Effect of seasonal variations and air pollution by cement dust on soil fungal population at Helwan, Egypt

Abstract EN

Spring was unsuitable season for both fungal count and species diversity value in soil at Helwan.

Autumn was the favourable season for species variabilities and not for fungal count.

On the contrary, winter was the most suitable season for fungal counts and not for species diversity.

Site 1 (upwind and less polluted with cement dust) was accompanied by the highest species diversity value, while site 4 (downwind to the cement effluents) was favourable to colonization of the highest fungal count.

Site 3 (inside the factory and heavily polluted) was unsuitable for both fungal count and species variabilities.

Fusarium oxysporum was the most frequent fungus in all sites.

Aspergillus ochraceous was sensitive to cement pollution in soil and can be used as mycobiologicai indicator, while Cladosporium herbarum was the most resistant fungus to such pollution.