The Biobrio 7(1 & 2), 2020

Isolation and Identification of Keratinophilic Fungi from Burning Ghat Soil of Jharkhand Region of India

Ritesh Kumar

ABSTRACT:

Forty eight soil samples were collected from 12 burningghat soils of Ranchi, Jharkhand and screened for presence of keratinophilic fungi using hair baiting techniques for isolation. Fungal growths appearing on the baits after two to four weeks of incubation at room temperature were microscopically examined and cultured on mycological media. Cultures were then identified on the basis of colonial and microscopic features. A total of 107 colonies of different keratinophilic fungi were isolated from 48 soil samples. The isolated keratinophilic fungi were classified into 9 species belonging to 6 genera. The isolated keratinophilic fungi were in the following order of dominance: Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus niger (14.02%), Mucor pucillus (13.08%), Chrysosporium sp. (12.15%),F. Oxysporum (11.2%),A. Terreus and Penicillium chrysogenum (9.34%) and A. Flavus and Penicillium sp. (8.41%).

Keywords:    

Burning Ghat, Hair baiting technique, Keratinophilic fungi

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