Allelopathic effects of parthenin against two weedy species,Avena fatua and Bidens pilosa

Parthenin is a natural constituent of Parthenium hysterophorus with phytotoxic and allelopathic properties. Its effect on two weedy species viz. Avena fatua and Bidens pilosa was studied with a view to explore its herbicidal potential. Germination of both the weeds was reduced with increasing concentration of parthenin and a dose-response relationship was observed. This provided information on LC₅₀ and Inhibition threshold concentrations of parthenin that could be useful for future studies. Further, parthenin also inhibited the growth of both the weeds in terms of root and shoot length and seedling dry weight. Inhibition of root growth was greater than that of shoot growth. Similar observations were made when the test weeds were grown in soil amended with different concentrations of parthenin. In addition to growth, there was a reduction of chlorophyll content in the growing seedlings. It also caused water loss in the weedy species. The study, therefore, reveals that parthenin exerts an inhibitory effect on the growth and development of both weeds and can be further explored as a herbicide for future weed management strategies.     

高速逆流色谱分离小孢拟盘多毛孢PM-1 菌株中的除草活性物质

【目的】应用高速逆流色谱法(High-speed counter-current chromatography,HSCCC)实现对小孢拟盘多毛孢Pestalotiopsis microspora PM-1菌株代谢产物中除草活性物质的首次分离。【方法】以正己烷:乙酸乙酯:甲醇:水(4:5:4:5,V/V/V/V)为最佳的两相溶剂体系,上相(水相)为固定相,下相(有机相)为流动相,正相洗脱。【结果】在流速2 mL/min、转速900 r/min、检测波长254 nm的条件下进行分离,得到4个馏分,其中馏分Ⅱ对马唐的活性较强。馏分Ⅱ经高效液相色谱法(High performance liquid chromatography,HPLC)以乙腈:水=75:25(V/V)为流动相经过C18柱进一步分离检测,所得馏分A对马唐种子萌发有较强的抑制作用。其保留时间为7.954 min,该峰经二极管阵列光谱检测为单一组分。【结论】利用最佳的高速逆流色谱条件和高效液相色谱条件对小孢拟盘多毛孢Pestalotiopsismicrospora PM-1菌株代谢产物进行分离,可获得除草活性化合物——馏分A。     

不同土壤养分水平下2种外来鬼针草和近缘本地种的比较研究

【背景】鬼针草属白花鬼针草和三叶鬼针草原产于热带美洲,入侵我国后给生态环境、农业经济等造成严重的危害和影响。目前,关于它们的研究主要针对单个物种。为了更好地理解这2种外来鬼针草的入侵能力和入侵机制,本文开展了这2种入侵种与近缘本地种之间的比较研究。【方法】通过盆栽试验,设置低肥和高肥2个养分水平,测量和计算2种外来鬼针草与近缘本地种金盏银盘在不同土壤养分水平下的形态和生长参数、生物量及其分配、繁殖持续期、单株种子产量以及表型可塑性指数等。【结果】在低肥条件下,除了繁殖持续期和种子产量外,2种外来种和本地种的大多数参数均无显著差异。但在高肥条件下,外来种白花鬼针草的总叶面积、比叶面积、叶面积比、繁殖持续期和种子产量明显高于本地种,而三叶鬼针草总叶面积、比叶面积、总生物量、相对生长速率却显著低于本地种。在对土壤养分的可塑性方面,白花鬼针草在株高、总叶面积、比叶面积、总生物量、叶面积比、相对生长速率、平均叶面积比和种子产量方面的可塑性均高于其他2种植物;三叶鬼针草与金盏银盘相比,大多数参数的可塑性指数较接近。【结论与意义】白花鬼针草是一种入侵能力很强的外来种。长的繁殖持续期和高种子产量是白花鬼针草和三叶鬼针草有别于本地种金盏银盘的重要入侵性状。本研究可为揭示三叶鬼针草和白花鬼针草的入侵机制和影响因素提供依据,并为入侵预测和控制提供基本资料。     

Biocontrol potential of Trichoderma species against mango malformation pathogens

Malformation disease of Mango (Mangifera indica L.) caused by Fusarium moniliforme var. subglutinans is one of the most destructive diseases, which is a major production constraint in the mango-growing regions of India. In this study, The bioagents Trichoderma viride (Tr1), Trichoderma virens (Tr2) and Trichoderma harzianum (Tr3) were evaluated in culture with the pathogens to monitor the antagonistic effect and their volatile compound and culture filtrates (non-volatile compound). It was found that all the three isolates of bioagents significantly checked the growth of F. moniliforme var. subglutinans. In dual culture, the best result was obtained with T. harzianum followed by T. virens and T. viride. A similar result was also observed in the case of culture filtrates ofTrichoderma spp. The results clearly showed that inhibition of the growth of the fusaria isolates by T. harzianum was significantly superior to T. viride andT.virens. In case of antifungal activity of volatile compounds released by Trichoderma isolates, it was also observed that T. virens was more superior to T.harzianum and T. viride.     

