Role of exopolysaccharides of Anabaena sp. in desiccation tolerance and biodeterioration of ancient terracotta monuments of Bishnupur.

Colonization of the cyanobacteria in the Bishnupur terracotta temples, one of the heritage sites of West Bengal, India is in an alarming state of deterioration now. Among the cyanobacteria Anabaena sp. (VBCCA 052002) has been isolated from most of the crust samples of terracotta monuments of Bishnupur.