Effects of different levels of wheat bran, rice bran and maize powder supplementation with saw dust on the production of shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Singer)

The cultivation of shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) is increasing rapidly in Bangladesh due to its nutritional and medicinal importance with excellent flavor and longer shelf life. With the aim of increased production, we have cultivated L. edodes on saw dust (SD) supplemented with different levels (10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35% and 40%) of wheat bran (WB), rice bran (RB), maize powder (MP) and their combination (WB+RB+MP = 1:1:1) to investigate the growth, yield and quality of this mushroom. Most of the growth, yield and quality parameters varied significantly when mushrooms were cultivated with different levels of supplementation. The yield of mushroom was increased with the level of each supplementation upto a certain level, and then decreased. SD supplemented with 25% WB produced the highest number of fruiting bodies (34.8/500 g packet), highest biological yield (153.3/500 g packet), and biological efficiency (76.6%) of L. edodes. But the yield of the best quality mushroom was observed on SD with 40% WB supplementation; however, the qualities were not always supplementation dose dependent. In this study, we report that 25% WB supplementation with SD may be very effective for higher yield and 40% WB supplementation for better quality of L. edodes.     

Cultivation of oyster mushrooms on wheat straw and bagasse substrate amended with distillery effluent

Summary Molasses-based distilleries produce large quantities of dark coloured effluent, which is a major cause of environmental pollution. An experiment was conducted to investigate the efficacy of distillery effluent amendment for edible mushroom production. Three species of oyster mushroom, namely Pleurotus florida Eger (EM 1303), Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fries) Quelet (EM 1302) and Pleurotus sajor-caju (Fries) Singer (EM 1304) were grown on wheat straw (variety UP 2338) and bagasse amended with post-anaerobic distillery effluent, a high organic load wastewater with high biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand. Three different levels of effluent treatment were applied to bagasse and wheat straw. Wheat straw was found to be the preferred substrate and showed better results than bagasse in all treatments with respect to yield, biological efficiency (BE) and dry matter loss. P. florida (EM 1303) and P. pulmonarius (EM 1302) gave significantly enhanced yield with increasing levels of effluent, with BE reaching highest at 238.6% for P. florida (EM 1303). Using bagasse as a substrate, P. sajor-caju (EM 1304) and P.␣pulmonarius (EM 1302) exhibited a decreasing trend as compared to control. However, the effect of effluent concentrations did not influence yield and BE significantly in case of bagasse. The dry matter loss of the substrate varied from 9.4% to 53.4% in wheat straw and 17.5% to 45.2% in bagasse respectively.     

基于分子证据确认秦岭藤属与驼峰藤属(夹竹桃科)的系统位置

秦岭藤属(Biondia Schltr.)是中国特有属,约13种,驼峰藤属(Merrillanthus Chun & Tsiang)是仅在我国与柬埔寨分布的单种属,目前两个属均被归并到白前属(Vincetoxicum Wolf),由于取样和系统发育分析尚存一些欠缺,因此其系统位置和归属尚需进一步确认。该文使用2个核糖体基因序列片段(ITS、ETS)、5个叶绿体基因序列片段(psbA-trnH、trnG、trnL、trnL-F、trnT-L),以及二者的合并数据,重建娃儿藤亚族(Tylophorinae)(包含属的模式秦岭藤 [B. chinensis Schltr.=V. shaanxiense(Schltr.)Meve & Liede]与驼峰藤 [M. hainanensis Chun & Tsiang=V. hainanense(Chun & Tsiang)Meve, H. H. Kong & Liede])的系统发育树。结果表明:秦岭藤属与驼峰藤属均包含在白前属中,秦岭藤与青龙藤 [B. henryi(Warb.)Tsiang & Li=V. henryi(Warb.)Meve & Liede]互为姐妹类群,并与V. kawaroense Meve & Liede聚为一支,而黑水藤 [B. insignis Tsiang=V. insigne(Tsiang)Meve, H. H. Kong & Liede]在另一分支中(亚热带分支Subtropical Clade); 驼峰藤属与V. cissoides(Blume)Kuntze和V. philippicum Meve, Omlor & Liede聚为一支。核糖体和叶绿体基因数据均支持秦岭藤属与驼峰藤属归并入白前属,但秦岭藤属为多系,尚需收集更多种类和数据合并分析,深入探讨归并后白前属的种间系统关系和位置。     

Lunularia cruciata, a potential in vitro host for Glomus proliferum and G. intraradices

A study was conducted to define culture conditions for in vitro growth arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) with liverworts as hosts. Lunularia cruciata (L.) Dumortier ex. Lindberg developed in vitro monoxenic mycothalli with both Glomus proliferum Dalpé & Declerck (MUCL 41827) and Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith (MUCL 43204). AMF inoculated plants were co-cultured in plastic Petri dishes with semi-solidified medium supplemented with sucrose and grown under filtered light. Mycothalli of L. cruciata produced external hyphae and spores in quantities equivalent to those obtained with Ri T-DNA transformed root systems.     

