Variations in Maize Pollen Emission and Deposition in Relation to Microclimate

The coexistence of genetically modified (GM) crops with conventional crops has become a subject of debate and inquiry. Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most cultivated crop plants in the world and there is a need to assess the risks of cross-pollination. Concentration and deposition rate downwind f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2005-06, Vol.39 (12), p.4377-4384
Main Authors: Jarosz, Nathalie, Loubet, Benjamin, Durand, Brigitte, Foueillassar, Xavier, Huber, Laurent
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural and forest climatology and meteorology. Irrigation. Drainage
Agricultural and forest meteorology
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Biological and medical sciences
Climate
Corn
Crop climate. Energy and radiation balances
Crops
Ecology, environment
Economic plant physiology
Emissions
Flowering, floral biology, reproduction patterns
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General agronomy. Plant production
Growth and development
Life Sciences
Pollen
Sedimentation & deposition
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Summary:The coexistence of genetically modified (GM) crops with conventional crops has become a subject of debate and inquiry. Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most cultivated crop plants in the world and there is a need to assess the risks of cross-pollination. Concentration and deposition rate downwind from different-sized maize crops were measured during three flowering seasons, together with micrometeorological conditions in the surrounding environment. Pollen release started once the air vapor pressure deficit (VPD) increases above 0.2 to 0.5 kPa. Moreover, the dynamics of release was correlated with the dynamics of VPD surrounding the tassels. Horizontal deposition appeared to follow a power law over short distance downwind from the source, and the dispersal distance increased with the source canopy height and the roughness length of the downwind canopy. This work also provides a data set containing both pollen measurements and contrasting weather conditions to validate dispersal models and further investigate maize pollen dispersal processes.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es0494252