Biological control of wood decay in an open tropical environment with Penicillium sp. and Trichoderma viride

The ability of Penicillium sp. and Trichoderma viride to retard the decay of obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon) wood in the field for 11 months (January–November) covering dry and wet seasons in a tropical environment was investigated using the ‘graveyard’ method. Inoculation of stakes with Gloeophyllum sp. or G. sepiarium (decay fungi) 24 h after treatment with T. viride or Penicillium sp. in January (dry season) did not increase decay after 11 months. Total inhibition of the decay fungi was indicated since the low weight losses of stakes was not markedly different from losses in control stakes biologically treated but not exposed to decay fungi. Inhibition of the activities of other unidentified field fungi was also indicated because weight losses were greater in uninoculated and untreated stakes. However, decay occurred in stakes biologically treated in January but later exposed to decay fungi in May, after the dry season. A repeat application of T. viride treatment in May, to stakes earlier treated in January, markedly reduced decay following exposure to decay fungi in September (wet season). A similar Penicillium sp. application was not as effective as T. viride application because unlike the T. viride protected stakes, decay was greater in stakes twice protected with Penicillium sp. but not exposed to decay fungi. The results indicate that repeated application of biocontrol agents may be important for controlling wood decay following the adverse effect of the dry season.     

2-methylbutanal, a volatile biomarker, for non-invasive surveillance of Proteus

Pathogen detection needs a paradigm shift from time-consuming conventional microbiological and biochemical tests to much simpler identification methods with higher sensitivity and specificity. In this regard, a simple detection method for frequently isolated nosocomial uropathogen, Proteus spp., was developed using the characteristic volatile 2-methylbutanal released in Luria Bertani broth. The instant reaction of the compound with 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonylhydrazine (DNSH) has been adapted to develop a sensitive fluorescence assay named “ProteAl” (Prote, “Proteus” & Al, “Aldehyde”). The assay was performed by direct addition of the fluorescence reagent to the culture after 7 h of growth. The distinct green fluorescence by Proteus (other organisms show orange fluorescence) served as the simplest and quicker identification test available for Proteus. In the laboratory, it exhibited 100 % specificity and 100 % sensitivity during testing of 95 strains including standard and known clinical isolates representing frequently encountered uropathogens.     

Wood biodeterioration control potential of Acalypha hispida leaf phenolic extract in combination with Trichoderma viride culture filtrate

The phenolic extract of Acalypha leaves inhibited growth of Gloeophyllum sepiarium and Pleurotus sp. (test wood-rot fungi) in potato dextrose agar, starch agar, starch glucose agar, carboxyl methyl cellulose agar and carboxyl methyl cellulose glucose agar. Fungicidal or fungistatic concentration of the extract (10–14 mg/ml) depended on the medium. However a lower concentration of the extract (8–10 mg/ml) in combination with Trichoderma viride culture filtrate caused a similar inhibitory pattern. Degradation of obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon), mahogany (Khaya ivorensis) and walnut (Lovoa trichilioides) by the test fungi was limited or prevented by extract treatment of 8–10 mg/g wood. A similar inhibitory effect again occurred when a combination of T. viride filtrate and lower extract concentration (6–8 mg extract per gram of wood) was used. On-going wood decay was limited or halted by a combined treatment involving 8–12 mg extract per gram of wood depending on the fungal residence period. Treated stakes exposed to 6 months of tropical wet season retained resistance to fungal attack including soft rot. The phenolic extract of A. hispida may prove useful in an integrated chemical and biological approach to wood treatment.     

Assessment of the biocontrol potential of a Trichoderma viride isolate: Part I: Establishment of field and fungal cellar trials

A field trial has been set up to assess the biological control potential of a Trichoderma viride isolate, T60. This isolate had been shown in previous laboratory tests to be particularly effective against certain basidiomycete decay fungi. Wood was treated with T60 spores using vacuum pressure impregnation in a pilot preservation plant. Treated stakes were planted in the field site along with CCA-treated and untreated control samples. Replicate samples were also set up in an accelerated decay facility employed to give a comparison to the field trial results. This paper describes the setting up and monitoring of the field and fungal cellar trials, and presents results of moisture monitoring and sapstain assessment which indicate that Trichoderma viride isolate T60 has a marked effect on the rate of sapstain development under certain conditions. The paper also discusses the efficacy of pressure impregnation of spore suspensions for use as biological control agents     

