Isolation and identification of Penicillium spp., from the river Indus bed at Kotri

The mycoflora from the bed of river Indus at Kotri was investigated at three locations viz., Right Bank, Center and Left Bank from June 2004 to May 2005. Twenty four soil samples were collected from surface, 10, 20, and 30 cm depth. The fungi were isolated by using soil dilution and soil plate method. Of the 73 strains of fungi isolated 10 species of Penicillium viz., P. caesicolum (1.81%), P. commune (1.81%), P. chrysogenum (14.73%), P. funiculosum (28.36%), P. lilacinum (4.33%), P. notatum (12.53%), P. sclerotiorum (2.52%), P. tardum (26.47%), P. vinaceum (5.51%) and P. roseo-purpureum (1.89%) were identified. Greater number of species were isolated on soil plate method than on dilution plate method. Higher number of species were recovered from left bank as compared to right bank while in center isolates were in low frequency.