Gazi University Journal of Science 2147-1762 Gazi University 10.35378/gujs.1822641 Mycology Mikoloji Fungal Inhabitants of Deteriorated Historical Manuscripts at Istanbul University’s Virtual Library: Comparative Sampling and Media Assessments İstanbul Üniversitesi Sanal Kütüphanesi'ndeki Bozunmuş Tarihi El Yazmalarının Mantar Sakinleri: Karşılaştırmalı Örnekleme ve Ortam Değerlendirmeleri https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7628-7445 Mutlu İrem İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ FEN BİLİMLERİ ENSTİTÜSÜ https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4825-243X Kadaifçiler Duygu İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ, FEN FAKÜLTESİ Advanced Online Publication 11 12 2025 03 26 2026 Copyright © 1988, Gazi University Journal of Science 1988 Gazi University Journal of Science

Historical manuscripts are invaluable cultural artifacts whose preservation is crucial for safeguarding human heritage. This study investigated fungal contamination in twenty-five deteriorated paper-based historical manuscripts from the Istanbul University Virtual Library. Samples were collected using both swab and membrane filter methods, and fungal isolates were cultivated on dichloran glycerol 18 agar and malt extract agar. Cellulase activity was screened among isolates, followed by morphological identification. A total of 199 fungal isolates were obtained, 93.46% of which were cellulolytic, and their enzymatic indices ranged from 1.16 to 4.00. Swab sampling yielded significantly higher colony counts than membrane filtration, although no significant difference was found between media. The most frequently encountered species were Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus fumigatus. The findings emphasize the necessity of using complementary sampling techniques and culture media to assess microbial diversity and enzymatic activity in historical documents, thereby informing more effective conservation strategies.

Tarihi el yazmaları, korunması insan mirasının korunması için hayati önem taşıyan paha biçilmez kültürel eserlerdir. Bu çalışmada İstanbul Üniversitesi Sanal Kütüphanesi'ndeki yirmi beş bozulmuş kağıt tabanlı tarihi el yazmasında mantar kontaminasyonu araştırılmıştır. Örnekler hem sürüntü hem de membran filtre yöntemleri kullanılarak toplanmış ve mantar izolatları dicloran gliserol 18 agar ve malt ekstrakt agar besiyerlerinde kültüre alınmıştır. İzolatlar arasında selülaz aktivitesi taranmış ve ardından morfolojik tanımlama yapılmıştır. Toplam 199 mantar izolatı elde edilmiş olup, bunların %93.46'sı selülolitik olup enzimatik indeksleri 1.16 ile 4.00 arasında değişmektedir. Sürüntü örneklemesi, membran filtrasyona kıyasla önemli ölçüde daha yüksek koloni sayısı vermiştir, ancak besiyerleri arasında önemli bir fark bulunamamıştır. En sık karşılaşılan türler Penicillium chrysogenum ve Aspergillus fumigatus'tur. Bulgular, tarihi belgelerdeki mikrobiyal çeşitlilik ve enzimatik aktiviteyi değerlendirmek için tamamlayıcı örnekleme teknikleri ve kültür besiyerlerinin kullanılmasının gerekliliğini vurgulayarak daha etkili koruma stratejilerine bilgi sağlamaktadır.

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