Soil solarization and the composition of soil fungal community in upper Egypt

Abstract EN

In Upper Egypt, 6 weeks solarization of soil resulted in elevating soil temperature to ranges considered to be lethal or sublethal to many soil fungi.

The composition of soil fungal community was altered in solarized soil.

Both total count and number of fungal species detected on PDA medium at 28  2oC were greatly reduced in solarized soil as compared to unmulched soil.

On the other hand, number of fungal genera was not significantly affected by soil solarization throughout the sampling period (0 – 13 months).

At the end of solarization period, several fungi re-colonized solarized soil and the total count of soil fungi was significantly higher than that of unmulched soil.

Counts of thermophilic/ thermotolerant fungi isolated on YpSs were significantly reduced at the end of solarization period (40 days).

Number of thermophilic/thermotolerant genera and species was not significantly affected by soil solarization.