Comparative Study on Fungal Diversity at Different Stages of Tagetes Spp.

ABSTRACT Marigold (Tagetes spp.) holds considerable religious, aesthetic, and ornamental significance in Indian culture. Due to its extensive use in religious ceremonies, cultural events, and decorations, large amounts of floral waste are generated daily. Improper disposal of this biodegradable waste contributes to environmental concerns. To explore potential bioconversion routes, the present study emphasizes the diversity and distribution of fungal flora involved in marigold flower decomposition. Flower waste samples were collected from ten different localities and classified into four physiological stages: Semi-opened Bud (S1), Open Bud (S2), Blooming Stage (S3), and Senescence Stage (S4). Fungi were isolated under controlled laboratory conditions and identified morphologically. A total of 44 fungal isolates were obtained, with Aspergillus species found to be the most prevalent across all stages, followed by genera such as Penicillium, Fusarium, Cladosporium, Curvularia, and Rhizopus. The fungal population density was highest during the bloom and senescent stages (S3 and S4), indicating greater microbial colonization during advanced flower degradation. Particularly, Nigrospora oryzae, Fusarium fujikuroi, and Lasiodiplodia theobromae showed dominant presence during the senescent phase. The abundance of saprophytic fungi reflects their ecological role in the natural degradation of floral biomass. These findings highlight the potential use of native fungal strains in the biodegradation and sustainable management of floral waste, especially marigold-based refuse Keywords: Tagetes spp., Flower Waste, Diversity, sustainable management REFERENCES Ahluwalia, I. J., & Patel, U. (2018). Solid waste management in India: An assessment of resource recovery and environmental impact (Working Paper No. 356). Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER). Anastasi, A., Varese, G. C., & Marchisio, V. F. (2005). Isolation and identification of fungal communities in compost and vermicompost. Mycologia, 97(1), 33–44. Ellis, M. B. (1971). Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes (1st ed.). CAB International. Gilman, J. C. (2001). A manual of soil fungi (2nd Indian ed.). Biotech Books. Jadhav, A., Chitanand, M., & Shete, H. (2013). Flower waste degradation using microbial consortium. Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, 3(1), 1–4. Joyce Madalene, P., Pavan Kumar, A., Raghavi, K. V., & Kiruthika, S. A. (2023). Degradation of flower waste using microbial consortium: An approach towards environmental sustainability and waste management. International Journal of Creative Industries. Mukadam, D. S., Patil, M. S., Chavan, A. M., & Patil, A. R. (2006). The illustration of fungi (1st ed.). Akshar Ganga Prakashan. Mulay, Y., Owal, S., Chougule, P., & Pandit, A. (2020). Composting of floral waste by using indigenously isolated microbial consortium: An approach towards environment sustainability and waste management. International Journal of Environmental & Agriculture Research (IJOEAR). https://ijoear.com Pappu, A., Saxena, M., & Asolekar, S. R. (2007). Solid waste generation in India and their recycling potential in building materials. Building and Environment, 42(6), 2311–2320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2006.04.015 Shouche, S., Bhati, P., Nema, Z., & Jain, S. K. (2014). Mycobiota of decomposing floral waste materials. Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Environmental Sciences, January. Singh, J., & Kalamdhad, A. (2013). Effect of rotary drum on the specification of heavy metals during the water hyacinth composting. Environmental Engineering Research, 18, 177–189. https://doi.org/10.4491/eer.2013.18.3.177 Vijayagiri, R. C., & Mamidala, E. (2012). Ethnobotanical investigations among traditional healers in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Pharmacognosy Journal, 4(34), 13-17. Waghmode, M. S., Gunjal, A. B., Nawani, N. N., & Patil, N. N. (2018). Management of floral waste by conversion to value-added products and their other applications. Waste and Biomass Valorization, 9, 33–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-016-9788-8 Wijayapala, S. (2013). Utilisation of Sepalika (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis) flowers, a temple waste, as a source for a potential colouring agent for textile substrates used in the textile industry. In Proceedings of the International Forestry and Environment Symposium (pp. 65). Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Sri Lanka.