Interactive effects of mycorrhization and elevated carbon dioxide on growth of young pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) trees

Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) was germinated and grown at ambient CO₂ level and 650 ppmv CO₂ in the presence and absence of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria laccata for a total of 6 month under nutrient non-limiting conditions. Mycorrhization and elevated atmospheric CO₂ each supported the growth of the trees. Stem height, stem diameter, and dry matter accumulation of pedunculate oak were increased by mycorrhization. Elevated atmospheric CO₂ enhanced stem height, stem diameter, fresh weight and dry weight, as well as lateral root formation of the trees. In combination, mycorrhization and elevated atmospheric CO₂ had a more than additive, positive effect on tree height and biomass accumulation, and further improved lateral root formation of the trees. From these findings it is suggested that the efficiency of the roots in supporting the growth of the shoot is increased in mycorrhized oak trees at elevated atmospheric CO₂.Abbreviations DW dry weight - FW fresh weight - RWC relative water content     

基于分子与形态证据的桃色无心菜(石竹科)分类地位探讨

广义无心菜属(Arenaria L.s.l.)是石竹科(Caryophyllaceae)中分类较为困难的大属之一,基于分子系统学研究结果该属目前已被拆分为多属。基于形态学证据,桃色无心菜(Arenaria melandryoides Edgew.)被置于无心菜属齿瓣亚属[subg.Odontostemma (G.Don) Williams]、齿瓣无心菜属(Odontostemma Benth.ex G.Don)或独缀草属[Shivparvatia (Edgew.) PusalkarD.K.Singh]之中,但都缺少分子系统学证据的支持。基于ITS序列重建了繁缕族(Alsineae)系统发育关系,结果表明:目前所界定的齿瓣无心菜属并非单系,桃色无心菜应纳入独缀草属的范畴。此外,还支持将传统无心菜属齿瓣亚属中漆姑无心菜(A.saginoides Maxim.)、匙叶无心菜(A.spathulifolia C.Y.Wu ex L.H.Zhou)及云南无心菜(A.yunnanensis Franch.)归入齿瓣无心菜属的处理,以及将单花亚属中红花无心菜(A.rhodantha PaxK.Hoffmann)归入独缀草属的处理。形态特征上,花朵单生于枝端这一特征可作为独缀草属区别于齿瓣无心菜属的重要识别特征。     

Cultivation of oyster mushrooms (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus</Emphasis> spp.) on various lignocellulosic wastes

Cultivation of speciality mushrooms on lignocellulosic wastes represents one of the most economically and cost-effective organic recycling processes. Three species of Pleurotus, namely P. columbinus, P. sajor-caju and P. ostreatus were experimentally evaluated on untreated organic wastes including chopped office papers, cardboard, sawdust and plant fibres. Production studies were carried out in polyethylene bags of about 1 kg wet weight with 5% spawning rates of substrate fresh weight in a custom-made growth room especially designed for spawn run and cropping. The conversion percentage from dry substrate weight to fresh mushroom weight (biological efficiency) was determined. The highest biological efficiency was noted with P. columbinuson cardboard (134.5%) and paper (100.8%), whereas P. ostreatus produced maximum yield on cardboard (117.5%) followed by paper (112.4%). The overall yield of P. sajor-cajuwas comparatively low (range 47–78.4%). The average number of sporophore flushings ranged between 5 and 6 times. The findings that P. columbinus and P. ostreatus are superior to P. sajor-caju are consistent with previous reports elsewhere. Further evaluation of P. columbinus alone on different bagging systems containing partially pasteurized office papers as a growing substrate revealed that polyethylene bags resulted in 109.4% biological efficiency in contrast to pottery (86%), plastic trays (72%) or polyester net (56%). The above findings reveal an opportunity for commercial implication of oyster mushroom especially P. columbinus for utilization of different feasible and cheap recyclable residues.     

