Aeromycological Indoor Environmental Study of Bharat Hitech Polyhouse Katurli, Amgaon, Gondia, (Maharashtra) India

INTRODUCTION

Polyhouse cultivation is the concept of growing potential crops in the modified natural environment for ensuring optimum growth of the crop plants without any or least stress and hence offers great scope to harness this potential of growing the high value crops by achieving independence of climate and weather, and to grow these crops during off -season and in marginal environments. Globally, there is a need to increase productivity and quality of the produce to meet the demand of ever-increasing quality and health-conscious consumers. Most vegetable growers are growing vegetables in conventional techniques in their fields. During vegetable cultivation many diseases and insect incidence occur in their crops at different stages and damaging the vegetable crops and deteriorating the quality. For the management of pests and disease growers are applying the insecticide indiscriminate way. Asa results they are getting low yield and poor quality. Growers get a low return due to high expenses on pesticides during vegetable production. Present day it has been proved that growing vegetables under protected cultivation techniques will give higher yield with better quality, and growers can get higher returns per unit area [1].

Aerobiological survey of intramural or extramural environments is the most important aspect in aero-microbiology. Microorganisms like moulds and yeasts are very common in the air, so fungal spores contribute to a major portion of the air spores. Aerobiological survey is of great interest for microbiologists and also has a greater impact on clinicians and allergic patients [2]

Growing crops under polyhouse conditions is gaining importance in the country because of achieving independence from adverse climate and weather, which ultimately influence the overall productivity and quality of the crop produced.  Polyhouses are often used in floriculture and nurseries as the economic value of flowers can justify their expense [3]

Fungal diseases constitute one of the biggest groups of foliar pathogens causing immense damage under protected environment [4]. The important fungal diseases include damping-off, crown and root rots, wilts, powdery mildews, downy mildews, Botrytis diseases, Sclerotinia rot, Alternaria diseases, and rust diseases [5]. Proper field sanitation is one of the most important management strategies, since once the buildup of inoculum occurs inside the polyhouse, it is very difficult to manage it.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Study area: –

The investigation was performed in Bharat Hitech Polyhouse Katurli Amgaon Tahsil, in district Gondia (Maharashtra), India, located at Latitude – 21.4590^o and Longitude – 80.3130^o

Sampling Method –

Polyhouse of Katurli, Amgaon Tahsil, in district Gondia, for one year from Feb. 2023 to Jan 2024. Air samples were collected from the two sections of the Polyhouse, viz. Plantation and Storage section by the two methods, such as exposure petri plate method and Hi- media Air sampler Mark-II method. Samples were collected at 15 day intervals with the help of the Petriplate method containing CZapek’s Dox Agar (CDA) fortified with streptomycin, two times in a month [6]. The petriplates were kept at five feet from the ground level exposed for 10-12 minutes and then petriplates were properly sealed, marked and incubated at room temperature. After 3-7 days, Colonies were observed, counted and sub – cultured for identification[7].

                Air Samples were collected at 15-day intervals with the help of the Hi Air sampler Mark II. Hi Media laboratories, India. Rose Bengal Agar Strips areused in the Sampler, and the sampler is operated for five minutes. Fungal Concentration is expressed as a number of Colonies forming units per cubic meter air, i.e. CFU_s/m³. After the sampling Rose Bengal Strip removed from the sampler, it is sealed and brought to laboratory for incubation at room temperature, and the growth of fungal colonies is observed.

CFU_s/m³ is calculated as follows.[8]

                        CFU_s/m³ =       Colonies on agar strip x 25

 Sampling Time in Minute

During the investigation period, climatic variation was found every month; there was more or less rainfall  in month of July (232.4 mm) more and less in December, followed by January (5.9mm). Humidity and temperature also vary in every month. Their highest percentage of humidity was in August  (85%) and lowest in the month of May (26%), with a high temperature.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Anaero mycological indoor environmental study of a polyhouse, data was conducted from February 2023 to January 2024. For this study, two section of polyhouse, such as plantation and storage section were selected. The indoor air sample were collected for one year at fortnightly interval by exposure petri plate method and Hi-media Air sampler Mark-II method..

            The total number of colonies trapped by exposure petri plate method in indoor environment of Polyhouse is 1233. Out of total more 633 colonies found in plantation section and less 600 colonies trapped in storage section in (Table 2).

Fungal spore exhibit seasonal variation. The rainy season have highest fungal spore concentration (41.44 %) followed by winter season (32.60%) while summer season have low concentration (25.94%) by petri plate method.

