Multivariate statistics applied to MALDI-TOF MS data of pollen samples
- Current pollen screening information networks are based on time-consuming, microscopic determination of the genus-specific pollen morphology. Additionally, the given information relies on prediction of plant growth, wind direction and seasonal information.
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was introduced for rapid analysis of complex biological samples. MALDI-TOF provides the possibility to measure species-specific mass peak patterns of pollen and offers a powerful tool for investigation of taxonomic relations.
Our objective is to develop a fast, reliable, routine method for detecting single pollen grains in pollen mixtures. The obtained spectra are analyzed by multivariate statistics.