Freshwater fish otoliths from the Deccan Trap associated sedimentary (Cretaceous-Tertiary transition) beds of Rangapur,Hyderabad, District,Andhra Pradesh,India

The present paper describes 12 species of fish otoliths recovered by washing and screening processes from the Deccan Trap associated sedimentary (Intertrappean) beds exposed near Rangapur, Hyderabad District, Andhra Pradesh, India. The present collection of otoliths contains four major groups: Clupeomorpha (“Clupeidarum” sp.), Osteoglossomorpha (“Osteoglossidarum” deccanensis sp. nov., “O”. intertrappus sp. nov. and “Notopteridarum” nolfi sp. nov.), Protacanthopterygii (“Salmoniformorum” rectangulus sp. nov.), and Percomorpha (Dapalis sp., “Apigonidarum” ovatus sp. nov., “Serranidarum” sp., “Percoideorum” ellipticus sp. nov., “P.” rangapurensis sp. nov., “Percoideorum” sp. 1 and “Percoideorum” sp. 2). This collection of otoliths represents freshwater lacustrine deposition of the sediments. The age of the Intertrappean beds is considered Uppermost Cretaceous to Palaeoncene on the basis of freshwater ostracode (Paracypretta jonesi, Mongolianella hislopi and Candoniella sp.) and charophyte (Platychara perlata and Nemegtichara sp.) assemblages.     

绿色木霉对生物降解和生物防治的影响机理与应用研究进展

绿色木霉(Trichoderma viride)是一种广泛分布于自然界的有益微生物,具有高效生物降解和生物防治功能。研究表明,绿色木霉在代谢过程中会产生纤维素酶、几丁质酶、木质素过氧化物酶等一系列水解酶类,能够高效降解环境中的有机物质,同时,作为农业上常见的生防菌,具有抑制病原菌、促进植物生长、提高土壤肥力等有益功能。基于此,围绕绿色木霉生物功能最新研究进展,从绿色木霉生物降解和生物防治角度,探究绿色木霉实际应用和作用机理,以期为充分利用绿色木霉资源提供依据,并对本领域未来的发展方向和应用前景进行展望。     

Etiology of endotoxin aggression and its role as an obligate pathogenetic factor in iridocyclites of different origins

An excess of intestinal endotoxin and a deficiency of antiendotoxin immunity are necessary components of the pathogenesis of iridocyclites of both viral and unknown origins. Bacteroids, colibacillus, blue pus bacillus, and Proteus are the most common factors in endotoxin aggression. Combined treatment supplemented with an “antiendotoxin component” considerably decreases the incidence of relapses of the disease.     

Differential Responses of the Whitefly Bemisia tabaci Symbionts to Unfavorable Low and High Temperatures

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci complex contains many cryptic species, of which the Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and Mediterranean (MED) are notorious invasive pests. In our field-collected whitefly samples, MEAM1 harbors an obligate primary symbiont “Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum” and two secondary symbionts, “Candidatus Hamiltonella defensa” and Rickettsia sp., whereas MED has only “Ca. Portiera aleyrodidarum” and “Ca. Hamiltonella defensa.” Both “Ca. Portiera aleyrodidarum” and “Ca. Hamiltonella defensa” are intracellular endosymbionts residing in the bacteriomes, whereas Rickettsia sp. has a scattered distribution throughout the host body cavity. We examined responses of these symbionts to adverse temperatures as well as survival of the host insects. After cold treatment at 5 or 10 °C or heat treatment at 35 or 40 °C for 24 h, respectively, the infection rates of all symbionts were not significantly decreased based on diagnosis PCR. However, quantitative PCR assays indicated significant reduction of “Ca. Hamiltonella defensa” at 40 °C, and the reduction became greater as the duration increased. Compared with “Ca. Hamiltonella defensa,” “Ca. Portiera aleyrodidarum” was initially less affected in the first day but then showed more rapid reduction at days 3–5. The density of Rickettsia sp. fluctuated but was not reduced significantly at 40 °C. Meanwhile, the mortality rates of the host whiteflies elevated rapidly as the duration of exposure to heat treatment increased. The differential responses of various symbionts to adverse temperatures imply complex interactions among the symbionts inside the same host insect and highlight the importance of taking the whole bacterial community into account in studies of symbioses.     

