Advances in Zoology and Botany Vol. 12(2), pp. 87 - 100
DOI: 10.13189/azb.2024.120201
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Diversity of Micro Organisms and Lower Plants on the Monuments of Khajuraho, India

Jagrati Tiwari ^1,*, Amita Arjariya ², Ravindra Singh ¹, Pooja Agrawal ³, Roshni Khare ^4
1 Department of Biological Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, India
² Department of Industrial Microbiology, Maharaja Chhatrashal University, India
³ Department of Botany, Govt. College Mohangarh, India
⁴ Department of Botany, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India

ABSTRACT

Monuments can be defined as a building or structure that is an important part of history and culture, related to religion. The superfine architecture of the Indian monuments is their main concern for preservation. It is noticeable that these monuments were constructed for a long period but nowadays the adverse effects of the environment and various living factors like microorganisms and lower plants will not allow them to be preserved for a long time. The corrosion of rocks and newly formed uncovered stone monuments is a combined phenomenon of physical and chemical reactions, which are the main reasons for the decay process. This normally begins with the rotation mechanism of the seasonal variation of rain, wind, sunlight and freezing or thawing process. Conductive environment and the availability of energy resources with nutrients that are organic and inorganic in nature, permit the biological adaptation of a bare surface of monuments. This investigation provides presence of various microorganisms and lower plant species on the temple surface. The investigation was carried out at the Khajuraho group of temples (western group of temples, Khajuraho) where 6 bacterial genera, 12 fungal species, 7 algal species and 3 lichens were observed during study period. The presence of these microstructures on temple surface is associated with the decay and degradation of temple surface also known as biodeterioration. The study site Khajuraho is an international tourist place known for its cultural monuments. The chief concern of this study is to explore the presence of microorganisms and lower plant species on temple surface through their isolation and identification, which would be valuable for future investigation and research.

KEYWORDS
Khajuraho, Stone Monuments, Biodeterioration, Conductive Environment, Microorganism, Stone Degradation, Microbial Factors

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Jagrati Tiwari , Amita Arjariya , Ravindra Singh , Pooja Agrawal , Roshni Khare , "Diversity of Micro Organisms and Lower Plants on the Monuments of Khajuraho, India," Advances in Zoology and Botany, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 87 - 100, 2024. DOI: 10.13189/azb.2024.120201.

(b). APA Format:
Jagrati Tiwari , Amita Arjariya , Ravindra Singh , Pooja Agrawal , Roshni Khare (2024). Diversity of Micro Organisms and Lower Plants on the Monuments of Khajuraho, India. Advances in Zoology and Botany, 12(2), 87 - 100. DOI: 10.13189/azb.2024.120201.