Daily changes in fungal spore, as well as pollen, counts are monitored in many cities, which is useful for the huge population of asthmatics and people who suffer from allergic rhinitis (hay fever), because allergy symptoms tend to increase with spore concentrations (see below). Outdoor spore concentrations vary with climate, especially temperature, moisture, and wind, and hence vary daily. Lynne Boddy, in The Fungi (Third Edition), 2016 Allergiesįungal spores are extremely common in the air, with outdoor concentrations typically ranging between 200 and 10 6 spores m − 3 (see also Chapter 3), the mean spore content outdoors being 100 to 1000 times greater than that of pollen. Approximately 10 000 species of fungi are recognized as plant pathogens in fact, the majority of plant diseases are caused by fungi.
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The impact of fungi on plant health is also of major significance. Immune-compromised individuals are at the greatest risk with regard to fungal infections. Although many fungal spores are allergenic, only a limited number of species are considered human pathogens. Spore levels can be especially high during harvesting, under certain meteorological conditions, as well as in contaminated indoor environments.įungal spores can impact human health as triggers of allergic reactions or as the cause of infectious disease.
![spore mushroom spore mushroom](https://mushly.com/shop/uploads/images/202011/img_1920x_5fbcc78782a5e0-62921972-29643285.jpg)
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Fungi growing on living plants and on plant debris in the soil are important contributors to the air spora. Spores may originate from fungal saprobes, pathogens, or symbionts. Fungi reproduce by spores, which are produced by either sexual or asexual methods, and the majority of fungal spores are adapted for airborne dispersal. Paterno, in Encyclopedia of Microbiology (Third Edition), 2009 Distribution and methodsįungal spores and hyphal fragments are ubiquitous components of the atmosphere and can occur in high concentrations unless the ground is covered with snow or ice.