Recycling spent larval food of Corcyra cephalonica Stainton for preparing spawn and sporophore of Pleurotus sajor-caju (Fr.) Singer

Large scale production of the rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica Stainton in pearl millet grain medium leads to a huge accumulation of spent larval medium in commercial insectaries. We attempted bioconversion of spent larval medium of C. cephalonica (CLM) for cultivation of the mushroom Pleurotus sajor-caju (Fr.) Singer, to increase the usage of these residues. Maximum efficiency limits of CLM for spawn run, sporophore cropping and as bed substrate were assessed with varying combinations of sorghum and rice straw. Sorghum grains and rice straw were the best substrates for spawn run and sporophore yield respectively. Having been crushed, macerated, heated and sterilized, CLM could also become a suitable substrate along with sorghum or rice straw. Sorghum and CLM at 16.7% + 83.3% and 33.3% + 66.7% combinations were very effective in supporting mycelial growth and quicker colonization of fungus, and mother spawn yield. The spawn that was obtained from these combinations yielded higher sporophore as well. The fungus did not rapidly colonize on other combinations (50% + 50%, 66.7% + 33.3% and 83.3% + 16.7%), and was completely unable to grow on CLM 100%. Combination of rice straw and CLM at 75% + 25% and 50% + 50% as bed substrate contributed higher sporophore yield. Analysis of the substrates indicated variation in their chemical and mineral composition, but they were good sources of N, P and Ca. The prospects of exploring CLM for the mushroom cultivation are discussed.     

Micropropagation of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Casuarina</Emphasis> hybrid (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Casuarina equisetifolia</Emphasis> L. × <Emphasis Type="Italic">Casuarina glauca</Emphasis> Sieber ex Spreng) following facilitated seed germination

A suitable protocol for micropropagation of Casuarina hybrid, Casuarina equisetifolia L. × Casuarina glauca Sieber ex Spreng (C. e. × C. g.), was developed. When seeds without seed coats were cultured on 4 germination media, the optimal seed germination percentage (91%) was obtained on 0.8% agar solidified water medium. Shoot multiplication was achieved by culturing 2-cm long epicotyls, excised from germinated seedlings, on MS (Murashige and Skoog 1962) basal medium supplemented with BA (6-benzylaminopurine) at 4.4, 8.8, 17.8 and 35.6 μM. The greatest percentage of axillary bud sproutings (87.5%), mean number of sprouts per explant (3.8), and shoot length (3.2 cm) were achieved on MS medium supplemented with 17.8 μM BA. MS medium supplemented with 4 different concentrations of IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) (4.3, 8.7, 13.0 and 17.4 μM) were used for rooting of in vitro grown shoots. The highest rooting percentage (65.6%), mean number of roots per explant (2.5) and mean length of roots per explant (1.6 cm) was achieved at 13.0 μM IBA. Rooted shoots grew well after transfer to a substrate of peat and pinebark (7:3) in the greenhouse.     

Application of solid waste from anaerobic digestion of poultry litter in Agrocybe aegerita cultivation: mushroom production, lignocellulolytic enzymes activity and substrate utilization

The degradation and utilization of solid waste (SW) from anaerobic digestion of poultry litter by Agrocybe aegerita was evaluated through mushroom production, loss of organic matter (LOM), lignocellulolytic enzymes activity, lignocellulose degradation and mushroom nutrients content. Among the substrate combinations (SCs) tested, substrates composed of 10–20% SW, 70–80% wheat straw and 10% millet was found to produce the highest mushroom yield (770.5 and 642.9 g per 1.5 kg of substrate). LOM in all SCs tested varied between 8.8 and 48.2%. A. aegerita appears to degrade macromolecule components (0.6–21.8% lignin, 33.1–55.2% cellulose and 14–53.9% hemicellulose) during cultivation on the different SCs. Among the seven extracellular enzymes monitored, laccase, peroxidase and CMCase activities were higher before fruiting; while xylanase showed higher activities after fruiting. A source of carbohydrates (e.g., millet) in the substrate is needed in order to obtain yield and biological efficiency comparable to other commercially cultivated exotic mushrooms.     

