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S u m m a r yThe aim of the study was to describe the relationships between the flowering phase of selected tree species, whose pollen is known to be allergenic, and fluctuations in the pollen in the air, and to use results obtained for making allergological forecasts.Studies were conducted of five tree taxa: Populus, Ulmus, Salix, Aesculus, and Tilia, in the years [2003][2004]. Aeropalinological analyses concerned the above mentioned genera, while in phenological studies specific species were investigated, i.e. the most common representatives of a given genus found in Poland, that is Populus wilsonii, Ulmus laevis Pall. C. K.Schneid., Salix caprea L., Aesculus hippocastanum L. and Tilia cordata Mill.Aerobiological monitoring was performed using a the volumetric method and phenological observations of flowering phases were made according to the £ukasie-wicz method.While observing the emergence of individual phenological symptoms and measurements of the concentration of pollen of the investigated taxa in the air of Poznañ, a distinct acceleration was observed in 2004, a year that was characterized by a milder winter. This applied not only to the species blooming in early spring, but also to the later ones. Pollen grains of the investigated taxa, except for Aesculus, appeared earlier in aeropalinological observations than the macroscopically observed beginning of flowering in selected trees. Apart from a poplar, the end of flowering in the other trees occurred each year earlier than would follow from the aerobiological observations. This may be explained by the abundance of species within a taxon, and the effect of medium and long-distance transport.

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The aim of the study was to describe pollen morphology and its variability of four Linum species: L. perenne subsp. extraaxillare, L. hirsutum, L. flavum and L. austriacum, all derived from Poland, but occurring in few natural sites within the country. Light and scanning electron microscopy was used and statistical analyses of quantitative pollen traits were performed. All taxa shared pollen grains which were 3-zonocolpate, isopolar, radiosymmetric, spheroidal and medium to large in size. Grains were semitectate, with the sculptural elements of the exine as gemmae or clavae. Additionally, upper parts of gemmae and clavae had a microstriate pattern. Despite great similarity among the investigated Linum species in pollen morphology, distinguishing features were determined.

Systematic phenological observations have been carried out in the Dendrological Garden of August Cieszkowski Agricultural University, Park Sołacki, Lasek Golęciński, Przybyszewskiego Street, for two years (2003, 2004). The selected species of deciduous trees, as Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Platanus x hispanica. There was interdependence between the course of flowering process and weather conditions. Long and frosty winter at the turn of 2002/2003 and subzero mean temperatures in the first quarter of 2003 delayed vegetation. Rapid coming of early spring in the year 2004 accelerate the development of generative organs. Each year spring ground frost during flowering did not inhibit this process. All the investigated tree species are anemophilous and produce large amounts of allergenic pollen grain. They cause allergic reactions throughout the whole period of pollen discharge. Male inflorescences in Corylus avellana, blooming very early, are one of the first plants causing allergic reactions. Betula pendula is the next to bloom, followed by Platanus x hispanica. Observations of phenological phases may provide useful information forecasting the beginning of the period of increased pollen concentration in air