Soil Fungi: Their Potential use as a Forensic Tool

• Published in: Journal of forensic sciences Vol. 59; no. 3; pp. 785 - 789
• Main Authors: Tranchida, María C., Centeno, Néstor D., Cabello, Marta N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2014; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: cadaver decomposition; forensic Ascomycota; forensic mycology; Forensic Pathology; forensic science; Forensic sciences; forensic taphonomy; fungal succession; Fungi; Fungi - isolation & purification; Humans; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Mycology; Postmortem Changes; soil fungi; Soil Microbiology; Soils; Spores, Fungal - ultrastructure; Talaromyces; Talaromyces flavus; forensic Ascomycota; forensic mycology; forensic taphonomy; soil fungi; cadaver decomposition; forensic science; fungal succession
• ISSN: 0022-1198; 1556-4029
• DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12391

As a grave is an anomalous environment and differs from its surroundings, criminal investigators employ different techniques for locating, recovering, and analyzing clandestine graves. In this study were identified the fungi found in the soil under corpses in decomposition with an aim at relating the copresence of human remains and different fungal species. Were isolated the fungi in three ways: soil washing, serial dilutions, and moist chamber growth. Dichotomomyces cejpii, Talaromyces trachyspermus, Talaromyces flavus, and Talaromyces sp. were the representative species found—with those belonging to the ammonia group, whose fungi are the first in the succession of cadaver decomposition directly in the ground. The mycobiota found at the present study area clearly differs to mycobiota identified in control sample and from previously described species for other areas of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Further forensic examples of this type are needed to develop fully the detailed use of mycology as a forensic tool.