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PubMed2005

A composite linkage map from two crosses for the species complex Picea mariana x Picea rubens and analysis of synteny with other Pinaceae.

Four individual linkage maps were constructed from two crosses for the species complex Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P. x Picea rubens Sarg in order to integrate their information into a composite map and to compare with other Pinaceae. For all individual linkage maps, 12 major linkage groups were recovered with 306 markers per map on average. Before building the composite linkage map, the common male parent between the two crosses made it possible to construct a reference linkage map to validate the relative position of homologous markers. The final composite map had a length of 2,319 cM (Haldane) and contained a total of 1,124 positioned markers, including 1,014 AFLPs, 3 RAPDs, 53 SSRs, and 54 ESTPs, assembled into 12 major linkage groups. Marker density of the composite map was statistically homogenous and was much higher (one marker every 2.1 cM) than that of the individual linkage maps (one marker every 5.7 to 7.1 cM). Synteny was well conserved between individual, reference, and composite linkage maps and 94% of homologous markers were colinear between the reference and composite maps. The combined information from the two crosses increased by about 24% the number of anchor markers compared to the information from any single cross. With a total number of 107 anchor markers (SSRs and ESTPs), the composite linkage map is a useful starting point for large-scale genome comparisons at the intergeneric level in the Pinaceae. Comparisons of this map with those in Pinus and Pseudotsuga allowed the identification of one breakdown in synteny where one linkage group homologous to both Picea and Pinus corresponded to two linkage groups in Pseudotsuga. Implications for the evolution of the Pinaceae genome are discussed.

Chromosome Mapping↗

PubMed2005

Potential tree species for use in the restoration of unsanitary landfills.

Given that they represent the most economical option for disposing of refuse, waste landfills are widespread in urban areas. However, landfills generate air and water pollution and require restoration for landscape development. A number of unsanitary waste landfills have caused severe environmental problems in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate the colonization status of different tree species on waste landfills to assess their potential for restoring unsanitary landfills in South Korea. Plot surveys were conducted using 10 x 10-m quadrats at seven waste landfill sites: Bunsuri, Dugiri, Hasanundong, Gomaeri, Kyongseodong, Mojeonri, and Shindaedong. We determined the height, diameter at breast height (DBH), and number of tree species in the plots, and enumerated all saplings < or =1 m high. Because black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia, was the dominant tree species in the waste landfills, we measured the distance from the presumed mother plant (i.e., the tallest black locust in a patch), height, and DBH of all individuals in black locust patches to determine patch structure. Robinia pseudoacacia, Salix koreensis, and Populus sieboldii formed canopy layers in the waste landfills. The basal area of black locust was 1.51 m(2)/ha, and this species had the highest number of saplings among all tree species. The diameter of the black locust patches ranged from 3.71 to 11.29 m. As the patch diameter increased, the number of regenerated saplings also tended to increase, albeit not significantly. Black locust invaded via bud banks and spread clonally in a concentric pattern across the landfills. This species grew well in the dry habitat of the landfills, and its growth rate was very high. Furthermore, black locust has the ability to fix nitrogen symbiotically; it is therefore considered a well-adapted species for waste landfills. Eleven woody species were selected for screening: Acer palmatum, Albizzia julibrissin, Buxus microphylla var. koreana, Ginkgo biloba, Hibiscus syriacus, Koelreuteria paniculata, Ligustrum obtusifolium, Liriodendron tulipifera, Pinus koraiensis, Pinus thunbergii, and Sophora japonica. As a result of a comparison of the total ratio (sum of shoot extension and diameter growth at the landfill relative to a reference site) and mortality, six species (Liriodendron tulipifera, Albizzia julibrissin, Ligustrum obtusifolium, Buxus microphylla var. koreana, Hibiscus syriacus, and Sophora japonica), which had a total ratio >1 and experienced low mortality, are recommended as potentially suitable species for waste landfill remediation. We suggest that mixed plantations of ubiquitous adaptable species and naturally occurring black locust will enhance the landscape through synergistic effects.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2003

Genetic transformation of conifers and its application in forest biotechnology.

