Biomass protein formation by filamentous fungi on woody substrates

Summary Growth and biomass protein formation by filamentous fungi grown on pretreated tropical woods of Mesta (Hibiscus cannabinus Linn.) and Subabul [Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Witt] as well as their isolated hemicellulose and cellulose fractions have been studied. Penicillium janthinellum and Penicillium funiculosum produced a biomass having 20 to 30% crude protein when grown on either hemicellulose, while growth on pretreated (autoclaved in 1% NaOH) wood or isolated cellulose fractions was comparatively poor and crude protein content only 5 to 8% in the biomass.NCL Communication no.3550     

Acetone-butanol-isopropanol production byClostridium beijerinckii (synonym,Clostridium butylicum)

Isopropanol is a product of the organism formerly known as Clostridium butylicum, which is now included in the speciesClostridium beijerinckii. We tested 52 strains ofC.beijerinckii for their ability to produce acetone,n-butanol, and isopropanol. The 32 butanol-producing strains may be divided into two groups based on whether isopropanol was produced. Isopropanol-producing cultures accumulated acetone only transiently.     

Localization and release mechanism of cellulases in Trichoderma reesei QM 9414

Summary A significant increase in the extracellular yield of -glucosidase was observed when Trichoderma reesei QM 9414 was cultivated on a cellulose medium containing chitin. Measurement of enzyme activities in the various fractions of the mycelium revealed that endoglucanase was truly extracellular while -glucosidase was cell wall bound. Treatment of Trichoderma mycelium with cell wall degrading enzymes (produced from Trichoderma) led to a release of -glucosidase from the mycelium. Apparently chitin, in the presence of cellulose, induces the synthesis of chitinase and other cell wall lytic enzymes which promote release of the intramural -glucosidase into the medium.     

Micropropagation of Uniola paniculata L.

Uniola paniculata L. is a major sand-dune stabilizing grass which is being utilized to prevent shoreline erosion. In vitro cultured caryopses of U. paniculata produced callus on MS medium supplemented with 22.5 M 2,4-D, 4.4 M BA and 87.6 mM sucrose. Shoot induction occurred after these calli were inoculated onto the same medium without 2,4-D. Rooting of in vitro-derived shoots occurred when transferred to a one-half strength MS medium containing 43.8 mM sucrose and 14.7 M IBA. Plantlets were planted after the roots reached a length greater than 20 mm.Abbreviations BA N-(phenyl-methyl)-lH-purine-6-amine - IBA lH-indole-3-butanoic acid - MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) - 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid - TC agar tissue culture agar, (K.C. Biologicals, Lenexa, KS) - Subdue methaxyl:N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(methyoxyacetyl) alanine methyl ester (CIBA- GEIGY)     

Extracellular xylanolytic enzymes ofPaecilomyces varioti

Summary Paecilomyces varioti produced an extracellular xylanase and B-xylosidase when cultured in a medium containing xylan and corn steep liquor. Xylose (2%, w/v) totally inhibited production of both enzymes. The enzymes were purified and both had a pH optimum of 4.0. The xylanase had a molecular weight of 20,000, an isoelectric point of 5.2 and was inactive on all substrates tested except xylan. The -xylosidase, a glycoprotein, had a molecular weight of 67,000, an isoelectric point of 4.0 and had highest activity on p-nitrophenyl--D-xyloside. The xylanase had a Km of 49.5 mg/ml for xylan and the -xylosidase had a Km of 5.4 mM for p-nitrophenyl--D-xyloside.     

Oligosaccharide formation byTrichoderma harzianum in lactose containing medium

Summary A soil isolate ofTrichoderma harzianum produced oligosaccharides in lactose containing medium. The yield of trisaccharides was 32.1 per cent based on total saccharides. The main product formed was 6-galactosyllactose.     

Regulation of mycotoxin production by Fusarium graminearum: Complementation effects between two mutant types

Summary Starting from anileu auxotroph ofFusarium graminearum producing high levels of the mycotoxin zearalenone, selection after UV irradiation gave low-producing mutants of essentially normal morphology,zea,ileu. Heterokaryons betweenzea,ileu strains and an auxotrophic strainlz,inos derived from the lazy morphological mutant ofFusarium graminearum, which has abnormal morphology and also produces little or n zearalenone, produced significant levels (over 50% of the wild-type level) of mycotoxin. The observation confirms views as to the regulatory nature of thelazy mutation.     

