Plant Pathology Science

Introduction: The Fungi which are able to grow at the temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius are known as thermophilic fungi. So far, no study has been carried out on fungi in desert areas of Iran so the present study was aimed to isolate and identify the fungi in desert areas of Yazd province. Materials and Methods: Four desert regions of Yazd province were visited and samples were taken from soil and plant roots. The fungi were isolated by soil dilution method and were cultured on potato-agar extract medium. Genus and species of fungi were identified by valid identification keys. Results: Eighteen fungi from eight genera vs. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Ulocladium, Stemphylium, Paecilomyces, Rhizopus and Fusarium were identified in this study. Conclusion: The species of Penicillium and Aspergillus were the most abundant species in desert soils of this province. All fungi identified in this study are reported for the first time from Iranian desert soils.