Mycological studies as a tool to improve the control of building materials biodeterioration

Abstract

Fungal deterioration of building materials causes economic losses due to restoration processes and because it affects the health of the people exposed. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain highly deteriorating fungal strains to carry out studies focused on biodeterioration control. The aim of this research was to study the mycobiota involved in deterioration of facades through the isolation and characterization of fungal strains. In this sense, this paper characterizes the mycobiota that contributes to the deterioration of brick and concrete present in those places. Samples were taken from bricks and concrete with visible biodeterioration of the Cathedral of La Plata and the Experimental Station of the Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología de Pinturas. Relative density, apparition relative frequency, and ecological category of fungi isolates were determined. The deteriorating attributes were determined by carbonate dissolution test, pigment secretion assay, acid production test and brick weight variation. Cladosporium sp., Penicillium sp. and Aspergillus sp. were the taxa with the highest apparition relative frequency and abundance. Aspergillus niger MN371276, Lasiodiplodia theobromae MN371283, Cladosporium sphaerospermum MN371394, Penicillium commune MN371392 and Arthothelium spectabile MT071822 were the strains with the highest biodeteriorant activity. These strains can be used in studies on biodeterioration control of buildings materials.

LONG-TERM field study of a Waterborne paint with a nano-additive for biodeterioration control

“…and Mucor sp. in CIDEPINT (Experimental Station) with RF of appearance similar to the one described in the present work [29]. In addition, Rhodotorula sp.…”

“…• C for 10 days and filamentous fungi were isolated after 7 days following conventional microbiological techniques [29]. The isolates were identified according to the lowest possible taxon based on their reproductive, somatic structures using standard taxonomic keys.…”

Tannin from Schinopsis balansae applied to the nanofunctionalization of protective antifungal coatings

“…In the present study, the noteworthy antifungal activity was recorded from the biosynthesized AgNPs against four important deteriorating strains (A. niger, P. commune, C. sphaerospermum and L. theobromae) [35]. The AgNPs both reduced the mycelial growth of the tested fungi.…”

“…The strains selected for this study were: Aspergillus niger MN371276, Penicillium commune MN371392, Cladosporium sphaerospermum MN371394 and Lasiodiplodia theobromae MN371283. They were isolated from biodeteriorated facade of the Cathedral of La Plata city (34 • 55 ′ S, 57 • 57 ′ O) in a previous research work [35]. The antifungal activity of the NPs suspensions was determined by two tests: agar diffusion method (Kirby-Bauer) and macrodilution assay [36].…”

Research of the biostability of organic bases of paints for wood

“…The decisive factor of biostability is the chemical structure of the polymer film-former and the manifestation of its properties in the uncured and in the hardened state. A relationship has been established between the chemical structure of the used film-formers and the growth rate of a number of common fungal strains [14].…”