ABSTRACT
The fungal colonization of stone surfaces depends upon different factors such as environmental conditions, bioreceptivity of the surfaces and survival strategies of colonizing species. Experimental data on freshly exposed stone surfaces in outdoor environment and in different climatic conditions helped us to clarify some aspects of the fungal colonization of stone monuments. Fungi are notoriously characterized by an extreme metabolic versatility that enhances their growth on different kind of substrates and utilize many different organic sources. Chemical treatments to prevent and/or to control microbial growth are considered one of the practical approaches for the conservation of artworks including stone materials. Biocide compounds are widely applied before and after restoration and conservative treatments, in order to reduce and/or eliminate macro- and microflora. Two main categories of biocide compounds are known: those applied before the treatments to eliminate microorganisms already present, and those that should have a preventive effect in order to slow down the re-colonization of restored surfaces.
