Medieval Portuguese Cathedral was occupied by black mold

Scientists have discovered on the walls of a Portuguese Church built in XII–XIII centuries, samples of black yeast-like fungi previously unknown species.

Old Cathedral of Coimbra, in Portugal, the Cathedral in Romanesque style, Dating from the times of the Reconquista. According to scientists, discovered on its walls the organisms are resistant to temperature fluctuations and high salt concentrations. The fungus destroys historic building in itself, and through the production of polysaccharides that accelerate the process of destruction.

A new species of mushrooms were placed in a separate genus and family and was called Aeminium ludgeri. Aminium (Aeminium) is the name of the city of Coimbra during the Roman Empire, and Lucero (Ludgeri) — the name of the late colleagues of the scientists.

On genetic grounds the organisms close to the black mold that attacks plants.

A study published in the journal MycoKeys.

Translated by «Yandex.Translator»