Isolamento de fungos da caverna Santa Terezinha do município de Cocalinho/MT

Abstract

The caves have high environmental stability and their ecosystem is extremely specific, very different from other ecosystems, presenting low temperature and few available nutrients. The microbiota of the caves is of great importance in the underground microflora, producing several substrates that play a fundamental role in the ecosystem. The interest in assessing the air contamination by microorganisms is related to the potentially harmful effect they cause to humans and animals. The objective of this study was to isolate the fungi inside the Santa Terezinha cave in the municipality of Cocalinho - MT, to quantify the varieties of colonies found in the studied galleries and to perform their macromorphotyping using the impaction method and the spontaneous sedimentation method in different periods. To collect the fungal colonies, 90x15 mm Petri dishes containing Sabouraud agar medium were used and sterile potato dextrose Agar (BDA) was used in the purification. In the spontaneous sedimentation method 28 fungi morphotypes were purified, while in the composting method 29 morphotypes were purified. At points of collection where the temperature was higher, the humidity low and the circulation of the dynamic wind, there was growth of more number of colonies. As for the places that registered low temperature, high humidity and negative air circulation, the colonies did not develop well.