Isolation and Identification of Fungal Species and Scientific Preservation of World Heritage: Case of Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh, India

Fungi play a considerable role for the deterioration and widely recognized as major bio-deteriogens of cultural heritage depending on climatic conditions, humidity level and surface material for fungal colonization. The weathering of stone monuments is significantly increased by endolitic fungi. Fungi can deteriorate different substrates via various physical and chemical mechanisms. Hyphal growth and penetration into the substrate can cause symptoms like discoloration, bio-pitting, cricketing, exfoliation and patina formation. On the other hand, chemical mechanism includes acid secretion, release of extracellular enzymes, pigment production, oxidation/reduction reaction reactions and secondary mycogenic minerals formation. These process can lead to serious, both esthetic and structural alterations which may be irreversible and could permanently impair artwork. Proper isolation and identification of fungi by different microscopic technique and in vitro biodegradation tests are pivotal in understanding complex bio-deterioration mechanism caused by fungal deteriogens. Bio-deterioration and bio-degradation studies require multidisciplinary approach and close collaboration of microbiologists, chemists and different personnel responsible for safeguarding of cultural property and artifacts, especially restorers and conservators. This article provides information on fungi infesting historical monument of Fatehpur Sikri and their management by biocidal compounds. Present investigation was conducted to evaluate the status of fungal decay of stone monuments of Fatehpur Sikri. A total of 06 fungal species were isolated from colored stains, patinas and biofilms produced on the surfaces of monuments of Fatehpur Sikri due to mechanism of bio-deterioration. The fungal species Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium herbarum, and Rhizopus oryzae were prevalent.Acknowledgement Authors are gratitude to thanks Dr. Alok Tripathi, Director General, NRLC, Lucknow and Additional Director General, Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi & Dr. M.K. Bhatnager, Director (Scientific Preservation), Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi & Shri Mangey Ram Superintending Archaeological Chemist, Archaeological Survey of India, Science Branch, Agra for their encouragement and guidance

Channel planform dynamics of lower Ramganga River, Ganga basin, GIS and remote sensing analyses

Ramganga River is characterized by frequent planform changes in its lower reaches. The plain topography and frequent floods occurrence are powerful agents to change the river morphology. This paper presents a detailed account of channel planform dynamics of River from 1780 to 2017. Spatial data were analyzed in GIS to determine changes in sinuosity, centerline migration rates and large-scale dynamics of the River. The results revealed its overall shifting towards south-west direction. In upstream, planform repeatedly oscillated in its floodplain. In the downstream, a highly stable reach is found which does not show any significant shifting character in last 50 years, but a major avulsion of 11 km is found in its confluence with the Ganges. The study provides recent and reliable information on the channel planform dynamics and will help as a decision support tool for designing and implementation of drainage development works