New findings of airborne fungal spores in the atmosphere of Havana, Cuba, using aerobiological non-viable methodology

Introduction. Although airborne fungal diversity in tropical countries is known to be considerable, aerobiological research to-date has identified only a part of the fungal mycobiota that may have an impact both on human health and on crops. Previous studies in Havana city identified only 30 genera and 5 spore types; therefore,new research is required in these latitudes. This study sought to investigate airborne spore levels in Havana, with a view to learning more about local fungal diversity and assessing its influence in quantitative terms. Materials and method. A Hirst type volumetric sampler was located on the rooftop of a building 35 meters above ground level, in a busy area of the city. Sampling was carried out continuously (operating 24hours/day), at 10 L per minute during the year 2015. The fungal spores were collected on a Melinex tape coated with a 2% silicone solution. The results were expressed as spores per cubic meter (spores/m3) of air when to referring to daily values, and spores count if referring to annual value. Results. Fourteen new genera were identified in the course of volumetric sampling: six produce ascospores and eight conidia. Morphobiometric characteristics were noted for all genera, and airborne concentrations were calculated. These genera accounted for 56.4% of relative fungal frequency over the study year. Conclusions. Many airbone fungi are primary causes of both respiratory disease and crop damage. These new findings constitute a major contribution to Cuba’s aerobiological database

Forecasting ARIMA models for atmospheric vineyard pathogens in Galicia and Northern Portugal: Botrytis cinerea spores

Botrytis cinerea is the cause of the most common disease in the Galician and Portuguese vineyards. Knowledge of the spore levels in the atmosphere of vineyards is a tool for forecasting models of the concentration of spores in order to adjust the phytosanitary treatments to real risk infection periods. The presented study was conducted in two vineyards, one located in Cenlle (Spain) and other in Amares (Portugal), from 2005-2007. A volumetric trap, model Lanzoni VPPS-2000, was used for the aerobiological study. Phenological observations were conducted on 20 vines of three grape varieties in Cenlle (Treixadura, Godello and Loureira) and in Amares (Trajadura, Loureiro and Pedernã), by using the BBCH scale. The highest total spore concentrations during the grapevine cycle were recorded in 2007 in both locations (Cenlle:16,145 spores; Amares:1,858 spores), and the lowest, in 2005 in Cenlle (1,700 spores) and in Amares (800 spores) in 2006. In Cenlle, the best adjusted model was an ARIMA (0,2,2), including the relative humidity four days earlier, while in Amares there was an ARIMA (1,2,3), considering the relative humidity three days earlier and rainfall two days earlier. The t-test showed no significant difference between observed and predicted data by the model