Kansas Aeromycology v: Penicillium and Aspergillus

SUMMARYThe genera, Penicillium and Aspergillus, formed two of the more important components of the fungus population of the air at Manhattan Kansas, during a two-year study from September, 1956, through August 1958. Results are based only on studies of colonies obtained by exposing plates of rose bengal-streptomycin agar in the Pady-Rittis and General Electric samplers since spores of these genera could not be identified from exposed silicone slides. Penicillium formed 6.1% of the total colonies while Aspergillus represented 5.4%.The occurrence of both genera was greatly affected by climatic conditions. In general, however, Penicillium appeared to prefer warmer weather while Aspergillus preferred cooler temperatures.A total of 41 species of Penicillium was identified, of which Penicillium oxalicum was the commonest, representing 56% of all colonies Aspergillus was represented by 23 species, with A. amstelodami and A. niger formed 32% and 23%, respectively, of the total colonies.