Detection of fungal metabolites of various Trichoderma species by the aphid Schizaphis graminum

The feeding preferences of alate and apterous morphs of the aphid Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (Homoptera: Aphididae) were evaluated using leaves treated with powdered rice cultures of four fungal isolates belonging to different species of the genus Trichoderma (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes). All of the fungal isolates restrained alate morphs of S. graminum from visiting treated leaves, but only Trichoderma citrinoviride Bisset also influenced the preference of apterous morphs. Trials carried out with supernatants obtained by centrifuging aqueous suspensions of the fungal cultures showed that the feeding preference of aphids was maintained in the absence of fungal spores and mycelia, supporting the hypothesis that at least part of the fungal metabolites responsible for this effect were water‐soluble compounds. Electrophysiological studies showed that the structures involved in the perception of the fungal metabolites are located on the aphid tarsomeres.     

Activity of some aminoglycoside antibiotics against true fungi, Phytophthora and Pythium species

AIMS: To investigate the in vitro antifungal and antioomycete activities of some aminoglycosides against true fungi and Phytophthora and Pythium species and to evaluate the potential of the antibiotics against Phytophthora late blight on plants. METHODS AND RESULTS: Antifungal and antioomycete activities of aminoglycoside antibiotics (neomycin, paromomycin, ribostamycin and streptomycin) and a paromomycin-producing strain (Streptomyces sp. AMG-P1) against Phytophthora and Pythium species and 10 common fungi were measured in potato dextrose broth (PDB) and on seedlings in pots. Paromomycin was the most active against Phytophthora and Pythium species with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 1-10 microg ml(-1) in PDB, but displayed low to moderate activities towards other common fungi at the same concentration. Paromomycin also showed potent in vivo activity against red pepper and tomato late blight diseases with 80 and 99% control value, respectively, at 100 microg ml(-1). In addition, culture broth of Streptomyces sp. AMG-P1 as a paromomycin producer exhibited high in vivo activity against late blight at 500 microg freeze-dried weight per millilitre. CONCLUSIONS: Among tested aminoglycoside antibiotics, paromomycin was the most active against oomycetes both in vitro and in vivo. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Data from this study show that aminoglycoside antibiotics have in vitro and in vivo activities against oomycetes, suggesting that Streptomyces sp. AMG-P1 may be used as a biocontrol agent against oomycete diseases.     

Evaluation of fungal culture filtrate containing chitinase as a biocontrol agent against Helicoverpa armigera

AIMS: To evaluate the biocontrol efficacy of culture filtrate containing chitinase from Trichoderma harzianum against Heliothis. METHODS AND RESULTS: T. harzianum was cultured by submerged fermentation using colloidal chitin as sole carbon source. The ability of the culture filtrate to hydrolyse colloidal chitin indicated the presence of chitinase as one of its components. Biocontrol assay on Heliothis showed that the culture filtrate is a potent antifeedant as it reduced the feeding rate and body weight of the larvae. It reduced the successful pupation and increased larval and pupal mortality in a dosage-dependent manner when applied topically. The highest mortalities (70%) were recorded for groups treated with 2000 U ml(-1) chitinase activity. The percentage of adult emergence was zero for the highest chitinase concentration (2000 U ml(-1)) tried. CONCLUSIONS: The studies showed that the culture filtrate containing chitinase from T. harzianum is capable of negatively affecting the growth and metamorphosis of Heliothis larvae. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: In view of the need for safer and environmentally friendly pest management tools, the present study could help in the development of enzyme-based biopesticides against Heliothis.     

