Variation in fungal spore concentrations of selected taxa associated

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine seasonal variation in concentrations of selected fungal spore types due to meteorological parameters. The presence of spores of thirteen taxa: Cladosporium, Torula, Alternaria, Botrytis, Epicoccum, Stemphylium, Ganoderma, Erysiphales, Entomophthora, Drechslera type, Didymella, Polythrincium and Pithomyces was recorded in Cracow using a Burkard trap. The majority of selected taxa belong to the anamorphic fungi group, the others to Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Zygomycetes. Fungal spores were present in the air in large numbers throughout the summer with the highest levels being reached in June, July and August although their highest concentrations differed with time. For most of the studied spore types: Botrytis, Ganoderma, Alternaria, Epicoccum, Torula, Drechslera type, Polythrincium, Stemphylium and Pithomyces the peak period was recorded in August. Didymella and Entomophthora spores reached their highest concentrations in July while concentrations of Erysiphales and Cladosporium spores were highest in June. Multiple regression analysis was performed for two seasonal periods: pre-peak and post-peak. In the pre-peak period concentrations of 10 spore types: Cladosporium, Botrytis, Epicoccum, Stemphylium, Drechslera type, Pithomyces, Didymella, Erysiphales, Ganoderma and Entomophthora were strongest influenced by minimum temperature while Alternaria, Polythrincium and Torula by maximum temperature (significance level of a ¼ 0.05). During the post-peak period the most important factor affecting variation in concentrations of Botrytis, Polythrincium, Didymella, Erysiphales, Ganoderma and Entomophthora spores was the minimum temperature. For Alternaria, Cladosporium, Epicoccum and Torula the maximum temperature appeared to be the most influential, whereas for Drechslera type, Stemphylium and Pithomyces it was sunshine. All correlations between spore concentration, minimum and maximum temperature and sunshine were significant (significance level of a ¼ 0.05), and positive although the percentage of explained variation (R 2 ) was low.

Atmospheric concentrations of Alternaria, Cladosporium, Ganoderma and Didymella spores monitored in Cork (Ireland) and Worcester (England) during the summer of 2010

“…Elbert et al 2007;Stępalska and Wołek 2009). However, the results obtained in the international comparison campaign reported here did not confirm this status and is in agreement with an earlier reported finding (Stępalska and Wołek 2005). According to MRT analysis, the most important variable among the examined meteorological factors was found to be mean temperature, with values ranging between 17°C (Worcester) and 18°C (Cork) (Fig.…”

Intradiurnal periodicity of fungal spore concentrations (Alternaria, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Didymella, Ganoderma) in Cracow, Poland

“…Activity of the various discharge mechanisms is more or less affected by external conditions. Results of the earlier studies performed in Cracow suggest that temperature is the most influential variable correlating significantly and positively with the spore concentrations (Stępalska and Wołek 2005). Discharge mechanisms include both wetting and drying so that the pattern of air spores shows intradiurnal changes.…”

Variation in Airborne Fungal Spore Concentrations in Four Different Microclimate Regions in Romania

“…The variation in aeroallergen concentrations and types depends on the agricultural practices and changes in land management (Kasprzyk and Konopiñska, 2006). Fungal spore concentrations could be related to the maturing and senescence of tree foliage, grasses and to some extent local crops (Stepalska and Wołek, 2005).…”