A comparison of fungi from polluted water

Abstract

A study on the mycoflora of two sites along a river was conducted. The dissolved oxygen content, 4-h permanganate demand and BOD of the river water showed both sites to be organically enriched but each to a different extent. Severe pollution at one site was attributed to the presence of industrial wastes. Fungi were isolated from water, sediment and debris collected from both sites. The site not polluted by industrial wastes yielded twenty-seven species from twenty genera while the severely polluted site yielded twelve species from nine genera. The latter site was also characterised by a predominance of C. tropicalis, P. pullulans, R. glutinis and R. rubra.