Palynology (General notes)

* What is Palynology?

Palynology means the study of Pollen grains and Spores. The word Palynology comes from Latin word Palynein, which means 'something sealer in air'. This study started in 1945 by Hyde and Williums.

* History of Palynology:

• In 1837 scientist Fritsche started to research about Pollen grains.
• In 1883 scientist Radkofer started to study different types of pollen grains if there is any way to identify plants by their pollen.
• Italian scientist Amici do his research for a long period (1824 to 1842) and finally described the role of pollen to produce seeds.
• In 1916 L. Von Post (a geologist) find some fossil pollen in earth soil.
• Wodehouse (American doctor) find that pollen grains cause some allergenic diseases in human body. He is the person who attached Pollen study in medical science. 
• In 1977, Bangladeshi scientist Prof. Dr. M K Pasha, University of Chittagong, started researching about Pollen grains. He wrote a book in Bengali named "Porag Renu Biggan". He is performing a pioneer role about the study of Palynology in Bangladesh.

Prof. Dr. Mostafa Kamal Pasha

 

He wrote a book named: Pollen grains(Their Structure & significance in science and medicine)

• G. Erdtman ( student of L. Von Post) is called the father of Modern palynology. In 1952 he wrote a book about pollen grains.

That period TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope) and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) made a remarkable contribution in study of Palynology.

• Before 1950, most topics of Palynology were discussed in Embryology.

* Palynology is related with this subjects: 

 

 Plant Taxonomy, Embryology, Bio Chemistry, Ecology, Agriculture, Paleonthology, Geography, Geology, Archeology, Medical Science. 

* Branches of Palynology:

There are two main branches of Palynology. They are as follows:

1. Fundamental (Morphologic, Aeropalynogy, Melistopalynology, Phermatopalynoly, Paleopalnology, Biogenic palynology)
2. Applies.

 

Principles of Hill Cultivation (in Bangladesh)

Principles of Hill Cultivation in Bangladesh are as follows:

 [Hill view in Keokradong, Bandarban, Bangladesh.]

 

[Preparation of land for Jhum Cultivation]

1. To bring hilly areas under progressive development with out causing harms to the prevailing natural resources.
2. To grow more food to supply the demand of our increasing population of the country.
3. To protect our natural resources in their abode-niche(আবাস স্থল).
4. To protect hilly area with crop at short mid and long term plowing.
5. To supply food and other plant products to the food collectors and other civilians.
6. To protect hills from natural hazard like: soil erosion, landslide, firing causing earth quack.
7. To make the best use of hilly areas for desired crops.
8. To make success to grow more food to eliminate poverty and social development of promising Bangladesh.

Bryophyta

 Fig: Moss spp.

Fig: Marchantiophyta


1.Plant Kingdom 
                                    |                                      

                                |                                                                             |

                    1. Cryptogamia                                                          2. Phenerogamia
                             |                      
           |                |                     |

1. Thelophyat 2. Bryophyta 3. Pteridophyta


There are 960 genera and 24000 species of Bryophytes (Pandey, 1993).The word Bryophyta comes from Greek words Bryon(moss) & Phyton(plant).

Habitat:
We know plants grow in well two defined habitat. They are the water and land. The plants which grow in water are called aquatic and the others are terrestrial. The best examples of aquatic plants are Algae and terrestrial plants are seed plant. Between these two streams of habitat are terrestrial zone.

Water--Transitional zone--Land

This transitional zone is represented by Swamps & the ares where water and land meet. It may called "amphibious zone." Inhabiting the amphibians are the liverwarts, horwarts and mosses which collectively constitute a group of non vascular land plants called a Bryouphyta. That is why Bryophytes are called the Amphibian of Plant kingdom.
The Bryophytes are simple thallus like plant which suggest the stages through which the green algae may have evolved to become terrestrial. Most of the Bryophytes are land dwellers, which inhabit in dam, shaded and humid localities. A few of them however live in or float on water.
Examples:

1. Aquatic: Riccia ricciocarps, Flutans, Fontinalis antipyretica. 
2. Bogy(কাঁদা যুক্ত জায়গায় হয় এমন): Spphagnum spp., Deucabryum, Glaucum, Cephaloziq. 
3. Epiphyte(পরজীবি): All species of Dendroeceros.
4. Seprophyte(মৃতজীবি): Boxbaumia aphylla, Cryptothallus mirabillis, Radula protensa.

Note:
    * The plants vary in size from inconspicuous to exceeding 70cm in length. Example: Dawsonia.
    * Bryophytes are called Amphibian(উভচর) plant.
    * No roots are fromed in Bryophytes.