Diversity and Distribution of Hyphomycetes from Dung in Thailand

Abstract

This investigation on hyphomycetes from dung samples of wildlife and domestic animals, including deer, barking deer, eld’s deer, elephant, guar, rabbit, camel, goat, horse, buffalo, cow, mouse and toad, was conducted from eighteen provinces in Thailand. Different isolation methods such as the moist chamber, Warcup’s direct plating, dilution plate, and heat and alcohol treatments were used. Identification of the fungal isolates was based on morphological characteristics of colony growth on agar media and examination of the spores and fruiting bodies using stereo and light microscopes. Fourhundred and six isolates comprising 24 genera and 28 species of hyphomycetes were recorded. They were most numerous on cow dung, followed by elephant, buffalo and deer dung. Coprophilous hyphomycetes included Arthrobotrys oligospora, Cephaliophora irregularis, Nodulisporium gregarium and Oidiodendron griseum. Potential plant pathogenic fungi included Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata, Exserohilum rostratum, Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, Nodulisporium gregarium and Thielaviopsis sp. Coprophilous hyphomycetes representing new records for Thailand were Nodulisporium gregarium, Oidiodendron griseum and Pithomyces karoo.