Study of Aquatic Fungi and Their Role in Putrefaction of Allochthonous Leaves at Hanna Lake (Balochistan)

Abstract

The micro fungal flora of the mud and water of Hanna Lake in Quetta district was investigated during 2015, using Baiting techniques. Apart from Mycotypha sp, the flora of Hanna Lake was essentially same and similar to those recorded by other authors for temperate lakes and river. Fusarium solani was the only species isolated consistently from mud and water through out the year and it is a true aquatic fungus. Other species showed a distinct seasonal pattern. Many of these included common phylloplane fungi such as Alternaria sp and Botrytis cinerea. The changes occurred in the fungal flora on leaves of Eucalyptus sp after immersion in water was studied and it was shown that phylloplane population declined quite rapidly. There was evidence that the decaying leaves were colonized by Fusarium solani and Pythium proliferum.