STUDY OF ASCOMYCETES IN JOWAR FIELD OF MANGALVEDHA TEHSIL OF SOLAPUR DISTRICT (MS, INDIA): THEIR CORRELATION WITH METEOROLOGICAL FACTORS

Present study deals with study of ascospores belonging to Ascomycetes in Jowar field of Mangalvedha Tehsilof Solapur District (MS, India). Influence of meteorological factors such as temperature, humidity andprecipitation on the concentration of fungal spores was also evaluated. This aeromycological investigation wascarried out by using continuous volumetric Tilak air sampler located in the various fields of Jowar during Rabi(Oct-2022 to Feb-2023) and Kharif (June-2023 to Oct-2023) season. During study, thirty four ascosporesbelonging to Ascomycetes group of fungus were collected and studied. Chetomium sps (3.57%), Melanosporasps (2.65%), Bitrimonospora sps (2.55%), Leptosphaeria sps (1.73%), and Hypoxylon sps (1.7%) were thedominant during Rabi whereas Melanospora sps (5.07%), Pleospora sps (2.05%), Leptosphaeria sps (1.95%),Sordaria sps (1.77%), and Bitrimonospora sps (1.77%) during Kharif. These findings highlight, influence ofdifferential meteorological factors (temperature, humidity and precipitation) those exists during Rabi and Kharifseason on the concentration of fungal spores.