Abstract

SEASONAL FUNGAL BIODIVERSITY RESOURCE OF DETERIORATION OF SAFDARJUNG’S TOMB, DELHI

Arshi Nafis* and Mohammad Javed

ABSTRACT

Safdarjung Tomb was built in 1754 in the late Mughal Empire style for Nawab Safdarjung and also known as Safdarjung ka Maqbara. It was the last monumental tomb garden of the Mughals with the same style of the Humayun tomb. It has spacious ambience with domed and arched red brown and white colored structures. It is situated at the Intersection of Safdarjung road and Aurobindo marg, New Delhi, India. There is a threat of microbial deterioration due to old structure and lack of proper maintenance. Our investigation was conducted on different season of Delhi. The purpose was to evaluate the status of mycobial decay of stone monuments in winter, spring, summer, monsoon and autumn seasons. There were total of 52 fungal species belonging to 31 genera were isolated from the surfaces of monument due to mechanism of biodeterioration. These fungi are human pathogenic causing different respiratory and dermatological diseases The fungi recorded are good source of different organic acids including oxalic acids, citric acids, fumaric acid, acetic acid, gluconic acid and succinic acid and found to be main source of deterioration.

Keywords: Deterioration, Seasonal fungal diversity, Safdarjung tomb, Delhi.