Enhancing biological control of basal stem rot disease (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ganoderma boninense</Emphasis>) in oil palm plantations

Basal Stem Rot (BSR) disease caused by Ganoderma boninense is the most destructive disease in oil palm, especially in Indonesia and Malaysia. The available control measures for BSR disease such as cultural practices and mechanical and chemical treatment have not proved satisfactory due to the fact that Ganoderma has various resting stages such as melanised mycelium, basidiospores and pseudosclerotia. Alternative control measures to overcome the Ganoderma problem are focused on the use of biological control agents and planting resistant material. Present studies conducted at Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute (IOPRI) are focused on enhancing the use of biological control agents for Ganoderma. These activities include screening biological agents from the oil palm rhizosphere in order to evaluate their effectiveness as biological agents in glasshouse and field trials, testing their antagonistic activities in large scale experiments and eradicating potential disease inoculum with biological agents. Several promising biological agents have been isolated, mainly Trichoderma harzianum, T. viride, Gliocladium viride, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Bacillus sp. A glasshouse and field trial for Ganoderma control indicated that treatment with T. harzianum and G. viride was superior to Bacillus sp. A large scale trial showed that the disease incidence was lower in a field treated with biological agents than in untreated fields. In a short term programme, research activities at IOPRI are currently focusing on selecting fungi that can completely degrade plant material in order to eradicate inoculum. Digging holes around the palm bole and adding empty fruit bunches have been investigated as ways to stimulate biological agents.     

Saccharification of used paper with different cellulases

Various used paper materials have been exposed to the action of cellulases from Penicillium funiculosum, Trichoderma reesei, Trichoderma viride and Aspergillus niger. A 2 h incubation period showed cellulase from T. viride the most active except for office paper that was maximally degraded by A. niger cellulase. Cellulase mixtures increased saccharification while sequential treatment with cellulases from T. reesei and P. funiculosum increased biodegradation at values between 15% and 190%. The maximum increase of saccharification (190%) was obtained when T. reesei cellulase initiated the sequential treatment of newspaper relative to the sole action of P. funiculosum cellulase on this non-pretreated and pretreated material.     

Influence of Inoculation with the Endomycorrhizal Fungi and Trichoderma viride on Morphological and Physiological Growth Parameters of Rauwolfia serpentina Benth. Ex. Kurtz

Two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Glomus mosseae and Acaulospora laevis either alone or in combination with Trichoderma viride showed the dependence of Rauwolfia serpentina on endomycorrhizal fungi. After 60 days, G. mosseae singly or in combination with Trichoderma viride showed enhanced height increment compared to control plants. Maximum phosphorus content was shown by plants treated with G. mosseae plus T. viride (0.444 ± 2.62) in roots and (0.437 ± 4.71) in shoots. Phosphorus content in roots was more than that in shoots. Chlorophyll content and stomatal conductivity also showed similar trend.     

Snake fauna (Reptilia: Serpentes) from the Early/Middle Miocene of Sandelzhausen and Rothenstein 13 (Germany)

The Early/Middle Miocene (European Land Mammal Zone MN5) localities of Sandelzhausen and Rothenstein 13 in southern Germany have yielded remains of about 13 ophidian taxa: Eoanilius sp. (Aniliidae), Bavarioboa ultima (Boidae), “Coluber” sp., ?Telescopus sp., Natrix sp., cf. Natrix sp., cf. “Neonatrix” sp., unidentified “colubrines” and “natricines” (Colubridae), Naja sp., an unidentified elapid (Elapidae), Vipera sp. (“Oriental viper”), Vipera sp. (“aspis complex”) (Viperidae). Both faunas document a transitional phase from those reported from several late Early and Middle Miocene sites of Central and Western Europe. The climates of Sandelzhausen and Rothenstein 13, as indicated by ophidian fossils, were warm, although not tropical or subtropical.     

Additional cricetid and dipodid rodent material from the Erden Obo section,Erlian Basin (Nei Mongol,China) and its biochronological implications

New cricetid (Cricetops dormitor, Eocricetodon sp., Eucricetodon cf. E. wangae, Pappocricetodon schaubi) and dipodid (Allosminthus gobiensis n. sp., Allosminthus ernos, Allosminthus uniconjugatus, Allosminthus cf. A. majusculus, Primisminthus shanghenus, Sinosminthus sp.) occurrences from the “Lower Red”, “Middle Red”, “Middle White” and “Upper White” beds of the Erden Obo section in Nei Mongol, China are reported. They are first discovered in these horizons. On the basis of the comparison of the rodent assemblages, we consider that the age of the “Upper White” beds is early Oligocene, the age of the “Middle Red” and “Middle White” beds is probable more similar to the age of late Eocene Houldjin Formation and lower part of Chaijiachong Formation, and the age of the “Lower Red” beds is correlative to the Sharamurunian. The diversity of ctenodactyloid, dipodid, and cricetid appears to change, and the turnover in rodent fauna possibly responded to the environmental and climate change towards the end of middle Eocene.     