Antioxidative and cytotoxic potential of some Chenopodium L. species growing in Poland

The cytotoxic and antioxidant properties of lipophilic compounds extracted from different parts of four Chenopodium L. (Chenopodium album, Chenopodium hybridum, Chenopodium rubrum and Chenopodium urbicum) species were evaluated. The highest phenolic content was found in herb and seeds of all examined plants. Large amounts of free polyphenols were observed in herb extracts of C. album (3.36 mg/g DW), seeds of C. urbicum (3.87 mg/g DW) and roots of C. urbicum (1.52 mg/g DW). The cytotoxic activities of the extracts were assessed against human lung carcinoma A-549 and ovarian carcinoma TOV-112D and normal human fibroblast cell lines. Our study demonstrated that the extracts from the herb of C. rubrum and C. urbicum had the best antioxidant effect of all the extracts analyzed. Most of the extracts tested exhibited low cytotoxicity. However, the extracts from herb and seeds of C. album and C. hybridum showed the significant antiproliferative effect on the TOV-112 cell line.It can be concluded that antioxidant activity and phenolic composition differ mainly between plant parts and are quite similar between the plants, when the same plant part is analyzed. Thus, the Chenopodium extracts could be used as a readily accessible source of natural antioxidants, and may be used in the pharmaceutical industry and for food supplements production.     

Virulence potential of some fungal isolates and their control-promise against the Egyptian cotton leaf worm,Spodoptera littoralis

A preliminary virulence test of four fungal isolates, Beauveria bassiana IMI 382302, Beauveria bassiana IMI 386701, Trichoderma harzianum T24 and Aspergillus flavus Link against larvae of Spodoptera littoralis was performed. The most effective isolates against larvae of S. littoralis were B. bassiana 302 and T. harzianum T24, which also showed the lower percentage of pupation compared with the other two isolates under the same conditions of treatments. Three concentrations (1 × 10⁶, 1 × 10⁷ and 1 × 10⁸ ml^?1) of the aqueous conidial suspension of the four tested isolates were carried out against both larval and pupal stages of S. littoralis within five days post-treatment. T. harzianum T24 showed 80% larval mortality only when applied at the highest conidial concentration, while A. flavus showed 100% pupal mortality only, at all of its conidial concentrations. However, B. bassiana IMI 382302 showed relatively high dose-dependant larval and pupal mortalities, while strain IMI 386701 of B. bassiana showed a very weak mortality against pupae at higher concentrations, and no virulence against larvae was recorded. Enzymatic and antibiosis bioassays of the four fungal isolates showed relatively high activities against Fusarium spp. for most of the tested isolates. Clear zone of enzyme activity on agar plates proportionally increased with increasing the concentration of enzyme substrate and prolongation of the incubation period. Mtabolites produced in the agar culture inhibited the growth of Fusarium spp. and the productivity differed greatly among isolates or strains of the same isolate. Volatile and non-volatile compounds produced by A. flavus Link showed a higher inhibition activity against Fusarium spp. compared with the other fungal isolates. The humoral antifungal response of insect host is relatively high compared to the anti-bacterial one. Injection of larvae with the immune sensitive bacteria Micrococcus luteus (5 × 10³ bacteria/larva) showed a detectable humoral response by 2 h, peaked around 12 h and became hardly detectable by 24 h post-injection. Injection of larvae with conidial suspension (5 × 10³ conidia/larva) from each of the fungal isolates showed humoral antifungal activity against B. bassiana IMI 386701 and A. flavus only. This activity was detectable by 12 h, peaked around 36 h and became hardly detectable by 48 h post-injection. Although the humoral antifungal response was started slowly compared to the antibacterial one, it lasted for longer and enabled larvae to withstand the infection with these immune-sensitive fungal strains. No humoral activity was detected against B. bassiana IMI 382302, although however, weak activity was detected against T. harzianum T24 only at the low conidial concentration but not at the higher one (1 × 10⁸ ml^?1). Thus, this study concludes that larvae of S. littoralis showed immune-dependant sensitivity to T. harzianum T24 and B. bassiana IMI 382302. Therefore, this study may recommend these two fungal isolates as mycoinsecticides in the battle against cotton leaf worm in Egypt. Hence, they have been selected for future comprehensive bioassays in the laboratory under conditions similar to that in the field. This, in fact, may help for developing effective mycoinsecticides against this pest. Penetration mechanims of insect cuticle by entomopathogenic fungi will be discussed.     

