African Journal of Ecology and Ecosystems

African Journal of Ecology and Ecosystems ISSN 2756-3367 Vol. 12 (5), pp. 001-007, May, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Exploring Penicillium Diversity in Coastal Sand Dunes: A Study of Cashew Plantations in Odisha, India

T. Panda

Department of Botany, S.N. College, Rajkanika, Kendrapara-754220, Odisha, India.
E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 21 March, 2025

The abundance and diversity of PENICILLIUM species were studied from soils in coastal sand dunes of Odisha, India for a period of two years covering three distinct seasons. A total of 41 species were enumerated, of which the surface soil of the site without vegetation had 23 species while its sub-surface soil contained 24 species. In the site with ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE (cashew) plantation, the surface soil contained 31 species while sub-surface soil contained 20 species. More species were recorded from the sites with an ANACARDIUM plantation which may be due to less competition with other fungi. The diversity index varies from 0.954 to 1.058 (Shannon) and 0.0096 to 0.0106 (Simpson). Similarity indices show that, surface layers were more akin than the subsurface soils. The evenness index varies from 0.337 to 0.396, an indication that species showed a fairly even distribution. The surface soils of both sites have the highest species richness while sub-surface soils of barren sand dunes show the lowest richness.

Key words: Coastal sand dune, diversity indices, fungi, Penicillium.