Colonization of tomato root by pathogenic and nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum strains inoculated together and separately into the soil

In soil, fungal colonization of plant roots has been traditionally studied by indirect methods such as microbial isolation that do not enable direct observation of infection sites or of interactions between fungal pathogens and their antagonists. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to visualize the colonization of tomato roots in heat-treated soil and to observe the interactions between a nonpathogenic strain, Fo47, and a pathogenic strain, Fol8, inoculated onto tomato roots in soil. When inoculated separately, both fungi colonized the entire root surface, with the exception of the apical zone. When both strains were introduced together, they both colonized the root surface and were observed at the same locations. When Fo47 was introduced at a higher concentration than Fol8, it colonized much of the root surface, but hyphae of Fol8 could still be observed at the same location on the root. There was no exclusion of the pathogenic strain by the presence of the nonpathogenic strain. These results are not consistent with the hypothesis that specific infection sites exist on the root for Fusarium oxysporum and instead support the hypothesis that competition occurs for nutrients rather than for infection sites.     

An integrated process for removing the inhibitors of the prehydrolysis liquor of kraft-based dissolving pulp process via cationic polymer treatment

The prehydrolysis liquor (PHL) of the kraft‐based dissolving pulp production process contains various amounts of hemicelluloses that can be utilized in the production of value‐added products. In this work, a new process was proposed for removing the inhibitors of PHL via employing a flocculation concept to facilitate the utilization of hemicelluloses. Lignin, lignocelluloses/cationic polymer complexes, and possibly ethanol are the main products of this process. This process has been experimentally evaluated with an industrially produced PHL and cationic polymers. The results showed that 16% of lignin, 19% of acetic acid, 43% of furfural, and insignificant amount of sugars were removed from PHL via pretreating PHL with acid and lime at pH 7. Furthermore, by adding 0.4–0.5 mg g^?1 polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC) or chitosan to the pretreated PHL, 12–14% acetic acid, 40–50% furfural, 5–6% monomeric sugars, and 25% oligomeric sugars were removed from the PHL. The complexes made from these components may be applied as organic fillers in various industries. Alternatively, by adding 1.2 or 1.4 mg g^?1 PDADMAC or chitosan to the pretreated PHL, 30 or 35% of lignin was removed, respectively, which induced complexes that could be used as a fuel source. The composition of the complexes formed was also determined in this work. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 28: 998–1004, 2012     

A process for purifying xylosugars of pre-hydrolysis liquor from kraft-based dissolving pulp production process

Background

In the kraft-based dissolving pulp production process, pre-hydrolysis liquor (PHL) is produced, which contains hemicelluloses, lignin, furfural and acetic acid. PHL is currently burned in the recovery boiler of the kraft pulping process, but it can be utilized for the generation of high-valued products, such as xylitol and xylanase, via fermentation processes. However, some PHL constituents, e.g., furfural and lignin, are contaminants for fermentation processes and they must be eliminated for production of value-added products.

Results

In this work, a process is introduced for removing contaminants of PHL. Ca(OH)₂ treatment is the first step of this process, which removed 41.2% of lignin and negligible amount of sugars. In this step, a notable increase in the concentration of acetic acid was achieved (ranging from 6.2 to 11.7 g/L). In the second step, the implementation of adsorption using activated carbon (AC) at 1 wt% dosage led to additional 32% lignin and 5.9% xylosugar removals. In addition, laccase assisted activated carbon treatment led to further removal of lignin via accelerating lignin polymerization and adsorption on AC (i.e., removal from PHL). Overall, 90.7% of lignin, 100% of furfural, 5.7% of xylose, and 12% of xylan were removed from PHL, while the concentration of acetic acid became twofolds in the PHL.

Conclusions

This study reports an attractive process for purifying sugars and acetic acid of PHL. This process may be implemented for producing sugar-based value-added products from PHL. It also discusses the mechanism of Ca(OH)₂ treatment, AC adsorption and laccase assisted activated carbon treatment for lignin removal.

