Six decades of Aerobiology research in NE India
- Part 3 -

Dr N Irabanta Singh *

Department of Life Science at Manipur University :: Pix - Bunti Phurailatpam

Aerobiology research during 2008 till date (Sixth Decade)

Aeromycology and plant disease forecasting

Aeromycological study over rice fields in Thoubal district by employing Andersen Air Sampler revealed 38 (at Thoubal Athokpam) and 40 (Kakching Phousupat) fungal types respectively. Important pathogenic fungal types recorded in Thoubal district include Helminthosporium oryzae (C.O. of Brown leaf spot), Pyricularia oryzae (C.O. of false smut). The outbreak of blast disease brown leaf spot disease and false smut disease were directly correlated with the number of conidia found in the air over rice fields and weather parameters (Singh and Devi, 2008).

Aeromycology and fruit rot diseases

Aeromycoflora of fruit markets in Imphal areas were studied by using rotorod air sampler. Thirty nine fungal types were isolated. Four types of rots viz., Rhizopus rot, Aspergillus rot, penicilliium rot and Ceratocystes rot were detected. These diseases were found to be controlled by using photoextract of eight medicinal plants (Singh and Hidangmayum, 2008).

Aerophycology and rice field soil fertility

BGA aeroflora over rice fields in the Manipur University campus by exposing nutrient petriplates on a modified Durham type aeroscope revealed 41 BGA types. The dominant species were Hapalosiphon welwitschii (4.46%) whereas the least were Aphanocapsa biformes, A. pallid, Anabaena torulosa etc. After falling these BGA in the soils of rice fields, it might enhance the soil fertility in rice fields (Devi and Singh, 2008).

Indoor airborne fungi and health hazards to workers

The qualitative and quantitative fungal load in five different working environments of South Assam and the possible risks to employes were studied by employing Burkard Personal air sampler. The study revealed 76 fungal types. The most dominant fungal types were Aspergillus (34.2%), followed by Penicillium (17.8%), Geotrichum (7.0%). The fungal species viz. Aspergillus fumigates, Penicilliium aurantiovirens, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Geotrichum candidum, and Penicilliium thomii which were recorded well above threshold levels, may lead to adverse health hazards to indoor workers (Sharma, Dutta and Singh, 2010).

Aeropalynology and Aeroallergens

Air sampling in Imphal areas by using rotorod air sampler revealed Parthenium hysterophorus pollen as single pollen grain or in the clump form. It was observed that that the overall pollen concentration was found high in July as vertical level 630 (16.6% out of the total count) and at horizontal level about 665 (12.7% of the total count). The weather condition might be conductive for high discharge and dispersal of P. hysterophorus pollen. Too low or to high temperature, very high wind speed, high humidity, cloudy and raining day hinder Parthenium pollen catch. The correlation between the frequency of P. hysterophorus pollen in vertical and horizontal distance using studying t – test was found significant (Devi and Singh, 2010).

The air sampler used during this decade include Anderson Airsampler, Burkard Personal air sampler, Rotorod Air Sampler and Durham type aeroscope.

Aerobiology and Bioinformatics

Integration of bioinformatics, Information Technology with Aerobiology will be novel approach toward aerobiological research in India. Digitization of Aerobiological data of Manipur state for the development of database have been started since January, 2012. We have collected Primary and Secondary resources as below.

A) Primary resources

Aeromycology over Ginger plantation in Chura-chandpur district, Manipur

Fungal Airspora over ginger plantation in Churachanpur district by employing Burkard Personal Slide Sampler revealed Alternaria, Ascospores, Basidiospores, Biospora, Curvularia, Helminthosporium, Lophiostoma, Torula, Rhizopus, Mucor, etc. Further work is in progress.

Aeromycology of Moreh area, Chandel district Manipur

Aeromycological study of Moreh area have been started since January, 2012 at three locations, viz., Moreh town, Moreh inhabitat area and Namphalong market (Mynmar) by employing Andersen air sampler. The fungal types identified include – Aspergillus oryzae, A. repens, A. niger, A. clavatus, A. flavus, A. fumigates, A. terreus, A. sydowi, A. wentii, A. versicolour, A. ruber, Penicilliium chrysogenum, P. terrestre, P. variable, P. expansum, P. indicum, P. purpurrescens, P. funiculosum, P. pallidum, P. digitalum, P. palitans, P. simplissium, P. granulatum, P. javanicum, etc. Further work is in progress.

