Ismuhan Potoglu Erkara

Airborne Fungi and Actinomycetes Concentrations in the Air of Eskisehir City (Turkey)

The present study investigated the isolation and identification of airborne fungi from three different urban stations located in Eskisehir (Turkey). Air samples were taken by exposing a Petri dish with Rose-Bengal streptomycin agar medium for 15 min and after incubation the number of growing colonies was counted. The sampling procedure for fungi was performed 35 times at the research stations weekly between March and November 2001. A total of 2518 fungal and 465 actinomycetes colonies were counted on 420 Petri plates over a nine-month period. In total, some 20 mould species belonging to 12 genera were isolated. Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioides and Scopulariopsis brevicaulis were the most abundant species in the study area (13.66, 5.80 and 5.50% of the total, respectively). Relationships between fungal spore numbers, aerosol air pollutants (that is the particulate matter in the air) and sulphur dioxide together with the meteorological conditions were examined using statistical analysis. Number of fungi and actinomycetes were tested by multivariate analysis (MANOVA) according to the areas and months. Fungal numbers were nonsignificant according to the areas and months (p > 0.05), but the number of actinomycetes recorded was significant (p < 0.01).

Skin prick test reactivity in allergic rhinitis patients to airborne pollens

The aim was to investigate the impact of atmospheric pollen in determining allergic rhinitis. It was conducted with 130 patients with allergic rhinitis in three different sites in Eskisehir, Turkey, in 2000–2001, using a gravimetric method with a Durham sampler. Skin prick test results, the symptoms of patients and their findings all confirmed the presence of allergic reactions to pollen allergens in the patients observed. During the period, a total of 47,082 pollen grains/cm2 belonging to 45 taxa were recorded. Of the total pollen grains, 81.0% were arboreal and 18% non-arboreal. The majority of the investigated pollen grains were from Pinaceae, Salix spp., Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae, Cupressaceae and Poaceae. Pollen concentrations reached the highest level in May (54.36%). The pollen allergens provoking severe sensitization were grasscereal mixtures (58.5%), followed by arboreals (33.8%). All patients (100.0%) were sensitive to grass. This study emphasizes the significance of determining the types and concentrations of pollen with a view to comparing changes in highly concentrated allergens.

Monitoring and assessment of airborne Cladosporium Link and Alternaria Nées spores in Sivrihisar (Eskisehir), Turkey

The spores of Cladosporium spp. and Alternaria spp., commonly described as the most allergenic spores, were collected by means of Durham gravimetric sampler from the Sivrihisar (Eskisehir) atmosphere throughout 2005 to 2006. The weekly variations in spores/cm2 of Cladosporium and Alternaria were recorded. During this period, a total of 6,198 spores belonging to Cladosporium spp. and Alternaria spp. were recorded. Of these spores, 2,969 were identified in 2005 and 3,229 in 2006. While 69.55% of the total spores were those of Cladosporium spp., 30.45% were Alternaria spp. Relationships between airborne fungal spore presence and weather conditions were examined statistically. A Shapiro–Wilk test revealed that the airborne spores of Cladosporium spp. and Alternaria spp. had a normal distribution. Following this, Chi-square test, t test and Pearson correlation analysis were performed. The effects of temperature and relative humidity on the spore numbers of Cladosporium spp. and Alternaria spp. were significant according to the month in which they were collected (p < 0.01). The spore concentrations of each species reached to their highest levels in June 2006.

Hypericum sechmenii (Hypericaceae), a New Species from Central Anatolia, Turkey

Hypericum sechmenii Ocak & Koyuncu sp. nova (Hypericaceae) is described and illustrated from the peak of Arayit Mountain in central Anatolia, Turkey. The species grows on limestone rocks in B3 Eskişehir province. It is closely related to H. minutum and H. huber-morathii, the latter an endemic confined to central Anatolia. Diagnostic morphological characters are discussed. The pollen characteristics of three species were examined by SEM.

Pollen morphology of some endemic Turkish Centaurea L. (Asteraceae, section Phaloletis ) and their taxonomic value

In this study, the detailed pollen morphological structures of some endemic Turkish species of Centaurea amaena Boiss., C. antalyense H. Duman & A. Duran, C. aphrodisea Boiss., C. hierapolitana Boiss., C. luschaniana Heimerl, C. lycia Boiss., C. tossiensis Freyn. Et Sint., and C. wagenitzii Hub.-Mor. (Asteraceae, section Phaloletis) were studied under light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the first time. LM and SEM investigations showed that the pollen grains of eight taxa are more or less spheroidal-subprolate, the amb triangular and tricolporate. The exine sculpture is tectate, microechinate-scabrate in the pollen of Centaurea taxa. Spinules are less dense in Centaurea amaena, C. antalyense, C. hierapolitana, and C. lycia, but they are more dense in C. aphrodisea, C. luschaniana, C. tossiensis, and C. wagenitzii. Spinule dimensions are different from each other. The exine has one layer of columellae beneath the spines. We determined all taxa that have the Helianthoid type. Exine sctructure and sculpture as well as spine density and dimensions in Asteraceae are the most reliable characteristics for discriminating taxa.

Pollen morphology and systematical contribution of some Onosma (Boraginaceae) taxa distribution in Turkey

In this study, the palynological characteristics and its taxonomic implications of 30 different Onosma L. taxa, which belong to sections Protonosma M. Popov., Podonosma (Boiss.) Gurke. and subsections Haplotricha (Boiss.) Gurke., and Asterotricha (Boiss.) Gurke. of section Onosma were investigated under Light Microscope (LM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and pollen of four taxa with Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). Pollen grains are mostly heteropolar and trisyncolporate rarely isopolar and tricolporate (O. rostellata and O. orientale), subprolate or prolate to spheroidal and exine tectate-perforate (O. rostellata, O. sericea and O. auriculata) and tectate-imperforate (O. bracteosa). In the conclusion of the study it has been determined that investigated Onosma species have shown three different types of ornamentation, namely scabrate (O. sericea type, O. auriculata type and O. orientale type), rugulate (O. rostellata type) and scabrate–rugulate (O. bracteosa type). It was pointed out that these different types of ornamentation can be used to separate the sections and similar taxa from each other. Pollen grains of O. lycaonica Hub.-Mor., O. bracteosa Hausskn. & Bornm., O. caerulescens Boiss. and O. taurica Willd. var. taurica from subsection Asterotricha have an operculum.