Molecular diagnosis by PCR-DHPLC technique of wood-decay fungi in historical buildings in Italy

Wood inhabiting fungi cause real problems in the preservation of wooden surfaces and are responsible for the deterioration of cultural heritage. The identification of fungi based on morphological characteristics are still a topical issue. Nevertheless, they are limited for characterization and identification on an intraspecific level and even sometimes on an interspecific level. It is not always evident and thus many fungi remain unnamed or confused. The objective of this study was to circumvent these limitations by using a new molecular approach allowing fungal detection and identification in historic buildings in Italy. Fungal colonization was assessed by using PCR amplification and amplicons separation by Denaturing High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Due to its high sensitivity, the PCR-DHPLC technique was optimised to profile fungal communities in wood decay as well as ubiquitous contaminants. (Résumé d'auteur