seasonal variation and distribution of microfungi in forest soils of delhi

Seasonal Variation and Distribution of Microfungi in Forest Soils of DelhiAuthor(s): N. Behera and K. G. MukerjiSource: Folia Geobotanica & Phytotaxonomica, Vol. 20, No. 3 (1985), pp. 291-311Published by: SpringerStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4180613 .

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N. Behera1 and K. G. Mukerji2

1 Department of Botany, Berhampur University, Berhampur 760 007, Orissa, India 2 Mycology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India

Seasonal Variation and Distribution of Microfungi in Forest Soils of Delhi

Keywords

Percentage frequency, Similarity Coefficient, Fungal community, Species composition, Frequency class, Abundance and East, West, South and North localities

Abstract

Behera N. and Mukerji K. G. (1985): Seasonal variation and distribution of microfungi in forest soils of Delhi. ? Folia Geobot. Phytotax., Praha, 20: 291 ?311. ? Seasonal occurrence and abundance of microfungi at threo different depths in tropical forest soils of Delhi were studied using the soil dilution and soil plate techniques. Surface layer in all the soil types exhibited the highest population and species number which gradually declined with depth increase. In total, 68 genera comprising 118 species were isolated of which tho Deuteromycetes was represented by 38 genera and 90 species, tho Phycomycetes by 10 genera and 18 species, the Ascomycetes by 6 genera and 8 species, and the Basidiomycetes and Myxomycdes by single genus and species. Besides the surface vegetation, the edaphic and environmental factors had a profound influence on the occurrence and distribution of microfungi at various depths of soils.

INTRODUCTION

Soil is a natural reservoir of microorganisms, which have got a major role in

decomposition of plant and animal residues, a vital process in ecosystem. During the last few years various workers have developed interest to understand the nature of fungi both in forest and cultivated fields (Thornton 1960, 1965, Christensen et al. 1962, Misra 1965, Goohenaur et Backus 1967, Bhatt 1970, Motjbasheb et Abdel-Hafez 1978). Some workers have expressed that soil microfungi show ecological and geoclimatic specificity with response to environmental variables (Sewell 1959, Christensen 1960, Christensen et Whittingham 1966). Trbsneb et al. (1954), studying the distribution of microfungi in 18 different forest soils of southern Wisconsin, have reported that a particular fungus species can not be



292 FOLIA GEOBOTANICA ET PHYTOTAXONOMICA 20,1985

always found associated with certain other species to form distinct communities, and that rather the aerial vegetation appears to reflect their species composition. Different vegetations supporting different communities of soil fungi have been

reported by others (Curtis et Greene 1949, Orput et Curtis 1957, Christensen

1969). Especially, the edaphic factors governing the distribution of microfungi in

forest and cultivated soils have received little attention except a few excellent reviews by Chester (1949), Cooke (1958), Warcup (1951) and Griffin (1972). In India few workers have studied soil fungi in forest (Saksena 1955), cultivated fields (Rama Rao 1970) and in grass land soils (Dwivedi 1965,1966, Misra 1965).

The aim of the present work was to carry out a detailed investigation of micro?

fungi in forest soils of Delhi, the problem which was not studied systematically earlier. The paper presents the results of this study conducted for two years on the occurrence and distribution of microfungi in different seasons and in different

depths of four localities with regards to edaphic factors.

TOPOGRAPHY AND CLIMATIC CONDITION

Delhi, a union territory, stretches along the western bank of the river Jamuna between 28? 12' to 28?53' north and 76?56'? 77?23' east covering an area about 1,475,000 hectares. Extension of the Aravalli Ranges of Rajasthan into the territory is known as ridges of Delhi and lies between 213?219 m above the sea level. Climatic condition of Delhi is not favourable for luxuriant Vegetation due to dry and hot summer (March?July) alternating with dry winter (November to February). In summer, temperature rises upto 45 ?C and in winter it goes down to 1 ?C. Annual average rainfall is about 66 cm which mostly occurs from July to September with occasional rainfall in winter months. The forest is tropical and is mostly covered with spinous shrubs and small trees. Soils, in general, are sandy and poor in nitrogen and organic matters, but rich iii available potash. High calcium content in soils shows a tendency towards alkalinity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four localities situated 20?25 km apart, at four corners of Delhi, were selected and named as East locality (EL), West locality (WL), North locality (NL) and South locality (SL). The selected site (15 X 15 m) for sampling in each locality was kept constant through out the investigation period. Soil sample from each site of the localities was procured at monthly intervals from 3, 15 and 30 cm depths in two lots, one was processed for physicochemical analysis and the other for microbial analysis. Samples of East locality (EL) collected from surface downwards were labelled as EL-di, EL-d2 and EL-d3. Similarity for other three localities it was also marked separately so as to avoid confusion and mixing of the sampling tubes. The abbreviations di, d2 and d3 denote the samples from 3, 15 and 30 cm depths respectively.

