managing allergic rhinitis symptoms.
Researchers have discovered that pollen and spores can be converted into tiny particles that grab onto pollutants, removing them from water. These treated particles are hypoallergenic and show promise for low-level pollutant removal in various applications, including wastewater treatment.
Researchers from Kiel University discovered a complex interplay of factors influencing pollen adhesion to surfaces. They found that pollen's adhesive properties change depending on the duration of contact and microstructure of the surface, providing new insights into coating processes and transporting medicinal substances.
Researchers use 'Reverse Metagenomics' method to identify preferred wildflowers for bees, providing valuable insights into pollinator behavior and habitat conservation. This technique can be applied to various studies, including diet analysis and airborne allergenic pollen identification.
Evolutionary ecologists use quantum dots to label and track pollen grains, showing that long- and short-tubed flowers place and receive pollen on different parts of a fly's tongue. This reveals a barrier to gene flow, capturing plants in the act of speciation and providing insights into the mechanisms behind this process.
Scientists from Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research identified a B chromosome-specific repeat and asymmetric spindle as key mechanisms behind the drive of B chromosomes. The study reveals that over 93% of B chromosomes accumulate in generative sperm nuclei, providing new insights into chromosome drive.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that US honey bees in urban settings collect a diverse range of pollen sources, with the most diverse in California and the least in Texas. The researchers tracked pollen collection across four states over two seasons, identifying key plant groups that provide consistent pollen year-round.
Researchers elucidate genetic isolation mechanisms that prevent hybridization between maize and teosinte, enabling two distinct species to form. A specific gene cluster, Tcb1-s, plays a crucial role in this process.
A new study reveals that bumblebees' dietary needs are crucial for their development and the production of favorite foods like tomatoes, blueberries, and strawberries. The loss of plant diversity can lead to developmental delays and stress on queens, ultimately affecting colony growth.
Researchers create comprehensive database of land use change and its impact on plant and insect life in the British Isles. The study aims to provide long-term context for current trends in biodiversity and inform conservation practices.
A new study reveals that bumble bee populations in Michigan have decreased significantly over the past century, with 12 out of 19 species experiencing declines. The research found that bumble bees that collect pollen from a narrower range of plants are more likely to decline.
A Rutgers-led study found that pollen genes in certain corn strains undergo natural mutations, which may lead to better breeding and crop development. In contrast, other strains show no detectable gene mutations.
Researchers tracked grass pollen for seasonal variations and found it was released into the atmosphere later in areas further from the equator. The study aims to create a unique profile of each grass pollen species to determine the most harmful strains.
The study reveals that different grass pollens can cause varying reactions in allergy sufferers and people with asthma. By analyzing environmental DNA, researchers identified links between certain pollen types and days with increased asthma attacks or intense hay fever symptoms.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology developed a novel adhesive inspired by the natural mixture of bee spit and flower oil, which shows unique properties in resisting changes in humidity. The glue works similarly to a layer of cooking oil covering syrup, slowing down drying considerably.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki found that allergen immunotherapy reduces symptom scores and alters nasal epithelial transcriptome in patients with allergic rhinitis. The study also showed improved diversity of the nasal microbiome in response to treatment.
A new method using quantum dots tracks individual pollen grains, providing insights into the mysterious journey of pollen. Researchers can now observe where most pollen grains land up once they leave flowers.
A study published in Cell reveals that plants predominantly produce uneven, asymmetrical pollen grains for protection and not symmetrical patterns. This preference is due to the natural selection process which favors disordered, asymmetrical patterns over uniform ones.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a theoretical framework that describes how pollen patterns form through phase separation. This discovery provides new insights into the intricate structures found in nature and could lead to the development of innovative materials.
Researchers discovered that vibrating stamens, pollen-bearing organs of flowers, are a key trait for understanding early stages in the transition from insect to wind pollination. This finding helps explain why some flowering plant species have evolved to rely on wind instead of insects for pollination.
Researchers examined pollen dispersal in traditional buckwheat processing, finding that pollen content reached over 70% during threshing and sieving stages. This study provides a scientific basis for identifying crop processing remains in archaeological sites and assessing human agricultural activities.
A new study reveals that insects can transport pollen from one continent to another, enabling the mixing of plant species across vast distances. By analyzing the DNA sequences in this pollen, researchers were able to identify 157 species of plants from Africa and Europe.
A study by North Carolina State University found that sunflower pollen reduces infection rates in bees and improves colony health. However, it also had a deleterious effect on honey bees, leading to higher mortality rates compared to other diets.
