Molecular characterization based on Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) marker sequence of fungal strains isolated from heritage ethnographic textiles

Fungi play an important role in the biotransformation process in nature. Through their rich enzymatic equipment there are able to colonize and degrade a broad range of substrates, inorganic and organic. Though positive in most economical areas, their ecological behavior is harmfull for heritage goods, especially made of organic polymers. Heritage textiles are a special field where the action of microfungi can be highly damaging, since most of the textiles collections worldwide are made of natural fibres, such as hemp, flax, cotton, wool or silk. In the present study 16 strains of filamentous fungi were isolated from different heritage ethnographical textiles, part of the collection of The National Museum of Romanian Peasant. After the phenotypical culture-based characterization, a molecular approach was developed and applied in order to identify the genetic fingerprint of each strain. The molecular characterization was done based on the ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) marker, since in the last decade it is the widely used sequence for taxonomy and molecular phylogeny for fungi and other taxa. Our results showed a predominance of Penicillium species and also Alternaria sp. and Cladosporium sp. Molecular methods combined with classical methods for species identification give complementary data and an accurate image of the fungal biodeterioration process on heritage textiles.

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