Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

AN AEROMYCOLOGICAL SURVEY OF SKIM AND DESCENT AREAS OF KOLHAPUR (M.S.) INDIA

C.J. Khilarel and S.S. Chitnavis (Deceased)

Abstract

The comparative aeromycological survey over two contrasting ecological sites i.e.Slum and descent areas was carried out by employing culture plate settling and Rotorod methods for two consecutive years (June 1995 to May 1997). Over a period of two years survey, a total number of fungal spores encountered were 47,860/m3 referable to 54 fungal types and 34,330/m3 referable to 39 fungal types from slum and descent areas respectively.The survey showed the dominance of Aspergilli together with Cladosporium, Curvularia,Altemaria, Memnoniella and Nigrosporo at both sites.The petriplate exposure method showed, the maximum number of 680 colonies constituted 26 genera and 565 colonies referable to 23 genera were recorded from slum and descent area.s. respectively.The species Asperigllus fumigatus, Asperigillus niger, Clodosprium herbarum, Cladosporium spp. Pencillum spp, Nigrospora sphaerica and Paecilomyces varioti were recorded more in number at both the sites. In general higher concentration of fungal spores was observed in slum than descent area. Simultaneously, the effect of these biopollutants on public health was also studied.The fungal spore calender of Kolhapur city for the investigation period was prepared.