As they are mostly light in tone, mural paintings in
churches are aesthetically badly a2ected by fungal growth
and consequent stain development (Fig. 3). Not infrequently,
the development of species of Cladosporium and
some other genera results in entire walls in churches becoming
covered in greenish-grey sporulating colonies. Finally,
another notable cause of dis;gurement that should
be mentioned is the development of fungal sclerotia under
paint-covered surfaces.