Fungal spores also show monthly variation. The maximum fungal spore concentration was found in month of August (13.54%) followed by September (11.12%), July (9.57%), October (9.40%), November (8.19%), February (7.78%), December (7.70%), January (7.30%), June (7.21%), March (6.65%), April (6.16%) and minimum in month of May (5.35%).

The total number of spores trapped by Hi-media Air sampler method in indoor environment Polyhouse is 5640CFU_s/m³(Table 3).

Out of total 5640 CFU_s/m³ more2860 CFU_s/m³found in plantation section and less in storage section2780 CFU_s/m³.

Fungal spore exhibit seasonal variation. The rainy season have highest fungal spore concentration (41.38%), followed by the winter season (32.53%), while the summer season has the minimum concentration (26.05%).

Fungal spores also show monthly variation. The maximum fungal spore concentration was found in month of August (12.85%) followed by September (11.52%), October (9.25%), July (9.21%), November (8.34%), February (8.34%), June (7.80%), March (7.53%), December (7.44%), January (7.00%), April (5.93%) and minimum in May (4.25%). More concentration was found in the plantation section compared to the storage section.

The monthly variation of fungal spore concentration shows similar results by both methods. Fungal spore concentration was highest in the month of August with high humidity and average temperature, while the lowest concentration was found in the month of May having low humidity and high temperature. [9]. Some dominant genera found in the poly house indoor environment areAspergillus,Cercospora,Mucor,Penicillium,Rhizoctonia,Cladosporium,Rhizopus, and Alternaria.

CONCLUSION

The highest concentration was found in the plantation section(167 colonies and 725 CFU_s/m³) while the minimum concentration was found in the storage section. The minimum concentration (66 colonies and 240 CFU_s/m³)was found in the month of May which had having less humidity with a maximum temperature. Fungal spore concentration varied seasonally as well as monthly according to meteorological parameters.Spore concentration exhibits seasonal variation; it was maximum in the rainy season, followed by winter, and minimum in summer.

The current study revealed that monthly variation exhibited the maximum fungal spore concentration in the month of August by both methods, having more humidity and moderate temperature and minimum in the month of May, where low humidity and high temperature. Humidity more than 80% and moderate temperature between 25^oC to 30^oC provide the best environment for fungal growth. The precipitation was more from June to September and fungal spore concentration was high during that period. There were appreciable increases in the indoor fungal spore concentration of the Polyhouse. Dominant fungi found in the indoor environment of a Polyhouse areAspergillus,Cercospora,Mucor,Penicillium,Rhizoctonia,Cladosporium,Rhizopus, and  Alternaria.

Acknowledgment

We, all the authors, would like to express our sincere gratitude to the individuals and organizations whose support and collaboration have been fundamental to the completion of this research.

Special thanks to  Dr. D.H. Gahane, Director of the research institute for granting us access to botany laboratory 

And permitting us to use the necessary equipment and resources.

We are also extremely thankful to MAHAJYOTI, an autonomous institute of the Other Backward Class Bahujan welfare department, Govt. of Maharashtra, for funding the MAHAJYOTI fellowship.

REFERENCES

1. M.Kumar, V. Bahadur, V.M.Prakash, S.Pprakash 2023.

Polyhouse structure and their management, Agri Articles, 03(03): 65-74.

• Bush, R.K. & Portnoy, J.M. 2001.

The role and abatement of fungal allergens in allergic disease. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, 107(3):S430-S440.

• Kumar, Manoj, 2024.

Role of polyhouse Technology in mitigating climatic Risk for floriculture. Journal of Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Vol. 03, Issue 04, 34-46

• Bhattacharya K, Raha S, Majumdar MR 2001.

Measuring indoor fungal contaminants in rural West Bengal, India, with reference to allergy symptoms. Indoor Built Environ. 10: 40-47.

• Raju Choudhary, Sonu Jain and PS Shekhawat 2022.

Constraints in production and marketing of vegetable sunder polyhouse and normal field conditions in Jaipurdistrict of Rajasthan state. Pharma Innovation Journal 2022; SP-11(2): 798-802

• Jasuja et al.2013.

Isolation and identification of microorganism from polyhouse agriculture soil of Rajasthan. Journal of Afr. J. Microbiol. Res. 4887-4891.

• Kukreja SG 2020.

Analysis of my coflora Present in agriculture college library of Nagpur. Journal of European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine. Vol. 7: 5277-5281

• Waghare, S.M. Kukreja, S.G Gedam Y.B.2016.

Aeromycological Indoor study of environmental of Christanad hospital Bramhapuri. Journal of IJISET Vol.3:1-7

• Nagdeve S. (2020).