A new UMass Amherst study found that eating sunflower pollen dramatically reduced a protozoan pathogen infection in bumble bees. The researchers also discovered that incorporating sunflowers into pollinator gardens could provide a simple solution to improve the health of economically and ecologically important pollinators.
Scientists discovered that pollen tubes exert forces similar to car tire pressure as they navigate through plant tissue to fertilize eggs. The research found that cells can 'feel' and respond to physical resistance in their environment, leading to changes in growth patterns.
Moths have been found to carry pollen from various plant species, including crops such as peas and soybean, suggesting they may play an important ecological role in pollination. This discovery highlights the potential benefits of moths to plants and agricultural systems, potentially preventing inbreeding among plants.
Researchers found high immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels among babies born in October and December in Melbourne, indicating a potential link between maternal exposure to grass pollen and increased risk of respiratory diseases. Conversely, being pregnant for an entire grass pollen season may have a protective effect on babies.
A team of researchers measured the force exerted by plant sperm cells as they navigate female flower tissues using microfluidic technology. The study found that the cellular pressure driving invasion corresponds to that of a car tire, and the pollen tubes adapt their growth pattern in response to physical resistance.
A new mid-Cretaceous boganiid beetle with specialized pollen feeding adaptations has been discovered, suggesting an ancient origin for beetle pollination of cycads. The fossil provides early definitive evidence for cycad-insect interactions, illuminating the history of complex entomophily in cycads.
A groundbreaking study by Oregon State University demonstrates the potential for genetically modified forest trees to prevent new seedlings from establishing. Researchers successfully engineered containment traits that limit the spread of genetically modified or exotic poplar trees, mitigating societal concerns over gene flow.
A recent study by TUM and HMGU researchers found that mugwort pollen is the primary vector for bacteria, releasing endotoxins that trigger severe respiratory problems in asthma sufferers. The research team discovered a clear correlation between mugwort pollen and bacterial toxins in both urban and Alpine regions.
Researchers decipher how plants evolve recognition systems to prevent self-fertilization, leading to genetic diversity in nature. The study found that new mating types can evolve through different pathways and are influenced by population demographics and mutation rates.
Researchers at Texas Tech University have created a simple method to clean out pollen grains, making them suitable for carrying medicines or vaccines. The new technique works on various types of pollen and can be used to deliver drugs or vaccines efficiently.
Researchers detected pesticides in hummingbird cloacal fluid and fecal pellets, as well as in bumble bee pollen and blueberry flowers. The findings suggest pesticide exposure may impact the health and ecosystem services of these pollinators
Researchers at QUT have developed a new grass pollen allergy test using Swiss nanotechnology, which can quickly identify individuals at risk of allergic diseases. The test, supported by the National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation, uses a finger prick blood sample and provides results within 15 minutes.
A study found that exposure to neonicotinoid insecticide and a poor diet negatively impacted bumblebee queens' health, work, and nest establishment. Bumblebees are key pollinators of crops like tomato and blueberry.
Plant physiologists from Lomonosov Moscow State University discovered that hydrogen peroxide is essential for conifer pollen germination. The protein NADPH-oxidase regulates the process, which involves a gradient of hydrogen peroxide in the pollen tube to support growth and fertilization.
A total of 43 known cuckoo bees have been identified in North America, with 15 new species discovered by York University PhD Candidate Thomas Onuferko. The newly described species possess distinctive patterns and are difficult to distinguish from other bees.
A new study by Swansea University researcher Andrew Lucas reveals vital behaviors of hoverflies in plant pollination. The research helps identify the plants hoverflies visit and provides advice to landowners on species-rich grasslands.
Researchers at UCR have isolated three new bacterial species from wild bees that may inhibit fungi growth in pollen provisions. These Lactobacillus strains could help preserve nectar and pollen for larvae, promoting bee health.
Pine trees become temporarily sterile when exposed to intense UV radiation, similar to what scientists believe the Earth experienced 252 million years ago. The effect suggests caution in introducing chemicals that deplete the ozone layer.
Researchers found that sick bees living with the gut parasite Nosema ceranae preferred higher-quality pollen when given the option. This preference could influence which flowers are visited by bees, impacting both native and crop pollination.
Researchers have discovered that primitive moths and butterflies, known as Glossata, evolved earlier than previously established - emerging during the Jurassic period. They developed physical attributes to find nutrition by drawing off water droplets from immature gymnosperm seeds.
New research on Campanula americana found that temperature influences pollen pigmentation, with dark pollen outperforming light under higher temperatures but not elevated UV. This study suggests temperature stress may play a significant role in geographic variation of pollen color.