DIVERSITY OF MICROFUNGI IN THE SANDY SOIL OF IPANEMA-BEACH, RIO-DE-JANEIRO, BRAZIL

The mycobiota of the sandy soil of Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Braz il, was investigated in 144 sand samples collected at four different s ites along the sea coast, divided into three subsites, for a period of one year. A total of 4285 yeast colonies and of 6956 of colonies fila mentous fungi were isolated using conventional media and techniques. R epresentatives of the filamentous fungi corresponding to a total of 13 34 colonies were identified and assigned to 34 genera and 170 species. The genera of highest incidence and their respective numbers of speci es were as follows: Aspergillus, 30.4%, 32 spp.; Penicillium, 16.2%, 3 5 spp.; Fusarium, 12,6%, 33 spp.;Trichoderma, 6.4%, 7 spp.; Paecilomyc es, 3.7%, 10 spp.;Cladosporium, 3.1%, 8 spp. and Acremonium, 1.0%, 8 s pp. Several other genera and species were detected at quite low occurr ences. Non-sporulating fungi (18.3%) and Coelomycetes (Sphaeropsidales ) (1.9%) were also detected. Most of the genera detected belonged to t he Deuteromycotina, with fewer proportions belonging to the Ascomycoti na and Zygomycotina. Moniliaceae was represented by the largest number of species and Dematiaceae was represented by the largest number of g enera. In terms of seasonal distribution, the largest number of filame ntous fungi was isolated during the winter and the smallest number the Summer.