Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Principles of Inheritance and Variation.New Questions and Answers and Forum Categories which would get deposited in the nose, and Cladosporium sp. The immediate allergy causing microorganisms include large fungal spores such as those of Puccinia and Alternaria spp. However, a chart representing airborne diseases is given below for ready reference:Īir-borne microorganisms cause two types of hypersensitivity: Human Diseases :Īir-borne microorganisms cause various dangerous diseases in human beings. The important bacteria- dispersal-mechanism is through insect and rain-splash dispersal. Most plant pathogenic bacteria produce slimy exudate. When a rain drop with terminal fall velocity crashes into this suspension, several secondary droplets laden with fungal spores splash to some distances and are easily carried by wind. Some plant pathogenic fungi form slimy spores which are generally covered by a film fluid with dew or rain. However, one can consult a book on ‘Plant Pathology’ for details. The more we know about these organisms the more we would be in a position to deal with the consequences. The air-borne microorganisms thus have a significant and vital impact on plant productivity and damage caused by them is enormous resulting in far reaching social effects which are difficult to assess. Majority of plant pathogens which cause diseases are air-borne the dominant ones are bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, and fungi. Impact of Air-borne Microorganisms on Living Beings: 1. Tilak and Bhalke (1981) have described and classified various airborne hyphal fragments of fungi.

Hyphal fragments constitute an important airborne micro-flora. These usually inhabit leaves of many plants and are dispersed due to scrubbing action of the infected plants which occurs during air currents. Culturing of these hyphal fragments revealed that they mostly belong to Cladosporium, Alternaria, and Penicillium. Hyphal Fragments of micro-fungi constitute a significant population of air spora these are primarily the conidiophores of asexual forms. Their fall rate is governed by Stroke’s Law. However, they are able to remain suspended in the atmosphere and become disseminated through the action of turbulent air movement even though they are subjected to gravity. The density of fungal spores in still air is approximately 1.0. Micro-Fungi:įungal spores are the propagative phase of micro-fungi and many of which are adapted to air transport. The microalgae in the range of 1-90µm are significant in respiratory diseases and allergies as these are retained by the mucous membrane of respiratory tract. A regular constituent of airborne microalgae comprises of algal cysts or other resting stages. The microalgae are airborne mainly due to air currents even in the absence of adaptation for take off into air. Some cyanobacteria (former blue green algae) like Aulosira, Lyngbya, Nostoc have also been reported in air. Some common airborne microalgae are Chlamydomonas, Chlorococcum, Gongrosira, Phormidium, Protococcus, Diatoms, Spirogyra, Oscillatoria, Chlorella, Amphora. When protozoa are not in cyst condition, they vary in shape from irregular, plasmodial to rigid flattened or ovoid. Most of the protozoans are transported as cysts the cysts range from 2-50 µm in diameter. Indoor source of airborne bacteria are mainly the man and animals. Bacteria-laden minute droplets are continuously thrown into air by rain-splashes, breakers or sea sprays, sneezing or coughing. Without any active dispersal mechanism the bacteria are carried in air via mechanical disturbances of particulate matter, and on clothing and surgical dressings, etc.

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