Eman M Bassiouni¹ and Wafaa K Taia²*

¹Botany and Microbiology Department, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
²Faculty of Science, Department of Botany and Microbiology, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

*Corresponding Author: Wafaa K Taia, Faculty of Science, Department of Botany and Microbiology, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.

Received: May 25, 2021 ; Published: June 11, 2021

Abstract

This study deals with the investigation of both pollen grains and fungal spores trapped from the aerosol of Alexandria city. A Hirst type volumetric seven-day recording trap supplied by Burkrad Scientific (UK) was used and fixed at the University building in El-Shatby district 40m above ground. The results obtained throughout a full year, from May 2019 till April 2020, showed low annual pollen index of 378. The maximum records were in May and June 2019 as well as April 2020. The dominated species were Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae complex, Casuarina, Arecaceae, Pinus and Utrica representing 9.6%, 8.7%, 6.7%, 5.5% and 4.9% respectively. The fungal spores count was greater than the pollen grains as it showed 4176 annual spore index and dominated by Cladosporium, Alternaria and Aspergillus/Penicillium type (1216, 1133 and 319 respectively). While Beltrania, Tilletia, Pithomyces and Pleospora were the minimum counts. The maximum records were in June and July 2019, while the lowest counts were in January and February 2020. Correlation analyses of the results obtained with the climatic factors indicated that the pollen grains do not correlate with any climatic factors but depend on the phenology of the recorded species. The density of the fungal spores has positive correlation with both temperature and humidity. Pollen and spore approximate calendars for El-Shatby district in Alexandria city.

Keywords: Aeropalynology; Allergy; Fungal Spores; Pollen Grains; Pollinosis; Pollution

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Citation

Citation: M Bassiouni and Wafaa K Taia. “Study of the Airborne Pollen and Spores in the Atmosphere of Alexandria City, Egypt”. Acta Scientific Microbiology 4.7 (2021): 38-49.