Fungal Deterioration of Monument with Special Reference to Aspergillus: A Case Study

Fungal ability to produce pigments and organic acids has crucial role in discoloration and degradation of different types of stone in cultural property. Additionally, stone objects may support novel communities of microorganisms that are active in bio-deterioration process. This investigation focuses on mycological analysis of microbial bio-film from Queen’s Mosque at Sarangpur, Ahmedabad of Gujarat State made of sandstone, and which was heavily colonized by fungi. The 12 fungal flora including filamentous micro fungi with specific distribution on sandstone substrate were isolated. During the investigation period it was observed that Aspergillus sp. was found as common. 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.