Isolation and Characterisation of Dominant Fungal Species from Bathinda, Punjab, India
Abstract
Background: Fungi play crucial roles in ecosystem functioning and have significant environmental and biotechnological applications. This study aimed to assess fungal diversity and identify predominant species from environmental samples collected in Bathinda, Punjab, India.
Methods: Environmental samples were collected from various locations, including rhizospheric soils and infected plant tissues. Fungal species were isolated using standard culturing techniques and identified based on colony morphology and microscopic characteristics. Representative isolates were selected for molecular identification through 18S rRNA gene sequencing, and sequences were submitted to GenBank for confirmation and phylogenetic analysis.
Results: A total of 25 fungal isolates were recovered and classified into multiple genera, including Aspergillus, Penicillium, Curvularia, Fusarium, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Rhizopus, Talaromyces, Botrytis, Purpureocillium, Acremonium, and Trichoderma. Frequently isolated species included Aspergillus niger, A. nidulans, A. fumigatus, Penicillium citrinum, P. oxalicum, P. bilaiae, Purpureocillium sodanum, and Aspergillus ochraceopetaliformis. Rhizospheric soil samples yielded isolates such as Purpureocillium sodanum, Trichoderma spp., Acremonium implicatum, Talaromyces pinophilus, and A. ochraceopetaliformis, while infected plant tissues contained less frequently isolated genera such as Botrytis, Alternaria, Fusarium, Bipolaris, and Curvularia spp.
Conclusion: Fungal diversity in the agro-climatic region of Bathinda, Punjab, remains poorly documented. Notably, Purpureocillium sodanum, and Aspergillus ochraceopetaliformis were identified for the first time in Punjab, India. Their isolation from the rhizosphere of healthy plants highlights their potential ecological and biotechnological significance. The findings provide baseline data for future studies on fungal biodiversity, plant–microbe interactions, and sustainable agricultural applications in this underexplored region.
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