Genetic modification of conifers through gene transfer technology is now an important field in forest biotechnology. Two basic methodologies, particle bombardment and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, have been used on conifers. The use of particle bombardment has produced stable transgenic plants in Picea abies, P. glauca, P. mariana, and Pinus radiata. Transgenic plants have been produced from Larix decidua, Picea abies, P. glauca, P. mariana, Pinus strobus, P. taeda, and P. radiata via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation has advantages over particle bombardment such as a simpler integration pattern and a limited rearrangement in the introduced DNA. At present, genetic transformation of conifers has been directed toward improving growth rate, wood properties and quality, pest resistance, stress tolerance, and herbicide resistance, which will drive forestry to enter a new era of productivity and quality.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens↗

PubMed2004

Gibberellin inhibitors improve embryogenic tissue initiation in conifers.

Somatic embryogenesis (SE), the most promising technology to multiply high-value coniferous trees from advanced breeding and genetic engineering programs, is expected to play an important role in increasing productivity, sustainability, and uniformity of future forests in the United States. For commercial use, SE technology must work with a variety of genetically diverse trees. Initiation in loblolly pine (LP; Pinus taeda L.), our main focus species, is often recalcitrant for desirable genotypes. Initiation of LP, slash pine (SP; Pinus elliottii), Douglas-fir (DF; Pseudotsuga menziesii), and Norway spruce (NS; Picea abies) were improved through the use of paclobutrazol, a gibberellin synthesis inhibitor. Paclobutrazol was effective at concentrations ranging from 0.25 mg/l to 3.0 mg/l (0.85-10.2 microM) and optimal in LP at 1.0 mg/l. Using control media (no paclobutrazol) and 0.33-1.0 mg/l paclobutrazol, initiation percentages in LP, SP, DF, and NS were improved from 37.7% to 44.2% (across experiments), 19.3% to 28.5%, 16.9% to 23.7%, and 38.8% to 48.5%, respectively. Other gibberellin inhibitors such as flurprimidol, chlormequat-Cl, and daminozide also caused statistically significant increases in LP initiation when added to the medium at concentrations of 0.34, 10.0, and 1.0 microM, respectively. No detrimental effects on subsequent embryo development were observed when 29 new initiations from medium without GA inhibitor and 28 new initiations from medium containing paclobutrazol were tracked through culture capture, liquid culture establishment, cotyledonary embryo development, and germination.

Culture Techniques↗

PubMed2006

Hydraulic compensation in northern Rocky Mountain conifers: does successional position and life history matter?

As trees grow tall and the resistance of the hydraulic pathway increases, water supply to foliage may decrease forcing stomata to close and CO2 uptake to decline. Several structural (e.g. biomass allocation) and physiological adjustments, however, may partially or fully compensate for such hydraulic constraints and prevent limitations on CO2 uptake and growth. The degree to which trees compensate for hydraulic constraints as they grow tall may depend on the costs and benefits associated with hydraulic compensation according to their ecology and life history. Because later successional Rocky Mountain conifers are more shade tolerant, optimization of CO2 uptake as trees grow tall and shade increases may confer greater benefits than in earlier successional species. If so, higher compensation for hydraulic constraints is expected in later successional species relative to co-occurring earlier successional species. I have examined height-related changes of crown stomatal conductance on a leaf area basis (G(LA)) and leaf to sapwood ratios (A(L):A(S)) for five conifer species in the northern Rocky Mountains. Species were arranged in pairs, each pair consisting of an early and late successional species. For high elevations I used, respectively, whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa); for mid-elevations, western larch (Larix occidentalis) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii); for lower elevations, ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Douglas-fir. A(L):A(S) either decreased (subalpine fir, ponderosa pine), remained constant (Douglas-fir, western larch) or increased (whitebark pine) with tree height. As hypothesized, earlier successional species (ponderosa pine, whitebark pine and western larch) exhibited significantly stronger decreases of G(LA) with tree height relative to their later successional pairs (Douglas-fir and subalpine fir), which fully compensated for height-related hydraulic constraints on G(LA). A life history approach that takes into account the optimization of size- and species-specific ecological functions may also help researchers better understand biomass allocation and hydraulic function in trees.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2004

Highly polymorphic DNA markers to specify strains of the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Tricholoma matsutake based on sigmamarY1, the long terminal repeat of gypsy-type retroelement marY1.

The ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Tricholoma matsutake produces commercially valuable fruit bodies--matsutake--in Pinus sp. forest. Here we report that PCR with outward facing primers designed based on sequences comprising sigma(marY1), the long terminal repeat of the gypsy-type retroelement marY1, specifies strains of T. matsutake. PCR with a primer based on the 22-bp sequence conserved at the 5'-end of sigma(marY1) conferred 73 reliable bands overall whose profiles depend upon strains of T. matsutake and T. magnivelare, the latter known as 'American matsutake'. This PCR system gave no detectable band in any other species of Tricholoma tested, including T. bakamatsutake and T. fulvocastaneum, symbionts closely related to T. matsutake, as well as a host plant, Pinus densiflora. Similarly, PCR with a set of primers based on 26-bp and 28-bp sequences at bp 48-73 and bp 281-308 of sigma(marY1), internal regions that are mutated in a variant of marY1, conferred 90 reliable bands only in strains of T. matsutake. Theoretically, PCR with the 22-bp primer would allow generation of 2(73), or 9.4x10(21), types of polymorphism, and PCR with a combination of 26- and 28-bp primers, 2(90), or 1.2x10(27) types. The probability of falsely specifying two different isolates as the same strain is <1/10(21). While polymorphisms conferred by the primer based on the 5' end of sigma(marY1) rather exhibit genetic conservation of a group of T. matsutake, those resulting from primers based on the internal sequences more clearly demonstrate intra-specific diversification. Both systems revealed that T. matsutake is divergent within the species. Ectomycorrhizas formed between P. densiflora and T. matsutake were identified by the PCR systems developed in the present study. This method, using sigma(marY1) as a genetic marker, is useful in analyzing the diversity of T. matsutake, monitoring the behavior of individual mycorrhizas, and specifying the ecological background of fruit bodies traded in markets.

Agaricales↗

PubMed1997

The unusual occurrence of 14-methylhexadecanoic acid in Pinaceae seed oils among plants.

14-Methylhexadecanoic (14-MHD) acid has been identified in a sample of pine seed oil (Pinus contorta) by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of its picolinyl ester derivative. Its identification (through its equivalent chain length) and its distribution in four conifer families have been checked. It occurred only in Pinaceae, where it was found in 72 species belonging to the genera Pinus, Abies, Cedrus, Tsuga, Pseudotsuga, Larix, and Picea, in the range 0.02-1.15%. 14-MHD acid could not be detected in the lipids of Taxaceae (Taxus baccata), Cupressaceae (Juniperus communis), or Taxodiaceae (Sciadopytis verticillata), even after a 10-fold concentration of the saturated acid fraction isolated by argentation thin-layer chromatography. It is concluded that Pinaceae, along with Ginkgo biloba seed lipids, are major exceptions in the plant kingdom with regard to 14-MHD acid, which otherwise occurs almost exclusively in lipids of animals and microorganisms. The biosynthesis and metabolic role of 14-MHD acid, which otherwise also occur in wood and leaf lipids, remain unknown.

Chromatography, Thin Layer↗

PubMed1991

Isolation of functional RNA from plant tissues rich in phenolic compounds.

A method for the isolation of RNA from different tissues of trees (seedlings, saplings, and adult trees) is described. Using this procedure it is possible to remove large amounts of disturbing polyphenolic compounds from nucleic acids. The method involves an acetone treatment of the freeze-dried and powdered plant material, the use of high salt concentrations in the extraction buffer and an aqueous two-phase system. These steps were combined with the conventional phenol/chloroform extraction and CsCl centrifugation. The method has been successfully applied to the isolation and purification of RNA from pine (Pinus sylvestris L. and Pinus mugo Turr.), Norway spruce (Picea abies L.), and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). The functional quality of RNA extracted by this procedure has been characterized by its uv spectrum, by agarose gel electrophoresis with ethidium bromide staining, Northern blot hybridization, and in vitro translation.

Acetone↗

PubMed1996

Inhibition of chitinolytic activities from tree species and associated fungi.

