Identification Of Some Aspergillus Species By Morphological Characteristics From Aqua And Agri Waste Contaminated Water Bodies

Abstract

Fungal pollutants have been detected in the surface water & marine environment, and these pose a potential threat to environmental integrity, biodiversity, human and animal health. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of human pathogenic opportunistic mycotoxin producing fungi in river water which is used as water resource for local habitats. The objective is to detect mycotoxin producing Aspergillus species by using morphological characteristics. The genus Aspergillus is one of the most important filamentous fungi that affects the human and aquatic population. In our present study conducted at Ganagalawanipeta village river water (Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh) which is contaminated by agri & aqua culture wastes, a wide variety of Mycotoxin producing fungal species were detected.  30 samples were taken for period of six months and subjected for screening and occurrence. This article focuses on Aspergillus genus identification by using several morphological characteristics like colony diameter, colony color and microscopic features like conidia width, length, shape, ornamentation, stipe length, width, shape, ornamentation and branching pattren. The samples were inoculated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) and other specified culture media like, Czapek yeast agar (CYA), Malt extract agar (MEA), czapek dox agar (CZ) followed by incubation at 25^oc and 37^oc. The most commonly identified 4 species of Aspergillus are Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Aspergillus terreus. The results of present study suggest that the river inhabitants in particular research site Ganagalawanipeta village are at a greater risk of getting life-threatening fungal infections which may lead to various morbidities. Our future goal is to study the aflD gene which has a role in monitoring the biosynthetic direction of aflatoxin biosynthesis in A. flavus and A. parasiticus. This could thus be a good a target gene for inactivation, to develop efficient means of aflatoxin control by using RNA silencing technology.