Investigations of fungi from salt marsh sediments in Minas Basin, N.S

Fungi amenable to culture were isolated from salt marsh sediments in two study areas on Minas Basin, Nova Scotia. The most commonly isolated fungi were Penicillium species, sterile light-colored cultures, Trichoderma harzianum, sterile dark culture 1, sterile dark-colored cultures, Penicillium helicum, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aureobasidium pullulans. A comparison of the mycofloras indicated few distribution patterns between marshes or within marshes. The data suggest that sterile isolates were associated with plant rhizospheres. Eleven isolates were grown on various concentrations of seawater and six isolates had optimal growth in the absence of salinity while five isolates preferred inter- mediate concentrations of seawater. Nine isolates were tested for spore germination in fresh marsh water, autoclaved marsh water and distilled water. Most isolates germinated best in distilled water with varying amounts of inhibition in fresh and autoclaved marsh water.