Preliminary Studies on Observation of Pollen Morphology by Scanning Electron Microscope for Forensic Discrimination

Abstract

The use of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) for forensic pollen analysis was examined as a preliminary study on pollen samples collected from twenty-seven species in general public areas. Pollen samples were air-dried and coated with gold without any pre-treatment which were conventionally performed to remove oil and dewatering. The shapes of pollen grains were observed at magnification of between ×1500 and ×3000, and sculptures were at ×15000. Samples were grouped into three by aperture types, and subdivided by sculptures as the result of observations. Pollens of different families in the same subdivision were distinguishable from the careful observations of details. Pollens of the same genera were grouped in the same subdivisions. It was clarified that use of SEM without any pre-treatment has a high potential for the forensic discrimination of pollen as evidence.