Identification Fungi from Soil of different places in Baghdad

Abstract

Summary: The present study deals with isolation and characterization of fungi from different soil samples including: agricultural, fields, gardens, petroleum and cattle soil ) from Baghdad . The fungi have been isolated and identified by using two methods: direct isolation (soil plate method) and soil dilution method, using sabouraud’s dextrose agar (SDA). also the fungi have been examined microscopically with Lacto phenol cotton blue dye ,to determine the genus of the fungi isolates. The results were: 89 fungal isolates have been identified, and the results have shown that the highest percentage of fungi isolates was penicilium with 38.2%, followed by Mucur with 23.59%. The third one in the isolation percentage was alternaria with 14.6%, while yeast, Rhizopus, Fusarium and Aspergillus had the isolation percentages: 8.98% , 3.37% , 6.74% and 4.49% respectively.Introduction: The biodiversity refers to the variability of life on the earth, including all of the living species of animals, plants and microorganisms. Fungi are a major component of biodiversity; they are essential for the survival of other organisms and are crucial in global ecological processes [1].Soil microbial communities are among the most complex and diverse assemblages in the biosphere and they have important role in all of the ecosystem services provided by soils [2]. Plant roots release amino acids, carbohydrates and organic acids into the rhizosphere which stimulate the growth of a diverse microbial community [3].Microbial communities, particularly bacteria and fungi constitute an essential component of biological characteristics in soil ecosystems. It has been estimated that there is a minimum of 7, 12,000 fungal species worldwide [4] , only 5-13 % of the total estimated global fungal species have been described . The actual number of fungi is still unknown [5].Soil fungi described as the major decomposers in the soil ecosystem. They also provide us with very useful pharmaceutical products, such as antibiotics and other valuable substances, including enzymes, organic acids, pigments and secondary metabolites used in the food industry and fermentation [6].Soil fungi and bacteria have important roles in various biological cycles (BGC), also they influence on above ground