Comparison of pollen protein patterns and pollen morphology of Taxus baccata L. and Cupressus arizonica Greene

Cupressaceae and Taxaceae pollen grains are similar due to their pollen morphological properties and they are both released abundant to the air. Cupressaceae pollen allergy is very common in Mediterranean countries include Turkey. Taxus baccata L. is the only species of Taxus L. to be naturally distributed as an adaptive fence plant for landscaping in Turkey. However it was not reported any allergic potency for Taxus baccata pollen. In this study it was aimed that to compare the pollen morphological and protein profile characteristics of Cupressus arizonica Greene. and Taxus baccata which release abundant pollen to air in our country. The pollen structure were examined by Light microscopy (LM). Pollen protein content was investigated by Bradford protein assay. SDS-PAGE analysis were carried out for determining protein profiles. Both of the species were found very similar in terms of pollen morphology however intine thickness was barely different. In addition, it was not observed any prominent protein that corresponding to Cup a 1 in T. baccata, that remind us this pollen could not be allergic as C. arizonica but, still other unidentified protein bands, whether they are allergic or not, should be demonstrated by further immunological assays