Abundance of mangrove fungi along the East coast of Tamil Nadu, India

Distribution of fungi in Muthupettai mangrove along the East coast in Tamil Nadu was studied in terms of species diversity, seasonal variations, frequency of occurrence in Koraiyar (S1), Korimunai (S2), Manakkattu (S3), Lagoon (S4) and Kadalmunai (S5) of the estuarine system in two different seasons (Summer-Pre monsoon) for a period of 4 months (April, May, July and August,2003). The results showed the high diversity (59 species) in Manakkattu (S3) and low (46 species) in Koraiyar (S1). Among the 118, species of fungi isolated, 117 species were terrestrial and remaining 1 marine forms like, Halosphaeria maritima. Totally, 94 species were isolated from sediment samples followed by water with 83 species. Further in this study, maximum 98 fungal species were enumerated during pre-monsoon than summer with 78 species. Among the fungal members Aspergillus was the common genus represented with 27 species followed by Curvularia (12 species), Alternaria and Penicillium with 8 species respectively.