Population dynamics of aeromycoflora at shopping malls of Raipur (C.G.)
P.K. Saluja* and K.S. Shukla
Department of Botany & Biotechnology, Govt. D.B. Girls P.G. (Auto.) College, Raipur (India) **Research scholar, Govt. D.B. Girls P.G. (Auto.) College, Raipur (India)
ABSTRACT
The airborne mycoflora of three shopping malls were studied with main emphasis on its percentage frequency and occurrence diversity for three seasons by employing culture plate exposure method. Shopping malls are fully air conditioned and controlled with better sanitization than an open area and environment is adequate with low temperature. Beside these, the numbers of fungal spores are isolated from malls environment. Total numbers of 63 fungal species belonging to 22 genera (1526 fungal colonies) were recorded from three malls of Raipur city. Out of 63 fungal species, the highest percentage occurrence was attributed to Rhizopus stolonifer with 65.62% of total fungal spores count, followed by Cladosporium cladosporoides (35.66%), Mucor racemosus(27.08%), Aspergilllus fumigatus(28.58%), Aspergilllus niger (16.33%), Fusarium palledaroseum (11.18%) respectively. Cheatomium sp.(0.22%), Emericella nidulans (0.22%) contribution in the total fungal spores count was established as the lowest in occurrence. The result revealed that lowest count during summer season (34 fungal sps.), maximum during winter season (51 fungal sps.) and moderate during rainy season (38fungal sp.). Aspergillus niger, A.fumigatus, A. flavus were quite abundant in all the environment surveyed. Ranges of fungal spores were present throughout the year and impact of environment on the percentage of spore contribution in different seasons. Inside mall aeroallergens mycoflora were isolated which causes asthma, allergy, skin rashes etc. So air monitoring is useful in controlling and preventing the air borne diseases well in advance.