Loose surface soil and debris (1?2 cm) were scraped aside before digging the sampling pit (30 x 30 cm). Soil for fungal analysis was obtained carefully from one face of the profile pit inserting vertically a sterilized corning glass tube at desired points. The tubes were allowed to receive 3?5 g soil and were plugged immediately after removal. To avoid contamination, collec? tion was made from bottom upwards of the pit. Sample at desired depths was received moment? arily after a fresh scrape and therefore, minimum three scrapings were needed on three sides of the pit to collect samples at 3, 15 and 30 cm depths. Soil collected in glass tubes were brought to the laboratory in a portable icechest at the earliest and kept inside the refrigerator at 0?4 ?C. Plating of samples was done on the same day in afternoon. Two consecutive days in the first week of every month were utilized for collection and isolation.



BEHERA AND MUKERJI: VARIATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF MICROFUNGI 293

Isolation of fungi

Soil dilution and soil plate techniques were employed to isolate the fungal propagules. Three dilutions, i.e. 10~2, IO-3 and IO-4 were used for isolation. Preliminary observations confirmed that soil dilutions of IO-4 and 10~3 were suitable in obtaining 15?40 colonies per plate of samples from first two depths (3 and 16 cm) and 30 cm depth respectively during July to April, but on the other hand dilution factors of IO""3 and 10~2 were suitable only in May and June. Five replicates of the appropriate dilution were made pouring one ml. of the aliquot into each petriplate containing 20 ml of sterilized solidfied agar medium. Soil plating was done taking a pinch of the sample with 1?2 drops of sterile distilled water followed by addition of 20 ml cooled melted agar medium. Culture plates thus made were incubated in culture room maintained at 25 ? 3 CC.

Microscopic examination was done on 3rd and 7th day of incubation. Czapek's Dox Yeast extract agar medium supplemented with rose bengal and streptopenicillin was used for primary isolation of fungi. Unsporulated ones were further cultured in Potato Dextrose agar, Malt extract agar, Corn meal agar and Soil extract agar media for stimulating sporulation. Colonies recorded in dilution plates were assumed to be originated from spores and in direct plates both from hyphae and spores. Identification of fungal members was done using standard reference books and journals (Barren 1968, Ellis 1971, 1976, Gilman 1967, Subramanian 1971, Tandon 1968, Barnett et Hunter 1972, Behera et Mukerji 1974, Behera et al. 1973). Statistical analyses were done for:

(I) Total population of fungi per gram dry soil (g.d.s.) =

Mean number of fungal propagules x dilution factor

Weight of dry soil

(II) Percentage frequency =

Number of soil samples from which fungi were recorded X 100 Total number of soils sampled

and 2W

(III) Similarity coefficient = -? x 100 a -f- b

where W is the number of shared species, a is the total number of species in one soil and b is the total number of species in other soil.

Soil analysis Soil samples collected separately in polythene bags were used for recording soil parameters

except the soil temperature which was noted on the spot using soil thermometers. Ordinary Bouyoucos hydrometer was used to determine the percentage of clay, sand and silt and the triangular checker board method to find out the soil texture. Soil moisture content by oven-dry method, water holding capacity by Hilgard cup method, pH by glass electrode, total organic carbon (O.C.) by Walkley and Black's rapid titration method, organic matter from total carbon (O.C. x 1.724), total nitrogen by micro-Kjeldahl method and available phosphorus by olsen-blue method (Piper 1944, Jackson 1967) were found out. Water soluble and exchangeable ions were determined using the following procedures. Iron was found out by thiocyanate method and manganese by pariodate method (Snell et Snell 1949). Calcium and magnesium were estimated in suitable aliquotes by EDTA titration method (Cheng et Bray 1951).

RESULTS

Soil characteristics

Percentage of sand, silt and clay recorded for different samples of four localities is given in Table 1. The soils were sandy loam to sandy where in percentage of sand increased with increasing depth. The results of soil analysis are given in Table 2.

Temperature and moisture content of soils were more influenced by the climatic conditions of the locality. Temperature in surface layer was slightly higher compar-




Table 1. Percentage of sand, clay and silt in different soil samples

Samples Locality at depths Sand Clay Silt

(cm)

East 3 72 ll 17 15 75 9 16 30 78 10 12

West 3 68 13 19 15 73 12 15 30 77 ll 12

North 3 75 ll 14 15 79 12 9 30 83 10 7

South 3 78 9 13 15 82 10 8 30 83 10 7

ed to those other two depths, maximum being recorded in summer (May and June) and minimum in winter (December and January) days. Except the rainy season

(July, August and September) water content of the samples directly corresponded with the temperature of respective dates. It was less in summer and more in rainy season. Upper most layer exhibited the higher moisture content in all the collec? tions except May and June, and it gradually declined with depth increase. The soils are alkaline in nature with pH above seven. Samples from SL exhibited the

highest value followed by soils of NL, WL and EL. A decline in pH was recorded with depth, but it was not appreciable in case of WL and EL soils. Soil nutrients

viz., carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, manganese, magnesium and iron were found to be more in the surface layer and gradually decreased with increasing depth. Of all the samples, West locality exhibited maximum carbon and nitrogen where as minimum was recorded with South locality (Table 2).