 Aero-mycological studies over Two Rice mills in the Desaiganj Tahsil district Gadchiroli. Journal of Innovative research Multidisciplinary Field.Vol.6: 68-71.INTRODUCTION

Polyhouse cultivation is the concept of growing potential crops in the modified natural environment for ensuring optimum growth of the crop plants without any or least stress and hence offers great scope to harness this potential of growing the high value crops by achieving independence of climate and weather, and to grow these crops during off -season and in marginal environments. Globally, there is a need to increase productivity and quality of the produce to meet the demand of ever-increasing quality and health-conscious consumers. Most vegetable growers are growing vegetables in conventional techniques in their fields. During vegetable cultivation many diseases and insect incidence occur in their crops at different stages and damaging the vegetable crops and deteriorating the quality. For the management of pests and disease growers are applying the insecticide indiscriminate way. Asa results they are getting low yield and poor quality. Growers get a low return due to high expenses on pesticides during vegetable production. Present day it has been proved that growing vegetables under protected cultivation techniques will give higher yield with better quality, and growers can get higher returns per unit area [1].

Aerobiological survey of intramural or extramural environments is the most important aspect in aero-microbiology. Microorganisms like moulds and yeasts are very common in the air, so fungal spores contribute to a major portion of the air spores. Aerobiological survey is of great interest for microbiologists and also has a greater impact on clinicians and allergic patients [2]

Growing crops under polyhouse conditions is gaining importance in the country because of achieving independence from adverse climate and weather, which ultimately influence the overall productivity and quality of the crop produced.  Polyhouses are often used in floriculture and nurseries as the economic value of flowers can justify their expense [3]

Fungal diseases constitute one of the biggest groups of foliar pathogens causing immense damage under protected environment [4]. The important fungal diseases include damping-off, crown and root rots, wilts, powdery mildews, downy mildews, Botrytis diseases, Sclerotinia rot, Alternaria diseases, and rust diseases [5]. Proper field sanitation is one of the most important management strategies, since once the buildup of inoculum occurs inside the polyhouse, it is very difficult to manage it.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Study area: –

The investigation was performed in Bharat Hitech Polyhouse Katurli Amgaon Tahsil, in district Gondia (Maharashtra), India, located at Latitude – 21.4590^o and Longitude – 80.3130^o

Sampling Method –

Polyhouse of Katurli, Amgaon Tahsil, in district Gondia, for one year from Feb. 2023 to Jan 2024. Air samples were collected from the two sections of the Polyhouse, viz. Plantation and Storage section by the two methods, such as exposure petri plate method and Hi- media Air sampler Mark-II method. Samples were collected at 15 day intervals with the help of the Petriplate method containing CZapek’s Dox Agar (CDA) fortified with streptomycin, two times in a month [6]. The petriplates were kept at five feet from the ground level exposed for 10-12 minutes and then petriplates were properly sealed, marked and incubated at room temperature. After 3-7 days, Colonies were observed, counted and sub – cultured for identification[7].

                Air Samples were collected at 15-day intervals with the help of the Hi Air sampler Mark II. Hi Media laboratories, India. Rose Bengal Agar Strips areused in the Sampler, and the sampler is operated for five minutes. Fungal Concentration is expressed as a number of Colonies forming units per cubic meter air, i.e. CFU_s/m³. After the sampling Rose Bengal Strip removed from the sampler, it is sealed and brought to laboratory for incubation at room temperature, and the growth of fungal colonies is observed.

CFU_s/m³ is calculated as follows.[8]

                        CFU_s/m³ =       Colonies on agar strip x 25

 Sampling Time in Minute

During the investigation period, climatic variation was found every month; there was more or less rainfall  in month of July (232.4 mm) more and less in December, followed by January (5.9mm). Humidity and temperature also vary in every month. Their highest percentage of humidity was in August  (85%) and lowest in the month of May (26%), with a high temperature.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Anaero mycological indoor environmental study of a polyhouse, data was conducted from February 2023 to January 2024. For this study, two section of polyhouse, such as plantation and storage section were selected. The indoor air sample were collected for one year at fortnightly interval by exposure petri plate method and Hi-media Air sampler Mark-II method..

            The total number of colonies trapped by exposure petri plate method in indoor environment of Polyhouse is 1233. Out of total more 633 colonies found in plantation section and less 600 colonies trapped in storage section in (Table 2).

Fungal spore exhibit seasonal variation. The rainy season have highest fungal spore concentration (41.44 %) followed by winter season (32.60%) while summer season have low concentration (25.94%) by petri plate method.

Fungal spores also show monthly variation. The maximum fungal spore concentration was found in month of August (13.54%) followed by September (11.12%), July (9.57%), October (9.40%), November (8.19%), February (7.78%), December (7.70%), January (7.30%), June (7.21%), March (6.65%), April (6.16%) and minimum in month of May (5.35%).

