Characterization of Xylanase of Fungi Isolated from Janggyeong Panjeon in Haeinsa Temple

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate occurence of microbiales density and characteristics of xylanase produced by those in Janggyeong Panjeon. Cladosporium cladosporioides H1, Penicillium citreonigrum H3, Penicillilum toxicarium H4, Aspergillus versicolor H6, Acremonium alternarium H7 isolated from Janggyeong Panjeon produced xylanase, which had different production rates and specialized activities in an acidic condition. Cladosporium cladosporioides H1, Aspergillus versicolor H6, and Acremonium alternatum H7 produced xylanase at a faster rate than other fungi. A xylanase of Cladosporium cladosporioides H1 and Penicillilum toxicarium H4 showed a high thermostability in an acidic condition. As results, this study may lead to the development of a strategy for preservation of organic cultural heritages.

Fungal Distribution of the Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks in the Haeinsa Temple

“…The results of the 2012 and 2021 surveys were similar to those of the study by Hong et al (2011). The average result of airborne fungi was reported as 287 CFU/m 3 in August 2008, and the average fungi of 163 and 175 CFU/m 3 for the front and rear were reported for the Sudarajang (it is worth noting that the 100 L was converted to cubic meters).…”

“…The most numerous taxa were Cladosporium and Penicillium, with the first genus containing the most common indoor and outdoor molds and spores, which are dispersed by wind and may grow on surfaces when wet (Hoog, et al, 2000), while the spores of Penicillium are easily released and dispersed into the air. These two fungi were also detected in various studies in 2012, and are known to have high degradation activity of cellulose and xylan (Hong et al, 2011); when the environmental conditions in the Janggyeong Panjeon are favorable for their growth, they can damage the woodblocks.…”

“…It was designed to prevent biological damage, but over time, various pollutants have accumulated inside the Janggyeong Panjeon causing degradation, especially due to the influence of fungi (Hong et al, 2011). It should be noted that the cultural heritages are susceptible to biological damage caused by insects and microorganisms due to their nature, and once the deterioration begins, the process may be Research Article irreversible (Han, 2005).…”

Environmental Suitability for Conservation and the Risk Period for Fungal Damage of Wooden Cultural Heritages in Korea

“…Among them, temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) are highly related to meteorological conditions, greatly affecting the germination and growth of various airborne fungi inside and outside WCHs. In particular, in the Korean Peninsula with four distinct seasons, when high internal T and RH conditions are created in summer, and simultaneously the air quality inside the space is stagnant, the germination and growth of rot fungi and imperfect fungi, which gain nutrition from organic cultural heritages, cause biological damage to the materials of the heritage structures (Ham et al, 2021;Hong et al, 2018Hong et al, , 2019Lee et al, 2022;Nandika et al, 2023;Priadi et al, 2021Priadi et al, , 2023Yun et al, 2021). For example, in the 1990s, Seosagan-Jang, one of the storage places for Tripitaka in Haeinsa Temple, had poor ventilation, causing high RH during the rainy season every year and continuous mildew growth on the surface of several printing wood blocks stored inside (Park, 2011).…”

“…In addition, the basic plan and research projects related to climate change by the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) have only indicated the establishment of a management system for disaster prevention (e.g., fire) facilities inside and outside WCHs, and there has never been a study on conservation environments (CHA, 2012(CHA, , 2017(CHA, , 2020NRICH, 2010). Although NRICH researched the distribution and diversity of airborne fungi inside WCHs in the late 2010s (Hong et al, 2015(Hong et al, , 2018(Hong et al, , 2019, their studies were only an introduction to their current status;…”