Fungal flora

The estimated number of fungal propagules per gram dry soil recorded in dilution

plates for twenty four months is shown in Figs. 1?4. It is evident from the figures that surface layer in all the sampling sites possessed higher number of fungal counts which declined with depth increase. Lower most depth was found to have 4?8 times less population compared to surface colony numbers. Significant varia? tion in microbial quantity was recorded in different seasons of the year. The

graphs reveal two distinct peaks, one in the month of September recording the

highest value and the other, either in the month of March or April exhibiting the second highest number of fungal propagules. The lowest microbial population in all the sampling sites was recorded either in May or June.

It was observed that 70?85 % of the total population was shared by the

Deuteromycetes, 15?20 % by the Phycomycetes, and 0?10-% by the Ascomycetes



Table 2. Physico-chemical characteristics of soil samples

Locality East West North South

Parameters Depth in cm 3 15 30 15 30 15 30 15 30

Temperature (C)

Moisture content (% W/W)

l'H

Total Organic Carbon (g/100g)

Total Organic matter (g/100g)

Total Nitrogen (g/100g).

Available phosphorus (mg/100 g)

Iron (mg/100 g)

Manganese (mg/100 g)

Magnesium (mg/100 g)

Calcium (mg/100 g)

12-34 10-29 9-26 13-32 9-29 8-28 13-35 10-28 8-28 13-36 11-30 9-32

4.6- 20.9

7.6

1.8

3.1

0.7

3.8

0.9

9.4

74.8

477

3.2- 14.3

7.5

0.7

1.2

0.4

2.0

0.8

5.0

62.6

390

3.6- 13.1

7.1

0.4

0.69

0.06

1.3

0.6

3.6

46.6

179

4.9- 20.1

8.0

2.1

3.62

0.9

3.6

0.9

9.6

68.6

617

3.0- 14.0

7.9

0.9

1.66

0.5

2.1

0.7

5.3

61.4

399

2.8- 12.6

7.7

0.6

1.03

0.16

1.1

0.6

2.1

50.0

169

4.4- 18.7

8.4

1.7

2.93

0.6

2.2

0.8

9.1

81.0

602

4.1- 15.0

7.6

0.6

1.03

0.3

1.9

0.4

5.1

62.0

401

2.8- 12.8

7.9

0.6

1.03

0.16

0.9

0.3

1.9

66.1

190

3.8- 17.6

9.1

0.9

1.56

0.4

2.9

0.9

8.7

65.0

620

2.1- 10.6

7.9

0.7

1.2

0.1

1.9

0.7

4.9

63.0

341

2.6- 8.5

7.9

0.6

0.86

0.06

0.7

0.5

2.1

41.3

209




130

120

co > 90 o

te*0 o 70

60

a so o o

1 30 2

20

10

SOUTH LOCALITY FIRST YEAR

SECOND YEAR

130

120

110

100

> 90

^ ao o kp ^ 70

60 Ot i/) 50 Z

8 _. 30 o ? 20 Cl?

io

J F M A M J J MONTHS

E.AST LOCALITY

??? First yr ar

SECOND YEAR

3 Cm

t* Cm

30 Cm

A M J J

MONTHS

Fig. 1?4. Total population of fungi per gram dry soil at different depths and months.




HO

130

120

100

100

90

80

70

s60

50

40

30

20

10

NORTH LOCALITY

o?o FIRST YEAR

??? SECOND YEAR

3Cm

15Cm

30Cm.

-L_L. J_L. F M A M J J. A S O N D

MONTHS

150

U0

130

120

110

o 100 x ? 90 {fl

50

70

60

5 50

R L?

< 30 o

? ?!

WEST LOCALITY

??? FIRST YEAR

?-? SECOND YEAR

3 Cm

15 Cm

30 Cm

M J J MONTHS



Table 3. List of fungal isolates with their percentage frequencies (Average of 24 months)

Locality East West North South

Fungus Depth in cm 15 30 3 15 30 15 30 15 30

12 12

36

18 12 12 12 10 40

12

40

12

40

48 30 20 20 20

12

16

4 -

Absidia glauca Hagem 64 48 ? 80 48 ? 40 ? ? A. spinosa Lendner 47 31? ____ __ _ _ Adinomucor repens Schostako-

witsch 44 16 ? 45 20 ? 40 16 -

Chlamydoabsidia dasgupti Behera et Mukerji 10 ? ? ___ _____

Choanephora cucurbitarum (Berk et Revenel) Thaxter 43 38 16 55

Cunninghamella echinulata Thaxter 44 24 8 60

C. degans Lendner 28 12 ? 20 Cunninghamdla sp. 28 10 6 40 Mucor hiemalis Wehmer 48 12 ? 44 M. mucedo (Linne) Brefeld 52 14 6 48 M. pusillus Lindt ? ? ? 24 M. racemosus Fresenius ? ? ? 14 Pythium sp. 12 ? ? ?

Rhizopus arrhizus Fischer 64 32 8 62 R. nodpsus Namyslowski 60 15 ? 40 R. stolonifer (Ehrenb. ex Fr.)

Lindner 88 48 12 84 Syncephalastrum racemosum

(Cohn) Schroeter 18 8 ? ?