Synthesis of novel sugars,oligoglucosyl-inositols,and their growth stimulating effect forBifidobacterium

Summary Novel sugars, oligoglucosyl-inositols, which were synthesized using CGTase fromBacillus ohbensis, stimulated the growth ofBifidobacterium. The enzyme catalyzed transglucosylation from -1,4-maltodextrin (donor) tomyo-inositol (acceptor). Of donors examined, -cyclodextrin gave superior oligoglucosyl-inositol yield of 56.6% (w/w) based on the conversion ratio of incubated inositol. Maltosyl-inositol stimulated growth ofB. adolescentis by 194% when compared with glucose.     

Cellulase and beta-glucosidase production by mexied culture of trichoderma reesei rut C30 and aspergillus phoenicis

Summary When lignocellulosic materials are hydrolysed using cellulase fromTrichoderma reesei, cellobiose accumulates due to a deficiency in -glucosidase activity of the enzyme complex. Cellobiose decreases the rate and extent of hydrolysis through feedback inhibition of exo -1,4-glucanase. Cellulase produced through mixed culture ofTrichoderma andAspergillus showed increased -glucosidase activity and greatly improved hydrolytic potential.     

Solid state fermentation of straw withNeurospora crassa for CMCase and β-glucosidase production

Summary CMCase and -glucosidase were produced by the mutantNeurospora crassa 40b cultivated on untreated wheat straw in a solid state fermentation. Best enzyme activities were observed when the growth medium was composed of wheat straw mixed with certain mineral solutions at a ratio 1:2 (w/v). A partially purified enzyme preparation showed optimum enzyme activities of CMCase and -glucosidase at pH 4.0 and 5.0 and temperature 50 and 60°C respectively. The apparent Km values for the same enzymes were 16.8 g/l and 1.03x10^–4 M respectively. At optimum growth and enzyme assay conditions yields as high as 586.2 U CMCase and 58.4 U -glucosidase per gram of straw were obtained.     

The introduction of CMS mitochondria to triazine tolerant Brassica napus L., var. “Regent”, by micromanipulation of individual heterokaryons

Cytoplasmic triazine tolerance and cytoplasmic male sterility traits were combined in the nuclear genomic background of the Brassica napus variety Regent, following protoplast fusion, selection of fusion products by manual micro-manipulation, and culture in a Nicotiana tabacum nurse system. Whole plant cybrid regenerants were morphologically normal and produced seed on pollination, demonstrating their potential for incorporation into a breeding program.     

Extracellular invertase from Aspergillus athecius: Isolation and immobilization

Summary A fungal strain isolated from soil and identified asAspergillus athecius, when grown on moistened wheat bran produced large amounts of extracellular invertase. Most of the invertase from the moldy bran was easily extracted by low ionic strength buffer (0.005 M, pH 5.7). The crude invertase immobilized on DEAE cellulose showed not only increased activity (45%) but also greater thermal and storage stability than the free enzyme. The free and the bound enzymes showed a temperature optimum of 50–55°C and a pH optimum of 5.7 and 4.8 respectively. The K_m app. of the bound enzyme was lower than that of the free enzyme.     

High level extracellular secretion of thermostable α-amylase ofBacillus stearothermophilus inEscherichia coli

Summary Bacillus stearothermophilus BR135 (ATCC 29609)amy gene was cloned in pBR322 from its plasmid DNA and was subcloned in a vector useful both forB. subtilis andE. coli.E.coli HB101 harboring the plasmid pSS099 when grown in L medium in presence of 5. g/ml chloramphenicol produces 70 units/ml of extracellular -amylase. This is nearly twice that ofE.coli cells harboring pSSO76, a plasmid havingamy ofB.stearothermophilus BR135 atHindIII site of pBR322. Characteristically the protein was a 58 kd protein and cross reacted with antiserum developed against purified -amylase of BR135.     

Production of nematocidal compounds by hairy root cultures of Tagetes patula L.

Summary Marigold (Tagetes patula L.) hairy roots induced by infection with Agrobacterium rhizogenes produced -terthienyl when grown in darkness, and an n-hexane extract of the roots showed nematocidal activity. Depending on the hairy root line used, the level of -terthienyl varied from 15 to 1268 g per g dry weight, a level that corresponded to 0.15 to 12.7-fold that in intact roots. Analysis by HPLC indicated that the nematocidal activity was due predominantly to -terthienyl. However, it is suggested that nematocidal compounds other than -terthienyl are present in hairy roots cultured in the dark for long periods or in the light.     

