K. RAJENDRAN, P. KAVITHA AND M. AYYAVO0
Abstract
Freshwater fish Catla catla culture system were examined for their fungal flora. Samples of pond water, bottom soil, fish meal and muscles of apparently healthy fish Catla catla were cultured in the potato dextrose agar (PDA) plate after homogenization and existence of fungal flora were observed. Results showed that maximum numbers of (34.50 ± 2.18 x 10-1/g) fungal colonies were observed in fish meal and minimum numbers (21.45 ± 1.28 x 10-1/g) in the muscles. The predominantly isolated and identified species of fungi were Achlya sp., Penicillium citrinum, P. janthinellum, P. purpurogenum, Aspergillus terreus, A. flavus, A. nidulans, A. niger, Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium sp. (Macroconidia). The Aspergilli and Penicillia were dominant species in the present study. Nine species except Penicillium citrinum were isolated in fish meal with only five species were isolated in muscles. These results indicates that the fish meal is the source for the microbial floral community of freshwater fish culture systems.