Seven day burkard air sampler

Aeromycroflora of Imphal area have been initiated by employing seven day burkard air sampler at the Manipur University campus. The most common fungal type trapped are Deuteromycotina (Cladosporiium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Torula); Ascomycotina (Ascospores); Basidiomycotina (Coloured basidiospores) etc. Further work is in progress.

The air samplers used are Durham type aeroscope, Andersen air sampler and Rotorod air sampler.

B) Secondary resources

Digitization of secondary database is being constructed from the primary sources available. So far, 182 different airborne species of fungal, blue green algae and pollen grains resources have been prepared in Microsoft Excel 2007 and Microsoft Access 2007 by using primary data (like books, unpublished and published papers, thesis, etc.). The secondary database thus constructed contains morphological as well as mode of propagation of each species along with the respective photographic views or hyperlinked with their respective microscopic views. Hyperlink for scientific classification (taxonomic) and medically important site (Alloallergenic site) will be provided. —to be contd

Access and modification of any data structure and data content in the database will also be allowed. Secondary data for 41 species of Blue Green Algae – (Airborne blue green algae database of Manipur state – ABGADMAN Database); 29 species of airborne fungi – (Airborne fungal database of Manipur state AFUDMAN Database) and 97 airborne pollen types – (Airborne pollen grain database of Manipur state – APODMAN Database) have been prepared.

Summary and Conclusion

Aerobiology research in North East India is almost six decades old. The thrust areas of aerobiology research during the first decade (1958-1967) were of plant diseases and allergic human diseases. The air samplers used were mainly pertiplate exposure method, vaseline coated microslide exposure method and kites fitted with vaseline coated microslides. The thrust areas of research during second decade (1968-1977) were use of experimental animals for treating allergic human diseases and forecasting plant diseases. The samplers used were exposure of vaseline smeared slides and nutrient petriplates.

The thrust areas of research during the third decade (1978-1987) were viability of airborne fungal spores, fungal and pollen airspora and forecasting of airborne fungal diseases on crops. The air samplers used were Durham type aeroscope (modified), microthread exposure method, nutrient petrtiplates exposure and microslides exposure methods in Durham type aeroscope, and Tilak air sampler.

The thrust area of aerobiology research during the fourth decade (1988-1997) were aerobiology and biopollution of extramural environment; aerobiology and ecology of plantation sites; aerobiology and bacterial diseases of oak tasar silkworm; aerophycology and soil fertility. The air samplers used during this decade were nutrient pertiplate exposure method, Durham type aeroscope and rotorod air sampler.

The thrust area of aerobiology research during fifth decade (1998-2007) were aeromycology and biopollution of intramural working environment; aeromycology and fruit spoilage; aeromycology and crop diseases; aeropalynology and amino acid contents of known allergenic plants; aeropalynology and human allergenic significance. The air samplers used during this decade include nutrient plate exposure method, rotorod air sampler; Andersen air sampler and Burkard air sampler.

The thrust areas of aerobiology research during six decade (2008-till date) are aeromycology and plant disease forecasting; aeromycology and fruit rot diseases, aerophycology and rice field soil fertility, indoor airborne fungi and health hazards to workers, aeropalynology and aeroalleregens including aerobiology and bioinformatics. The air sampler used are Durham type air sampler, Andersen air sampler and rotorod air sampler, 7 day Burkard air sampler. Microsoft Access 2007, HTML, etc. are being used for aerobiology and bioinformatics study with reference to database construction.

Thus, the aerobiology research in North East India had been undertaken for the last 60 years in diversified fields such as in the service of plant, animal and human health care and their management. To commemorate completion of 100 years by the Indian Science Congress Association, an attempt has been made to draw your attention, how Aerobiologists from North East India play their role in "science for shaping the future of India".

Concluded ...