INFLUENCE OF METEOROLOGICAL FACTORS ON THE AIR SPORA

An aerobiological study to determine the spectrum of air spora and to identify the potential aero-allergens in Auckland, New Zealand was und ertaken at three different locations spanning an area of 30 km, encomp assing agricultural, horticultural and forested environments within th e region. Burkard volumetric 7-day recording spore traps were operated at each of three locations for 12 months period. In two locations, ba sidiospores (damp-spora) dominated the overall concentration of airbor ne species followed by ''dry-spora'' at the third location. The fourte en most frequent categories of fungal air spora were selected to study the influences of meteorological factors. Hourly meteorological and s pore data were computed and the -Spearman Rank'' correlation coefficie nt method was used to analyse for relationships. The results showed si gnificant negative correlations between wind speed and basidiospores o f Ganoderma, and with the coloured ''basidiospores group''. Significan t positive correlations were found between mean, maximum and midnight temperatures, and basidiospores of Ganoderma, Coprinus, Hypholoma, ''c oloured'' and ''hyaline'' basidiospores as well as with conidia of Cla dosporium and Polythrincium. The strongest correlations were demonstra ted by Cladosporium conidia and Coprinus basidiospores. Relative humid ity and rainfall showed significant correlations with ascospores, whil e Leptosphaeria ascospores showed significant strong correlations with rainfall on the day of sampling. ''Aspergillus-Penicillium'' type did not show any significant correlation with any of the meteorological f actors.