Diversity of airborne pollen grains over rice field.

ABSTRACT

The diversity of airborne pollen grains was studied over Sonapur Rice Field, Kamrup district, Assam. The Burkard personal sampler was used to carry out the aeropalynological survey for the period of two consecutive years from March’08 to February’10. A total of 31 pollen types were reported during the study period. In the present study total number of spores recorded from March’08 to February’09 were 3658 pollen/m3 and from March’09 to February’10 were 4149.58 pollen/m3. The dominant pollen types recorded were, Poaceae, Amaranthaceae/ Chenopodiaceae, Asteraceae and Mimosa pudica. Some allergenically significant pollen types recorded were Amaranthaceae/ Chenopodiaceae, Argemone mexicana Linn., Mangifera indica Linn., Poaceae, Terminalia cuneata Roth. It was observed that entomophilous pollen ranked first in order of dominance.