     

Effects of rye and triticale seed proteins on Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) digestive α-amylase and protease and some biological parameters

The current study aimed to investigate the effect of rye and triticale seed proteins on the Leptinotarsa decemlineata, gut enzymes. Results showed that ammonium sulphate precipitation fractions; 0–30, 30–50, 50–70 and 70–100% had no inhibition on the fourth instar larval (L₄) protease activity, while first two fractions of triticale and all fractions of rye had inhibitory effects on the all larval stages and adult’s α-amylase activity. Mode of inhibition in rye and triticale was partial mixed and uncompetitive, respectively. Zymograms approved the results. Feeding assays were conducted using four cultivars of potato leaves treated with extracts. Weight of L₄ on Marx in both trials and the L₄ evolution in all cultivars in rye and just on Picasso in triticale were reduced, the developmental durations were increased on Marx and Picasso in triticale trial significantly. Also, rye extract caused inhibition in amylase activity of survived individuals that feed from treated Burren leaves.     

Tomato root colonization by fluorescent-tagged pathogenic and protective strains of Fusarium oxysporum in hydroponic culture differs from root colonization in soil

The colonization process of tomato roots inoculated separately or/and simultaneously by a pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici strain Fol8 and the protective F. oxysporum strain Fo47, genetically tagged with the red and green fluorescent protein genes, respectively, was studied in a hydroponic culture. Plants were coinoculated with Fol8 and Fo47 at two conidial concentration ratios of 1/1 and 1/100, in which biological control was not effective or effective, respectively. First observation of fungi on root was possible 48 h after inoculation at a high inoculum level and 5 days post inoculation at the lower concentration of inoculum. The pattern of root colonization was similar for both strains with the initial development of hyphal network on the upper part of taproot, followed by the growth of hyphae towards the elongation zone, lateral roots and root apices. Finally, the whole elongation zone and root apex were invaded by both strains but no specific infection sites were observed. When coinoculated, both strains could grow very closely or even at the same spot on the root surface. At the nonprotective ratio, Fol8 was the successful colonizer, but application of Fo47 at a concentration 100 times >Fol8 delayed vessel colonization by the pathogen.     

Effect of ovarian tissue vitrification method on mice preantral follicular development and gene expression

Vitrification is considered a viable method for cryopreservation of ovarian tissue and selection of methods that minimize follicular damage is important. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of two vitrification methods on ovarian tissue morphology, preantral follicles survival rate during in vitro culture, and relative expression of genes associated with oocyte maturation and cumulus expansion. Ovaries from 12-day-old mice were vitrified in media containing ethylene glycol, dimethyl sulphoxide, and sucrose. Before plunging in liquid nitrogen, ovaries were first loaded into an acupuncture needle (needle immersion vitrification [NIV]) or placed on a cold steel surface for 10 to 20 seconds (solid surface vitrification [SSV]). The integrity of the ovarian tissue was well-preserved after vitrification and was similar controls. Follicle viability in the SSV group was lower (P < 0.05) than in the control group after 6 days of culture and the NIV group after 10 day of culture. Follicle viability after 12 day of culture was 92.8%, 82.1%, and 58.4% in control, NIV, and SSV groups, respectively. Bmp15, Gdf9, BmprII, Alk6, Alk5, Has2, and Ptgs2 gene expression patterns were similar among groups. However, the level of gene expression in the vitrification groups during Days 6 to 10 were higher compared with the control group. In conclusion, ovarian tissue morphologic integrity was well-preserved, regardless of the vitrification method. Vitrification using the needle immersion method resulted in greater follicular survival after 12 day of culture than the SSV method. Gene expression patterns during culture did not seem to explain the reduced survival rate observed in the solid surface group.     

