The role of fungi in biodeterioration of sandstone with reference to Mahadev temple, Bastar, Chhatisgarh

Abstract

Fungal ability in production of pigments and organic acids have crucial role in discoloration and degradation of different types of stone in cultural heritage objects. Additionally, stone objects may support novel communities of microorganisms that are active in biodeterioration process. This investigation focuses on mycological analysis of microbial biofilm from Mahadev temple, made of sandstone, and which was heavily colonized by fungi. The 22 fungal flora including filamentous micro fungi with specific distribution on sandstone substrate was isolated. During the investigation period it was observed that Aspergillus Scalrotium was found as dominant. The identified micro fungi cause discoloration, as well as mechanical exfoliation of building stone material that was analyzed through mechanical hyphae penetration and production of dark pigments and organic acids.