Fungal spores in the atmosphere of Rzeszow [South-East Poland]

Continuous aerobiological monitoring has been conducted in Rzeszów from 2000-2002, using the volumetric method. On each microscope slide 1 horizontal band was analyzed, divided into 24 fields corresponding to hours. For the analysis, 10 easy to identify fungal spores were chosen from ones regarded as allergenic: Alternaria, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Drechslera (type), Epiccocum, Ganoderma, Pithomyces, Polythrincium, Stemphylium, and Torula. The results were statistically tested using the x2 test as well as the Kruskal-Wallis test and ANOVA. The results were used to develop a calendar of the occurrence of fungal spores in Rzeszow. The spores occurred in the air throughout the whole year, but maximum concentrations were usually reached in July and August. Two groups of taxa were distinguished. Alternaria, Cladosporium, Botrytis, Epicoccum, Ganoderma spp. and Drechslera belong to the first group, and their spores and conidia were characterised by high frequency and abundance in the air. Low SFI values (Seasonal Fungal Index) and frequency of below 50% occurred in the second group of taxa, i.e. Pithomyces, Polythrincium, Stemphylium and Torula spp. Conidia of Cladosporium spp. were the most frequent, SFI values were very high and average annual concentrations did not differ significantly throughout the 3 years of study. The research confirmed the overlap of the period of maximum concentration of allergenic spores and the period of the domination of Poaceae and Artemisia pollen in the air.