Yield and size of oyster mushroom grown on rice/wheat straw basal substrate supplemented with cotton seed hull

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) was cultivated on rice straw basal substrate, wheat straw basal substrate, cotton seed hull basal substrate, and wheat straw or rice straw supplemented with different proportions (15%, 30%, and 45% in rice straw substrate, 20%, 30%, and 40% in wheat straw substrate) of cotton seed hull to find a cost effective substrate. The effect of autoclaved sterilized and non-sterilized substrate on growth and yield of oyster mushroom was also examined. Results indicated that for both sterilized substrate and non-sterilized substrate, oyster mushroom on rice straw and wheat basal substrate have faster mycelial growth rate, comparatively poor surface mycelial density, shorter total colonization period and days from bag opening to primordia formation, lower yield and biological efficiency, lower mushroom weight, longer stipe length and smaller cap diameter than that on cotton seed hull basal substrate. The addition of cotton seed hull to rice straw and wheat straw substrate slowed spawn running, primordial development and fruit body formation. However, increasing the amount of cotton seed hull can increase the uniformity and white of mycelium, yield and biological efficiency, and increase mushroom weight, enlarge cap diameter and shorten stipe length. Compared to the sterilized substrate, the non-sterilized substrate had comparatively higher mycelial growth rate, shorter total colonization period and days from bag opening to primordia formation. However, the non-sterilized substrate did not gave significantly higher mushroom yield and biological efficiency than the sterilized substrate, but some undesirable characteristics, i.e. smaller mushroom cap diameter and relatively long stipe length.     

Population structure and responses to disturbance of the basidiomycete Resinicium bicolor

Summary Resinicium bicolor (Alb. & Schw. ex Fr.) Parm. [=Odontia bicolor (Alb. & Schw. ex Fr.) Bres.] is an outcrossing resupinate basidiomycete associated with root and butt rots of trees, but is itself only very weakly pathogenic. The distribution of genets among every spruce stump in a 70-year-old 1250 m² spruce stand was analysed using somatic incompatibility testing. R. bicolor was present on 40% of 8-to 10-year-old stumps. Nineteen genets were found occupying 32 stumps; yielding probabilities of colonisation following establishment by basidiospores of 0.20–0.24 and by mycelial extension or dispersal of 0.16–0.20. The probability of colonisation decreased with increasing distance from a point of establishment. R. bicolor responded to both enrichment and destructive disturbances by the formation of an extensive cord system which enabled it to colonise discontinuously distributed resources and to overgrow fungi adjacent to it in a single resource unit, including Heterobasidion annosum.     

木麻黄浸提液对榄仁树幼苗生长及生理生化的影响

该研究试图将榄仁树引入木麻黄海防林以期形成混交林型的海防林。以15 d榄仁树种子苗为材料,分别采用浓度为125 g·L~-1的木麻黄根、木麻黄凋落物和林下表层土壤的水浸提液胁迫处理榄仁树幼苗60 d,研究木麻黄化感作用对榄仁树幼苗生长、光合作用、膜系统伤害、抗氧化系统酶活性及游离Pro含量的影响。结果表明:木麻黄根、木麻黄凋落物及林下表层土壤的水浸提液都能降低榄仁树幼苗的存活率,影响幼苗株高、叶和根生物量,可以推断不同浸提液中对影响植物生长成分的浓度有所不同。3种浸提液均显著降低处理15~45 d期间幼苗的净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Ccond)、胞间CO_2浓度(Ci)、蒸腾速率(Tr),且显著增加幼苗水分利用率(WUE)。第60天时3种木麻黄浸提液能显著增加幼苗叶片、根的Pro含量,使得幼苗根系组织细胞膜通透性增加,而木麻黄根浸提液能显著增加幼苗Ccond、Ci、叶SOD、根CAT含量,木麻黄凋落物浸提液能显著增加幼苗Ccond和Tr,同时凋落物浸提液会显著降低幼苗根POD含量。榄仁树幼苗通过调整自身的生理生化能适应木麻黄化感胁迫的影响,为此可考虑榄仁树作为沿海防护林建设的树种之一。     

Phylogenetic Framework for Trema (Celtidaceae)

We used ITS and trnL sequence data, analyzed separately and combined by MP, to explore species relationships and concepts in Trema (Celtidaceae), a pantropical genus of pioneer trees. Whether Trema is monophyletic or includes Parasponia is still unresolved. Three clades within Trema received moderate to high support, one from the New World and two from the Old World, but their relationships were not resolved. In the New World, specimens of T. micrantha formed two groups consistent with endocarp morphology. Group I, with smaller brown endocarps, is a highly supported clade sister to T. lamarckiana. Group II, with larger black endocarps, is poorly resolved with several subclades, including the highly supported T. integerrima clade. Both Old World clades contain Asian and African species, with three or more species in each region. Trema orientalis is not monophyletic: specimens from Africa formed a highly supported clade sister to T. africana, while those from Asia were sister to T. aspera from Australia.     

