04 Nimyaola Shirak

Journal of Basic and Applied Mycology Volume 12 | Issue I | 2016 ISSN: 0972-7167

Available online at www.sbamjournal.com

Influence of seasonal variation on the concentration of fungal airspora over Kachai lemon plantation in Ukhrul district, Manipur

S. Nimyaola and N. Irabanta Singh

Aerobiology Laboratory, Centre of Advanced Study in Life Sciences, Manipur University, Manipur

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT The present investigation deals with the study on the Article History: seasonal variation of fungal airspora over lemon orchard at Received 19 March 2016 Kachai in Ukhrul District, Manipur. The incidence of fungal Accepted 06 April 2016 spores in the air was studied by employing Rotorod air sampler supplemented by Petriplate exposure technique from May, 2013-April, 2015. Emphasis has been given to the

occurrence of airborne fungal spores and the effect of Keywords: meteorological parameters on their dissemination. A total Fungal airspora count of 33 fungal spore types was identified. Occurrence of Lemon orchard fungal spores in air was in correlation with changes in Meteorological parameters weather parameters. These studies will be of great help in Disease forecasting providing information to the farmers towards disease

INTRODUCTION processes influenced by environmental There has been an increasing interest parameters such as climatic condition. Many in the study of airspora because of its plant pathogens are dispersed by the wind applications in medicine (inhalant allergy), infecting crops and causing significant agriculture (epidemiology of airborne plant economic losses in agriculture [5]. Airborne diseases), biodeterioration and spoilage of micro organisms especially bacteria and food stuffs and other useful materials fungi attack the biotic flora, deteriorate food including air pollution [1-3]. The knowledge and damage crops. The fungal spores are of air-spora not only contributes to the disseminated by fruiting bodies of fungi and understanding of their abundance and blown by air facilitating attack on plants. In seasonal variations, but is also helpful in this concern, the study on airborne forecasting the epidemics of crop plants [4]. biological materials mainly fungal spores The increasing concern about the effects of and their impact on biological species is an the airborne fungi on plants, animals and important aspect. Although the fungal spore humans creates new incentives for further content of the atmosphere has attracted advancement in this field. The diversity and significant interest during recent decades, it the concentration of the fungal spores in the still remains underexplored concerning the atmosphere are the result of dynamic mycoflora presence in the lemon orchard at *Corresponding author: [email protected] (S. Nimyaola) J. Basic Appl. Mycol. Vol. 12 (I), pp. 24-27, 2016 25

Kachai. Therefore, the main objective of this identification of colonies was based on their study was to quantify and identify the fungal colour, size, shape and their morphological airspora present in this environment as well features [8-9]. The temperature, relative as to investigate the climatic conditions that humidity and rainfall of the air during the could influence microbial counts. experiment were also recorded.

MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Sampling site A total of 33 fungal spore types were The Kachai village is located at identified. Out of 33 fungal spore types, 20 extreme west in Ukhrul District, boundary spores belonging to Deuteromycotina, 9 to with Senapati district which is about 140 km Ascomycotina, 2 to Phycomycotina and 2 to away from Imphal and 48 km from Ukhrul Basidiomycotina. Unidentified spore types, District Headquarters lying between 25 ̊ 14 ̍ pollen grains, hyphal fragments and insect N -21 ̊ 25 ̍ N latitude and 94.16 ̊ E - 94.32 ̊ E parts were classified as other types. The longitude with an altitude ranging from average percentage contribution of each 1280-1387m (MSL). The climate of Kachai spore group were as follows: area is Sub-tropical characterized by Deuteromycotina (64.42%, 61.23%) coolness and extreme humidity. The village followed by Ascomycotina (13.33%, is inhabited by 360 households with 15.81%) other types (11.6%, 13.31%), population of 2107 (Census 2011). It is Basidiomycotina (3.34%,5.82%), known as one of the highest lemon producer Phycomycotina (3.12%, 3.745). Among the village in Manipur state. The fruit is spores, Alternaria has maximum endemic to Kachai village and hence known concentration (8.72%) to the total airspora, as Kachai Lemon. followed by Aspergillus (8.29%), Torula (4.92%), Fusarium (4.41%), Penicillium Air Sampling and Slide Preparation (4.31%), Helminthosporium ( 4.30%), etc. Rotorod Air Sampler with sampling The most dominant species isolated were rate of 100 Lmin -1 was used to analyze the Aspergillus niger, A.flavus, A.fumigatus, total spore counts. Air samplings were Cladosporium herbarum, Penicillium conducted for 2 years (May 2013 to April chrysogenum, P.italicum, Fusarium 2015) by monitoring Rotorod air sampler. oxysporum, F.moniliforme and Trichoderma The air sampler was installed on the lemon viride. The majority of these fungal species tree which is about 2 metres above ground were present throughout the year (Table 1). level for 1 hour twice a month i.e. at 15 days Monthly and seasonal fluctuations intervals. The exposed cellophane tapes were recorded in the spore concentrations. were mounted with glycerine jelly on a slide Quantitative and qualitative analysis of air and examined under a microscope. The samples over the plantation field showed trapped spores were identified with the help contamination by some major fungal spore of reference slides as well as available types such as Alternaria, Aspergillus, standard literatures [6-7]. For the qualitative Fusarium, Penicillium and analysis of fungi, two different media viz Helminthosporium. Besides the factors like Czapek’s Dox Agar (CZA) and Potato time of the day, weather condition, condition Dextrose Agar (PDA) were used. The of the surrounding areas, local source of sterilized petriplates (3 replicates) containing spores, etc., the number and type of fungi of each medium with streptomycin were vary with the season also [10-11]. The carried to the study sites and exposed to the calendar of Kachai area was divided into air for 5 minutes being kept at the height of four season viz. spring (February-April), 1metre above the ground level to receive the summer (May-June), Monsoon/Rainy (July- sedimentation of airborne fungal spores. October), winter (November-January). After exposure, the petriplates were brought During investigation period, the maximum to the laboratory and incubated at 25±1 ̊ C incidence of fungal spores was recorded in for 5-7 days. Fungal colonies developed in rainy season, moderate in summer season plates were counted and identified. The and the least was recorded during spring. © 2016 Society for Basic and Applied Mycology . Printed in the India. J. Basic Appl. Mycol. Vol. 12 (I), pp. 24-27, 2016 26

