Vol 7, No 1, December 2016.
Abstract: Forty-nine species and 2 varieties belonging to 32 genera were recovered from the air of banana plantations during the period from spring 2007 to summer 2008 on glucose-Czapek's agar at 28°C and YpSs agar at 45°C. The total number of propagules caught on glucose-Czapek's agar was greatly exceeding those caught on YpSs agar. The fungal diversity on glucose-Czapek's agar was also higher than those on YpSs agar. The most common mesophilic fungi were species of Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Penicillium, Cochliobolus, Acremonium and Setosphaeria. The most common thermophilic and thermotolerant fungi were Aspergillus, Neosartorya, Thermomyces, and Emericella. Among the 8 isolates tested for enzyme-producing capabilities, Setosphaeria rostrata, Cochliobolus lunatus and Fusarium solani came the most potent in producing both exo- and endo- 1,4-β-glucanases, pectinases and L-asparaginase, respectively.
Keywords: fungi, banana, air, cellulases, pectinases, asparaginase.