Mycological and physico-chemical study of a fish pond in Paniyala in Haridwar district of Uttarakhand

Water is essential to life, but many people do not have access to clean and safe drinking water and many die of waterborne microbial infections. Mycological studies and physico-chemical parameters are an important criterion for evaluating the suitability of water for various purposes. In this study, we tried to assess the fungal species richness and physico-chemical status of fish pond in Paniyala in Haridwar district of Uttarakhand to predict the state of this pond. A total of four species were recorded which include Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans, Penicillium Spp. and Fusarium Spp. Present study revealed that among fungal species, Aspergillus flavus was reported with higher in number 7.44±3.45 (ml-1x103) and Fusarium Spp.was recorded with minimum number of 5.15±2.06 (ml-1x103). The total species diversity was higher in the month of April (39.80 ml1x103. The water samples were also analyzed for physico-chemical parameters like temperature, pH, conductivity, DO, BOD, Free CO2, calcium and magnesium. Higher value of temperature, pH, BOD, Free CO2 and lower values of dissolved oxygen concentration were recorded and the results revealed deteriorated water quality. The fungal population showed positive significant correlation with physico-chemical parameters like, temperature, pH, biological oxygen demand, calcium and magnesium whereas negatively correlated with conductivity and dissolved oxygen.