Seasonal Behaviour of Keratinophilic Fungi Isolated from Soil of Tannery Waste Habitat of Kanpur, U.P.

Soil is a well-known source of wide variety of microorganisms. This article briefly explains the isolation and distribution of ecologically important keratinophilic fungi which are involved in the degradation of most abundant and highly stable animal protein-keratin. During the course of study 18 soil samples were collected from Tannery waste habitat of Kanpur, U.P. These samples were collected in summer, rainy and winter seasons. In tannery waste maximum number of fungus were isolated in rainy season (11) followed by winter (7) and least number of fungi were isolated in summer season (6). Acremonium was isolated in rainy and summer season (16.67%). Alternaria alternata and Chaetomium globosum only in rainy season (16.67%). Chrysosporium indicum was isolated in winter and rainy season and maximum occurrence was recorded in winter season (33.33%). C. keratinophilum was recorded in winter and summer season and maximum occurrence was recorded in summer season (33.33%). C. queenslandicum was isolated in winter and rainy season (16.67%). Curvularia lunata (16.67%) in rainy season. Fusarium oxysporum was recorded in summer and rainy season and its occurrence was recorded in (16.67%). Microsporum gypseum was isolated in winter and rainy season and maximum occurrence was recorded in rainy season (50%). Mycelia sterilia sp. was isolated in winter and summer season and maximum occurrence was recorded in summer season (33.33%). Paecilomyces variotii was isolated in rainy season (16.67%).