Effects of two inhibitors, allosamidin and (2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranosylidene)amino phenylcarbamate (PUGNAC), have been assessed on chitinolytic activities of two plants, Pinus sylvestris L. and Eucalyptus pilularis Sm., and of seven fungi. Pinus sylvestris and E. pilularis root endochitinase activities were inhibited by allosamidin. Activities of P. sylvestris were more sensitive to inhibition than those of E. pilularis. The mechanism of inhibition varied with the plant species and the enzyme involved. PUGNAC inhibited beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and exochitinase activities in root extracts from both plant species. In all cases PUGNAC acted as a reversible competitive inhibitor. Both inhibitors also affected chitinolytic activities from the fungi screened. Allosamidin inhibited endochitinase activities from both the mycorrhizal and pathogenic fungi tested. In addition, exochitinase activity from the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus (Batsch) Fr. was inhibited by allosamidin. PUGNAC inhibited beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity from all the fungi tested. PUGNAC was also a potent inhibitor of both exo- and endochitinase activities from the fungi, except P. involutus. Competitive inhibition was the most common form. These findings show allosamidin does inhibit endochitinase activity in plants and the ability of PUGNAC to inhibit not only beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity but also fungal endochitinase activity may be useful to distinguish between host and fungal endochitinase activities in symbiotic or pathogenic dual systems.

Acetylglucosamine↗

PubMed1992

Research on the impact of forest stand structure on atmospheric deposition.

Dry and wet deposition onto thirty forest stands in relation to stand structure is studied by sampling throughfall and bulk precipitation. Nine measurement sites are situated in Pseudotsuga menziesii stands, ten in Pinus sylvestris and eleven in Quercus robur stands. All stands are situated within a radius of 1.2 km to assure a more or less equal air pollution load. In each stand, detailed forest structure inventories are made to determine aerodynamic roughness, collecting efficiency and surface area parameters. Measurements to data cover a four month period (April-July 1990). First results show relatively high throughfall deposition in Pseudotsuga menziesii stands. Lowest throughfall fluxes are recorded for Quercus robur and intermediate values for Pinus sylvestris stands. There are indications of a relatively strong canopy exchange in Quercus robur stands during the measurement period. Many results from forest stand structure inventories are not available yet. However, a strong relation is observed between throughfall deposition in Pseudotsuga menziesii stands and total crown volume.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1993

Dry deposition of nitrogen and sulfur to Ponderosa and Jeffrey pine in the San Bernardino national forest in Southern California.

Little is known about the concentrations, deposition rates, and effects of nitrogenous and sulfurous compounds in photochemical smog in the San Bernardino National Forest (SBNF) in southern California. Dry deposition of NO(3)(-) and NH(4)(+) to foliage of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.) and Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.) was correlated (R = 0.83-0.88) with historical average hourly O(3) concentations at 10 sites across an O(3) gradient in the SBNF. Mean deposition fluxes of NO(3)(-) to ponderosa and Jeffrey pine branches were 0.82 nmol M(-2)s(-1) at Camp Paivika (CP), a high-pollution site, and 0.19 nmol m(-2) s(-1) at Camp Osceola (CAO), a low-pollution site. Deposition fluxes of NH(4)(+) were 0.32 nmol m(-2) s(-1) at CP and 0.17 nmol m(-2) s(-1) at CAO, while mean values for SO(4)(2-) were 0.03 at CP and 0.02 nmol m(-2) s(-1) at CAO. Deposition fluxes to paper and nylon filters were higher in most cases than fluxes to pine branches at the same site. The results of this study suggest that an atmospheric concentration and deposition gradient of N and S compounds occurs along with the west-east O(3) gradient in the SBNF. Annual stand-level dry deposition rates for S and N at CP and CAO were estimated. Further studies are needed to determine if high N deposition loads in the SBNF significantly affect plant/soil nutrient relations, tree health, and the response of ponderosa pine to ozone.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1996

Floristic summary of plant species in the air pollution literature.

