Identification study of soil fungi in different areas of Diyala governorate

The present study dealt with the isolation and characterization of fungi from 33 different soil samples from Diyala governorate, including agricultural soil, residential area soil, sanitary landfill area soil and industrial area soil. The fungi have been isolated directly from the soil dilution method using Sabouraud’s dextrose agar (SDA). The grown fungi colonies have then been subcultured on Czapek Dox Medium (CDA) for identification; also, the fungi have been examined microscopically with lactophenol cotton blue stain. The results showed that 87 fungal isolates of 25 species have been identified in 33 locations, categorised over four types of soil samples, where most of the samples were from agricultural areas, followed by residential areas, then sanitary landfill areas and industrial areas, and the results have shown that the highest percentage of fungi isolates was Aspergillus flavus with 14 (16.09%) at agricultural and residential areas with 14.54% and 16.66 % respectively, followed by Aspergillus niger with 12 (13.79%) The third one in the isolation percentage was Trichoderma sp. with 8 (9.19%). Other species were in lower percentages, with the presence of pathogens that are pathogenic to humans and animals.