Seasonal Variations in the Atmospheric Chenopodiaceae / Amaranthaceae Pollen Count in Timisoara, Romania

Abstract

The aim of the present analysis was to describe the dynamics of the Chenopodiaceae / Amaranthaceae pollen in the atmosphere of Timisoara, by taking into consideration the data collected through volumetric method (identification, quantification). Chenopodiaceae / Amaranthaceae has a long pollen season with low concentrations in the air plankton. The period of Chenopodiaceae / Amaranthaceae flowering starts in June and continues until the half of October under climatic conditions from the Western Plain of Romania. The pollen belonging to Chenopodiaceae / Amaranthaceae was sampled during a 5-year (2000-2004) atmospheric pollen-monitoring programme in Timisoara, Romania, using a VPPS 2000 Lanzoni trap. Chenopodiaceae / Amaranthaceae air pollen constitutes between 2.20% and 5.52% of the annual total pollen grains. The highest annual level was attained in 2002 with 1108 PG. Pollen seasons were defined as the periods in which 90% of the total catch occurred. The highest concentration of Chenopodiaceae / Amaranthaceae pollen, equal to 50 PG/m³/24 h was identified in 2003.