Survey of airborne culturable and non-culturable fungi at different sites in Delhi metropolis.

ABSTRACT

A two year aerobiological survey for culturable and non-culturable fungi was conducted at human height at five different sites in Delhi metropolis. Burkard Personal Volumetric Sampler for petriplates and slide exposures were used for sampling the air. With simultaneous petriplate and slide exposure a total of 98 fungal forms were recorded. Cladosporium contributed for 25-40% of total airborne fungi followed by Ustilago (smuts) (24%) Aspergillus flavus (10-13%), Alternaria (11%) and A. niger (8%). Basidiomycetes contributed 7-13% at different sites. The frequency of occurrence of these types varied from 50-98%. In general fungal concentration was high from July to April with low counts in winter (January) and dry and hot summer (May-June). Quantitative variations in the spore counts were found to be statistically significant within the same urban locality.