A floristic summary and analysis was performed on a list of the plant species that have been studied for the effects of gaseous and chemical air pollutants on vegetation in order to compare the species with the flora of North America north of Mexico. The scientific names of 2081 vascular plant species were extracted from almost 4000 journal articles stored in two large literature databases on the effects of air pollutants on plants. Three quarters of the plant species studied occur in North America, but this was only 7% of the total North American flora. Sixteen percent and 56% of all North American genera and families have been studied. The most studied genus is Pinus with 70% of the North American species studied, and the most studied family is the grass family, with 12% of the species studied. Although Pinus is ranked 86th in the North American flora, the grass family is ranked third, indicating that representation at the family level is better than at the genus level. All of the top ten families in North America are represented in the top 20 families in the air pollution effects literature, but only one genus (Lupinus) in the top ten genera in North America is represented in the top thirteen genera in the air pollution literature.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Efects of the pine needle abortifacient, isocupressic acid, on bovine oocyte maturation and preimplantation embryo development.

Isocupressic acid (ICA) [15-hydroxylabda-8 (17), 13E-dien-19-oic acid], a labdane diterpene acid, isolated from ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), common juniper (Juniperus communis) and Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa), induces abortion in pregnant cows when ingested primarily during the last trimester. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of isocupressic acid on bovine oocyte maturation (in vitro maturation (IVM)-Experiment I) and preimplantation embryo development (in vitro culture (IVC)-Experiment II) using in vitro embryo production techniques and to subsequently evaluate viability and developmental competence of ICA-cultured embryos via embryo transfer to recipient heifers (Experiment III). A complete randomized block experimental design was used. In Experiment I and II, isocupressic acid was added to IVM or IVC media at 0 (TRT1, control), 1.3 (TRT2), and 2.6 microg/ml (TRT3) Results from Experiment I and II indicated that ICA did not inhibit oocyte maturation and did not adversely affect preinpiantation embryo development. Furthermore, results from Experiment II demonstrated that isocupressic acid enhanced bovine preimplantation embryo development in vitro in a dose dependent manner. Subsequently, Day 8 (Day 0 = IVF) blastocysts cultured in vitro in the medium containing 2.6 microg/ml ICA were transferred to recipient heifers and resulted in normal pregnancies as determined by ultrasound imaging. Subsequently, all but two births were normal as evaluated by post natal veterinary examination. In conclusion, ICA showed no adverse effects on oocyte maturation and preimplantation embryo development in vitro or subsequent viability in vivo using the ICA concentrations and in vitro culture parameters of this study.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Meteorological factors and air pollution in Lithuanian forests: possible effects on tree condition.

This study investigates changes in tree condition and environmental factors in Lithuania during the active growing season in 1991-2001. The average crown defoliation and the proportion of healthy trees of Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Betula sp., Fraxinus excelsior, Alnus incana, Alnus glutinosa, Populus tremula, and Quercus robur, meteorological (average temperature, amount of precipitation, hydrothermal coefficient) and air pollution data (acidity of precipitation, concentrations of SO2, NO2 and exposure of O3) were analysed. During the period 1991-2001 the condition of Pinus sylvestris, Populus tremula showed a tendency of improvement, while defoliation of Fraxinus excelsior significantly increased. The proportion of healthy trees correlated well with the average temperature and O3 (AOT40), while defoliation correlated well with the acidity of precipitation and the concentrations of SO2 and NO2. Deciduous species appeared to be more sensitive to O3 exposure and conifers to the concentrations of SO2 and NO2.

Acid Rain↗

PubMed2005

Comparative screening of plant essential oils: phenylpropanoid moiety as basic core for antiplatelet activity.

Essential oils extracted from different plants (Anthemis nobilis L., Artemisia dracunculus L., Cannabis sativa L., Cupressus sempervirens L., Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf., Curcuma longa L., Foeniculum vulgare L., Hypericum perforatum L., Hyssopus officinalis L., Mentha spicata L., Monarda didyma L., Ocimum basilicum L., Ocotea quixos Kosterm., Origanum vulgare L., Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold, Pinus silvestris L., Piper crassinervium Kunth., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Salvia officinalis L., Salvia sclarea L., Santolina chamaecyparissus L., Thymus vulgaris L., Zingiber officinaie L.) were screened in guinea pig and rat plasma in order to assess antiplatelet activity and inhibition of clot retraction. The oils were chemically analysed and a relationship between components and ability to affect hemostasis was evidenced. O. quixos, F. vulgaris, and A. dracunculus showed the highest antiplatelet activity against ADP, Arachidonic Acid and the Thromboxane A2 agonist U46619 (IC50, 4-132 microg ml(-1)), and a good ability to destabilize clot retraction (IC50, 19-180 microg ml(-1)). For these oils a significant correlation between antiplatelet potency and phenylpropanoids content (54-86%) was evidenced thus suggesting a key role for this moiety in the prevention of clot formation. These findings provide the rationale to take in account the antiplatelet activity in the pharmacological screening of natural products containing phenylpropanoids.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Coniferyl alcohol metabolism in conifers -- II. Coniferyl alcohol and dihydroconiferyl alcohol biosynthesis.