The mycelial response of the white-rot fungus, Schizophyllum commune to the biocontrol agent, Trichoderma viride

In this study, agar plate interaction between Schizophyllum commune and Trichoderma viride was investigated to characterise the physiological responses occurring during interspecific mycelial combat. The metabolite profiles and morphological changes in both fungi paired on agar were studied relative to the modulation of phenoloxidase activity in S. commune. The calcium ionophore A23187 was incorporated in self-paired cultures of S. commune to explore possible involvement of calcium influx in the response of S. commune to T. viride. The levels of lipid peroxides and protein carbonyls in the confronted mycelia of S. commune were also measured. Contact with T. viride induced pigmentation and cell wall hydrolysis in S. commune with concomitant increase in phenoloxidase activity, rise in the levels of oxidative stress indicators and increased levels of phenolic compounds, antioxidant γ-amino butyric acid, and pyridoxine and osmo-protective sugar alcohols. Calcium ionophore mimicked the pigmentation in the T. viride-confronted mycelia of S. commune, implicating calcium influx in the response to T. viride. The changes in S. commune are indicative of targeted responses to osmotic and oxidative stresses and phenoloxidase-mediated detoxification of noxious compounds in the contact interface with T. viride, which may confer resistance in natural environments.     

Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system for testing the effect of Trichoderma volatile organic compounds

In ecosystems, plant and bacterial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are known to influence plant growth but less is known about the physiological effects of fungal VOCs. We have used Arabidopsis thaliana as a model to test the effects of VOCs from the soil fungus Trichoderma viride. Mature colonies of T. viride cultured on Petri plates were placed in a growth chamber in a shared atmosphere with A. thaliana without direct physical contact. Compared to controls, plants grown in the presence of T. viride volatiles were taller, bigger, flowered earlier, and had more lateral roots. They also had increased total biomass (45 %) and chlorophyll concentration (58 %). GC–MS analysis of T. viride VOCs revealed 51 compounds of which isobutyl alcohol, isopentyl alcohol, and 3-methylbutanal were most abundant. We conclude that VOCs emitted by T. viride have growth promoting effects on A. thaliana in the absence of direct physical contact.     

ε-Caprolactam Utilization by Proteus sp. and Bordetella sp. Isolated From Solid Waste Dumpsites in Lagos State, Nigeria, First Report

The ε-caprolactam is the monomer of the synthetic non-degradable nylon-6 and often found as nonreactive component of nylon-6 manufacturing waste effluent. Environmental consequences of its toxicity to natural habitats and humans pose a global public concern. Soil samples were collected from three designated solid waste dumpsites, namely, Abule-Egba, Olusosun and Isheri-Igando in Lagos State, Nigeria. Sixteen bacteria isolated from these samples were found to utilize the ε-caprolactam as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen at concentration of ≤20 g l^?1. The isolates were characterized using their 16S rRNA gene sequence and showed similarity with Pseudomonas sp., Proteus sp., Providencia sp., Corynebacterium sp., Lysinibacillus sp., Leucobacter sp., Alcaligenes sp. and Bordetella sp. Their optimal growth conditions were found to be at temperature range of 30 to 35 °C and pH range of 7.0–7.5. High Performance liquid chromatography analysis of the ε-caprolactam from supernatant of growth medium revealed that these isolates have potential to remove 31.6–95.7 % of ε-caprolactam. To the best of our knowledge, this study is first to report the ability of Proteus sp. and Bordetella sp. for ε-caprolactam utilization.     