Is Fe deficiency rather than P deficiency the cause of cluster root formation in Casuarina species?

When subjected, directly (through nutritional deficiencies) or indirectly (through alkaline constraints leading to such deficiencies) to nutrient deficiencies, certain plants respond by developing special root structures called cluster roots. This phenomenon can be considered as an ecophysiological response to a specific nutrient deficiency enabling plants to enhance nutrient uptake. Experiments conducted on an alkaline and an acid soil showed that Casuarina glauca (Sieber ex Spreng.) produced cluster roots only in the alkaline soil and not in the acid soil. In addition, iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) deficiencies were examined separately or together to determine their effect on cluster root formation in C. glauca seedlings grown hydroponically. Results from experiments carried out on three Casuarina species (C. glauca, C. cunninghamiana Miq. and C. equisetifolia L.) indicated that Fe is involved in cluster root formation. In nutrient media lacking P but containing Fe, no cluster roots formed while seedlings receiving P and lacking Fe developed cluster roots. When incubated on chrome-azurol S-agar on blue plates (CAS assay), a technique used routinely to detect the production of siderophores by micro-organisms, the root system of Fe-deficient plants exhibited orange halos around cluster roots, indicating production of a ferric-chelating agent. It is concluded that the capacity of cluster roots of C. glauca to chelate Fe allows the plant to grow normally on alkaline soils.     

Roots,soil water and crop yield: tree crop interactions in a semi-arid agroforestry system in Kenya

Variations in soil water, crop yield and fine roots of 3–4 year-old Grevillea robusta Cunn. and Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. growing in association with maize (Zea mays L.) were examined in semiarid Kenya during the long rains of 1996 and 1997. Even although tree roots penetrated more deeply than maize roots, maximum root length densities for both tree species and maize occurred in the top 200 mm of the soil profile where soil moisture was frequently recharged by rains. Populations of roots in plots containing trees were dominated by tree roots at the beginning of the growing season but because tree roots died and maize root length increased during the cropping season, amounts of tree and maize roots were similar at the end of the season. Thus, there was evidence of temporal separation of root activity between species, but there was no spatial separation of the rooting zones of the trees and crops within that part of the soil profile occupied by crop roots. Tree root length density declined with increasing distances from rows of trees and with depth in the soil profile. Although Grevillea trees were largest, plots containing G. sepium trees always contained more tree roots than plots containing G. robusta trees and Gliricidia was more competitive with maize than Grevillea. Overall, Gliricidia reduced crop yield by about 50% and Grevillea by about 40% relative to crop yield in control plots lacking trees and reductions of crop yield were greatest close to trees. There was less soil moisture in plots containing trees than in control plots. Such difference between control plots and plots containing trees were maximal at the end of the dry season and there was always less soil moisture close to trees than elsewhere in the plots. Plots containing Gliricidia trees contained less soil water than plots containing Grevillea trees.     

Variation of Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. Ex Fr.) P. Kumm. (1871) performance subjected to differentdoses and timings of nano-urea

Supplementation of the growing substrate by nitrogenous additives has been known to improve the production of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P. Kumm. (1871)). However, the application of nano-additives has not been reported in such cultivation yet. The study investigated the effect of nano-urea added in two different doses (3 g and 5 g per kg substrate), once (at spawning or after first flush) or twice (at spawning and after first flush) to the growing substrate consisting of wheat straw and spent oyster substrate (1:1, w/w). Results showed that the application of nano-urea once has induced the highest number of mushroom flushes (four flushes) despite the dose applied. Contrarily to early findings, where high doses of nitrogen have caused inhibition of mushroom growth and production, nano-urea application has had better effects when applied twice. With 5 g/kg, it induced the shortest period between the first and the third flush (15 days). With 3 g/kg, it resulted in the highest biological and economic yields at the third flush (332.7 g/bag and 283.1 g/bag respectively), in total (973.4 g/bag and 854.0 g/bag respectively), the highest biological efficiency (109.6%), and pileus diameter/stipe length ratio (2.8). Experimental findings of the current study may be potentially applied at commercial scale.