Solar energy is classified as a renewable energy source. It is converted into electricity using photovoltaic panels. These panels are exposed to the environment, and over time, various particles such as dust, sand and microorganisms accumulate on the surface. The latter are exposed to the unfavourable conditions due to strong radiation, temperature fluctuations and lack of nutrients. Nonetheless, a diverse range of bacteria, fungi, cyanobacteria and mosses can be found on the surface. In our study, we isolated 120 fungi isolates from the panels, which we identified based on selected DNA barcodes. We classified them into 18 different genera and 30 species. All of them had at least melanized spored and/or pigmented mycelium. Seventeen of these isolates belong to four undescribed species. The most common genera are Epicoccum, Cladosporium, Aureobasidium, Spissiomyces, and Alternaria, to which we assigned 86 isolates. We compared the isolates using MALDI-TOF spectrometry and grouped them into taxonomic units with the help of the cladogram. The cultured isolated isolates mostly did not grow at the temperatures above 30 °C, but they survived in a dried state. We were unable to revive the isolates after six hours of exposure to 65 °C, with the exception of the genus Spissiomyces. The results of our study reveal a diverse fungal community that is adapted to extreme conditions and reminiscent of the mycoflora on rock surfaces. The diversity at the level of DNA nucleotide sequences indicates that we have discovered several species new to science, namely the genera Phaeococcomyces, Neophaeococcomyces, Neospissiomyces, and Spissiomyces.
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