Application of Palynology
Palynology is applicable in the study of tertiary rocks of the coastal plain, as well as in estimating the age of biological rocks. Spores and pollen grains from plants preserved as fossils in sedimentary rocks can be employed in the same general way as better known and more extensively used invertebrate fossil groups to solve stratigraphic problems of correlation and date determination.
Palaeopalynology
It is the study of fossil pollens and spores.
Pharmacopalynology
It is the study of pollen and spores, which are used medically to cure various diseases and ailments.
Iatropolynology
The study of pollen and spores causing allergies and similar problems is hazardous to mankind.
Forensic Palynology
- It is the application and utilisation of palynomorph analysis in crime and law to solve criminal cases, or we can say that it is the study of pollen and spore as an aid to criminology. It analyses spores and pollen as a form of trace evidence.
- Features of pollen or spores that make them ideal forensic trace material are their small size and high variability, which can be found on almost any item.
Forensic Pollen Analysis
- These traces can be found on the pollen detectors soil, shoes, clothes, hair, fur stomach, and lungs as well as air filters.
- Forensic psychology can relate a suspect to a crime, relate an item at a crime scene to a suspect victim, or relate an item found on the suspect or victim to a crime. It can prove or disprove an excuse.
Aeropalynology
- The study of pollen and spores found in the air and their role in the spread of diseases, allergies, pollution, etc., or the study of palynomorphs suspended in the air, including those with allergenic effects.
- Pollen are produced in abundance in the dry season and lower in the wet or rainy season. Pollen cause pollinosis (hay fever). When pollens come into contact with the mucous membrane of the nose, trachea, bronchi, or cornea of the eye.
- Allergens trigger the release of histamine and other inflammatory chemicals, producing allergic symptoms. Thus, knowledge of pollen dispersal is also important to monitor the risks of pollinosis. The diversity and quantity of pollen types are assessed by filtering the air throughout the year.
Palynotaxonomy
Study of pollen and spore morphology in solving taxonomic problems
Entomopalynology
The study of pollen found on the body or in the gut of insects
Melissopalynology
The study of pollen in honey has the purpose of identifying the source plants used by bees in the production of honey. It is possible to gain evidence of the geographical location and genus of the plants that the honey bees visited. Also, honey may contain airborne pollen from anemophilous plants, spores, and dust due to the electrostatic charge of bees.
Palynologist
Geologists use fossil pollen and spores (paleopalynology) to study past environments, stratigraphy (the analysis of strata or layered rock), history, geology, and palaeontology.
Copro Palynology
The term copropalynology is derived from the Greek word Kopros, meaning dung, indicating the study of pollen and spores present in dung.
Palynology – Definition, Description & Applications
Palynology is an important branch of botanical science. It is derived from the word palynos-dust. We study the palynology in paleobotany. In palynology, we study and research the different types of pollen grains, spores, and other palynomorphs of the many plant species found in different parts of the world. We also study the shape, structure, functions, chemical structure, and components of pollens in plants.
Palynology also helps in studying and identifying dust particles. It is mainly responsible for the extraction of fossils. In pollens, we have two types of layers one is intine (the inner part) and another is exine (the outer part). The exine is made up of the material sporopollenin. Sporopollenin is a ubiquitous and extremely chemically inert biopolymer that constitutes the outer wall of all land-plant spores and pollen grains.
Table of Content
- What is Palynology?
- Palynological features used in plant systematic
- Significance of Palynology
- Objective of palynology
- Description of Palynology
- Scope of Palynology
- Application and Branches of Palynology
- Role of Palynology in Taxonomy