There are over 100,000 species of fungi. Many fungi are good and useful (edible mushrooms would be an example of these) while some cause problems (some fungi can injure plants and humans).
 
Every week the IEQ Review will describe a specific microorganism, its
morphological origin and potential health effects. If you would like to know about a specific organism and/or would like it published in The IEQ Review please email Dr. Rajiv Sahay with the Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDL) at Pure Air Control Services laboratory@pureaircontrols.com.
 
This week we will cover…
 
Verticillium lecanii
 
V. lecanii is one of the most important and common entomogenous hyphomycetes, occurring in all the climatic region on coccids, aphid, thrips, Diptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and mites. They can also grow on rusts and other fungi. It is commonly isolated from air, plants and soil.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


It is a rapidly growing fungus under laboratory conditions and produces a white, pale yellow, cottony colony with a whitish to cream reverse on Malt Extract Agar within ten days, when incubated at 20°C (77°F).
 
V. lecanii  can decompose cellulose and chitin and has a pronounced proteolytic activity. There have not been any reports of human infections.