Coniferaldehyde and NADPH when incubated with microsomes isolated from developing xylem of Pinus strobus yielded coniferyl alcohol and dihydroconiferyl alcohol in vitro. D-(+)-Pinitol was also found to be a microsomal constituent. Endogenous E-coniferyl alcohol content, quantified in dormant buds, cambium, bark and needles of Pinus resinosa and P. strobus by isotope-dilution combined gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) using ring-(13)C(6)-coniferyl alcohol, was at a level similar to that of endogenous indol 3-ylacetic acid (IAA). Wounding (branch girdling) induced more than a 10-fold increase in content of endogenous E-coniferyl alcohol in dormant non-lignifying cambium, a clear indication that monolignol biosynthesis is not coupled to lignification.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry↗

PubMed2000

Soil organic matter mobilization by root exudates.

In order to study the different soil organic matter mobilisation by agrarian (Zea mais: cultivars Paolo and Sandek) and forest (Picea abies Karst. and Pinus sylvestris L.) root exudates, three different soils (Dystric Spodic Cambisol--S1, Haplic Luvisol--S2 and Calcaric Cambisol--S3) have been considered. Treating the soils with water (control) or plant root exudates, soil organic matter extracts were obtained. The extracts were characterised by hormone-like activities and gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) measurements. Water extract and plant root exudates exhibited no hormone-like activity, while the other soil-extracts were endowed with a different hormone-like behaviour. GC/MS data indicated that in the acid soils (S1) Sandek and Picea abies exudates showed a greater ability in extracting organic acid isomers (Cl4COOH, Cl5COOH and Cl7COOH), while in neutral soils (S3) all the exudates were active in separating organic acids. In intermediate conditions (S2), Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris exudates liberated C15COOH isomers, Paolo C11COOH isomers, while Sandek was not effective. The different role of plant root exudates in mobilising bio-molecules from the bulk of the soil is proposed.

Acids↗

PubMed1995

Allergenic pollen pollinosis in Madrid.

OBJECTIVE: A 15-year pollen count was performed in the atmosphere of Madrid, Spain, to determine the months in which the highest concentrations of allergenic pollens occur. METHODS: Pollen counts were done with a Burkard spore trap (Burkard Manufacturing, Rickmansworth, Herst., U.K.). The results were subsequently compared with results of skin tests in patients with pollinosis born and living in and around Madrid. RESULTS: The highest airborne presence (percent of total yearly pollen counts, mean of counts from 1979 to 1993) was for Quercus spp. (17%); followed by Platanus spp. (15%), Poaceae (15%), Cupressaceae (11%), Olea spp. (9%), Pinus spp. (7%), Populus spp. (4%), and Plantago spp. (4%). The most predominant pollens from January to April are tree pollens (Cupressaceae, Alnus, Fraxinus, Ulmus, Populus, Platanus, and Morus), although these are also abudant in May and June (Quercus, Olea, and Pinus spp.). The grass pollination period shows a double curve: the first peak occurs from February to April (8% of yearly grasses), and the second peak occurs from May to July (90% of yearly grasses). Among allergenically significant weeds, the most notable is Plantago; in contrast, Rumex, Urticaceae, Cheno-Amaranthaceae, and Artemisia spp. have very low concentrations (< or = 2% yearly total pollens). The most significant allergenic pollen is that of grasses, with a prevalence of positive prick test results of 94%, followed by Olea europaea (61%), Plantago lagopus (53%), Platanus hybrida (52%), and Cupressus arizonica (20%). CONCLUSION: The population of Madrid is exposed to high concentrations of allergenic pollen from February to July, although the most intense period is from May to June. Grass pollens are the most important cause of pollinosis in this area.

Adolescent↗