Did the cold weather stop the pollen production? March 23, 2006
Question Did the cold weather stop the pollen production?
Answer We did get a temporary reprieve. However, it’s not over by a long shot. Plants produce microscopic pollen grains in order to transfer genetic information as part of their reproduction process. Insects transfer the pollen for certain flowering plants, while other plants let their pollen ride the wind. Weather can affect the amount of pollen in the air, but it doesn’t trigger pollen production. Day length is the key to pollen release.
Large perennial plants, like trees, do not take quick actions. They generally take a more lumbering approach. Think of the talking trees in the movie, Lord of the Rings. The trees have sided with the sun, which changes very little from year to year. They know the days will be longer than the nights every year after March 20th (sometimes 21st). Easter is also determined by the spring (vernal) equinox. Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. Were those eggs dyed yellow or are they covered with pollen?
On the other hand, weather fluctuates from day to day. Some years the last frost may be in early April, while other years it may be late April. The sun is consistent. The clouds are not.
Over the years, the trees that are genetically programmed to release pollen during the windy months of March and April have been more successful in reproducing. They took advantage of the wind and warmer temperatures. If an Artic front does produce a cold snap during the spring, then pollen production temporarily stops. Again, this is a genetically programmed response that helps to insure pollination. The trees that did not have this genetic information are gone. The old saying “only the strong survive” is partly correct. It is more accurate to say “only the most adaptable genetic code survives”. Of course this only applies to nature. Look around and you’ll see plenty of folks that nature would have taken out of the gene pool, but humans have the most adaptable genetic code on earth (I think therefore I am).
By using day length instead of current temperatures, trees have a more dependable average to determine the timing of their pollen release. Late frost, winter warm spells, and changing weather conditions have the potential to take plants out of the gene pool if they solely depend on temperature cues.
On the other hand, trees will use temperature, rainfall, and other factors to fine tune their pollination process. Day length will get them in the ballpark, but warm weather will start the game. As soon as this cold snap ends, the pollen blizzard will crank back up.
The allergenic pollen producers include oak, ash, elm, hickory, pecan, and box elder. The chemical composition of pine pollen makes it less allergenic. Pine pollen is also very heavy. So it tends to fall straight down and does not scatter. Although it turns everything yellow, it rarely reaches our noses to cause a problem.
Some researcher with a smart gene figured out how to minimize the suffering inflicted on humans by trees. Simply consult a doctor to get a prescription for relief from the wind blown part of tree sex known as pollen. For more info on trees swapping genes, call me at 910-893-7533, write me at PO Box 1089, Lillington, NC 27546 or email me at gary_pierce@ncsu.edu | 