Additive effects of Na+ and Cl- ions on barley growth under salinity stress

Soil salinity affects large areas of the world's cultivated land, causing significant reductions in crop yield. Despite the fact that most plants accumulate both sodium (Na(+)) and chloride (Cl(-)) ions in high concentrations in their shoot tissues when grown in saline soils, most research on salt tolerance in annual plants has focused on the toxic effects of Na(+) accumulation. It has previously been suggested that Cl(-) toxicity may also be an important cause of growth reduction in barley plants. Here, the extent to which specific ion toxicities of Na(+) and Cl(-) reduce the growth of barley grown in saline soils is shown under varying salinity treatments using four barley genotypes differing in their salt tolerance in solution and soil-based systems. High Na(+), Cl(-), and NaCl separately reduced the growth of barley, however, the reductions in growth and photosynthesis were greatest under NaCl stress and were mainly additive of the effects of Na(+) and Cl(-) stress. The results demonstrated that Na(+) and Cl(-) exclusion among barley genotypes are independent mechanisms and different genotypes expressed different combinations of the two mechanisms. High concentrations of Na(+) reduced K(+) and Ca(2+) uptake and reduced photosynthesis mainly by reducing stomatal conductance. By comparison, high Cl(-) concentration reduced photosynthetic capacity due to non-stomatal effects: there was chlorophyll degradation, and a reduction in the actual quantum yield of PSII electron transport which was associated with both photochemical quenching and the efficiency of excitation energy capture. The results also showed that there are fundamental differences in salinity responses between soil and solution culture, and that the importance of the different mechanisms of salt damage varies according to the system under which the plants were grown.     

Proteasome dynamics between proliferation and quiescence stages of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) plays a critical role in cellular protein homeostasis and is required for the turnover of short-lived and unwanted proteins, which are targeted by poly-ubiquitination for degradation. Proteasome is the key protease of UPS and consists of multiple subunits, which are organized into a catalytic core particle (CP) and a regulatory particle (RP). In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, proteasome holo-enzymes are engaged in degrading poly-ubiquitinated substrates and are mostly localized in the nucleus during cell proliferation. While in quiescence, the RP and CP are sequestered into motile and reversible storage granules in the cytoplasm, called proteasome storage granules (PSGs). The reversible nature of PSGs allows the proteasomes to be transported back into the nucleus upon exit from quiescence. Nuclear import of RP and CP through nuclear pores occurs via the canonical pathway that includes the importin-αβ heterodimer and takes advantage of the Ran-GTP gradient across the nuclear membrane. Dependent on the growth stage, either inactive precursor complexes or mature holo-enzymes are imported into the nucleus. The present review discusses the dynamics of proteasomes including their assembly, nucleo-cytoplasmic transport during proliferation and the sequestration of proteasomes into PSGs during quiescence.

     

Adsorption performance of creatinine on dialdehyde nanofibrillated cellulose derived from potato residues

Potato residue is vastly produced in the food industry but it is landfilled. This article describes the treatment of purified cellulose derived from potato residues by a high pressure homogenizer to produce nano‐fibrillated cellulose (NFC), which was then oxidized by sodium periodate to prepare dialdehyde nano‐fibrillated cellulose (DANFC). The produced NFC and DANFC were characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The orthogonal experiment was induced to obtain the maximum degree of oxidation (DO) on DANFC. The results indicated that the optimal conditions were 40°C and pH 3. Alternatively, the isotherm and kinetic studies for the adsorption of creatinine on DANFC with different DOs (70.5 and 88.8%) were investigated, and the experimental results fitted well into Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo second‐order kinetic model. The maximum adsorption capacities of DANFCs with the DO of 70.55 and 88.85% were 6.7 and 17.2 mg g^?1, respectively, which were achieved under the conditions of 37°C and initial creatinine concentration of 100 mg L^?1. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:208–214, 2016     

A combined acidification/PEO flocculation process to improve the lignin removal from the pre-hydrolysis liquor of kraft-based dissolving pulp production process

The presence of lignin impairs the utilization of the hemicelluloses dissolved in the pre-hydrolysis liquor (PHL) of the kraft-based dissolving pulp production process. In this paper, a novel process was developed by combining the acidification and poly ethylene oxide (PEO) flocculation concepts to improve the lignin removal. The results showed that the lignin removal was improved by the addition of PEO to the acidified PHL, particularly at a low pH of 1.5. The main mechanisms involved are the lignin/PEO complex formation and the bridging of the formed complexes. This hypothesis was supported by the turbidity, FTIR and particle size measurements. Interestingly, the hemicelluloses removal from the acidification/PEO flocculation was marginal, which would be beneficial for the down-stream ethanol production from the PHL. Additionally, a process flow diagram was proposed that incorporates this new concept into the existing configuration of kraft-based dissolving pulp production process.