Entomogenous Fungi and the Conservation of the Cultural Heritage

Entomogenous fungi are agents of deterioration of cultural heritage. Their capabilities to survive at low water activities, thrive in microclimatic niches, etc. enable them to adapt to various conditions and colonize on cultural heritage leading to their deterioration. An understanding of the properties of these organisms will enable to propose countermeasures for protection of heritage. Material-specific cleaning and application of precise biocides are necessary for the conservation of cultural heritage. The key focus of this chapter is to apprehend the importance of cultural heritage, threats to cultural heritage and role and mechanism of entomogenous fungi in their deterioration. Moreover, an insight into conservation methods from traditional towards modern is presented with special emphasis on contribution of nanoscience for conservation of all types of cultural heritage. Probable directions for unravelling numerous conservation issues that still need to be faced in the future are also emphasized.