Uncovering the secret life of pollen: Its microbiota and how we explore it
Pollen is traditionally known as the carrier of male gametes in flowering plants and a common trigger of allergic diseases in humans. However, pollen grains also host diverse microbial communities that may influence both plant reproduction and human health. Here we examined the microbiota of olive (...
| Autores: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
| Repositorio: | DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:digital.csic.es:10261/418223 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/418223 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Allergies Culture-dependent methods Lily pollen Microbial diversity Olive pollen Pollen microbiota 16S rRNA |
| Sumario: | Pollen is traditionally known as the carrier of male gametes in flowering plants and a common trigger of allergic diseases in humans. However, pollen grains also host diverse microbial communities that may influence both plant reproduction and human health. Here we examined the microbiota of olive (Olea europaea L.) and lily (Lilium longiflorum) pollen using culture-dependent microbiology, DNA extraction, PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene, and microscopy. Olive pollen supported a greater diversity of microorganisms, including cocci, bacilli, and yeasts, whereas lily pollen displayed fewer and less stable colonies. PCR amplification was performed exclusively on isolates derived from Lilium pollen. Our results highlight pollen as a microbial habitat and underscore its potential relevance in ecology, agriculture, and medicine. |
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