The Regional Pollen Library is the result of the project 'Creation of a Regional Database of Pollen Morphology for the Assessment of Bee Product Quality', which was developed and implemented to utilise the extensive knowledge and experience gained by the team at the Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and Biosafety at the Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (hereinafter referred to as 'SUA in Nitra') over more than 20 years of studying pollen, bee pollen, bee bread, honey and other bee products, in collaboration with numerous national and international research and university institutions, doctoral students and researchers. The aim was to establish a regional database of pollen characteristics for various practical applications, not only in Slovakia, but also within the framework of international cooperation.Pollen grains are formed through the complex processes of microsporogenesis and microgametogenesis. They are unique structures produced by gymnosperms and angiosperms. Pollen itself essentially consists of a multitude of microspores, which appear as a fine powder nearly invisible to the naked eye unless present in large quantities. In angiosperms, pollen is produced in the anthers of the stamens within flowers. In gymnosperms, it is produced in the pollen sacs of the stamens of male cones. Pollen grains vary in size and shape within species. Generally, the size of individual pollen grains ranges from 20 to 250 μm.Pollen grains are specific to individual plant species due to their highly diverse structure, morphology, shape, color, surface texture, other palynological characteristics, and chemical composition.Pollen is referred to as “golden powder” in the beekeeping community, not only because of its golden-yellow color, but also due to its wide range of applications in science, industry, healthcare, and various other fields. Although pollen grains are very small microscopic entities, no other part of a plant contains as much information and energy as pollen. It seems that bees recognized its importance and usefulness long before humans did.
Regional Pollen Library, 2026Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Slovakia :: CC BY 4.0