-Zygorhynchus sp. 12 ? ?- ? Chaetomium bostrychodes Zopf 40 18 ? 56 C. cochlioides Palliser 48 16 ? 36 C. globosum Ktjnze ex Fries 56 10 ? 40 Emericellopsis sp. ? ? ? ? 24 Gymnoascus setosus Eidam 16 8? 20 10 ? 16 ? ? 12 Neurospora crassa Shear et Dodge 60 ? ? 60 40 ? 45 15 ? 38 Neocosmospora va sinfeda Smith 10 ? ? ______ i8____ 8 Sordaria fimicota (Rob.) Ces et

Denot 24 - - 24 - ? 28 - - 12 Acrophialophora fusispora

(Saksena) Ellis 64 - - 60 28 - 20 - - 18

25

35 10

16 - 20 -

20 16

64

54 12 28 28 32 36 12

64 30

100

20 8

45 30 20 12 16 45 18

40

35 6 8

14 10

40

60

16

12 28

60 20

24 20

?=_ o

_- o w o

O >

W

? H >? M o

o g M <r_



A. nainiana Edward Allescheria boydii Shear Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler A. humicola Oudemans A. longipes (Ellis et

Everh) Mason A. tenuis Nees A. tenuissima (Fr.) Wiltshire Aspergillus aculeatus Lizuea A. arenarius Raper et Fennell A. davatus Desm. A. fischeri Wehmer A. flavus Link A. fumigatus Fresenitjs A. nidulans (Eidam) Winter A. niger Van Teighem A. oryzae (Ahlbtjrg) Cohn A. peniciUiformis Kamyschko A. recurvatus Raper et Fennell A. repens (Cda.) De Bary A. sydowi (Bain, et Sart.) Thom

et Church) A. temarii Kita A. terreus Thom A. variecolor (Berk, et Br.)

Thom et Raper A. wentii Wehmer Bipolaris tetramera (Mo Kinney)

Shoemaker Black sterile mycelial form Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr. Cephalosporium acremonium Corda C. roseo-griseum Saksena Cephalosporium sp. Cladosporium dadosporioides

(Fres.) De Vries C. herbarum (Pers.) Link ex Fries C. sphaerospermum Penzig Cladosporium sp. Curvularia geniculata (Tracy

et Earle) Boedijn

8 16 8 4 - -

28 4 - 24 6 -

14 12 16 6 8

8 90 36 24 96 12

6 12

24 60 24 32 16 18

25 36 18 24

8 -

60 20 16 92

16 - 60 54 25 12

12 42 12 36 20 18

48 12 12 70

4 -

42 6

12 8 - 8 - -

16

8 16 12

18 10 18 12 4 - 6 -

6 -

32

22 28

? 8 24 18 12 16

4 6

100 40 28

100 16 12 18

48 16

16

20 32 40 20 12

8 - 6 -

10 - 4 -

8 -

80 30 12 80

6 10

8

14

20 18

8 40

16 - - 70 60 40 48 26 -

8

16 - 20 6 32 16 26 10

8

30 15 - 32 16 4 28 16 - 16 6 -

18

40 32

28 16

80 60 36

100 8

18 16

6

18 60 40

22

40 48 24 24

18 - 8 -

16 - - 8 - -

24 8 - 16 - - 18 12 -

55 40 10 56

40 20

20 18 10

8

40 16

6 36

14 10

12 -

40 28 - 28 14 6 28 38 12 32 24 10 30 24 12

12 6

24

24 16

16 8 8

55 40 28 48

10 40 30

12

48 20 36 26 24

28 38 12

6

20

12 8

12

12 - -

4 -

40 28 12 28

24 15

10 30 24 20

12 22

24 6 6

12

20 - -

12

16 12

6

10

4 -



Table 3. (cont.)

Depth in cm 3 15 30 3 15 30 3 15 30 3 15 30

C. inaegualis (Shear) Boedijn 28 16 4 32 13 9 32 12 4 12 ? ? C. lunata (Walker) Boedijn 28 18 5 32 12 6 16 10 ? 16 ? ? C. maculans (Bancroft) Boedijn 10 6? 66? 8 ? ? 8 ? ? C. pallescens Boedijn 8 6? _____ ______ ______

Cylindrocarpon tenue Bugnicourt 24 ? ? 20 ? ? 36 12 ? 28 ? ?

Cylindrodadium scoparium Morgan 28 20 8 28 16 ? 32 24 10 28 12 ?

DidymostUbe dlissii Saxena et Mukerjii 12 6 ? 12 ? ? 16 ? ? 10 ? ?

Drechslera hawaiiensis (Bugnico? urt) Subram. et Jain 12 ? ? 16 4 ? 16 ? ? 12 ? ?

D. rostrata (Drechsler) Richard? son et Fraser 12 6 ? 18 16 ? 10 ? ? ______

Eladia saccula (Dale) Smith 12 ? ? _____ ___ ___

Epicoccum purpurascens Ehrenb. ex Schlecht 8__ ___ ___ ___

Fusarium culmorum (Smith) Saccardo 72 32 ? 72 60 16 100 60 40 60 36 12

F. eguisdi (Cda.) Saccardo 28 16 ? 24 ? ? 48 16 12 40 16 4 F. graminearum Schwabs 60 36 ? 56 16 ? 80 40 20 60 24 12 F. oxysporum (Schl. ex Fr.)

