Abstract: An attempt was made for the purpose of evaluation, isolation, and identification of the fungal load in air of Malnicherra & Lakkhatura tea estates (from field to factory) in Sylhet Region during 15th January to 15th April 2017. The study was carried out in six different sections of the tea estates namely Nursery field, Matured field, Withering trough, Fermenting area, Drying zone, Sorting and Grading zone. The maximum microbial load was observed in Nursery field followed by Matured Tea Field, Sorting and Grading zone, Fermenting area, Withering trough and drying zone respectively. A total of 14 airborne fungal species were observed and among them, Aspergillus, Curvularia, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Rhizopus were the dominating genera in the air of tea estate. At Malnicherra tea estate Aspergillus fumigatus (12.39%) showed the maximum percentage followed by Aspergillus flavus (19.88%), Curvularia interseminata (19.74%), Aspergillus niger (17.96%) whereas Lakkatura tea estate Cladosporium herbarum (22.70%) showed the maximum percentage followed by Curvularia interseminata (20.28%), Aspergillus fumigatus (20.23%), Rizopus nigricans (19.47%). As fungal diseases are detrimental to the wellbeing of people, plant and animal health conditions, proper actions should be taken to protect tea estate workers and tea plants.

Keywords: Aeromycoflora, Microbial Load, Camellia Sinensis, Fungal Species, Health

| DOI: 10.17148/IARJSET.2019.61201