Abstract:[Objective] In the natural environment in ancient buildings, cultural relics are vulnerable to mold, especially in the sweltering summer. Therefore, it is important for protecting cultural relics and visitors there to find out the species of airborne fungi. [Methods] We employed the natural precipitation method and the impacting method to collect samples of six representative sites in the main hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation in summer and analyzed ITS1 rDNA sequences of the airborne fungi. [Results] A total of 22 species of airborne fungi were yielded with the natural precipitation method, which were dominated by Cladosporium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium. At two sites (the second floor of the Buddha Hall and the West Chamber), the count of airborne fungi exceeded the standard. The impacting method measured over 100 species and a large proportion of them were saprophytes. The dominant taxa were Alternaria, Cladosporium, Trichoderma, Rhizopus, Aspergillus, and Penicillium. At all the six sites, the count of fungal communities was above the standard. As for the correlation between environmental factors and fungal diversity, the abundance of fungi was in close relationship with the temperature, humidity, and suspended particulate matter in the Hall. In June when relative humidity is low, temperature had great impact on abundance. In the instance of high humidity, suspended particulate matter and humidity had greater effect on fungal abundance. The abundance of filamentous fungi was in significantly positive correlation with small suspended particulate matter and relative humidity, while the airborne yeast had a higher correlation with temperature. [Conclusion] This study identifies the species of airborne fungi in the main hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and analyzes the correlation with environmental factors, which lays a scientific basis for the prevention, exhibition, and preservation.
