Kansas Aeromycology V: Penicillium and Aspergillus

Abstract

The genera Penicillium and Aspergillus formed 2 of the more important components of the fungus population of the air at Manhattan, Kansas, during a two-year study from September, 1956, through August, 1958. Results are based only on studies of colonies obtained by exposing plates of rose-bengal-streptomycin agar in the Pady-Rittis and General Electric samplers, since spores of these genera could not be identified from exposed silicone slides. Penicillium formed 6.1% of the total colonies while Aspergillus represented 5.4%. The occurrence of both genera was greatly affected by climatic conditions. In general, however, Penicillium appeared to prefer warmer weather while Aspergillus preferred cooler temperatures. A total of 41 species of Penicillium was identified, of which Penicillium oxalicum was the commonest, representing 56% of all colonies. Aspergillus was represented by 23 species, with A. amstelodami and A. niger formed 32% and 23%, respectively, of the total colonies.