Diversity of Parengyodontium spp. strains isolated from the cultural heritage environment: Phylogenetic diversity, phenotypical diversity, and occurrence

ABSTRACT

Parengyodontium album is a fungal species that frequently occurs in the cultural heritage environment. Although three subclades were initially described in the species, no study has sought to determine the occurrence of each subclade in the cultural heritage context. These subclades are easily distinguishable phylogenetically, but their morphological identification is more difficult. Eighteen strains isolated from different cultural sites and initially identified as P. album were studied phylogenetically, morphologically, and in terms of their susceptibility to econazole nitrate 0.2%, an antifungal product used as preservation treatment in cultural heritage domain. The phylogenetic study revealed that all studied strains belonged to P. album subclade 1 or P. torokii (P. album subclade 3) and none belonged to P. album subclade 2. The morphological study revealed the best characteristics to differentiate the three subclades/species, namely, the ability of the strains to grow at 32 C and 35 C on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium and the shape of conidia. Finally, the strains displayed variable susceptibilities to econazole nitrate, with no apparent link to any particular subclade/species.

KEYWORDS:

• Morphology
• Parengyodontium album
• Parengyodontium torokii
• phylogeny
• population study
• susceptibility to antifungal products

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Joanna Lignot for English language editing.

Supplemental Data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s Web site.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The OPerCul workstation used to perform the robustness calculations for the phylogenetic studied was supported by the Paris Ile-de-France Region, DIM “Matériaux anciens et patrimoniaux.”