Table 1. Total concentration and percentage contribution of each airborne component over Lemon plantation field from May 2013 to April 2015. May 2013 to April 2014 May2014 to April 2015 Fungal types Concentration Percentage (%) Concentration Percentage (%) (spores/m 3) Contribution (Spores/m 3) contribution Deuteromycotina Alternaria 195 8.71 210 8.75 Pithomyces 105 4.69 90 3.75 Torula 90 4.02 140 5.84 Drecshlera 35 1.56 40 1.67 Tetraploa 25 1.12 10 0.42 Curvularia 35 1.56 15 0.63 Diplodia 35 1.56 55 2.29 Cercospora 40 1.79 30 1.25 Helminthosporium 95 4.24 105 4.38 Bispora 25 1.12 30 1.25 Heterosporium 20 0.89 10 0.42 Aspergillus 185 8.26 200 8.33 Fusarium 95 4.24 110 4.58 Penecillium 105 4.69 95 3.96 Trichoderma 55 2.46 40 1.67 Cordana 50 2.23 55 2.29 Cladosporium 50 2.23 65 2.71 Periconia 65 2.90 60 2.5 Sporothrix 45 2.01 30 1.25 Nigrospora 95 4.24 80 3.34 Ascomycotina Sporormia 60 2.68 55 2.29 Epicocum 5 0.22 25 1.04 Spegazzinia 10 0.45 40 1.67 Lacanidion 25 1.12 20 0.84 Didymosphaeria 45 2.01 50 2.08 Passeriniella 45 2.01 65 2.71 Chaetomium 25 1.12 45 1.88 Massarina 40 1.79 25 1.04 Sordaria 45 2.01 55 2.29 Phycomycotina Circinella 50 2.23 65 2.71 Cunninghamella 20 0.89 25 1.04 Basidiomycotina Smut 50 2.23 95 3.96 Uredospores 25 1.12 45 1.88 Other types Hyphal fragments 90 4.02 85 3.54 Insect parts 80 3.57 95 3.96 Pollen grains 75 3.35 105 4.38 Unidentified 10 0.45 35 1.46 Total 2240 100 2400 100

The incidence of airborne fungal fall and their germination in hot and wet spores of study fields reveals that the conditions prevailing in and around the concentration of spores fluctuate irrespective lemon plantation field. The abundance of of crop growth indicating the concentration organic matter in rainy season provides of spores is not governed by crop growth but opportunity to the growth of fungi for both that meteorological parameters have the groups (saprophytic and plant influence of their occurrence (Fig. 1). pathogenic) of fungi. The present Frequent precipitation in rainy investigation also revealed that irrespective season is an important factor for the spores of the years, there is uniformity in the © 2016 Society for Basic and Applied Mycology . Printed in the India. J. Basic Appl. Mycol. Vol. 12 (I), pp. 24-27, 2016 27 growth curve of different fungal species in detection of phytopathogenic airborne spores the form of both degree of percentage and leading to prevention, avoidance and month of occurrence (Table 1). treatment of lemon disease in time.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 30 Percent contribution of aero mycoflora The first author is grateful to Head,

25 Department of Life Sciences, Manipur University, Canchipur for providing 20 laboratory facilities. Thanks are also due to 15 UGC, New Delhi for awarding a fellowship

10 to the first author. %Contribution 5 REFERENCES

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