Diversity and ecology of mangrove soil mycoflora

A survey of soil mycoflora was conducted in a mangrove forest at Pagbilao, Quezon Province [Philippines]. The soil samples for taxonomic studies of the mycoflora and physico-chemical data were collected from three stations (seaward, middle, and landward) once every three months for one year. Some of the physico-chemical properties of the soil determined were pH, temperature, salinity, moisture content, organic matter, total nitrogen, available sulfur and phosphorus. The soil was slightly acidic; annual mean pH value ranged from 6.43-6.49. The moisture values of the soil registered from 35.75-48.62% indicating water-logged characteristics. Available sulfur in the form of sulphate varied from 153.25-353.17 ppm. These values accounted for the characteristically unpleasant odor emitted in some portions of the study area. Values recorded for available phosphorus measured as phosphate ranged from 5.76-13.01 ppm. Salinity (4-33 ppt) greatly decreased from seaward to landward zones with values from 15.19-22.69 and 0.14-30 ppt, respectively. The seaward station was influenced by tidal flux which gave a marked difference in some of the parameters recorded. The 1,175 randomly selected fungal isolates yielded 74 species, belonging to 41 genera, 10 families and four classes under Divisions Amastigomycota and Mastigomycota. Deuteromycetes accounted for 93.62% of the total isolates. These included the three most important genera, Aspergillus, Trichoderma and Penicillum. Aspergillus, with 12 species, accounted for 29.94%; Trichoderma, with only three species, accounted for 26.38%; and Penicillum, with 7 species, contributed 12.85% of the total isolates. Fungal population was consistently found to be highest at the landward stations and lowest at the seaward area. July and April gave the highest and the lowest fungal population levels, respectively. Salinity was found to be the sole significant parameters that affected the distribution and occurrence of soil fungi in the mangrove forest