Diversity of aeromycoflora at two different heights in tea field

Abstract

Vertical distribution of aeromycoflora at two different heights (above and below) canopy level) over a stand of mature tea at Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Jorhat, Assam (94012’E Long. 26047’N Lat.) was studied by gravity impaction method for one year at monthly interval August, 2009 to July, 2010. A total of 4034 fungal colonies were recovered from two different heights. Total fungal population was higher (2655 colonies) in air near ground level, below canopy and minimum (1379 colonies) in air above canopy level (1379 colonies. The meanmycoflora varied depending on the month and themean concentration of viablemycoflora was invariably higher (221 colonies) within canopy level of tea plant (ground level) than above the plucking level (114 colonies). A. niger, A. fumigatus, Alternaria, Cephalosporium, Fusarium, Yellow Penicillium, Nigrospora and Rhizopus occurred in higher number in the air above canopy than at ground level. Some fungi (Phoma, Zygosporium, Trichothecium and A. parasisitcus) were restricted to below canopy level and were not observed on air above canopy height.