Symbiotic growth of a yeast and a bacteria in batch fermentors

Summary Single cell protein was produced from cassava starch by symbiotic growth of the -amylase producing bacteria Bacillus subtilis and the yeast Candida utilis, which is accepted as fodder. By batch fermentations it was shown, that the pH fluctuation during the fermentation and the inoculum were extremely important parameters.     

In vitro propagation of cashewnut

In vitro plant propagation was developed for seedling shoot tips, leaf axils, and cotyledonary nodes of cashew, Anacardium occidentale. Factors affecting multiplication rate included age of explant source, explant type, medium composition, light requirements, and transfer frequency. Cotyledonary nodes produced more buds than other explant types. Nodes had a 90% viability when transferred daily to fresh medium containing activated charcoal for 7 d while exposed to continuous dark. Cultures were then exposed to low light illumination with weekly transfers. The phytohormone composition producing the most buds was 2.32 M kinetin, 9.12 M zeatin and 4.40 M BA. The highest frequency of rooted shoots was obtained by treating shoots with the bacterium, Agrobacterium rhizogenes. Plants also were recovered by induction of roots using auxin treatment on propagated shoots.Abbreviations Kn Kinetin - Zn Zeatin - BA N6-Benzyladenine - 2iP (2-Isopentenyl) adenine - BPA n-Benzyl -9 (2-tetrahydro-pyrany l) adenine - IAA Indole-3-acetic acid - IBA Indole-3-butyric acid - NAA 1-Naphthalene acetic acid - TIBA 2,3,5-Tri-iodo-benzoic acid     

Shoot and root organogenesis of Camellia sasanqua

In vitro-derived shoot tips, (10 mm) taken from primary cultures of Camellia sasanqua L., were evaluated for organogenesis when cultured on a half-strength MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of NAA, IBA, BA and GA₃. Maximum shoot proliferation and growth for juvenile and mature tissue was obtained when 0.54 M NAA, 8.8 M BA plus 14.4 to 28.9 M GA₃ was added to the culture media, with a pH between 4.5 and 5.0. In vitro-derived shoots (20 mm) from mature C. sasanqua Day Dream and juvenile C. sasanqua cultures initiated roots in vitro after immersion in 2.5 mM IBA for 30 min. Sixty percent of the mature shoots and 90% of the juvenile shoots initiated roots within 3 weeks of treatment with IBA.Abbreviations MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) - IBA lH-indole-3-butanoic acid - BA N-(phenyl-methyl)-lH-purine-6-amine - GA₃ gibberellic acid - kinetin N-(Z-furanyl-methyl)-lH-purine-6-amine - NAA l-naphthaleneacetic acid - L Linear - Q Quadratic     

Isolation and immobilization ofSclerotium rolfsii protoplasts

Summary Protoplasts fromSclerotium rolfsii were prepared usingTrichoderma harzianum lytic enzymes and immobilized in Ca alginate gels. The immobilized protoplasts when incubated with 1% carboxymethylcellulose in osmotically stabilized induction medium, could secrete endoglucanase and -glucosidase. On repeated use the immobilized preparation retained 36% endoglucanase and 26% -glucosidase activity after 5 cycles.NCL Communication No. 3798     

Production of β-carotene by aRhodotorula strain

Summary The production of -carotene by the biomass ofRhodotorula strain var.glutinis, during the stationary phase of growth and in non-proliferating conditions was assayed. When the cells were transferred to distilled water, the fraction of -carotene produced increased from 130 to 630 g per gram of dried cells.     

Anther culture of some perennial triticeae

Three field grown Agropyron spp. (crested wheatgrasses) and two Thinopyrum spp. (intermediate and tall wheatgrasses) were evaluated for anther culture response. Hormonally modified potato extract and 85D12 media induced pollen embryogenesis. Modified Murashige and Skoog media were tested for their effects on callus proliferation and plantlet regeneration. Callus induction frequency and plantlet production were highest (25.0% and 45.8%, respectively) for Thinopyrum ponticum (2N=70) (tall wheatgrass). One-hundred and nine albino plantlets were produced from T. ponticum Jose both by direct regeneration on 85D12 medium and through a callus phase from potato extract media. This is the first report of plantlet production from anther culture of a Triticeae perennial forage grass. Further experimentation with environmental and cultural conditions may result in the production of green plantlets.Abbreviations MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - 2-ip 2-isopentenyladenosine - 2,4,5-T 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid Cooperative investigations of the USDA-Agricultural Experiment Station and the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, Logan, UT 84322. Approved as Journal Paper No. 3596