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The impact of lichens on the conservation of monuments, such as the World Heritage Site (WHS) of Cappadocian churches, presents a multifaceted challenge for conservators. Previous studies have shown that lichens can both induce deterioration processes of stone through their penetration into the substrate and chemical interactions as well as provide bioprotection, forming encrustations including calcium oxalate layers, which help mitigating the effects of weathering, reducing water penetration and eolian erosion. Evaluating the impact of lichens requires a comprehensive understanding of various factors, which include the type of rock substrate, the colonizing lichen species, the monument architecture, and the prevailing physic-chemical weathering processes. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of lichen colonization on Saint Simeon Church in the Paşabağı Valley (Turkey) with a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the interplay between lichens, microclimatic conditions, and the degradation of stone. Specifically, this study examines the influence of wind-driven rain (WDR) occurrences on lichen distribution and stone weathering to develop comprehensive conservation strategies. The results confirmed the previous observations and showed a prevalence of the protective role of lichens over their deterioration. The northwest side of the church, despite being heavily impacted by environmental factors such as WDR and freezing–thawing cycles, showed reduced deterioration due to extensive lichen coverage. In contrast, the northeast side, with lower lichen colonization, demonstrated more severe deterioration. These findings suggest that integrating the protective aspects of lichen colonization into conservation strategies can enhance their preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbaria are an important source of data and material useful in many fields, including plant conservation. Seeds preserved in herbarium specimens may have the potential to germinate, although few studies focused on this topic. Here, the first systematic assessment of six techniques, including priming techniques and melatonin application, aimed at improving the germination of seeds from herbarium specimens is presented. Seed germination of 26 species common in Europe, some of which congeneric to extinct species, collected in herbaria and in the wild (20,549 seeds in total, including 19,509 from 297 herbarium specimens from 8 different herbaria) was tested with the following treatments: exogenous melatonin addition to the germination medium, priming with melatonin, osmopriming, hydropriming for 24 and 48 hours, standard soil, heat sterilization and gibberellins addition. More than 85% of the fresh seeds and 1% of the seeds collected in herbaria germinated, including seeds older than 50 years. Data show that treatment with exogenous melatonin had a positive effect on the germination of fresh seeds, but a negative effect on the germination of herbarium‐derived seeds. Furthermore, osmopriming treatment had a slightly positive effect on the germination of herbarium‐derived seeds. Osmopriming and exogenous melatonin addition seem to be promising techniques that need further investigation and improvement and might be useful for the development of an optimal germination protocol for old and herbarium‐derived seeds. The germination of seeds from herbaria could be an important tool in plant conservation, with the aim of reversing the extinction trend of many species through de‐extinction, safeguarding biodiversity, and genetic variability. This study provides preliminary data for the development of germination protocols, especially for old seeds of species of conservation interest, to maximise the chance of recovering lost genetic diversity and leading to the first de‐extinction ever. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial colonization can lead to various biodeterioration phenomena in outdoor stone monuments. To prevent these issues and mitigate the negative effects of chemical control, recent research has focused on encapsulating biocides in nanostructures. We tested the antifouling efficiency of the new multifunctional coating through in situ experiments performed on the Aurelian Walls in Rome. We selected two different biocides (2-mercaptobenzothiazole and zosteric sodium salt) and loaded them into two different silica nanocontainers (nanocapsules and mesoporous particles), which were dispersed in TEOS coatings. These coatings were applied to four common lithotypes (marble, travertine, mortar, and brick). Subsequently, we accelerated the colonization by inoculating microorganisms onto half of the samples, subjecting all samples to aging cycles. We conducted colorimetric, infrared spectroscopy, and other microscopic analyses to assess their durability and antimicrobial action. Our 3-year survey indicates that the coatings demonstrated antifoulant efficiency across all samples, with higher effectiveness observed on brick and mortar compared to travertine and marble. Among the nanostructures, nanocapsules exhibited greater efficiency than mesoporous particles, and regarding the biocides, the commercial one outperformed the natural one. These findings highlighted the potential of such systems in preserving cultural heritage; however, further research and product development is imperative for practical implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization and urban regeneration