Mycological evaluation of the visible deterioration symptoms on the Spectatius family marble tomb (Slovenia)

Kosel, Janez (author), Tomšič, Nejc (author), Mlakar, Mojca (author), Žbona, Kristina Ivana (author), Ropret, Polonca (author)

Our objective, as part of the planned conservation work, was to identify culturable fungi related to the formation of various deterioration symptoms occurring on the Spectatius family marble tomb, the largest monument of the Roman Necropolis in Šempeter, Slovenia. By using fluorescent microscopy, microbial cultivation methods and standard DNA sequencing we were able to identify 21 fungal isolates, 16 being filamentous moulds, primarily dominated by xerophilic Cladosporium spp. (mainly Cladosporium langeronii RN 28) and some Alternaria species; and 5 yeast or yeast like species namely Torula fici, Filobasidium wieringae, Rhodotorula babjevae and Blastobotrys peoriensis. Locations on the tomb, which are well sheltered against rainfall, contained higher concentrations of xerophilic fungi to those, which are completely or partially exposed to rain. The black fungal species of Cladosporium spp. and Alternaria spp. formed the bulk of melanized-greyish patina present on the bottom reliefs and within the cracks of the inner dome of the Spectacius tomb. Moreover, the red coloured yeast R. babjevae caused a thick red pigmentation right under the top roof of the monument’s left side. The obtained results indicated that not only moulds but also yeasts can cause significant biodeterioration. Lastly we isolated indigenous mycoparasitic strains of F. wieringae (RN 37 and RN 38) that could potentially be used in biocontrol formulations applicable in situ for the sustainable preservation of the Spectatius family tomb monument.

• Language: English
• Keywords: biodeterioration, cultural heritage, decay, fluorescence microscopy, heritage science, microbes, a Roman masterpiece, stone tomb monument
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 13 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 12, art. 405
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-176025
• UDC: 726.823:543
• ISSN on article: 2050-7445
• DOI: 10.1186/s40494-024-01527-4
• COBISS.SI-ID: 217007619
• Publication date in RUL: 18.11.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Heritage science
• Shortened title: Herit. sci.
• Publisher: Springer Nature
• ISSN: 2050-7445
• COBISS.SI-ID: 36621317

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: kulturna dediščina, antična arhitektura, kamnita grobnica, biodeterioracija, propadanje, naravoslovne preiskave, fluorescentna mikroskopija, dediščinska znanost, mikrobi