RESEARCH: OUTCOMES, VIEWPOINTS & PERSPECTIVES

Airborne Alternaria spores in SE Spain (1993-98)

The annual, seasonal and hourly distribution of Alternaria spores in the air of Murcia, SE España, were studied on a six-year period. The relationships between Alternaria spore concentrations and meteorological factors were investigated.

Alternaria is a late afternoon taxon in the Murcia city, with maximum spore concentrations occurring between 13,00 h and 21,00 h. Alternaria spores are present in the atmosphere throughout the year, with a main spore season extending from March to October, and showing two peaks as a consequence of the summer drop in concentration.

Alternaria spore concentrations correlate well with Poaceae and Chenopodiaceae pollen counts, suggesting these plants could be important hosts, but not the only ones, because many crops are growing just when peaks occur. Low wind velocities favoured high spore counts. Correlation with temperature was positive in five of the six years. Mean temperature is the factor which best explain spore levels. The best prediction model explains 74% of the observed variance in Alternaria levels by using mean temperature alone.

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MUNUERA, M., CARRIÓN, J.S. & NAVARRO, C. 2001. Airborne Alternaria spores in SE Spain. Grana 40: 111-118.

MUNUERA, M., CARRIÓN, J.S. & GARCÍA-SELLÉS, J. 1998. Incidence of Alternaria spores in the atmosphere of Murcia (SE Spain). Seasonal, monthly and intradiurnal variations. Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology 8: 304-308.

MUNUERA, M. & CARRIÓN, J.S. 1995. Daily variations of Alternaria spores in the city of Murcia (semiarid southeastern Spain). Relationship with weather variables. International Journal of Biometeorology 38: 176-179