Conventional and innovative approaches to black fungi control for stone heritage preservation

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Art Conservation Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Black Meristematic Fungi (BMF) are resilient microorganisms causing extensive biodeterioration of outdoor stone monuments.
• BMF's melanized cell walls and stress resistance make them difficult to eradicate, posing challenges for cultural heritage preservation.
• Current knowledge on BMF response to antimicrobial treatments is limited, despite their significant impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and assess existing studies on the efficacy of conventional and innovative antimicrobial treatments against BMF.
• To examine methodologies for applying and evaluating these treatments on stone artworks.
• To identify future research directions for effective and environmentally friendly BMF control strategies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific studies on BMF and antimicrobial treatments.
• Analysis of methodologies used in treatment application and efficacy evaluation.
• Synthesis of findings to identify knowledge gaps and future research priorities.

Main Results:

• Conventional biocides are commonly used but their long-term efficacy and environmental impact require further investigation.
• Emerging alternative and safer antimicrobial treatments show promise but require more extensive evaluation against BMF.
• Methodologies for treatment assessment vary, necessitating standardized approaches for reliable comparisons.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for more research into effective, environmentally sound treatments for BMF control.
• Developing standardized evaluation methods is crucial for comparing treatment efficacies.
• Further investigation into innovative, low-impact solutions is essential for sustainable stone monument preservation.