Hypercalcified segmented sponges (“sphinctozoans”) from the Upper Triassic (Norian) reef boulders of Taurus Mountains (southern Turkey)

Upper Triassic Norian reef boulders, exposed in a locality near the fountain “Tavuk Cesme” (“Chicken Fountain”) in Taurus Mountains, southern Turkey yielded a large number of hypercalcified sponges, including “sphinctozoans”, “inozoans”, “spongiomorphids”, and “chaetetids”. The sphinctozoans from this locality are described in this paper. Geologically, this locality belongs to the Anamas-Akseki autochthonous. The reef boulders of this locality are exposed near the “Tavuk Cesme” fountain, located at the road, leading from the town of Aksu to Yenisarbademli. The following taxa are described: Amblysiphonella taurica nov. sp., Anthalythalamia riedeli Senowbari-Daryan, Calabrisiphonella sphaerica nov. sp., Calabrisiphonella cuifi nov. sp., Cinnabaria minima Senowbari-Daryan, Colospongia recta nov. sp., Colospongia sp. 1, Colospongia sp. 2, Colospongia sp. 3, Cryptocoelia compacta nov. sp., Cryptocoelia? sp., Deningeria crassireticulata Senowbari-Daryan, Zühlke, Bechstädt and Flügel, Discosiphonella minima Senowbari-Daryan and Link, Gigantothalamia ovoidalis Senowbari-Daryan, Hajarispongia dipoyrazensis nov. sp., Hajarispongia cortexifera nov. sp., Kashanella irregularis Senowbari-Daryan, Kashanella cylindrica nov. sp., Parauvanella ferdowsensis Senowbari-Daryan, Parastylothalamia cylindrica nov. gen., nov. sp., Asiphothalamia polyosculata nov. gen, nov. sp., Sollasia norica nov. sp., and Thaumastocoelia sphaeroida Senowbari-Daryan. The most abundant sponge is Amblysiphonella taurica nov. sp. followed by Hajarispongia dipoyrazensis nov. sp., Colospongia and Discosiphonella minima Senowbari-Daryan and Link are also relatively abundant. The stylothalamid sponge Parastylothalamia nov. gen. is an abundant sponge genus in other Norian reefs of the Taurus Mountains, but is rare at the “Tavuk Cesme” locality.     

Migratory history of Rhinogobius sp. OR morphotype “Shimahire” as revealed by otolith Sr:Ca ratios

The migratory history of the Rhinogobius sp. OR morphotype “Shimahire” collected from a slower current environment in the Maruyama River, the Ibo River, and the Kako River, Japan, was studied by examining the strontium and calcium concentrations in the otoliths. The otolith Sr:Ca ratios of almost all samples showed consistently low ratios from the core to the edge, reflecting the fact that the organisms had been living in a freshwater environment their entire lives. The ratios of Rhinogobius sp. CB and Rhinogobius flumineus living in the sympatric habitats with the Rhinogobius sp. OR morphotype “Shimahire” in the Kako River showed an amphidromous and fluvial life cycle, respectively. These findings suggest that the Rhinogobius sp. OR morphotype “Shimahire” has a freshwater resident life cycle.     

Factors affecting the insecticidal activity of δ-endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis

The stability and solubility of the crystal toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis var. aizawai were measured using larvae of Bombyx mori as the test animals under the same test conditions. Insecticidal activity was retained in buffer solutions of pH 2.2–10.8. It decreased rapidly either below pH 2.0 or above pH 11. As to the effects of time and temperature, the longer the incubation time, the lower was the activity in solutions above pH 11, and the higher the treatment temperature, the lower was the pH at which degradation of activity occurred. Guanidine (6 m) with 1% mercaptoethanol was not good for dissolving the toxic protein. Instead, 8 m urea with 0.5% dithiothreitol or with 1% mercaptoethanol and 0.04 m NaOH seemed better, and onefourth of the total activity appeared in the soluble fraction. On the other hand, 0.2 m thioglycollate and “Ellis's” buffer dissolved the toxic moiety completely and safely.     

Removal of bisphenol A and diclofenac by a novel fungal membrane bioreactor operated under non-sterile conditions

Previous studies have confirmed significant removal of various trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) by white-rot fungal cultures under sterile batch test conditions. However, little is known about TrOC removal in continuous flow fungal reactors in a non-sterile environment. This study reports the removal of two TrOCs, namely, bisphenol A and diclofenac, by a fungal membrane bioreactor (MBR). Sterile batch tests with “active” (biosorption and biodegradation) and “chemically inactivated” (biosorption only) Trametes versicolor (ATCC 7731) confirmed biodegradation as the main mechanism for the removal of both compounds. An MBR inoculated with T. versicolor was operated in non-sterile conditions for a period of three months during which diclofenac and bisphenol A were continuously added to the synthetic wastewater. Relatively stable removal of bisphenol A (80–90%) and diclofenac (∼55%) was achieved by applying a hydraulic retention time of two days, at the bisphenol A and diclofenac loadings of 475 ± 25 and 345 ± 112 μg/L.d, respectively.