The total number of spores trapped by Hi-media Air sampler method in indoor environment Polyhouse is 5640CFU_s/m³(Table 3).

Out of total 5640 CFU_s/m³ more2860 CFU_s/m³found in plantation section and less in storage section2780 CFU_s/m³.

Fungal spore exhibit seasonal variation. The rainy season have highest fungal spore concentration (41.38%), followed by the winter season (32.53%), while the summer season has the minimum concentration (26.05%).

Fungal spores also show monthly variation. The maximum fungal spore concentration was found in month of August (12.85%) followed by September (11.52%), October (9.25%), July (9.21%), November (8.34%), February (8.34%), June (7.80%), March (7.53%), December (7.44%), January (7.00%), April (5.93%) and minimum in May (4.25%). More concentration was found in the plantation section compared to the storage section.

The monthly variation of fungal spore concentration shows similar results by both methods. Fungal spore concentration was highest in the month of August with high humidity and average temperature, while the lowest concentration was found in the month of May having low humidity and high temperature. [9]. Some dominant genera found in the poly house indoor environment areAspergillus,Cercospora,Mucor,Penicillium,Rhizoctonia,Cladosporium,Rhizopus, and Alternaria.

CONCLUSION

The highest concentration was found in the plantation section(167 colonies and 725 CFU_s/m³) while the minimum concentration was found in the storage section. The minimum concentration (66 colonies and 240 CFU_s/m³)was found in the month of May which had having less humidity with a maximum temperature. Fungal spore concentration varied seasonally as well as monthly according to meteorological parameters.Spore concentration exhibits seasonal variation; it was maximum in the rainy season, followed by winter, and minimum in summer.

The current study revealed that monthly variation exhibited the maximum fungal spore concentration in the month of August by both methods, having more humidity and moderate temperature and minimum in the month of May, where low humidity and high temperature. Humidity more than 80% and moderate temperature between 25^oC to 30^oC provide the best environment for fungal growth. The precipitation was more from June to September and fungal spore concentration was high during that period. There were appreciable increases in the indoor fungal spore concentration of the Polyhouse. Dominant fungi found in the indoor environment of a Polyhouse areAspergillus,Cercospora,Mucor,Penicillium,Rhizoctonia,Cladosporium,Rhizopus, and  Alternaria.

Acknowledgment

We, all the authors, would like to express our sincere gratitude to the individuals and organizations whose support and collaboration have been fundamental to the completion of this research.

Special thanks to  Dr. D.H. Gahane, Director of the research institute for granting us access to botany laboratory 

And permitting us to use the necessary equipment and resources.

We are also extremely thankful to MAHAJYOTI, an autonomous institute of the Other Backward Class Bahujan welfare department, Govt. of Maharashtra, for funding the MAHAJYOTI fellowship.

REFERENCES

1. M.Kumar, V. Bahadur, V.M.Prakash, S.Pprakash 2023.

Polyhouse structure and their management, Agri Articles, 03(03): 65-74.

• Bush, R.K. & Portnoy, J.M. 2001.

The role and abatement of fungal allergens in allergic disease. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, 107(3):S430-S440.

• Kumar, Manoj, 2024.

Role of polyhouse Technology in mitigating climatic Risk for floriculture. Journal of Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Vol. 03, Issue 04, 34-46

• Bhattacharya K, Raha S, Majumdar MR 2001.

Measuring indoor fungal contaminants in rural West Bengal, India, with reference to allergy symptoms. Indoor Built Environ. 10: 40-47.

• Raju Choudhary, Sonu Jain and PS Shekhawat 2022.

Constraints in production and marketing of vegetable sunder polyhouse and normal field conditions in Jaipurdistrict of Rajasthan state. Pharma Innovation Journal 2022; SP-11(2): 798-802

• Jasuja et al.2013.

Isolation and identification of microorganism from polyhouse agriculture soil of Rajasthan. Journal of Afr. J. Microbiol. Res. 4887-4891.

• Kukreja SG 2020.

Analysis of my coflora Present in agriculture college library of Nagpur. Journal of European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine. Vol. 7: 5277-5281

• Waghare, S.M. Kukreja, S.G Gedam Y.B.2016.

Aeromycological Indoor study of environmental of Christanad hospital Bramhapuri. Journal of IJISET Vol.3:1-7

• Nagdeve S. (2020).

 Aero-mycological studies over Two Rice mills in the Desaiganj Tahsil district Gadchiroli. Journal of Innovative research Multidisciplinary Field.Vol.6: 68-71.