Study on evaluation of effects of electromagnetic radiation on pollen viability in some commonly occurring plant species following different staining methods.

Protoplasma · 2026 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 6641

Study snapshot

PublicationProtoplasma · 2026

Study typeother

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at varied power densities can profoundly affect fertilization in plants by posing physiological stress and impairing pollen's ability to fertilize. In the present study, four sites (under exposure to EMR at varied power densities) like S-1 (1 μW/cm), S-2 (2.8 μW/cm), S-3 (5.5 μW/cm), and S-4 (15 μW/cm) were selected for collection of pollen grain samples of 12 plant species naming Alcea rosea L., Centaurea cyanus L., Chrysanthemum coronarium L., Dahlia pinnata Cav., Gaillardia pulchella Foug., Jatropha integerrima Jacq., Papaver somniferum L., Rosa indica L., Tagetes erecta L., Tropaeolum majus L., Verbena pulchella Greene, and Catharanthus roseus L. pollen grain samples were collected from each site ensuring that availability of all selected plants occurred at all sites. Different staining methods, using aceto-orcein (AO), Alexander's (AS), 2,3,5 triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC), and Lugol's (LS) stains, were followed to evaluate pollen viability. The study revealed that among all plant species, C. coronarium showed the minimum pollen viability with AO and TTC stains at S-1, S-2, and S-3 while T. erecta with AO and C. cyanus with TTC at S-4. P. somniferum showed minimum pollen viability with AS at all sites and with LS at S-3 and S-4 while R. indica and V. pulchella with LS at S-1 and 2, respectively. All plant species have shown maximum pollen viability using AO stain at all sites. TTC was found to be the effective staining method that resulted in minimum pollen viability for all plant species at all sites except for Alcea rosea at S-2 and 3 and P. somniferum at S-2 which showed minimum pollen viability with LS and AS, respectively. The association between increased EMR power density and reduced pollen viability across different sites points towards the harmful effects of EMR on plant reproduction.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeother

Effect directionharm

PopulationPollen grains from 12 plant species (Alcea rosea, Centaurea cyanus, Chrysanthemum coronarium, Dahlia pinnata, Gaillardia pulchella, Jatropha integerrima, Papaver somniferum, Rosa indica, Tagetes erecta, Tropaeolum majus, Verbena pulchella, Catharanthus roseus) collected at four sites with different EMR power densities.

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 66% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Pollen samples were collected from four sites with EMR power densities of 1, 2.8, 5.5, and 15 μW/cm and evaluated for viability using four staining methods. The abstract reports an association between increased EMR power density and reduced pollen viability across sites, interpreted as harmful effects of EMR on plant reproduction; staining method influenced measured viability (AO generally highest viability; TTC often yielded minimum viability).

Outcomes measured

Pollen viability (assessed by staining methods: aceto-orcein, Alexander's, TTC, Lugol's)

Limitations

EMR characterized only by power density; frequency/band and source are not specified in the abstract.
No sample size or statistical details are provided in the abstract.
Outcome depends on staining method; measurement method may affect comparability across sites/species.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Pollen grains from 12 plant species (Alcea rosea, Centaurea cyanus, Chrysanthemum coronarium, Dahlia pinnata, Gaillardia pulchella, Jatropha integerrima, Papaver somniferum, Rosa indica, Tagetes erecta, Tropaeolum majus, Verbena pulchella, Catharanthus roseus) collected at four sites with different EMR power densities.",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Pollen viability (assessed by staining methods: aceto-orcein, Alexander's, TTC, Lugol's)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Pollen samples were collected from four sites with EMR power densities of 1, 2.8, 5.5, and 15 μW/cm and evaluated for viability using four staining methods. The abstract reports an association between increased EMR power density and reduced pollen viability across sites, interpreted as harmful effects of EMR on plant reproduction; staining method influenced measured viability (AO generally highest viability; TTC often yielded minimum viability).",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "EMR characterized only by power density; frequency/band and source are not specified in the abstract.",
    "No sample size or statistical details are provided in the abstract.",
    "Outcome depends on staining method; measurement method may affect comparability across sites/species."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.66,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic radiation",
    "power density",
    "pollen viability",
    "plant reproduction",
    "staining methods",
    "aceto-orcein",
    "Alexander's stain",
    "TTC",
    "Lugol's stain"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1007/s00709-025-02093-7
PubMed: 40796980

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