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Fungal-Induced Deterioration of Mural Paintings: In Situ and Mock-Model Microscopy Analyses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2016

Nikola Unković ,
Milica Ljaljević Grbić ,
Miloš Stupar ,
Željko Savković ,
Aleksa Jelikić ,
Dragan Stanojević  and
Jelena Vukojević
Nikola Unković
Affiliation:
Department of Algology, Mycology and Lichenology, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Takovska 43, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Milica Ljaljević Grbić*
Affiliation:
Department of Algology, Mycology and Lichenology, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Takovska 43, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Miloš Stupar
Affiliation:
Department of Algology, Mycology and Lichenology, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Takovska 43, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Željko Savković
Affiliation:
Department of Algology, Mycology and Lichenology, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Takovska 43, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Aleksa Jelikić
Affiliation:
Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Serbia, Radoslava Grujića 11, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Dragan Stanojević
Affiliation:
Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Serbia, Radoslava Grujića 11, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Jelena Vukojević
Affiliation:
Department of Algology, Mycology and Lichenology, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Takovska 43, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
*
*Corresponding author. jmilica@bio.bg.ac.rs
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Abstract

Fungal deterioration of frescoes was studied in situ on a selected Serbian church, and on a laboratory model, utilizing standard and newly implemented microscopy techniques. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray confirmed the limestone components of the plaster. Pigments used were identified as carbon black, green earth, iron oxide, ocher, and an ocher/cinnabar mixture. In situ microscopy, applied via a portable microscope ShuttlePix P-400R, proved very useful for detection of invisible micro-impairments and hidden, symptomless, microbial growth. SEM and optical microscopy established that observed deterioration symptoms, predominantly discoloration and pulverization of painted layers, were due to bacterial filaments and fungal hyphal penetration, and formation of a wide range of fungal structures (i.e., melanized hyphae, chlamydospores, microcolonial clusters, Cladosporium-like conidia, and Chaetomium perithecia and ascospores). The all year-round monitoring of spontaneous and induced fungal colonization of a “mock painting” in controlled laboratory conditions confirmed the decisive role of humidity level (70.18±6.91% RH) in efficient colonization of painted surfaces, as well as demonstrated increased bioreceptivity of painted surfaces to fungal colonization when plant-based adhesives (ilinocopie, murdent), compared with organic adhesives of animal origin (bone glue, egg white), are used for pigment sizing.

Keywords

biodeteriorationin situ microscopyfrescoesfungimock painting
Type
Biological Applications
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , April 2016 , pp. 410 - 421
Copyright
© Microscopy Society of America 2016 

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