Morphology and distribution of Aspergillus niger in the forest soils of Zailiysky Alatau (Kazakhstan)

In the Zailiysky Alatau forests, Aspergillus niger is mosty found in the rhizosphere of Picea schrenkiana,much less – in the rhizosphere of Sorbus tianschanica, Malus sieversii and Juniperus spp. In the rhizosphere ofArmeniaca vulgaris, Crataegus spp. and Populus tremula, the fungus was registered once. The morphological features ofdifferent strains of Aspergillus niger do not vary significantly, however, strains 331b and 346b with a low growth rate arecharacterized by smaller sizes of conidial structures. Aspergillus niger is a typical species in the rhizosphere of spruce inconiferous forests at an altitude of 1700–2100 m above sea level and in the rhizosphere of spruce, rowan and juniper injuniper forests above 2300 m above sea level.