First fungal spore calendar for the atmosphere of Bratislava, Slovakia

Fungal spores were identified and quantified in the air of Bratislava during the 1-year period (2016) using a Burkard 7-day volumetric aerospore trap. Based on data obtained, the first spore calendar in Slovakia has been constructed for the urban area of Bratislava. The total annual spore concentration recorded during this period was 836,418 spores/m³, belonging to 53 fungal spore types. The fungal taxa contributing the highest concentration of spores were Cladosporium (71.88% of the total), Coprinus (8.84%), Leptosphaeria (3.88%), Ganoderma (3.43%) and Alternaria (2.79%). Remaining 48 spore types were less well represented (altogether 9.18% of the total). Daily monitoring data revealed a large variation in airborne spore concentrations. Fungal spores peaked during summer and autumn months (June–October) and declined from November to March. The maximum monthly total spore concentration (153,342 spores/m³) was recorded in July, while the minimum (1381 spores/m³) in January. The relationships between mean daily airborne spore concentrations of selected fungal taxa and meteorological variables were evaluated through multiple regression analysis. The percentage of variation explained by regression analyses was 49.7% for Alternaria, 46.9% for Ganoderma, 45.8% for Cladosporium, 43.9% for Leptosphaeria and 32.1% for Coprinus. Spore concentrations of most analysed airborne fungal taxa were positively associated with air temperature and/or negatively associated with relative air humidity either throughout the year or only in summer. Cladosporium spore concentration was positively related with the wind speed, whereas the association between Ganoderma spore concentration and wind speed was negative. Spores of Leptosphaeria showed significant positive association with relative air humidity and significant negative association with sunshine duration in summer. Knowledge of seasonal patterns of the type and number of spores in the air will provide clinicians and sufferers of allergic asthma and rhinitis as well as agronomists with valuable information on the prophylaxis of respiratory allergic and plant diseases, respectively.