Horizontal Distribution of Mangrove Related Higher Marine Fungi along the Salav creek in Raigad District of Maharashtra

Abstract

Background: Mangroves being detritus based ecosystems, fungi populations are involved in detritus processing. An attempt was made to study the diversity of marine fungi associated with the mangroves at the Salav creek of Raigad district in Maharashtra.

Methods:  An attempt was made to study the horizontal distribution of higher marine fungi in the five zones, from the centre of the creek to the bank of the creek at 1 meter each. The fungal species associated with mangrove plants and drifted plant parts were recorded throughout the year. The occurrence of fungal species was identified by direct observation method and by making the culture. Frequency of occurrence of the fungal species was determined.

Findings: At the Salav creek of Raigad district of Maharashtra there is a very good mangrove vegetation with some of the dominant mangrove plant species of Avicennia, Sonneratia. Total 40 fungal species (28 from group ascomycota, 02 from mucoromycotina, 09 from hyphomycetes and 01 from coelomycetes) were recorded. Fungal species like Aspergillus flavus, Curvularia lunata, Periconia prolifica, Phoma sp., Trichocladium achrasporum, Fusarium oxysporum, Halocyphina villosa, and Halosarpheia minuta shows high frequency of occurrence. Presence of large number of fungal species certainly help to maintain the nutrient recycling and ecological balance as it is observed in the research but increasing industrialization along the Revdanda –Salav creek may reduce this fungal population in the future causing the ecological threats. It was the first attempt to explore the Manglicolous fungi from this area and it adds to the data and knowledge on the marine fungi along the coast of Raigad district.