Expanding the Microcolonial Black Fungi Family: gen. sp. nov. (), Isolated from Deteriorated Limestone in the Lemos Pantheon, Portugal.

With an impressive ability to survive in harsh environments, black fungi are an ecological group of melanized fungi that are widely recognized as a major contributor to the biodeterioration of stone cultural heritage materials. As part of the ongoing efforts to study the fungal diversity thriving in a deteriorated limestone funerary art piece at the Lemos Pantheon, a national monument located in Águeda, Portugal, two isolates of an unknown microcolonial black fungus were retrieved. These isolates were thoroughly studied through a comprehensive analysis based on a multi-locus phylogeny of a combined dataset of ITS rDNA, LSU, and , along with morphological, physiological, and ecological characteristics. Based on the data obtained from this integrative analysis, we propose a new genus, gen. nov., and a new species, sp. nov., in the recently described family (order ). Prior to this discovery, this family only had one known genus and species, , also isolated from deteriorated limestone. Additionally, considering the isolation source of the fungus and to better understand its potential contribution to the overall stone monument biodeterioration, its biodeteriorative potential was also evaluated. This work represents a significant contribution to the understanding of the fungal diversity involved in the biodeterioration of limestone heritage.