SEASONAL VARIATION OF AIRBORNE FUNGAL LOAD IN TWO OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS OF FARAKKA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Abstract

A systematic survey of aerofungal load in two outdoor environments in Farakka, West Bengal, India was carried out for a period of 2 years (October, 2013 to September, 2015), using Andersen two stage volumetric air sampler. A total of 27 culturable fungal types were recorded from both the study sites, of which Cladosporium and Aspergillus showed higher percentage of occurrence. Other predominant fungal types included Alternaria, Curvularia, Fusarium, Penicillium and Mycelia sterilia colonies. In both the investigating sites, winter season showed maximum CFU (colony forming unit) concentration. The high concentration of spores in winter season was perhaps due to the accumulation of large number of vegetable and other substrata in and around study sites containing saprophytic fungi, of which Cladosporium was the major contributor. The other airborne fungal spores also showed distinct seasonal periodicity pattern in their occurrence.