Efficiency of Vertical Cylinder Spore Trap and Seven Day Volumetric Burkard Spore Trap in Monitoring Airborne Pollen and Fungal Spores

Abstract

The efficiency of vertical cylinders (5 mm diameter) in monitoring airborne pollen and fungal spores was compared with that of 7 day volumetric Burkard spore trap. The cylinders were found as efficient as Burkard trap in determining the composition of the airspora and their relative daily and seasonal frequency. When the data on spore catch is expressed as no./cm² of the sampling surface, the cylinders monitored the particles of >20 μm size as efficiently as or some time more efficiently when compared to Burkard spore trap. However, when the data is expressed as no./m³ of sampled air, the cylinders showed far lesser efficiency in determining the volumetric concentrations of airborne particles.