Analysis of airborne pollen grains in Denizli

Authors: AYKUT GÜVENSEN, ALİ ÇELİK, BÜLENT TOPUZ, MÜNİR ÖZTÜRK

Abstract: Airborne pollen distribution in Denizli Province was measured volumetrically during 2 consecutive years, 2005 and 2006, on a weekly basis. A total of 11,981 pollen grains/m^3 belonging to 42 taxa were determined. In 2005 the total was 5368 pollen grains/m^3 and in 2006 it was 6613 pollen grains/m^3. Among the taxa recorded, 26 belonged to arboreal and 16 to nonarboreal taxa. At the end of the 2 years total pollen counts comprised 79.68% arboreal, 19.48% nonarboreal, and 0.84% unidentified taxa. The number of pollen grains/m^3 among arboreal plants was as follows: Pinaceae (24.19%), Cupressaceae/Taxodiaceae (15.99%), Olea europaea (11.35%), Quercus spp. (6.08%), Platanus orientalis (5.68%), Acer spp. (2.93%), Morus spp. (2.58%), Salix spp. (1.59%), and Eucalyptus camaldulensis (1.47%), and for nonarboreal representatives: Poaceae (6.63%), Asteraceae (3.08%), Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae (2.27%), Plantago spp. (2.12%), Urticaceae (1.82%,) and Xanthium strumarium (1.52%). The distribution of pollen in the atmosphere of Denizli was highest in May, followed by June, April, and March.

Keywords: Aeropalynology, pollen calendar, allergy, Denizli, Turkey

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