Salinity-loving fungi in Egyptian soils. I. Numbers, identities, and halophilism.

The total numbers and the frequencies of fungi in one normal and three saline soils were determined, using a nutrient medium containing sodium chloride concentrations up to 10% (w/v). The most salinity-tolerant fungi were found to belong to the two genera Aspergillus and Penicillium. Four selected Penicillium isolates showed a typical halophilic behaviour. Their growth was directly proportional to the concentration of sodium chloride in the nutrient medium up to 10% (w/v). Some of the isolates could tolerate up to 30% sodium chloride in the medium (w/v).