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Muga Silkworm (Antheraea assamensis Helfer) that produces the golden silk primarily feed on two host plant namely Som (Persea bombycina Kost. Family-Lauraceae) and Soalu (Listea polyantha Juzz.). Goalpara district of Assam, India has given Geographical identification mark as its climate is suitable for silkworm rearing. As food plants play an important role for the growth and development of silkworm, hence a mycological study was conducted in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soil of Som in Goalpara district of Assam, India by using serial dilution and agar plating method. A total of 13 fungal species have been isolated from non rhizosphere soil while a total of 21 fungal species were identified from the rhizosphere soil. Rhizopus stolonifer, Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium chrysogenum were the dominant mycoflora during the study period. Rhizopus stolonifer were dominant in spring (25.5%), autumn (16.0%) and winter season (32.0%) while Aspergillus flavus were dominant myflora in summer season (20.5%). During Spring Rhizopus stolonifer (22.5%), Aspergillus flavus in summer (16.5%) and autumn (13.0%) and during winter Penicillium chrysogenum (13.0%) were the dominant fungal species of the rhizosphere soil. The physico-chemical properties such as PH, Organic Carbon, available Nitogen, available Phosphorus, available Potassium, water holding capacity and moisture of the soil samples from 4 different places depending upon direction of the district were evaluated with its textures by standard sampling procedures. Seasonal variations of the fungal occurrence is observed for both the nonrhizoshphere and rhizosphere soil samples as well.
Keywords: Rhizosphere, non rhizosphere, mycoflora, physico-chemical properties, Goalpara