Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Vol. LXVII, Issue 1
Written by Svetlana ANISIMOVA, Elena TSVETKOVA, Mariela HRISTOVA-SAVOVA
In the last decades, the presence of Platanus species in the green infrastructure of Sofia has increased. The species are quite tolerant to urban conditions, which makes them preferable for landscaping. Their increased quantity leads to а risk of increased allergenic potential. The aim of this research was to establish the dynamics of Platanus L. pollen concentrations and to assess their relation to meteorological variables, as well as the impact of plane-tree pollen emissions on the air quality in Sofia. The analysis of the aeropalynological data on the city of Sofia for the period 2013-2022 found a difference in the length of the flowering period over the 10 years of observation. In general, at the beginning of the studied 10-year period, flowering started in the second half of March, while in 2018 and from 2020 to 2022, it began from the first half of April. The shortest flowering period was in 2015, in contrast to the longest duration's in the following two years (2016 and 2017). In 2016 and 2017, the flowering continued in June and the beginning of July. In 2013, 2014 and 2019 the peak was similarly in the second half of April when temperatures rose and the pollen season was extended to about 75 days. The results of the study showed that the meteorological factors which directly affect the concentrations of airborne pollen were wind speed, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure and solar radiation. For the time being, the amount of Platanus pollen in Sofia is relatively low. However, in recent years there has been an upward trend. That growth trend is expected to continue due to the degree of maturity of Platanus specimens. The presence of that species as a dominant element in the urban green infrastructure of Sofia should be reconsidered, not only to improve air quality, but also to enhance urban biodiversity, its resilience and ecosystem services.The obtained correlations between seasonal pollen levels and some particulate matter 10 (PM10) also highlight the possible contribution of Platanus pollen to air quality deterioration in Sofia.
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