War of the weeds: Competition hierarchies in invasive species

Invasive plant species succeed because they are able to propagate and disperse into unoccupied habitat, outcompete and suppress other plant species or use a combination of these two strategies. Ecosystems are often invaded by multiple species and it is important to determine which species are likely to dominate plant communities through competition and which species will succeed by other means. We assessed frequency and abundance of 65 invasive species over 1700 km of riparian zone in the Burdekin catchment of North Queensland, Australia and established a dominance hierarchy for those species. The cover of every invasive and one native shrub known to have increased in abundance in historical times, was surveyed in quadrats as part of a nested hierarchical design consisting of 8030 quadrats, within 803 transects, within 90 sites. Total species cover and species frequency were derived from the results of this survey. We estimated the pairwise interactions between individual species and used a non‐parametric David Score to rank species and construct a competition hierarchy of invasive species at the quadrat and transect levels. Species frequency and cover were highly correlated (r² = 0.81). The competition hierarchy of species at the quadrat level was moderately related to species cover, but poorly related to species frequency (r² = 0.24 and 0.02). The competition rank of many species, including Urochloa mosambicensis and Parthenium hysterophorus, changed markedly with scale when assessed at the quadrat and transect levels. This suggests different processes influenced their competitive success at different scales. This technique enabled us to explore and accept the hypothesis that abundant species are often the most competitive. However, some exceptions were identified in this study and these species may in time become more abundant in the catchment.     

Evaluation of the antimicrobial potential of two flavonoids isolated from limnophila plants

The antimicrobial potential of two bioflavonoids, i.e., 5,7‐dihydroxy‐4′,6,8‐trimethoxyflavone ( 1 ) and 5,6‐dihydroxy‐4′,7,8‐trimethoxyflavone ( 2 ), isolated from Limnophila heterophylla Benth . and L. indica (Linn .) Druce (Scrophulariaceae), respectively, were evaluated against the microbial strains Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Alternaria solani, and Candida albicans. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited moderate but broad antimicrobial activities against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria and also against the fungal pathogens. Moreover, the mechanism of action of 1 and 2 on the cellular functions or structures of some of the microorganisms was studied. Compound 1 showed a bactericidal effect against E. coli and S. aureus (MICs of 200 and 250 μg/ml, resp.), while compound 2 was found to effectively kill B. subtilis by cell lysis. The growth of A. solani and C. albicans was inhibited by compounds 1 and 2 , respectively. The effects of the flavonoids on the cellular structures and the carbohydrate metabolic pathways were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the treated cells and by assessing the specific activity of key enzymes of the pathways, respectively. At sublethal doses, they enhanced the activity of gluconeogenic fructose bisphosphatase, but decreased the activity of phosphofructokinase and isocitrate dehydrogenase, the key enzymes of the Embden Meyerhof Parnas pathway and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, respectively.     

Evaluation of the potential cardioprotective activity of some Saudi plants against doxorubicin toxicity

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline antibiotic widely used as a chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of several tumours. However, its cardiac toxicity limits its use at maximum therapeutic doses. Most studies implicated increased oxidative stress as the major determinant of DOX cardiotoxicity. The local Saudi flora is very rich in a variety of plants of quite known folkloric or traditional medicinal uses. Tribulus macropterus Boiss., Olea europaea L. subsp. africana (Mill.) P. S. Green, Tamarix aphylla (L.) H. Karst., Cynomorium coccineum L., Cordia myxa L., Calligonum comosum L' Hér, and Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal are Saudi plants known to have antioxidant activities. The aim of the current study was to explore the potential protective effects of methanolic extracts of these seven Saudi plants against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Two plants showed promising cardioprotective potential in the order Calligonum comosum > Cordia myxa. The two plant extracts showed potent in vitro radical scavenging and antioxidant properties. They significantly protected against DOX-induced alterations in cardiac oxidative stress markers (GSH and MDA) and cardiac serum markers (CK-MB and LDH activities). Additionally, histopathological examination indicated a protection against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. In conclusion, C. comosum and C. myxa exerted protective activity against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, which is, at least partly, due to their antioxidant effect.     

