Characterization of Coprinus spores in the NW of the Iberian Peninsula. Identification and count in aerobiological samples

A morphological and biometric study of the genus Coprinus spores present in the NW of the Iberian Peninsula produced four different groups. In addition, a year's count of the spores of this genus in the atmosphere of the city of Santiago de Compostela produced a total of 29,324 spores, most of them recorded in March, May and November. The statistical correlation with meteorological parameters is positive for humidity and rainfall and negative for temperature. The specific identification of spores was carried out using aerobiological samples with records above the yearly average value. The results obtained revealed that on those days most of the spores belong to Coprinus micaceus (Bulliard: Fr.) Fr. (80), whereas Coprinus disseminatus (Pers.: Fr.) Gray spores represent 7, and Coprinus comatus (Müller: Fr.) Gray, Coprinus cinereus (Schaeff.: Fr.) Gray and Coprinus atramentarius (Bulliard: Fr.) Fr. spores the remaining 13.