Alkaliphilic and alkalitolerant fungi in mud and salt crusts collected from Wadi El-Natrun lakes

Abstract

A total number of alkaliphilic and alkalitolerant fungi (37 species related to 16 genera) were collected from mud and salt crusts of Wadi El- Natrun lakes on Czapek Dox agar adjusted at pH10 and pH13 during the seasons of study. The most dominant genera at both pH levels were Aspergillus (9 species) followed by Penicillium (9), Acremonium (3) and Fusarium (3), Of these genera, Aspergillus terreus and Pencillium chrysogenum were the most commonly encountered species.