title: Conidia of Alternaria in the atmosphere of the city of Cordoba, Spain in relation to meteorological parameters.
abstract: In this study, we have analyzed the presence of conidia belonging to different species of the genus Alternaria in the atmosphere of the city of Cordoba, using a Hirst sampler. The results show that spores of this genus are present all year, with a clear seasonal pattern which shows two peaks, one in spring and the other in fall. A total of 26,822 conidia/m3 have been sampled, which implies a daily mean of 74.3 conidia/m3. Statistical analyses comparing the data with meteorological parameters show a positive correlation with maximum, minimum and mean temperatures, and a negative correlation with rain. Nevertheless, meteorological parameters seem to affect the number of conidia differently according to the season of the year. Regression analyses carried out in order to obtain a predictive pattern show that the best fit is between the 7-day running mean of the number of conidia and a week's accumulated mean temperature.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Angulo-Romero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mediavilla-Molina
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Domínguez-Vilches
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D000528:Alternaria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008685:Meteorological Concepts; D013030:Spain; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014887:Weather