Mycological evaluation of the visible deterioration symptoms on the Spectatius family marble tomb (Slovenia)

Abstract Our objective, as part of the planned conservation work, was to identify culturable fungi related to the formation of various deterioration symptoms occurring on the Spectatius family marble tomb, the largest monument of the Roman Necropolis in Šempeter, Slovenia. By using fluorescent micro...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Janez Kosel, Nejc Tomšič, Mojca Mlakar, Nina Žbona, Polonca Ropret
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2024-11-01
Series:Heritage Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-024-01527-4
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846158328362696704
author Janez Kosel
Nejc Tomšič
Mojca Mlakar
Nina Žbona
Polonca Ropret
author_facet Janez Kosel
Nejc Tomšič
Mojca Mlakar
Nina Žbona
Polonca Ropret
author_sort Janez Kosel
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Our objective, as part of the planned conservation work, was to identify culturable fungi related to the formation of various deterioration symptoms occurring on the Spectatius family marble tomb, the largest monument of the Roman Necropolis in Šempeter, Slovenia. By using fluorescent microscopy, microbial cultivation methods and standard DNA sequencing we were able to identify 21 fungal isolates, 16 being filamentous moulds, primarily dominated by xerophilic Cladosporium spp. (mainly Cladosporium langeronii RN 28) and some Alternaria species; and 5 yeast or yeast like species namely Torula fici, Filobasidium wieringae, Rhodotorula babjevae and Blastobotrys peoriensis. Locations on the tomb, which are well sheltered against rainfall, contained higher concentrations of xerophilic fungi to those, which are completely or partially exposed to rain. The black fungal species of Cladosporium spp. and Alternaria spp. formed the bulk of melanized-greyish patina present on the bottom reliefs and within the cracks of the inner dome of the Spectacius tomb. Moreover, the red coloured yeast R. babjevae caused a thick red pigmentation right under the top roof of the monument’s left side. The obtained results indicated that not only moulds but also yeasts can cause significant biodeterioration. Lastly we isolated indigenous mycoparasitic strains of F. wieringae (RN 37 and RN 38) that could potentially be used in biocontrol formulations applicable in situ for the sustainable preservation of the Spectatius family tomb monument.
format Article
id doaj-art-8ef7b370b54b4a198ed9c9d7b21d7f96
institution Kabale University
issn 2050-7445
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series Heritage Science
spelling doaj-art-8ef7b370b54b4a198ed9c9d7b21d7f962024-11-24T12:38:15ZengSpringerOpenHeritage Science2050-74452024-11-0112111310.1186/s40494-024-01527-4Mycological evaluation of the visible deterioration symptoms on the Spectatius family marble tomb (Slovenia)Janez Kosel0Nejc Tomšič1Mojca Mlakar2Nina Žbona3Polonca Ropret4Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, Conservation CentreInstitute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, Conservation CentreInstitute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, Conservation CentreInstitute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, Conservation CentreInstitute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, Conservation CentreAbstract Our objective, as part of the planned conservation work, was to identify culturable fungi related to the formation of various deterioration symptoms occurring on the Spectatius family marble tomb, the largest monument of the Roman Necropolis in Šempeter, Slovenia. By using fluorescent microscopy, microbial cultivation methods and standard DNA sequencing we were able to identify 21 fungal isolates, 16 being filamentous moulds, primarily dominated by xerophilic Cladosporium spp. (mainly Cladosporium langeronii RN 28) and some Alternaria species; and 5 yeast or yeast like species namely Torula fici, Filobasidium wieringae, Rhodotorula babjevae and Blastobotrys peoriensis. Locations on the tomb, which are well sheltered against rainfall, contained higher concentrations of xerophilic fungi to those, which are completely or partially exposed to rain. The black fungal species of Cladosporium spp. and Alternaria spp. formed the bulk of melanized-greyish patina present on the bottom reliefs and within the cracks of the inner dome of the Spectacius tomb. Moreover, the red coloured yeast R. babjevae caused a thick red pigmentation right under the top roof of the monument’s left side. The obtained results indicated that not only moulds but also yeasts can cause significant biodeterioration. Lastly we isolated indigenous mycoparasitic strains of F. wieringae (RN 37 and RN 38) that could potentially be used in biocontrol formulations applicable in situ for the sustainable preservation of the Spectatius family tomb monument.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-024-01527-4BiodeteriorationCultural heritageDecayFluorescence microscopyHeritage scienceMicrobes
spellingShingle Janez Kosel
Nejc Tomšič
Mojca Mlakar
Nina Žbona
Polonca Ropret
Mycological evaluation of the visible deterioration symptoms on the Spectatius family marble tomb (Slovenia)
Heritage Science
Biodeterioration
Cultural heritage
Decay
Fluorescence microscopy
Heritage science
Microbes
title Mycological evaluation of the visible deterioration symptoms on the Spectatius family marble tomb (Slovenia)
title_full Mycological evaluation of the visible deterioration symptoms on the Spectatius family marble tomb (Slovenia)
title_fullStr Mycological evaluation of the visible deterioration symptoms on the Spectatius family marble tomb (Slovenia)
title_full_unstemmed Mycological evaluation of the visible deterioration symptoms on the Spectatius family marble tomb (Slovenia)
title_short Mycological evaluation of the visible deterioration symptoms on the Spectatius family marble tomb (Slovenia)
title_sort mycological evaluation of the visible deterioration symptoms on the spectatius family marble tomb slovenia
topic Biodeterioration
Cultural heritage
Decay
Fluorescence microscopy
Heritage science
Microbes
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-024-01527-4
work_keys_str_mv AT janezkosel mycologicalevaluationofthevisibledeteriorationsymptomsonthespectatiusfamilymarbletombslovenia
AT nejctomsic mycologicalevaluationofthevisibledeteriorationsymptomsonthespectatiusfamilymarbletombslovenia
AT mojcamlakar mycologicalevaluationofthevisibledeteriorationsymptomsonthespectatiusfamilymarbletombslovenia
AT ninazbona mycologicalevaluationofthevisibledeteriorationsymptomsonthespectatiusfamilymarbletombslovenia
AT poloncaropret mycologicalevaluationofthevisibledeteriorationsymptomsonthespectatiusfamilymarbletombslovenia