Aeromycobiota of Western Desert of Egypt

Abstract

The prevalence of airborne mycobiota at six different regions of Western desert (5 regions) and Eastern desert (1) of Egypt was determined using the exposed-plate method. A total of 44 genera, 102 species and one variety in addition to some unidentified yeasts and dark sterile mycelia were collected. Of the above, only 5 species were isolated from the 15 exposures (5 plates each, 30 minutes exposure) at different localities in Eastern desert. However, all of the isolated fungi except Ulocladium tuberculatum were recovered from the 5 regions surveyed at Western desert, with the most dominant being species of Aspergillus and Alternaria. Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger and Alternaria alternata were the most commonly encountered species. Other fungi were also reported as dominant from one or more regions such as yeasts, and/or Mycosphaerella, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Cochliobolus, Ulocladium and Pleospora while retreated in other(s). The highest number of both genera (29), species (57 + 1 variety) and the total fungal catches (1987 propagules/ 15 exposures) were recorded in the atmosphere of Kharga Oasis, while the least being recorded along the road from Cairo to Burg El-Arab via Alexandria (18 genera, 26 species and 349 catches) or Farafra Oasis (21 genera, 32 species and 343 catches). This pattern seems to be correlated to the human population and activities, the vegetation areas and/or environmental conditions, where the higher human population and larger vegetation areas, the higher fungal population and diversity and vice versa. Key words: airspora, Eastern desert, Egypt, fungi, Oases. (Af. J. of Science and Technology: 2002 3(1): 1-9)