Abstract
100 osmophilic species in addition to two varieties which belong to 38 genera were isolated from desert soils of Saudi Arabia. The most prevalent genera were Asperngillus, Altemaria, Penicillium, Cephalosporium, Acremonium and Botryotrichum which occurred in 55–97.5% of the samples contributing 1.8–45.2% of total fungi. From the preceding genera A. amstelodami, A. fumigatus, A. terreus, A. niger, A. flavipes, A. repens, A. alternata, P. notatum, P. chrysogenum, P. citrinum, C.? racifi, A. strictum and B. atrogriseum were the most common. Five genera were recovered in moderate frequency namely, Ulocladium, Fusarium, Drechslera, Microascus, Syncephalastrum and Cladosporium which emerged in 25–42% of the samples comprising 0.7–2.8% of total fungi.
The results obtained in the present investigation reveal that the fungus flora of Saudi Arabian soils is of osmophilic nature.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdel-Hafez, S. L. I., Moubasher, A. H., & Abdel-Fattah, H. M., 1977. Studies on mycoflora of salt marshes in Egypt. IV. Osmophilic fungi. Mycopathologia 62: 143–151.
Ali, M. I., 1977. On the fungal flora of Saudi Arabia. I. Wadi Hanifa Bulletin of the Faculty of Science, Riyad University 8: 7–20.
Ali, M. I., Abu - Zinada, A. H. & El-Masharawi, Z., 1977. On the fungal flora of Saudi Arabia. II. Seasonal fluctuations of fungi in the rhizosphere of some plants. Bulletin of the Faculty of Science, Riyad University 203–214.
Fathi, S. M., El-Husseine, T. M., & Abu-Zinada, A. H., 1975. Seasonal variation of soil microflora and their activities in Riyadh region. II. Fungi. Bulletin of the Faculty of Science, Riadh University 7: 17–30.
Johnson, L. F., Curl, E. A., Bond, J. H., & Fribourg, H. A., 1959. Methods for studying soil microflora, Plant disease relationships. Burgess Pub. Co. Minneapolis.
Mazen, M. B., Moubasher, A. H. & Abdel-Hafez, A. I. I., 1977. Some ecological studies on Jordanian soil fungi. IV. Test of osmophilic ability. Naturalia Monspeliensia Serie Botanique (in press).
Moubasher, A. H., Abdel-Hafez, S. I. I. & Abdel-Kader, M. I. A., 1980. Osmophilic fungi of barley grains in Egypt, Bulletin of the Faculty of Science, Assiut University (in press).
Moustafa, A. F., 1975. Osmophilous fungi in the salt marshes of Kuwait. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 21: 1573–1580.
Moustafa, A. F. & Al-Musalam, A. A., 1975. Contribution to the fungal flora of Kuwait. Trans. Br. Myco. Soc. 65:547–553.
Piper, C. S., 1955. Soil and plant analyses. A laboratory manual of methods for the examination of soil and determination of the inorganic substituents of plant. Inter Pub. Inc. New York.
Raper, K. B. & Fennel, D. I., 1965. The genus Aspergillus. Willams & Wilkins, Baltimore, U.S. A.
Smith, N. R. & Dawson, V. T., 1944. The bacteriostatic action of rose bengal in media used for the plate counts of soil fungi. Soil Science 58: 467–471.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Abdel-Hafez, S.I.I. Osmophilic fungi of desert soils in Saudi Arabia. Mycopathologia 80, 9–14 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437172
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437172