Pollen Load (corridor)
VC-MET-407 — airborne pollen concentration in corridors — a cross-pollination and exposure-control signal.
Definition
Pollen Load is the concentration of airborne pollen grains in corridor air (grains·m⁻³), measured by optical pollen counters. It controls both unwanted cross-pollination between cultivar lines and technician exposure.
Why it matters
Uncontrolled pollen threatens the genetic integrity of cultivar lines and is an allergen/exposure concern. The metric gates inter-zone movement during flowering and informs filtration and airflow set-points.
Formula
P = grains counted / sampled volume [grains · m⁻³] Optical counter classifies by size/shape; per-zone means are compared to flowering schedule. Rises during scheduled bloom are expected and baseline-adjusted.
Inputs
| Input | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Optical counter | Size/shape pollen classer | PhytoSense Mesh |
| Bloom schedule | Expected flowering windows | CHLORA |
| Airflow | Transport context | PhytoSense Mesh |
Units & Scale
grains·m⁻³, integer, per-zone mean, bloom-schedule adjusted. Increasing-is-worse; upper thresholds apply.
Sampling & Source
- Sampled every 5 minutes by optical counters.
- Baseline-adjusted to the flowering schedule.
- Gates inter-zone movement during bloom.
Thresholds
OK
WARN
CRIT
Recent Trend
Zone roll-up, last 14 sampling periods (current 40):
Interpretation Guidance
| Band | Reading | Likely Driver | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–120 | Controlled | Effective isolation | Standard movement. |
| 121–400 | Elevated | Active bloom | Adjust filtration; watch transport. |
| 401–1000 | WARN | Cross-pollination risk | Restrict inter-zone movement. |
| > 1000 | CRIT | Integrity/exposure risk | Isolate; airflow review. |
Related Metrics
Airborne Spore Load
Particulate sibling.
VC-MET-408HEPA Filter Loading
Filtration state.
VC-MET-111Canopy Airflow Velocity
Transport driver.
VC-MET-305Pollinator Coverage
Pollination control.
Related SOPs
- Inter-zone movement & isolation — SOP Library.