Mycoflora of Soil Around the Dead Sea I — Ascomycetes (including Aspergillus and Penicillium), Basidiomycetes, Zygomycetes

Samples were taken from the top 10 centimeters of soils from 56 localities along the Dead Sea valley. There were 246 isolates representing 90 species dispatched into 23 genera of Ascomycetes (including Aspergillus and Penicillium) and Zygomycetes in addition to some unidentified Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes. The genera Aspergillus and Penicillium were represented by a great number of species. Two new species of Aspergillus ( niger group) and two new varieties of Microascus have been isolated. No strict thermophiles or halophiles were obtained. There does not seem to be a fungus flora that is characrerisric of desert soil or highly saline soil. Some ubiquitous soil fungi seem to be able to adapt to these extreme conditions.