Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

Avinash V. Karne ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, Shahajiraje Mahavidyalaya, Khatav, District Satara, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to understand the incidence of various biocomponents over jowar (Sorghum vulgare) field, wheat field, groundnut field and maize field. Environmental monitoring was carried out by operating continuous volumetric Tilak Air Sampler for 4 consecutive Rabi seasons, for the first time in this unexplored locality. Apart from dust particles and fungal bio-aerosols, remaining 5 biocomponents are reported in this paper which belonged to the group 'Other types', comprising of hypha fragments, insect scales (parts), pollen grains, trichomes (hairs) and unidentified fungal spores. From the various crop fields studied, these bio components contributed highest (15.8%) over wheat field and lowest (9.4%) over maize field to the total airspora. Airborne biocomponents obtained peak in the month of November over wheat field (17.8%) and groundnut field (16.6%), when there was a record of 22.5°C and 21.8°C mean temperature, 54.4% and 56.7% mean relative humidity and 10.4 mm and 14.5 mm rainfall respectively. Similar peak was obtained in the air over jowar field (11.6%) and maize field (11.3%) in the month of March, when there was a record of 30.6°C and 30.1°C mean temperature, 42.4% and 42.2% mean relative humidity and nil record of rainfall. Allergenic nature of hyphal fragments, insect scales and pollen grains causing allergy and allergenic ailments in human health hazards is also presented in this paper.

Keywords

Airborne Biocomponents, Crop Fields, Aeroallergens, Pollen Grains, Tilak Sampler.

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Avinash V. Karne ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, Shahajiraje Mahavidyalaya, Khatav-415 505, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

Aeromycological investigations were conducted with the help of continuous volumetric Tilak air sampler over jowar, wheat and groundnut fields which gave continuous air sampling for fungal bioaerosols for three consecutive Rabi seasons. Altogether 46 bioaerosols were trapped in the sampler over jowar fields of which 20 types (74.4%) were pathogenic and 25 types (81.5%) were allergenic in nature. Similarly 50 bioaerosols were recorded over wheat fields of which 21 types (71.7%) were pathogenic and 25 types (85.8%) were allergenic. In the atmosphere over groundnut fields 47 bioaerosols were recorded of which 21 types (71.6%) were pathogenic and 26 types (81.9%) were allergenic in nature. From these three different crop fields total 30 types of bioaerosols were recorded of which 27 belonged to fungal spore types while remaining three types belonged to other types. Though more bioaerosols were encountered, but this paper reports only pathogenic and allergenic bioaerosols.

Keywords

Aeromycological Investigations, Fungal Bioaerosols, Aeroallergens, Crop Fields.

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Avinash V. Karne ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, Shahajiraje Mahavidyalaya, Khatav-415 505, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to understand the qualitative and quantitative incidence of fungal aerobiopollutants over maize. Environmental monitoring was carried out by operating continuous volumetric Tilak air sampler, which gave continuous air sampling for atmospheric aerobiopollutants. Apart from dust particles, altogether 44 types of aerobiopollutants were trapped in the sampler of which 39 belonged to fungal spore types. From these, 25 belonged to Deuteromycotina, 9 to Ascomycotina, 2 to Basidiomycotina, 2 to Mastigomycotina and 1 to Zygomycotina, while remaining 5 types belonged to non-fungal spore groups of other types. Aerobiopollutants obtained peak in the month of February with 29582/m³ of air and 37.7 spore percentages, when there was a record of 4.6 mm rainfall, average temperature of 21.3°C and 54.6% relative humidity. The pathogenic and allergenic nature of aerobiopollutants is discussed, and influence of meteorological parameters on these spore types is presented in this paper.

Keywords

Air Monitoring, Fungal Aerobiopollutants, Spore Types, Maize Fields, Meteorological Parameters.

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Prabhakar D. Kulkarni ¹, Avinash V. Karne ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, Shahajiraje Mahavidyalaya, Khatav-415 505, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to understand the incidence of different fungal biopollutants in atmosphere over brinjal field during Kharif season by operating Rotorod sampler and Petri plate exposer method. Altogether, 48 types of biopollutants were identified of which 43 belonging to fungal spore type and remaining 5 types belonging to group 'other types'. Out of the total 43 fungal spore types, 25 belonged to Deuteromycotina, 13 to Ascomycotina, 2 to Mastigomycotina, 2 to Zygomycotina, and 1 to Basidiomycotina. Cladosporium, Alternaria, Curvularia, Aspergilli, Nigrospora and Epicoccum were the dominant spore types. From Petri plate exposer method, 431 colonies were isolated, which were assigned to 16 genera with 13 genera of Deuteromycotina (75.55%), 3 to Mycelia Sterila (14.27%), 2 to Zygomycotina (8.34%), and 1 to Ascomycotina (1.85%). The relationship among incidence of these biopollutants in the air, changes in the meteorological conditions and the results are discussed.

Keywords

Aeroallergens, Fungal Biopollutants, Kharif Season, Brinjal Fields.

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Avinash V. Karne ¹, Prabhakar D. Kulkarni ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, Shahajiraje Mahavidyalaya, Khatav-415 505, Dist. Satara, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

The paper highlights the physico-chemical characteristics of eight freshwater bodies of Khatav Tahsil in Satara district of Maharashtra during winter and summer seasons. Investigations are based on different parameters, pH, EC, TDS, TSS, DO, BOD, COD, total alkalinity, total acidity, chlorides, free CO₂, hardness, nitrates, phosphates, sulphates, etc. for which no earlier reports are available on these waterbodies. The study revealed significant changes in water quality during the two seasons. pH of water was alkaline; EC, hardness and alkalinity tend to increase during summer and decrease in winter. DO was maximum during winter, and minimum during summer. The seasonal variations of various factors were studied and interrelationships existing between them discussed.

Keywords

Freshwater Bodies, Physico-Chemical Characteristics, Water Quality, Seasonal Variations.

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Avinash V. Karne ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, Shahajiraje Mahavidyalaya, Khatav-415 505, District Satara, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

Air monitoring over potato fields was carried out with the help of continuous volumetric Tilak air sampler for two consecutive Kharif seasons of 2002 and 2003, which gave continuous air sampling for atmospheric biopollutants. Spores of Cladosporium Link ex. Fr. were recorded with high concentration in the air over potato fields during both the Kharif season. Their contribution to the total airspora was recorded as 27.93% and 30.24% and the maximum monthly mean concentration as 19290/m³ and 156562/m³ of air during month of August in both the Kharif seasons respectively. The maximum daily mean concentration (6888/m³ of air and 5740/m³) was recorded on 13^th September 2002 and 18^th August 2003 during Kharif seasons of 2002 and 2003 respectively. The daily weather records of the parameters like temperature, relative humidity and rainfall were also maintained.

This spore type was recorded round the year in the atmosphere as it was most dominant as compared to other spore types in order of their concentration. The significance of these spores as aeroallergen is considered. The present paper deals with the relationship between incidence of Cladosporium spores and prevailing weather conditions.

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