can significantly impact cultural heritage, but a greater knowledge of the past natural and historical features is needed to value the past and understand the present. The lost Villa Peretti Montalto in Rome, once located in the area that corresponds to the current front side of Termini station, deserves great attention due to its cultural value. This work aimed to provide a floristic and functional reconstruction of the gardens of the villa during the XVI and XVII Centuries. From several bibliographic and iconographic sources, a critical analysis and interpretation of plant names was conducted. A list of 87 species and their location in the different garden sectors, during different periods with their specific uses, is provided. The arboreal design was made by classical species in the Roman context, like Cupressus sempervirens, Pinus pinea, Quercus ilex, and Ulmus glabra. In addition, ancient lost varieties of fruit trees (mainly Pyrus communis and Ficus carica) and several species of conservation interest were found. The knowledge of the ancient flora in historical gardens could be a key tool in urban greenery planning and touristic and cultural valorization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In archaeological sites, plants can be a risk for monument conservation. However, in these sites, a refugium for plant biodiversity is often detected, such as in the UNESCO site Etruscan necropolis of "Monterozzi" in Tarquinia, which still holds a Special Protection Area for bats. In this site, we previously evaluated the positive and negative effects of vascular plants on the conservation of the hypogeal tombs. To contribute in assessing the role of archaeological sites in supporting plant diversity and interpreting its bioindication values for nature conservation, we analyse in this relevant place the floristic interest and richness and the plant communities growing on tumuli, trampled, and less disturbed areas. The results revealed the presence of several plants with high naturalistic interest, such as the community's representative of synanthropic and natural Mediterranean grasslands, which arise both from the present and the past uses of the area. The high naturalistic values of the site are also assessed, considering its remarkable richness of species/area compared with the well-known archaeological sites of Rome. These findings further indicate that plant diversity needs to be considered in planning management activities in archaeological sites to also protect their natural values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Street trees play a significant ecological role in modern urban ecosystems, but usually the selection criteria follow pragmatic reasons rather than bio-ecological suitability. Understanding the influence of such factors can be relevant, especially in cities having a certain complexity and area. This paper aims to analyze the variation in the distribution of street tree species within the city's municipia of Rome to determine the influence of some factors in the selection process. Here, we have described the species of street trees in fourteen municipia of Rome, and we created five clusters of factors (bio-ecological, aesthetic, historical–cultural, health, and economic) that could constitute selection criteria for street trees. From our data analysis, the municipia of Rome were grouped into four main groups and the choice of trees was based on multiple selection criteria. Foliage type, longevity, fruit type, autochthony, and economic value were the primary criteria. In 90–100% of municipia, deciduous species dominate, with 50–150 years longevity, dry fruits, exotic species, and prices of <€500 per tree. Additionally, the flower type, allergenicity, size class, and cultural value were the secondary criteria. The biological and ecological characteristics of trees are key factors to consider in order to reduce the management of street trees and relative costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood species identification and characterization of its weathering processes are crucial steps in the scientific approach of conservation of wooden cultural heritage. Many precious wooden objects of ancient Egypt are largely present in museums, nevertheless relatively little information is available concerning the nature of timber used and on their status of conservation. To address this gap, the wooden species of three relevant archaeological wood objects (statue, box, and coffin) arising from different Egyptian archaeological sites dated from the Old Kingdom (2,686–2,181 BC) to New Kingdom (1,550–1,069 BC) were deeply studied. Five hardwood and softwood species were identified belonging to Tamarix mannifera, T. gennessarensis, Ficus sycomorus, Vachellia nilotica, and Cedrus sp. Such data confirmed the recurrence of Vachellia and Tamarix among the most common timbers found in ancient Egypt. Scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform spectroscopy, and synchrotron x‐ray radiation diffraction were conducted to evaluate the archaeological wood deterioration. The formation of microcracks, biological degradation patterns (fungal colonization), or chemical characterization (accumulation of salts on and in‐between wooden cells) were detected. SEM micrographs showed the presence of fungal hyphae and conidial spores on the wooden cells. Significant changes in the chemical wood composition and decrease in the crystallinity index were detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]