RYE GRASS CROSS-REACTING ALLERGENS IN LEAVES FROM 7 DIFFERENT GRASS SPECIES

Whole grass plants were collected in Rochester, MN during the month of June. Grass leaves, excluding the pollinating parts of the plants, were washed with distilled water, extracted and analyzed for rye grass allergens by RAST inhibition. Rye grass pollen allergens were found in orchard grass, brome, Timothy, June and annual rye leaves. No such allergenic activity was found in blue grass and canary grass leaves. These results are in contrast with pollen extracts. All pollens. including canary and blue grass, did contain rye group allergens. The fact that grass pollen allergen is present in the leaves of lawn grasses is consistent with the hypothesis that allergen aerosolized from the leaves during mowing contribute to the allergic symptoms of grass allergic individuals.