Snyder et Hansen 55 15 ? 60 18 ? 60 16 8 40 20 4 F. solani (Mart.) Saccardo 75 30 8 64 24 10 68 32 8 45 25 6 Fusidium viride Grove 80 35 15 100 36 16 82 56 16 50 32 ? Fusidium wp- 30 18 6 32 18 6 40 20 ? 28 12 ? GUmanidla humicola Barron 10 ? ? ___ 16__ 12 ? ? Gliodadium roseum (Link) Thom 30 18 ? 40 18 ? 32 16 ? 48 10 ? Drechslera sorokiniana (Sago.)

Subi_manian et Jain 30 ? ? 32 ? ? 40 ? ? 28 ? ? D. maydis (Nisikado) Subrama-

nian et Jain ____ ___ 16 _ _ 8 ? ?

Heterosporium allii Ellis et Mar- tius ___ ___ 12 ? ? 10 ? ?

Humicola grisea Traaen 24 32 12 24 ? ? 25 16 8 16 10 - Memnonidla echinata (Riv.)

Galloway 64 28 ? 60 36 - 68 56 - 44 28 ? MonUia sitophila (Mont.) Sacc. 16 ? ? ? ? ? 18 10 ? 12 ? ?

PeniciUiumfuniculosum Thom 40 20 ? 60 40 16 60 48 12 40 28 8 P. javanicum Van Beyma 28 12 ? 36 18 20 84 48 16 64 42 14



P. stipitatum Thom 24 10? 20 ? ? ____ _____

P. nigricans (Bain.) Thom 80 64 20 72 36 20 84 48 16 64 42 14

P.stoloniferumTKOM. 28 16 10 32 15 ? 40 16 ? 16 ? ?

P. terrestre Jensen 42 18 8 40 28 10 24 6 6 ? 4 ?

P. vermiculatum Dangeard 48 24 4 16 ? ?- 12 ? ? ? ? ?

PeniciUvum sp. 100 80 32 100 60 24 80 40 16 60 32 16

Periconia macrospinosa Lefebure et Johnson 4__ _ _ _ _____ _____

Phoma hibernica Grimes, Connor et Cummins 20 8 - 28 12 ? 16 8 - 24 6 -

Pink sterile mycelial form 10 ? ? ____ ___ ___

Sderotium rolfsii Sacc. 24 10? _ ? __ ___ 12 ? _

S. stipitatum Berk, et Curr. 16 12? _ ? __. ___ 10 ? ?

Scoputariopsis brevicaulis (Sacc.) Bainier 14 14 - 20 16 - 24 16 - 24 12 -

Sepedonium chrysospermum (Bull.) Fries 16 14 - 30 16 - 26 14 - 36 12 -

S. roseum (Link) Fries 18 12 - 30 12 ? 20 12 - 36 16 4

Sporotrichum carthusioviride Rai et Mukerji 28 16 12 36 18 8 34 16 8 28 18 8

S. roseum Link ex Fries 16 ? . ? 18 12 ? 16 16 ? 18 ? ?

Stachybotrys chartarum (Ehrenb.) Hughes 16 8 - 16 6 - 20 14 - 20 4 -

Starheyomyces koorchalomoides Agnihothrudu 25 10 - 40 28 ? 32 10 - 36 12 -

Stysanus medius Sacc. ___ __ ? 5__ ___

Trichoderma viride Pers. ex Fries 100 75 15 100 80 10 100 60 16 100 80 32

Trichothecium roseum (Pers.) Link 55 25 ? 60 28 16 50 40 16 60 16 ?

Trichurus terrophilus Swiet et etPovAH 10-- 16-? ___ ___

White sterile mycelial form 100 96 40 100 100 40 100 60 40 100 80 20

Yellow sterile mycelial form 20 ? ? ___ _ 4 _ ___

Yeast like fungi 24 ? ? 40 ? ? 28 ? ? 24 ? ?

Corticium solani Kuhn 36 18 10 16 ? ? 10 ? ? ? ? ?

Physarum sp. 4 _ _ 4 _ _ ___ ___

Total number of genera 52 ~33 15 40 32 14 4*5 3l 16 40 25 9

Total number of species_109 78_35 93 72_28 98 65_33 82 47_23

Authorities of binomials in this list are given either in Gilman (1967), Ellis (1971),Subramanian (1971), or Tandon (1968)

except C. dasgupti (Behera et Mukerji 1974), A. boydii, A. arenarius, A. recurvatus, G. humicola (Behera et al. 1973), A. penicillo- formis (Mukerji et Rao 1979), D. dlissii (Saxena et Mukerji 1970), P. stipitatum (Rai et Tiwari 1061) and S. carthusioviride (Rai et Mukerji 1962) which were collected from authentic reports.



