A study of the aeromycoflora of Cádiz: relationship to anthropogenic activity.

We describe a quantitative and qualitative study of the fungal spores found in the air of Cádiz during 1989 using a Cour-type trap. The results of this study can be extrapolated to other coastal cities of southern Europe with a Mediterranean climate. The spores identified have been classified into 25 taxonomic categories. The most abundant were Cladosporium, Chaetomium and Ustilago, and the most frequent, in addition to those mentioned, were Alternaria, Ascophyta and Venturia. The great abundance of Cladosporium is in accordance with the coastal situation of the city. Cladosporium, Alternaria, Curvularia and Stemphylium reached maximum concentrations jointly in October, 1989. They showed mutual cross-reactions. Ustilago and Nigrospora appeared during the period of cereal harvesting and storage.