Mycobiome Diversity of the Cave Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Serbia-Risk Assessment Implication for the Conservation of Rare Cavern Habitat Housing a Peculiar Fresco Painting.

ABSTRACT: The mycobiome of the cave Church of Sts. Peter and Paul, housing the peculiar fresco painting of “The Bald-headed Jesus”, was analyzed via culture-dependent and -independent methods. Salt efflorescence, colored patinas, and biofilm, as well as biopitting, discolorations, and fruiting bodies of wood-decay fungi were observed on surfaces within the church. Microscopic analyses showed an abundance of fungal structures, i.e., conidiophores, conidia, chlamydospores, and ascospores. The estimated values of the contamination classified all surfaces as the “Danger zone”. A total of 24 fungi from 17 genera were determined as part of the culturable mycobiome, with a dominance of Ascomycota of genera Penicillium. Biodegradative profiles analyzed via plate assays demonstrated positive reactions for 16

SUBMITTER: Ljaljevic Grbic M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9782640 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature