Extracellular proteolytic activity ofCryptococcus neoformans

Eight strains ofCryptococcus neoformans var.neoformans isolated from AIDS patients in the Infectious Disease Institute, University of Turin, Italy, were examined for growth and extracellular proteolytic activity in culture with solid and liquid media. All of the strains grew well on Yeast Carbon Base (YCB) agar medium supplemented with both 0.1% (w/v) bovine serum albumin (BSA) and 0.01% (w/v) polypeptone (Pp), and produced a clear proteolytic zone around their colonies, whereas they exhibited less growth and proteolytic activity on YCB medium supplemented with BSA alone. Strain #8 with a strong proteolytic activity was cultured in three different liquid media. Its growth was limited in YCB medium supplemented with 0.1% BSA, but was moderate in that with 0.01% Pp. Enhanced growth was supported by the addition of both BSA and Pp to the YCB medium. The relative value of the final cellular yields obtained with the above YCB-0.1% BSA, YCB-0.01% Pp and YCB-0.1% BSA-0.01% Pp media was approximately 1:10:20. In the culture with YCB medium containing both BSA and Pp, a rapid decrease in the amount of BSA was demonstrated by a spectrophotometric assay and gel electrophoresis of the culture supernatant after the log-to-stationary phase. The proteolytic activity in the culture supernatant became detectable after the log phase when tested with skim milk agarose plates. These results allowed us to conclude thatCr. neoformans var.neoformans is able to secrete protease and to utilize protein as a source of nitrogen.     

Bioreactor production of camptothecin by hairy root cultures of Ophiorrhiza pumila

A large-scale culture of hairy root of Ophiorrhiza pumila using a modified 3 l bioreactor was established. The hairy roots, incited by infection of Agrobacterium rhizogenes were grown in the bioreactor equipped with a stainless net. The final concentration of camptothecin was 0.0085% fresh wt of tissue, and the total production of camptothecin, an anti-neoplastic quinoline alkaloid, reached 22 mg over 8 weeks' culture in the reactor. Approx. 17% (3.6 mg) of the total camptothecin produced was excreted into the culture medium.     

Increased NaCl-tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. andT. durum desf.) through in vitro selection

Summary Callus cultures were initiated from immature embryos of oneTriticum aestivum and threeT. durum cultivars. Growing morphogenic calli were exposed to different concentrations of NaCl (0, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7%) added to the culture medium during two subsequent subcultures (4 wk each). The growth rate of the calli was determined by the relative fresh weight callus growth (RFWCG). The callus growth of all investigated genotypes was slightly changed in the presence of 0.3 and 0.5% NaCl, but strongly inhibited by 0.7% NaCl. Selected NaCl-tolerant clones were isolated and plants were regenerated on MS-based regeneration medium without NaCl. The regeneration capacity of the selected calli was highly reduced compared to the control. The highest number of regenerants was scored for cv. Gladiator (T. aestivum). All regenerated plants were morphologically normal and many developed to maturity and set seeds. Seedlings from the R₁ generation of selected and control plants were treated with 0.5% NaCl in vivo in liquid cultures for 6 wk. Salt tolerance of the progenies of selected plants appeared in all cultivars, but those derived from calli grown on medium with 0.7% NaCl showed the highest survival rate.T. aestivum showed higher tolerance to NaCl salinity thanT. durum.     

Factors influencing the production of hardened glaucous carnation plantlets in vitro

Medium type, its water status and the relative humidity in the culture vessel modified carnation leaf development in vitro. Carnation shoot apices cultured on liquid or on 0.8% agar solidified media developed into plantlets having succulent and translucent leaves which are not transplantable to non-aseptic conditions. Increasing the agar and/or sucrose concentration in the medium as well as decreasing the relative humidity in the culture vessel by a desiccant promoted glaucous leaf production. Increased water status (H₂O and relative humidity) increased shoot proliferation and translucency of leaves. Decreased water status reduced shoot proliferation but induced the formation of glaucous leaves. The culture of apices for 5–6 days on liquid medium prior to their sub-culture to 1.5% agar medium improved shoot proliferation and normal leaf development. An agar slant prevented the submergence of apices in water accumulating on the medium and thus reduced leaf translucency. Survival was further increased by the transfer of plantlets in uncapped culture vessels to a desiccator for 1–2 weeks prior to transplanting to soil.     

Micropropagation of ‘Durondeau’ pear in modified-gelled medium

Summary The influence of partial substitution of agar by galactomannans (GMs) in culture media was studied in pear (Pyrus communis L. cv. ‘Durondeau’) micropropagation. GMs. extracted from seeds of Cassia fastuosa (cassia) or Cyamopsis tetragonolobus (guar gum, a commercial GM), were mixed in equal proportions with agar to a final concentration of 0.3% (w/v) for each type of gelling agent. The production of multiple shoots and the formation of roots from shoots were compared with the control solidified with agar alone at a concentration of 0.6% (w/v). In the media solidified with the mixtures of agar/guar and agar/cassia GMs, an, increase of 32 and 17%, respectively, was obtained in the number of regenerated shoots. The modified media promoted a higher number of roots and increased the rooting percentage. A maximum of 91% rooting was obtained in the medium solidified with the agar/cassia GM and containing 9.80 μM indole-3-butyric acid. Less callus formation at the base of the shoot was also observed on this medium. The improved in vitro performance of shoot formation and rooting, combined with a significantly lower cost, suggests a potential use of agar/GM gels in plant tissue culture.     

Degradation of 4-aminobenzenesulfonate by a two-species bacterial coculture

The mutualistic interactions in a 4-aminobenzenesulfonate (sulfanilate) degrading mixed bacterial culture were studied. This coculture consisted of Hydrogenophaga palleronii strain S1 and Agrobacterium radiobacter strain S2. In this coculture only strain S1 desaminated sulfanilate to catechol-4-sulfonate, which did not accumulate in the medium but served as growth substrate for strain S2. During growth in batch culture with sulfanilate as sole source of carbon, energy, nitrogen and sulfur, the relative cell numbers (colony forming units) of both strains were almost constant. None of the strains reached a cell number which was more than threefold higher than the cell number of the second strain. A mineral medium with sulfanilate was inoculated with different relative cell numbers of both strains (relative number of colony forming units S1:S2 2200:1 to 1:500). In all cases, growth was found and the proportion of both strains moved towards an about equal value of about 3:1 (strain S1:strain S2). In contrast to the coculture, strain S1 did not grow in a mineral medium in axenic culture with 4-aminobenzenesulfonate or any other simple organic compound tested. A sterile culture supernatant from strain S2 enabled strain S1 to grow with 4-aminobenzenesulfonate. The same growth promoting effect was found after the addition of a combination of 4-aminobenzoate, biotin and vitamin B₁₂. Strain S1 grew with 4-aminobenzenesulfonate plus the three vitamins with about the same growth rate as the mixed culture in a mineral medium. When (resting) cells of strain S1 were incubated in a pure mineral medium with sulfanilate, up to 30% of the oxidized sulfanilate accumulated as catechol-4-sulfonate in the culture medium. In contrast, only minor amounts of catechol-4-sulfonate accumulated when strain S1 was grown with 4ABS in the presence of the vitamins.Abbreviations 4ABS 4-aminobenzenesulfonate - CFU colony forming units - 4CS catechol-4-sulfonate - 4HB 4-hydroxybenzoate     

The effect of gibberellic acid on the <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> germination of coconut zygotic embryos and their conversion into plantlets

The effect of gibberellic acid (GA₃) was tested on germination of coconut zygotic embryos, their conversion into plantlets and ex vitro survival. There were four treatments consisting of 5 wk of culture in semi-solid medium or liquid medium, with or without GA₃. Embryos were then transferred to GA₃ free-liquid medium for the rest of a 32-wk culture. Germination and conversion percentages were higher in semi-solid medium than in liquid medium, and with both media percentages increased with GA₃ treatment (with the exception of the highest GA₃ concentration). Embryos of two varieties (MGD and MYD) were used. The following are the results with MGD embryos. Optimum GA₃ concentration in liquid medium was 0.46 μM, with 80% germination (62% in the control without GA₃) and 4.6 μM in semi-solid medium with 98% germination (71% in the control). With GA₃ treatment, germination was also faster. Conversion in semi-solid medium with GA₃ was 87% (60% in the control), and 45% in liquid medium with GA₃ (25% in the control). Once the plantlets had at least three bifid leaves and three primary roots at the time of transfer to ex vitro, they survived independently of the treatment. When MYD embryos were used, germination and conversion percentages were higher in semi-solid medium than in liquid medium, and they increased when GA₃ was used, although percentages were lower than those obtained with MGD embryos. The results showed that the use of GA₃ benefited coconut embryos in culture because it favored germination and conversion to plants on semi-solid medium, and hence improved previous protocols.     

Production of vigorous,desiccation tolerant white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench.] Voss.) synthetic seeds in a bioreactor

Summary This report describes a low-cost method for generating large numbers of high quality mature white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench.] Voss) somatic embryos which survived desiccation and grew to plantlets more vigorously than excised zygotic embryos cultured in vitro. Somatic embryos from suspension culture were supported within a culture chamber on a flat absorbent pad above the surface of a liquid culture medium containing 20–50 M abscisic acid and 7.5 % polyethylene glycol. Throughout a 7 week culture period 3 L of fresh medium was pumped into one end of the chamber, while the spent medium exited by gravity from the opposite end. Over 6,300 cotyledonary stage white spruce somatic embryos were recovered after this time from a single culture chamber without manual manipulation. The somatic embryos were of excellent appearance with well developed cotyledons, and possessed high levels of storage lipids. They survived drying to about 8 % moisture content following treatment for 4 weeks at 63 % relative humidity, and following imbibition converted to normal plantlets at a frequency of 92 %, compared to 80 % for embryos grown in Petri dishes. Somatic embryos cultured within the bioreactor developed to plantlets that were 20 % longer than zygotic embryos excised from mature seed and grown in vitro, and were 38 % longer than somatic embryos cultured upon agar medium in Petri dishes.Plant Research Centre contribution No. 1523     

Growth of embryogenic sweet orange callus on media varying in the ratio of nitrate to ammonium nitrogen

Embryogenic callus from Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. Hamlin was cultured for 28 days on 20 media arranged in a 5×2×2 factorial varying in the ratio of nitrate to ammonium nitrogen, total inorganic nitrogen, and benzyladenine. Fresh weight increase of callus and final medium pH were significantly affected by total inorganic nitrogen and the ratio of nitrate to ammonium. The nitrate to ammonium ratio accounted for 55% of the variation in the fresh weight increase of the callus and 93% of the variation in the final medium pH. Varying the NO₃ ^-:NH₄ ^- ratio provided adequate pH control.Abbreviation BA benzyladenine     

Isolation of protoplasts,and culture and regeneration into plants in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alstroemeria</Emphasis>

Summary An efficient system for the regeneration of plants from protoplasts was developed in Alstroemeria. Friable embryogenic callus (FEC) proved to be the best source for protoplast isolation and culture when compared with leaf tissue and compact embryogenic callus. Protoplast isolation was most efficient when FEC was cultured under vacuum for 5 min in an enzyme solution consisting of 4% cellulase, 0.5% Driselase and 0.2% Macerozyme, followed by culture for 12–16h in the dark at 24°C. Cell wall formation and colony formation were better in a liquid medium than on a semi-solid agarose medium. Micro-calluses were formed after 4 wk of culture. Ninety percent of the micro-calluses developed into FEC after 12wk of culture on proliferation medium. FEC cultures produced somatic embryos on a regeneration medium and half of these somatic embryos developed shoots. Protoplast-derived plants showed more somaclonal variation than vegetatively propagated control plants.     

Rhamnolipid production in batch and fed-batch fermentation using<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis> BYK-2 KCTC 18012P

The optimization of culture conditions for the bacteriumPseudomonas aeruginosa BYK-2 KCTC 18012P, was performed to increase its rhamnolipid production. The optimum level for carbon, nitrogen sources, temperature and pH, for rhamnolipid production in a flask, were identified as 25 g/L fish oil, 0.01% (w/v) urea, 25 and pH 7.0, respectively. Optimum conditions for batch culture, using a 7-L jar fermentor, were 200 rpm of agitation speed and a 2.0 L/min aeration rate. Under the optimum conditions, on fish oil for 216 h, the final cell and rhamnolipid concentrations were 5.3 g/L and 17.0 g/L respectively. Fed-batch fermentation, with different feeding conditions, was carried out in order to increase, cell growth and rhamnolipid production by thePseudomonas aeruginosa, BYK-2 KCTC 18012P. When 2.5 g of fish oil and 100 mL basal salts medium, containing 0.01% (w/v) urea, were fed intermittently during the fermentation, the final cell and rhamnolipid concentrations at 264 h, were 6.1 and 22.7 g/L respectively. The fed-batch culture resulted in a 1.2-fold increase in the dry cell mass and a 1.3-fold increase in rhamnolipid production, compared to the production of the batch culture. The rhamnolipid production-substrate conversion factor (0.75 g/g) was higher than that of the batch culture (0.68 g/g).     

Mycelial yield of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus ostreatus</Emphasis> using thinned apple,pear, and peach on submerged culture

The effect of thinned fruits, apple, pear and peach, on the mycelial growth of mushrooms was investigated. The growth of mycelia with the addition of thinned fruit was clearly better than that in the control for all the tested mushrooms. The growth rate ofPleurotus ostreatus was faster than any other mushroom. The optimal concentrations of thinned apple, pear, and peach in a solid culture were 1.0%, 1.0%, and 3%, respectively, while in a liquid culture the optimal concentrations were 5,0%, 3.0%, and 5.0%, respectively. WhenPleurotus ostreatus was incubated in a 20-L pilot scale fermenter with 10 L of a liquid medium containing 3% thinned fruit at 25°C and 6 vvm for 10 days, the mass-production of mycelia was 74.2 g/10 L (apple), 96.2 g/10 L (pear), and 86.3 g/10 L (peach). The mycelial yield ofPleurotus ostreatus in a medium containing thinned fruit was 2≈3 times higher than that in the control.     

Localization of alkaline phosphatase inBacillus intermedius cells

Alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme secreted byBacillus intermedius S3-19 cells to the medium, was also detected in the cell wall, membrane, and cytoplasm. The relative content of alkaline phosphatase in these cell compartments depended on the culture age and cultivation medium. The vegetative growth ofB. intermedius on 0.3% lactate was characterized by increased activity of extracellular and membrane-bound phosphatases. The increase in lactate concentration to 3% did not affect the activity of membrane-bound phosphatase but led to a decrease in the activity of the extracellular enzyme. Na₂HPO₄ at a concentration of 0.01 % diminished the activity of membrane-bound and extracellular phosphatases. CoCl₂ at a concentration of 0.1 mM released membrane-bound phosphatase into the medium. By the onset of sporulation, phosphatase was predominantly localized in the medium and in the cell wall. As is evident from zymograms, the multiple molecular forms of phosphatase varied depending on its cellular localization and growth phase.     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri

A protocol for Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation of Rhipsalidopsis cv. CB5 was developed. Calluses derived from phylloclade explants and sub-cultured onto fresh callus induction medium over a period of 9–12 months were co-cultivated with A. tumefaciens LBA4404. Plasmid constructs carrying the nptII gene, as a selectable marker, and the reporter uidA gene were used. Transformed Rhipsalidopsis calluses with a vigorous growth phenotype were obtained by extended culture on media containing 600 mg l⁻¹ kanamycin. After 9 months of a stringent selection pressure, the removal of kanamycin from the final medium together with the culture of the transformed calluses under nutritional stress led to the formation of several transgenic adventitious shoots. Transformation was confirmed by GUS staining (for uidA gene), ELISA analysis and Southern blot hybridization (for the nptII gene). With this approach, a transformation efficiency of 22.7% was achieved. Overall results described in this study demonstrate that Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is a promising approach for this cactus species.     

红托竹荪菌种快速分离培养基优化

通过对红托竹荪快速分离培养基优化,提高红托竹荪菌种分离与评价效率。采用响应面分析法,以菌种生长速度为响应值拟合二次多元回归方程,确定培养基配方;测定优化培养基与PDA对照培养基菌丝生长速度和菌丝直径,以菌丝形态、锁状联合和菌落形态等指标评价优化培养基;测定优化培养基与PDA培养基培养菌丝在木屑培养基中菌丝生长速度,验证应用效果。通过试验,筛选出快速分离培养基配方为葡萄糖20.71 g/L、全麦粉8.36 g/L、玉米粉8.07 g/L、琼脂粉18.00 g/L、木屑水1.06 L。快速分离培养基与PDA培养基对比,培养的菌落直径平均增加66.25%,快速分离培养基菌丝日平均生长速度增加33.33%,木屑培养基菌丝日平均生长速度增加44.22%。由于优化培养基中含有淀粉、纤维素等有效成分,其刺激了菌种分泌淀粉酶、纤维素酶等,维持了胞外酶系的完整性。还可根据菌丝培养基过程形成的透明圈大小判定菌种胞外酶产生能力,达到快速评价菌种质量,保障菌种质量的目的。     

The effect of headspace renewal in a Temporary Immersion Bioreactor on plantain (Musa AAB) shoot proliferation and quality

The positive effect of ventilation of the culture container on in vitro shoot proliferation and quality was already proven for different species. Hereafter we report on the evolution of the headspace during in vitro culture of plantain in a Temporary Immersion Bioreactor (TIB) on the one hand, and culture on semi-solid medium on the other hand. The CO₂ and C₂H₄ concentration reached a maximum of 12% and 0.45 μl l⁻¹, respectively in the control treatment on semi-solid medium, compared to 5.7% CO₂ and 0.06 μl l⁻¹ C₂H₄ in TIB. The minimal O₂-concentration on semi-solid medium was 15.1%, compared to 19.3% in TIB. The multiplication rate was best in TIB, 6.4 compared to 4.3 in semi-solid conditions, and this was also the case for shoot height (4.3 cm compared to 3.3 cm), and leaf number (2.6 compared to 1.6). Moreover shoots produced on semi-solid medium showed distorted leaves. A typical day-night pattern in CO₂ and O₂ concentration was observed in TIB, as well as on semi-solid medium; this is illustrative for the photosynthetic capacity of the plant material produced in both systems.     

猴面包树的离体快繁条件筛选

该文以猴面包树(Adansonia digitata)种子为外植体,首先筛选合适的种子预处理及消毒方法,然后经过启动培养获得无菌外植体后在增殖培养基中进行丛生芽诱导,将丛生芽切成单株进行生根壮苗培养,最终建立猴面包树离体快繁技术体系.结果表明:75％酒精浸泡3 min+0.1％升汞消毒15 min消毒效果较佳,污染率为...     

Microspore culture of swede (Brassica napus ssp. rapifera) and the effects of fresh and conditioned media

Microspore culture was successfully carried out with four cultivars of swede (Brassica napus ssp. rapifera). Embryo yields increased markedly if the culture medium was replaced by fresh medium after a culture period of three days, with more than 200% increase with the highly responding cultivar Gry and more than 800% with the poorly responding cultivar Stenhaug. If the medium was changed at a later time, embryo production declined sharply. Transfer of microspores after 3 days of culture to a medium in which microspores of a different cultivar had been cultured for 3 days had no effect on embryogenesis. Bud size had a large effect on embryo production, particularly with the least responsive cultivar, Stenhaug.     

Growth characteristics and total N content of a Leucaena/Sorghum agroforestry system

The growth characteristics and total N content of the woody legume Leucaena leucocephala and the companion crop Sorghum bicolor grown in the greenhouse with N-limiting (NH₄ ⁺ concentration = 447 mM) nutrient medium in sole and mixed cropping were examined. Plant height, dry weight, and total N content increased significantly in sorghum grown intercropped with nodulated Leucaena over the control, sole sorghum. Evidence is presented to indicate that in mixed culture, sorghum gains an average of 0.03 mg N day^–1 plant^–1 relative to sole-cropped sorghum in N-limiting sand culture. The gain in N content of intercropped sorghum, however, represented less than 1% of the N budget of N-fixing Leucaena and was inadequate to sustain normal physiological development of sorghum.     

Bioactivity of intra and extracellular substances from cyanobacteria and lactic acid bacteria on “wood blue stain” fungi

Cyanobacteria (photoautotrophic prokariota) have potential for the control of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The effect of intra and extracellular products from cyanobacterial strains on the growth of fungi isolated from “wood blue stain,” was tested. Extracellular products were obtained by concentration and sterilization of the culture medium where cyanobacteria were grown. Cyanobacterial substances promoted or inhibited fungal growth according to the fungal and cyanobacterial strains tested. Extracellular products from Nostoc muscorum 79a and the methanolic extract from Microchaete tenera 84b biomass inhibited growth of Sphaeropsis sapinea 2157 (64.7 and 775.6%, respectively). Extracellular products of Nostoc piscinale 59 and biomass methanolic extract from N. muscorum 79a produced the highest growth promotion of Trichoderma boningii 452 (105.0%) and T. viride 993 (136.7%). Extracellular products of the heterotrophic lactic acid bacterium Streptococcus termophilus were also tested and strongly inhibited (64–92%) all the fungal strains. The tested fungi have different sensitivity to the bioactive substances present in the biomass and/or the culture medium of the studied cyanobacteria and lactic acid bacterium. N. muscorum 79a, M. tenera 84b, and S. termophilus have potential to control the wood blue stain fungi by a friendly environmental alternative.