Table 4. Special group distribution by presence in samples of East locality

Dejpth in cm

No. of % of species total

No. of % of isolates total

15



30



Phycomycetes 16

Ascomycetes 7

Deuteromycetes 84

Aspergillus 15

PenicUlium 8

Fusarium 5

Cephalosporium 3

Dematiaceae 38

Other imperfect fungi 15

Basidiomycetes 1

Myxomycetes 1

Total 109

14.68

6.42

77.06

13.76

7.34

4.59

2.75

34.86

159

61

608

101

94

70

16

200

18.98

7.28

72.55

12.05

11.22

8.35

1.91

23.87

13.76 127 15.15

0.92 8 0.95

0.92 2 0.24

100 838 100

13

4

60

9

8

5

3

26

9

1

78

16.67

5.13

76.92

11.54

10.25

6.41

3.85

33.33

11.54

1.28

100

74

13

337

66

65

31

18

93

64

4

428

17.29

3.03

78.74

15.42

15.19

7.25

4.20

21.73

14.95

0.94

100

28

6

5

1

3

7'

6

1

35

17.14

80.0

17.14

14.29

2.86

8.57

20.00

17.1

2.9

100

13

113

46

18

2

9

17

21

4

130

10.00

86.92

35.39

13.85

1.54

6.92

13.07

16.15

3.08

100



Table 5. Special group distribution by presence in samples of West locality

Depth in cm 3 15 30

No of % of No. of % of No. of % of No. of % of No. of % of No. of % of species total isolates total species total isolates total species total isolates total

Phycomycetes 13 13.98 148 17.83 10 13.89 59 14.25 2 7.14 6 5.88

Ascomycetes 7 7.53 63 7.59 6 8.33 25 6.04 ? ? ? ?

Deuteromycetes 71 76.34 616 74.22 56 77.78 330 79.21 26 92.86 96 94.12

AspergUlus 15 16.13 121 14.58 10 13.89 75 18.12 6 21.43 32 31.37

Penicillium 8 8.60 90 10.84 6 8.33 47 11.35 4 14.29 17 16.67

Fusarium 5 5.38 66 7.96 4 5.56 24 5.80 2 7.14 6 5.88

Cephalosporium 3 3.22 17 2.05 3 4.17 17 4.11 3 10.71 8 7.84

Dematiaceae 30 29.03 207 24.94 23 31.94 100 24.15 7 25.00 14 13.73

Other imperfect fungi 10 13.97 115 13.85 10 13.89 67 16.18 4 14.29 19 18.63

Basidiomycetes 1 1.08 2 0.24 _____ ____

Myxomycetes 1 1.08 1 0.12 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Total 93 100 830 100 72 100 414 100 28 100 102 100



Table 6. Special group distribution by presence in sample of North locality

Depth in cm

No. of species

7o vi total

No. of isolates

%of total

No. of species total

15

No. of isolates

%of total

No. of species

30

%of total

No. of isolates total

Phycomycetes 15 Ascomycetes 8 Deuteromycetes 74

AspergUlus 14 PenicUlium 7 Fusarium 5 Cephalosporium 3 Dematiaceae 34 Other imperfect fungi ll

Basidiomycetes 1

Total 98

15.31 8.16

75.51 14.29

7.14 5.10 3.06

34.69

11.23 1.02

100

136 51

628 117

80 85 22

218

106 3

818

16.63 6.23

76.77 14.30

9.78 10.39 2.69

26.66

12.95 0.37

100

9 2

54 8 6 5 3

22

10

65

13.85 3.08

83.07 12.30 9.23 7.69 4.62

33.84

15.38

100

55 7

320 59 42 39 21 97

62

382

14.4 1.83

83.77 15.45 10.99 10.21

5.50 25.39

16.23

100

30 6 4 5 3 8

33

9.09

90.91 18.18 12.13 15.15

9.09 24.24

12.12

100

9

108 29 12 21

8 18

20

117

7.70

92.30 24-79 10.25 17.95

6.84 15.38

17.09

100

Table 7. Special group distribution by presence in sample of South locality

Depth in cm




15

No. of isolates

%of total

No. of species

30

%of total

No. of isolates total

Phycomycetes 8 9.76 64 11.19 5 10.64 15 6.44 - - - - Ascomycetes 6 7.31 27 4.72 ? __ _ _ ? ___ Deuteromycetes 68 82.93 481 84.09 42 89.36 218 93.56 23 100 63 100

AspergUlus ll 13.41 72 12.59 6 12.76 35 15.02 5 21.74 13 20.63 PenicUlium 5 6.10 50 8.74 5 10.64 28 12.02 3 13.04 9 14.29 Fusarium 5 6.10 59 10.31 5 10.64 29 12.45 5 21.74 9 14.29 Cephalosporium 3 3.66 21 3.67 3 6.39 18 7.72 3 13.04 8 12.70 Dematiaceae 31 37.80 176 30.77 17 36.17 68 29.18 3 13.04 13 20.63 Other imperfect fungi 13 15.86 103 18.01 6 12.76 40 17.17 4 17.40 ll 17.46

Total 82 100 572 100.00 47 100 233 100 23 100 63 100




and other non-sporulating fungi. The major groups of fungi in order of their do? minance were the genera AspergUlus, PenicUlium, Fusarium, Trichoderma, Clado?

sporium and Cephalosporium. In total, 17 species of AspergUlus were recorded in the present investigation, which occupied 25?35 % of the Fungi Imperfecti flora. Among them A. clavatus, A.fischeri and A. wentii rarely occurred in isolation

plates. Prominent members of the group were A. niger, A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. terreus, A. tamarii and A. nidulans. A. fumigatus was isolated in greater numbers

during summer months, where as, A. tamarii and A. nidulans in winter months.

