Authors : M. N. Bhajbhuje
Page Nos : 1-10
Description :
Abstract:
Inhaled fungal spores surviving in the air are implicated to cause allergy and asthma. Aeromycological survey of wheat cultivated area under irrigation at different locations for two month period in rabi season revealed that majority fungal spores of diverse group adhere to film of nutrient medium were confined viable and forms colonies of different colours in variable frequency. Out of the total population of 1710 fungal colonies fall under 20 genera and 39 species, 57.3% colonies were appeared in the month of November by petri plate exposure method. Ascomycota contributed higher fungal colonies over others. An ascomycetous genus, Aspergillus was recorded dominant, exhibiting higher count of species and contributed 33.6% of the total colony count followed by Fusarium (11.2%) and Alternaria (10.2%). Curvularia, Penicillium, Helminthosporium and Rhizopus were reported equally dominant. Least concentration of spore has been recorded for Cunninghamela, Nigrospora, Phomopsis, Pithomyces and Sterile white mycelia whereas pathogenic fungal genera including Pythium, Cladosporium, Trichothecium were reported to appear in moderate concentration. It may be concluded that distribution of diverse group of viable fungal spores in variable concentration in response to climate of high humidity and low temperature over wheat field may cause allergic disorders to farmers.
Keywords: Fungal spores, asthma, allergy, airspora, environment, mycelia,