Scavenging of reactive oxygen species by some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and fenofibrate

Ketoprofen and tolmetin are widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, whereas fenofibrate belongs to a family of hypolipidemic drugs used in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to assess effect of these drugs on reactions generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). The following generators of ROS were used: 18-crown-6/KO(2) dissolved in DMSO as a source of superoxide radical (O(.-)(2), the Fenton-like reaction (Cu/H(2)O(2)) for hydroxyl radical (HO(.)), 2,2'-azobis (2-amidino-propane) dichloride (AAPH) as peroxyl radical (ROO(.)) generator, and a mixture of alkaline aqueous H(2)O(2) and acetonitrile for singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)). Measurements were done using chemiluminescence, fluorescence, and spin-trapping with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine combined with electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR), and a deoxyribose assay based on the spectrophotometry. The results obtained demonstrated that all tested drugs were active against O(.-)(2). There was a clear ranking of drug inhibition effects on chemiluminescence from the O(.-)(2) system: ketoprofen > tolmetin > fenofibrate. The examined compounds inhibited the HO(.)-dependent deoxyribose degradation and scavenged the ROO(.) concentration dependently with an order of potencies similar to that of the superoxide radical system. Hence, these results indicate that the studied drugs show broad ROS scavenging property and, as a consequence, might decrease tissue damage due to the ROS and thus to contribute to anti-inflammatory therapy.     

Evaluation of several tree species for activity against the animal fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus

Aspergillus fumigatus causes severe problems in poultry production systems. Seven South African tree species were selected from the database of the Phytomedicine Programme based on its antifungal activity against the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. The acetone leaf extracts of the selected species had minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.16 mg/ml and lower in the preliminary screening. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of hexane, dichloromethane, acetone and methanol extracts of the leaves were determined using a two-fold serial microdilution method against a range of commonly encountered animal pathogenic fungi (A. fumigatus, Candida albicans, C. neoformans, Microsporum canis and Sporothrix schenckii) and four nosocomial bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The plant species investigated were Combretum vendae (A.E. van Wyk) (Combretaceae), Commiphora harveyi (Engl.) Engl. (Burseraceae), Khaya anthotheca (Welm.) C.DC (Meliaceae), Kirkia wilmsii Engl. (Kirkiaceae), Loxostylis alata A. Spreng. ex Rchb. (Anacardiaceae), Ochna natalitia (Meisn.) Walp. (Ochnaceae) and Protorhus longifolia (Bernh.) Engl. (Anacardiaceae). All the extracts had activity against at least one of the test organisms over an incubation period of 24 or 48 h. The MIC values of the non-polar and intermediate polarity extracts of O. natalitia, K. anthotheca, C. vendae, C. harveyi, and P. longifolia had MICs as low as 0.08 mg/ml against at least one of the tested bacteria. Furthermore, the acetone extracts of L. alata, K. wilmsii, O. natalitia and C. vendae had antifungal activities with MIC values ranging from 0.04 to 0.08 mg/ml against at least one of the tested fungi. The average MIC values of the plant extracts against the different bacteria ranged from 0.17 to 2.11 mg/ml, while the range was 0.23–1.98 mg/ml for fungi. The Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus and E. faecalis) were more susceptible to the plant extracts than the Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and P. aeruginosa). E. faecalis was the most susceptible microbe and C. vendae extracts were the most active against nearly all the bacteria tested. The acetone extract of L. alata was the most active against fungal pathogens, with activity against at least 3 fungal organisms. L. alata was selected for further work to isolate compounds active against A. fumigatus and other fungal pathogens.     

Design,synthesis and herbicidal activity study of aryl 2,6-disubstituted sulfonylureas as potent acetohydroxyacid synthase inhibitors

A series of sulfonylurea derivatives containing a 2,6-disubstituted aryl moiety were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their herbicidal activities. Most of these compounds showed excellent inhibitory rates against both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weeds, especially 10a, 10h and 10i. They exhibited equivalent or superior herbicidal efficiency than commercial chlorsulfuron at the dosage of 15 g/ha and the preliminary SAR was summarized. In order to illuminate the molecular mechanism of several potent compounds, their apparent inhibition constant (K_i^app) of Arabidopsis thaliana acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) were determined and the results confirmed that these compounds were all potent AHAS inhibitors. 10i have a K_i^app of 11.5 nM, which is about 4 times as potent as chlorsulfuron (52.4 nM).     

