Analysis and prevention of fungal deterioration on the surface and in the storage environment of bricks unearthed from the mausoleum of Dingtao King

Abstract:

[Background] Many protective bricks of the M2 mausoleum of Dingtao King have been unearthed, and some have suffered from fungal deterioration. [Objective] In this study, samples from the surfaces of five bricks were collected to examine and analyze the fungi in them. In the meanwhile, fungistatic experiment was carried out on the isolated seven fungi. [Methods] We use scanning electron microscopy, high-throughput sequencing, pure culture, and fungistatic experiment to examine and analyze the fungi in samples. [Results] The result suggested serious fungal deterioration on the surfaces of artifact bricks without fungicide treatment and alleviation of the deterioration on the surfaces after treatment with 75% ethanol and 0.5% miconazole nitrate. Fungal species were different depending on the bricks. To be specific, Boeremia was most abundant on brick 9 and Cordycipitaceae dominated brick 13. It was found that miconazole nitrate and the mixture of boracic acid and borax failed to inhibit the fungi, while the fungistatic product K100 (2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one) was effective on them. [Conclusion] This study is of great significance for the analysis and control of fungi on the surfaces of bricks and for protection of bricks of artifacts.

Key words:mausoleum of Dingtao King in Han Dynasty;bricks as cultural relics;fungal deterioration;fungistatic test