Although, A. niger and A. flavus were recorded regularity through out the year, they were more prominent during June to October after the monsoon break. The second dominant group was the genus PenicUlium which shared 15?20 % of the

Deuteromycetes population. It was isolated in good numbers during winter months

extending from November to March. Frequently isolated species were P. funi- culosum, P. nigricans, P. vermiculatum and PenicUlium sp. Fusaria were quite frequent in rainy and winter months which comprised about 5 % of the population. Winter months were highly favourable for Cladosporium but in summer it was recorded infrequently.

Second dominant class was the Phycomycetes which shared 15?20 % of the total population. Rainy season was highly congenial for their occurrence. Frequently listed members were Choanephora cucurbitarum, Cunninghamella echinulata, Mucor hiemalis, M. mucedo, Rhizopus nodosus and R. stolonifer, but the rarely noted ones were Pythium sp., Zygorhynchus sp. and Chlamydoabsidia dasgupti. Members of the Ascomycetes did not represent in good numbers, however, Neuros-

pora crassa, Chaetomium bostrychoides and C. cochlioides were oftenly isolated. The mycelial forms which did not sporulate in culture media amounted 0?5 % of the total number. White sterile mycelium consistently occurred in isolation

plates, Physarum sp. and pink sterile mycelium were rarely noted. All the individuals isolated from different depths of each site have been listed

with their percentage frequencies in table 3. Major groups of fungi with total number of species and total number of isolates including percentage to the totals have been listed in tables 4?7. In total 58 genera comprising 118 species were isolated of which the Deuteromycetes was represented by 38 genera and 90 species, the Phycomycetes by 10 genera and 18 species, the Ascomycetes by 6 genera and 8 species and the Basidiomycetes and Myxomycetes by single genus and species. It was observed that the months July to October yielded greater number of species, isolates and total counts, but the minimum was noted in May and June. Basing on the percentage frequency data five different categories, i.e. rare (0?20 %), infrequent (21?40 %), moderate (41?60 %), normal (61?80 %) and predominant (81?100 %), have been recognised (Table 8). The first two categories represented a greater share to the number of species where as the latter two comprised only few species. The species composition in different categories varied depending upon the season.

Table 9 indicates the similarity coefficient of each site with every other one. A comparison of similarity coefficient numbers shows that the values do not vary much among the localities, however, the number of shared species and the coef? ficient value are always less with South locality.



Table 8. Number of species in different categories based on their frequency class

Frequency category

East Locality

3 cm 15 cm 30 cm

West Locality

3 cm 15 cm 30 cm

North Locality

3 cm 15 cm 30 cm

South Locality

3 cm 15 cm 30 cm

0-20 %

21-40 %

41-60 %

61-80 %

81-100%

45

33

17

8

6

55

13

6

2

2

30

2

2

1

31

35

14

6

7

46

17

5

3

1

24

4

36

38

10

7

7

40

15

10

29

4

35

31

13

1

2

30

14

1

2

21

2

Table 9. Matrix showing number of species (italics), number of shared species (above the line) and similarity coefficient for each soil with every other soil (below the line)

Locality

East

West

North

South

East

109

90 89.1

_____ 87.9

80 83.7

West

93

87 91.9

75 85.7

North South

98

______ 87?7 82

h_ O tr"

O rn o to o H ?

O ?

W Hi H O H ?

o

o




DISCUSSION

Four localities selected for the present study do not vary much in their vegeta? tion types and mostly comprise the annual and perennial shrubs and herbs. Of all, West locality was the most disturbed area by cattle and the least disturbed one was the East locality. A comparison of the total fungal population indicates that

samples of West locality had maximum number of viable propagules, that develop? ed in culture plates, followed by the populations of East locality and North locality, but, on the other hand, East locality surpassed in having the number of fungal species and isolates. Of all the soils, minimum value in population and in number of isolates and species was obtained in samples of South locality. Soil microfungi show ecological and geoclimatic specificity in response to environmental variables

(Christensen 1960, Christensen et Whittingham 1965, Sewell 1959, Chri? stensen et al. 1962), but Tresner and his coworkers (1954) have stated that the

composition of fungal species in communities is affected by the aerial vegetation, and therefore, a particular species can not be found always associated with others to form distinct communities. Different vegetations supporting different communi? ties of soil fungi have been reported by others (Orput et Curtis 1957, Curtis et Greene 1949, Christensen 1969). Also, opinions vary on the geoclimatic speci? ficity as no specific fungal communities are reported from desert soils (Ranzoni 1968, Vollmer et Bamberg 1977). In the present study it is difficult to find distinct communities of soil microfungi basing on the vegetational type and soil texture which do not vary distinctly from one another. However, environmental variables exert great influence on their occurrence in different seasons. Therefore, some members were predominantly isolated in one season rather than other seasons, but certain fungi which consistently occurred throughout the year perhaps did not suffer much from such extremes as the soil environment is physically better buffered than subaerial environment to support them (Garrett 1955).

