CORRELATION BETWEEN METEOROLOGICAL FACTORS AND AEROMYCOFLORA OVER THE CROP CANOPY OF RICE IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA

摘要

An aeromycological investigation was carried out over rice fields in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal during Rabi season with the help of Burkard personal one day volumetric sampler and Andersen two stage volumetric sampler for two consecutive crop seasons (January-June 2012 and January-June 2013) at weekly intervals. The concentration of culturable and non-culturable spore types was found to vary with different growth stages. The quantitative assessment of pathogenic airspora, their seasonal variations and the meteorological parameters are found to be closely correlated. The identified dominant genera are Cladosporium sp., Curvularia sp., Fusarium sp., Aspergillus sp., Bispora sp. and Helminthosporium sp. The total mold count exhibited significant positive correlation with maximum and minimum temperature. The present study may be used as potential tool to forecast the occurrence of allergic molds in similar occupational environment.