Knowledge about the fungal spores most abundant in the atmosphere of a vineyard is of great use since it allows development of prediction models of the spore concentration, and therefore application of phytosanitary treatments only when high levels of fungal propaguls are detected. In this study the concentration of phytopathogenic spores is related with the different phenological stages of the...

The aerosolization process of fungal propagules of three species (Aspergillus versicolor, Penicillium melinii, and Cladosporium cladosporioides) was studied by using a newly designed and constructed aerosolization chamber. We discovered that fungal fragments are aerosolized simultaneously with spores from contaminated agar and ceiling tile surfaces. Concentration measurements with an optical pa...

Some fungal spore species have been found in laboratory studies to be very efficient ice nuclei. However, their potential impact on clouds and precipitation is not well known and needs to be investigated. Fungal spores as a new aerosol species were introduced into the global climate model (GCM) ECHAM5-HAM. The inclusion of fungal spores acting as ice nuclei in a GCM leads to only minor changes ...

The ambient atmosphere is dominated with pollen and spores, which trigger allergic reactions and diseases and impact negatively on human health. A survey of pollen and fungal spores constituents of the atmosphere of Garki, Abuja (North-Central Nigeria) was carried out for 1 year (June 1, 2011-May 31, 2012). The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and abundance of pollen and fungal ...

OBJECTIVES To generate baseline data for indoor airborne fungal spores in noncomplaint residential properties (with no moisture/mold-related problems) and to identify home characteristics indicative of elevated fungal levels. METHODS Air samples were collected onto petroleum jelly-coated slides from living rooms of 100 residential properties in Leicestershire, United Kingdom, using a Burkard ...

Cryptococcus neoformans was first described as a human fungal pathogen more than a century ago. One aspect of the C. neoformans infectious life cycle that has been the subject of earnest debate is whether the spores are pathogenic. Despite much speculation, no direct evidence has been presented to resolve this outstanding question. We present evidence that C. neoformans spores are pathogenic in...

Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitously present respiratory pathogen. The outcome of a pulmonary disease may vary significantly with fungal viability and host immune status. Our objective in this study was (1) to assess the ability of inhaled irradiation-killed or live A. fumigatus spores to induce allergic pulmonary disease and (2) to assess the extent to which inhaled dead or live A. fumigatu...

Investigations in the airborne mycoflora of Karachi was carried out using Spore Trapper technique along with culture media Petri plate technique. In order to collect different types of airborne fungal spores, five sites were selected for installing the spore trappers. In the course of collected spores, different types of fungal spores were identified. The study revealed that the fungal spores w...

The characteristics of a pollen season, such as timing and magnitude, depend on a number of factors such as the biology of the plant and environmental conditions. The main aim of this study was to develop mathematical models that explain dynamics in atmospheric concentrations of pollen and fungal spores recorded in Rzeszów (SE Poland) in 2000-2002. Plant taxa with different characteristics in t...

A technique for inoculation with precise numbers of fungal spores on leaves and stems of plants was developed. The technique consisted of placing 1-μl drops with a fixed number of spores on the surface of leaves and stems, and covering each inoculum drop with a 10-μl drop of low-temperature gelling SeaPlaque agarose to fix the inoculum on the target site. With this technique single zoospores of...