Relationship Between Eco-Biological Characteristics of Allergenic Plants in Assessment on Habitat Conditions Affecting on Their Development Along the Canal Network

Abstract

Considering the increasing incidence of allergy symptoms in Europe in the past decades, it is useful to obtain precise ecological and biological data regarding the allergenic plants. This study was conducted in order to assess habitat conditions allowing the development of allergenic plants along the Danube-Tisza-Danube canal network (Banat region, Serbia). In this regard, the distribution of these plants and the relationships among their eco-biological characteristics were studied. The results represent the one step further in the assessment of the habitat conditions allowing the development of allergenic plants in the study area. Twenty four allergenic plants were found, with a predominance of wetland plants (37.50%) and geophytes (41.67%). Correlation and PCA analyses determined that the flowering time of allergenic plants is correlated with the ecological group, life form and habitat conditions (aeration, pH, humus content, moisture, and continentality). The unfavorable periods for allergy sufferers are early spring and summer. Pollen-allergenic forest phanerophytes flowered early, had the shortest flowering period, and inhabited neutral to alkaline soil with less humus content, compared to the wetland and weed-ruderal allergenic plants. Habitat moisture reduced soil aeration and modified the effects of the continental climate, favoring the development of numerous allergenic species along the canals. Most of the identified allergenic species are invasive in Europe. Moreover, these species are frequently grown in urban green areas. Therefore, the avoidance of excessive use of these allergenic species in urban ecosystems may provide healthier environments for allergy sufferers and contribute to the preservation of the native flora biodiversity.