Distribution of thermophilous microfungi in forest soils of Darjeeling (Eastern Himalayas)

Ten species of thermophilous fungi were identified from forest soils of Darjeeling in Eastern Himalayas. Five fungal species are reported from forest soils for the first time and Aspergillus fumigatus var. ellipticus is a new record for India. This was also the commonest fungus followed by A. viridi-nutans. The temperature responses of the fungi revealed 1 microthermophile, 6 thermotolerant and 3 true thermophilic species. There was a decrease in the prevalence of true thermophiles with increasing altitude. Thermophilic species showed faster growth rates as compared to microthermophiles and thermotolerants. Two species of thermotolerant fungi are reported in addition to those already recorded in the literature.