A laboratory assessment of the potential molluscicidal activity of some Nigerian plant species used as anthelmintics

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the potential molluscicidal activity of five Nigerian plant species used in alternative medicine practice as anthelmintics. Laboratory-bred adult Biomphalaria pfeifferi, the snail host of Schistosoma mansoni in Nigeria, and their viable 0- to 24-hour-old egg masses were separately exposed for 24 hours, in replicated bioassays, to 7.81–4 000 mg l^?1 concentrations of crude ethanolic extracts of the leaves and roots of Annona senegalensis, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Crotalaria retusa, Dalbergia sissoo and Vernonia amygdalina. Fruits and stem bark of D. sissoo were also investigated. The 24-hour LC50 and LC90 values of extracts for target organisms were calculated using probit analysis. Susceptibility of target organisms to extracts varied with the plant species and morphological part. Egg masses and adult snails were most susceptible to D. sissoo fruit extract (LC90 values of 89.29 and 74.33 mg l^?1, respectively) and least susceptible to V. amygdalina leaf extract (LC90 values of 11 864.09 and 6 241.61 mg l^?1, respectively). Concentration-dependent behavioural responses and embryo deaths at the gastrula/exogastrula and/or prehatch snail stages of development were observed in exposed snails and egg masses, respectively. Tested extracts of A. senegalensis, A. leiocarpus, C. retusa and V. amygdalina did not show appreciable toxicities to B. pfeifferi egg masses or adults. For demonstrating significant molluscicidal activity (LC90 < 100 mg l^?1) and toxicities to egg masses, we recommend further studies on the ethanolic extracts of D. sissoo fruits and roots.     

Preliminary characterization of some Streptomyces species from four Tanzanian soils and their antimicrobial potential against selected plant and animal pathogenic bacteria

This study was undertaken to characterize Streptomyces strains occurring in some soils of Tanzania as well as to evaluate their potential to synthesize antimicrobial compounds. Six main classes of isolates were observed according to the colour of aerial mycelium. These were gray, cream, blue, pink, red, and white. The gray colour class dominated. About 65% of the isolates produced soluble pigments of various colours while about 33% of the isolates did not produce any soluble pigments. Brown coloured soluble pigments dominated. About 57% of the isolates had spiral spore chains. Some Streptomyces isolates displayed strong (> 30 mm inhibition zone), moderate (20–30 mm), or weak (< 20 mm) antibiosis against the plant/animal pathogenic bacteria tested. Other isolates did not show any antibiosis against any of the test pathogens. The plant pathogens CMM IPO 542 (Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. michiganensis) and Xanthomonas vascatoria were inhibited by most of the Streptomyces isolates. Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae and X. campestris were inhibited by the least number of the Streptomyces isolates. Most of the animal pathogens tested seemed to show resistance to the antibiotics produced by some of the Streptomyces isolates which had shown high activity against the plant pathogens. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evaluation of seed dressing and soil application formulations of Trichoderma species for integrated management of dry root rot of chickpea

The efficacy of the newly developed seed dressing and soil application formulations of Trichoderma viride, T. virens and T. harzianum were evaluated individually and in combinations under pot and field experiments for the management of dry root rot (Rhizoctonia bataticola) of chickpea (Cicer arientinum). In pot experiments, T. harzianum based seed dressing formulation, Pusa 5SD, and soil application formulations, Pusa Biogranule 5 (PBG 5) and Pusa Biopellet 10G (PBP 10G), were found to be effective in reducing dry root rot incidence in chickpea and increasing the seed germination, shoot and root lengths of the crop. Under field experiments, a combination of soil application of T. harzianum based PBP 10G and seed treatment with Pusa 5SD+carboxin was found to be the best by providing the highest seed germination, shoot and root lengths and grain yield and the lowest dry root rot incidence in chickpea.     

Characterization of chitinase from Streptomyces luridiscabiei U05 and its antagonist potential against fungal plant pathogens

Streptomyces luridiscabiei U05 was isolated from wheat rhizosphere. It produced chitinase, which showed in vitro antifungal properties. The crude enzyme inhibited the growth of Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, Botrytis cinerea, F. culmorum and Penicillium verrucosum. The chitinase enzyme of the molecular weight of 45 kDa was purified using affinity chromatography of chitin. Streptomyces luridiscabiei U05 produced different chitinolytic enzymes. The highest enzyme activity was observed with the use of 4‐MU‐(GlcNAc)_, which points to the presence of an β‐N‐acetylhexosaminidase. The optimum activity was obtained at 35–40°C and pH 7–8. The enzyme showed thermostability at 35–40°C during 240 min of preincubation and lost its activity at 50°C and 60°C in 60 min. The chitinase activity from S. luridiscabei U05 was strongly inhibited by Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions, and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions stimulated the activity of the enzyme.