A marked difference in qualitative and quantitative data during summer months is refered to the high temperature and low atmospheric humidity together with the affected soil parameters like moisture content and other nutrients which may cause restricted vegetative growth, formation of resting spores and inactivation of viable propagules. Variation in fungal populations is governed by changes in

atmospheric temperature, relative humidity and availability of soil moisture and nutrients (Tresner et al. 1954, Webster et Dix 1960, Christensen et al. 1962, Stevenson et Chase 1957). Temperature itself greatly affects the soil microflora

(Kubat et al. 1979). Pady et Kelley (1953) have stated that seasonal variation in fungal flora depends on the nature of the substrate, factors operating inside the soil and the immediate environment above it.

The present study reports AspergUlus as the most dominant genus of all followed

by PenicUlium and Fusarium. There are conflicting reports with regards to domin? ance of one or other fungus in different soils. AspergUlus was reported to be the

dominant genus in soils of Georgia (Miller et al. 1957), forest soils of Sagar (Saksena 1955), grass land soils of Varanasi (Dwivedi 1966, Misra 1965), soils of Lucknow (Mukerji 1966), soils of Andhra Pradesh (Rama* Rao 1970) and in 36 soil samples collected from various corners of India (Upadhyay et Rai 1979) whereas PenicUlium as the dominant genus was isolated in soils of Wiken Fen




(Stenton 1953), Manitoba (Bisby et al. 1933) and in many other soils of Western countries. The present finding on dominance of fungi confirms the reports of Indian workers and is in agreement with workers of some other countries.

A general trend in decrease of fungal population is observed from surface downwards. A large number of isolates were listed from the top most layer and 15 cm depth, but only very few, certain members of AspergUlus, PenicUlium,

Cladosporium herbarum, Cephalosporium spp., Trichoderma viride, Acrophialophora nainiana and the white sterile mycelium which had the wider adaptability to the conditions prevailing at 30 cm depth were isolated from there. A decrease in popula? tion of all types of microbial counts is observed in some Sudanese soils (Hegazi et Ayoub 1979) and AspergUlus, PenicUlium and Fusarium in Delhi soils (Behera et Mukerji 1979). Observations made by Eicker (1970) at different soil depths reveal that PenicUlium casei had a tendency to increase at lower depths where as

Cladosporium could be recovered from soils as deep as 76 cm from the surface. In addition to the environmental factors, it has been realised in the present

study that soil factors also play an important role on the occurrence and abundance of microfungi in different soils. Various investigators have directly correlated the fungal population with the moisture contents of soils, more the water content was more the population (Waksman 1944, Tresner et al. 1954, Eicker 1970, Rama Rao 1970). Orput et Curtis (1957) have reported that different fungi

respond differently to the moisture levels of soils. The present investigation records a general correlation between the total population of fungi and the moisture level in different seasons of the year, but the abundance of certain fungi in winter and summer months bears no positive correlation. Menon et William (1957) have found greater number of fungi at lower than higher moisture level; the study was conducted in soils having maximum water content nearing saturation point.

Fungi largely prevail in acid soils and bacteria in alkaline soils. Although much variation in pH was not there with EL, WL and NL, the south locality (SL) exhibited a high pH which might be one of the factors for less population and isolate numbers in that soil. However, it is not possible to assign this factor at lower depths having less pH content. Soil pH is not an important factor in deter?

mining the fungal flora (Eggleton 1938, Menon et William 1957). Of all the factors, organic and nitrogen contents have a major impact on the

abundance and occurrence of fungi in various soils. A direct correlation has been obtained between organic and nitrogen contents with the total populations in different soils and depths. Gradual decrease in total population and isolate numbers at different depths corresponded with the organic and nitrogen contents of soils.

Similarily, WL which had the maximum population possessed highest amount of

organic carbon and nitrogen and SL with lowest organic and nitrogen contents exhibited minimum population. Similar observations have also been made by others (Upadhyay et Rai 1979, Rama Rao 1970, Saksena 1955). However, a negative correlation has been pointed out by Vandecaveye et Katznelson

(1940) and Ruschmann et Pozdema (1942). Stimulatory effect of phosphorus, potassium, iron, calcium and magnesium

on the development of soil fungi has been confirmed by many soil mycologists (Rama Rao 1970, Waksman et Starkey 1924). Different soils varying with the nutrients and moisture contents exhibited microbial activity and total colony




counts different from one another (Montr et al. 1974). Soil fungi frequently affected

by the presence of calcium contents has been-reported by Saksena (1955). It is evident from the present observation that the higher amount of mineral nutrient in the surface layer favoured better population and a decrease at lower depths decreased the population level. Basing on the present observations it is concluded that seasonal variations in occurrence and abundance of microfungi at various

depths in forest soils of Delhi is governed by a coordinated effort of both environm? ental and edaphic factors.

Acknowledgements The authors are thankful to the Head, Department of Botany, Delhi University for providing

the necessary facilities.

SUMMARY

The occurrence and distribution of microfungi studied in different forest soils of Delhi are mostly governed by the temperature and moisture contents of soils. The abundance of fungi in different soils depends on the organic and nitrogen contents together with the other nutrient factors. The surface layer always ex? hibits maximum population, isolates and species numbers which gradually decline with depth increase.

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Received 17 March 1983



seasonal variation and distribution of microfungi in forest soils of delhi

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