Ganoderma basidiospores in the air in relation to land cover and weather patterns in a temperate climate zone

Abstract

Aeromycological monitoring of Ganoderma spores allows us to determine seasonal and daily fluctuations in the concentration of spores in the air and to determine periods of high concentration during which allergy and asthma symptoms may appear in allergic people. Fluctuations in basidiospore concentrations depend on climatic and weather factors and types of land use. The aim of the work was a spatiotemporal analysis of the concentration of Ganoderma spores in the air of a city and a village in a transitional temperate climate. Particular attention was paid to the types of land development, in which monitoring was carried out using Hirst volumetric traps. Furthermore, monitoring was carried out at various heights. Studies have shown that on a small spatial scale, the dynamics of the seasons of Ganoderma spore occurrence in the air are similar. However, the intensity of seasons, determined by the total sum of spores, is lower in the city than in the countryside. Differences in concentrations were found between sites located at different heights – the higher it is, the lower the concentrations are and the longer delay in the hours of maximum concentrations. The research confirms the hypothesis that land development, weather factors, and the altitude at which monitoring is carried out influence the aerobiology of Ganoderma spores.