Abstract

Annals of Environmental Science
Volume 5, July 2011, Pages 35-40
www.aes.northeastern.edu, ISSN 1939-2621

Diversity of Monument Deterioration-Causing Fungi at Gwalior Fort (M.P.) India.

A. K. Pandey, Archana Shrivastav, Preeti Bhatnagar, S. Sarsaiya, and M. K. Awasthi, Mycological Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur; College of Life Sciences, Cancer Hospital & Research Institute, Gwalior (M.P.), India.

Received November 13, 2010; in final form March 31, 2011, accepted June 10, 2011.

Fungi are complex communities of microorganisms that damage historic monuments. The present study was made to examine the diversity of fungi associated with deteriorated monuments sites. In the present investigation, 40 stone samples were collected from 15 deteriorating sites of Gwalior Fort. A dilution plate method was used for isolation of fungi. Twenty-three fungal species containing 19 genera isolated from fifteen deteriorated monument sites are reported in this paper. The most frequent isolated fungal species from the historic monument sites are Alternaria sp, A. nidulans, A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. terreus, A. niger, Beauveria sp., Bipolaris sp., Curvularia sp., Cochliobollus sp., Cladosporium sp., Chaetomium sp., Crysosporium sp., Conidiobolus sp., Drechslera sp., Exserohilum sp., Fusarium sp., Penicillium sp., Sepedonium sp., Scopulariopsis sp., Trichothecium sp., Torula sp. and Ulocladium sp. The Bhimsen Chatri, Gujri Mahal and Man Mandir sites contained the maximum number of fungal species followed by Barak, Bawari, Bahu Mandir, Bhim Singh Chatri, Rang Mahal, Karan Mahal, Fansighar, Teli Ka Mandir, Jail, Sas Mandir, Unknown site 1, Unknown site 2 and Vikram Mandir. The diversity of these fungi associated with deteriorated monuments sites provides valuable data for future studies.