Mallo AC, Elíades LA, Nitiu DS, Saparrat MCN. Fungal monitoring of the indoor air of the Museo de La Plata Herbarium, Argentina.
Rev Iberoam Micol 2017;
34:99-105. [PMID:
28214272 DOI:
10.1016/j.riam.2016.05.003]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2014] [Revised: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Biological agents, such as fungal spores in the air in places where scientific collections are stored, can attack and deteriorate them.
AIMS
The aim of this study was to gather information on the indoor air quality of the Herbarium of Vascular Plants of the Museo de Ciencias Naturales de La Plata, Argentina, in relation to fungal propagules and inert particles.
METHODS
This study was made using a volumetric system and two complementary sampling methods: (1) a non-viable method for direct evaluation, and (2) a viable method by culture for viable fungal propagules.
RESULTS
The non-viable method led to ten spore morphotypes being found from related fungal sources. A total of 4401.88spores/m3 and 32135.18 inert suspended particles/m3 were recorded. The viable method led to the finding of nine fungal taxa as viable spores that mostly belonged to anamorphic forms of Ascomycota, although the pigmented yeast Rhodotorula F.C. Harrison (Basidiomycota) was also found. A total count of 40,500fungal CFU/m3 air was estimated for all the sites sampled.
CONCLUSIONS
Both the non-viable and viable sampling methods were necessary to monitor the bio-aerosol load in the La Plata Herbarium. The indoor air of this institution seems to be reasonably adequate for the conservation of vascular plants due to the low indoor/outdoor index, low concentrations of air spores, and/or lack of indicators of moisture problems.
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