Studies on the mycoflora of Aswan High Dam Lake, Egypt: Monthly variations

Abstract

Fifty-one species and one variety appertaining to twenty one genera of mesophilic fungi were recovered from the monthly samples of marginal water (44 species, 1 variety and 18 genera) and submerged mud (78 species, 1 variety and 30 genera) of Aswan High Dam Lake during the period from July 1985 to December 1986. The most common species were Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus, A. terreus, A. niger and Penicillium funiculosum. The highest fungal populations were almost detected either in October, in December 1985 or in February 1986. Of the 12 thermophilic and thermotolerant fungal species, A. fumigatus and A. nidulans were the most common. Paecilomyces variotii, Rhizomucor pusillus, Thermomyces lanuginosus, Thermoascus thermophilus and Sporotrichum thermophilum were fairly common in one locality or more. The physico-chemical characteristics of water and mud samples were also followed.