Studies on Fungal Communities Associated with Litter of Plant Cover at Al-Taif Province, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Twenty one fungal species belonging to ten genera were isolated from the litter of eight dominant plants cover of Al-Taif province, Saudi Arabia. The most frequently isolated fungal species were Fusarium oxysporum (100%), Aspergillus alutaceus, A. niger, and Macrophomina phaseolina (87.5%), F. solani, Mucor racemosus, Penicillium glaburum (75%), and P. jaczewskii (62.5%). The influence of temperature and pH on selected eleven isolates, representing the dominant fungal species, was estimated. The representative moulds failed to grow at 55ºC temperature. A flavipes, A. niger and Emericella nidulans showed thermotolerant activity (optimum growth at 35ºC). The selected fungal species responded differently to the tested pH values of Czapek-Dox medium; some appeared to be acidophilic (P. jaczewskii, T. harzianum, F. niveus, A. flavipes and A. melleus, pH 3.5-4.5), some alkaliphilic (Emericella nidulans and Gliocladium roseum, pH 8.1) and a third group attained their best growth values around neutral pH (5.9-6.8). The selected moulds were capable of producing cellulytic, pectinolytic and amylolytic enzymes, which indicate their major role in litter decomposition.

Biodegradation of Agricultural Plant Residues by Some Fungi Isolated From Yemen

“…It is worthy to mention that literatures dealing with isolation and identification of fungi from Yemeni plant residues are rare. In this respect, In Al-Taif province, Saudi Arabia, Kabli, (2007), screened the presence of mycoflora in the samples of the litters of some plants which contained deciduous leaves, twigs, flowers, seeds, fruits and plant bark, beside other dead plant materials. He identified twenty one fungal species belonging to ten different genera of which F. oxysporum was dominant followed by A. niger, F. solani, M. racemosus, P. glabrum and P. janczewskii.…”

“…In a similar study, Kabli, (2007), found that Acremonium strictum, A. flavipes, A. niger, Emericella nidulans, Gliocladium roseum, M. racemosus and P. janczewskii , were capable of producing cellulolytic, pectinolytic and amylolytic enzymes, which indicated their major role in litter decomposition. Said, et al, (1991), showed that P. frequentans produced high levels of extracellular pectinases.…”

“…The non-crop residues are also included, such as leaves, grass clippings, tree parts, shrubbery and garden wastes. These residues with their physical and chemical properties contribute to a considerable extent to the carbon cycling of the site, humus formation, soil structure and fertility, as well as, the nutrients and organic matter in soil (Kabli, 2007).…”

“…are considered the main sources of cellulase, amylase, hemicellulase, catalase, pectinase and xylanase. Kabli, (2007), found that Acremonium strictum, A. flavipes, A. niger, Emericella nidulans, Gliocladium roseum, M. racemosus and P. janczewskii, were capable of producing cellulolytic, pectinolytic and amylolytic enzymes, which indicate their major role in litter decomposition.…”

Applied microbiology: a tool for the conservation of Cultural Heritage

“…La determinación de la densidad relativa (DR) y la frecuencia relativa (FR) de las colonias en el aire y en polvo se realizó según Smith [20], Esquivel et al [21] y Saleh [22], respectivamente.…”