Growth promotion of the edible fungus Pleurotus ostreatus by fluorescent pseudomonads

Bacteria were isolated from the mycelial surface of Pleurotus ostreatus and their role in fruiting body induction (fructification) of the edible mushroom P. ostreatus was investigated. Analysis of the bacterial community that colonized the mycelium showed that the species composition and numbers of culturable bacteria differed according to the developmental stage of P. ostreatus. In particular, the population size of fluorescent pseudomonads increased during fruiting body induction. An experiment showed that inoculation of pure cultures of the mycelium with strains of fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. isolated from the mycelial plane of commercially produced mushrooms promoted the formation of primordia and enhanced the development of the basidiome of P. ostreatus. Results of this research strongly suggest that inoculation of the mycelium with specific bacteria may have beneficial applications for mushroom production.     

Evariquinone,isoemericellin, and stromemycin from a sponge derived strain of the fungus Emericella variecolor

From a strain of the fungus Emericella variecolor derived from the marine sponge Haliclona valliculata, two new natural products, evariquinone and isoemericellin, were isolated after HPLC-UV, -MS, and -NMR studies of the extract and their structures were elucidated by mass spectrometry and NMR experiments. Evariquinone showed antiproliferative activity towards KB and NCI-H460 cells at a concentration of 3.16 microg/ml. Furthermore, the fungus was found to produce the known metabolites stromemycin, shamixanthone, and 7-hydroxyemodin. Chemical degradation, NMR decoupling experiments, and spin-system simulation provided evidence for the double bonds in stromemycin to be all E-configured. ROESY experiments established the monosaccharide moiety to be glucose.     

Biodegradation of exploded cotton stalk by Bacillus sp.

The exploded bast, branch and stem of cotton stalk were degraded by alkalophilic Bacillus NT-19, with weight losses of 24%, 20% and 14%, respectively, after 14 d. Compared with a white-rot fungus (Phanerochaete chrysosporium), Bacillus NT-19 preferentially degraded the non-cellulose components of cotton stem. The relative degree of crystallinity of bast fibers decreased by 8% and the middle lamella was partially removed from the fiber bundle by the Bacillus.     

Functional and genetic characterization of calmodulin from the dimorphic and pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Calmodulin (CaM) modulates intracellular calcium signalling and acts on several metabolic pathways and gene expression regulation in many eukaryotic organisms including human fungal pathogens, such as Candida albicans and Histoplasma capsulatum. The temperature-dependent dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the aetiological agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). The mycelium (M) to yeast (Y) transition has been shown to be essential for establishment of the infection, although the precise molecular mechanisms of dimorphism in P. brasiliensis are still unknown. In this work, several inhibitory drugs of the Ca(2+)/calmodulin signalling pathway were tested to verify the role of this pathway in the cellular differentiation process of P. brasiliensis. EGTA and the drugs calmidazolium (R24571), trifluoperazine (TFP), and W7 were able to inhibit the M-Y transition. We have cloned and characterized the calmodulin gene from P. brasiliensis, which comprises 924 nucleotides and five introns that are in a conserved position among calmodulin genes.     

Decolorization of textile indigo dye by ligninolytic fungi

The indigo dye is extensively used by textile industries and is considered a recalcitrant substance, which causes environmental concern. Chemical products used on textile processing, which affect the environment through effluents, can be voluminous, colored and varied. Vat textile dyes, like indigo, are often used and dye mainly cellulosic fibers of cotton. Decolorization of this dye in liquid medium was tested with ligninolytic basidiomycete fungi from Brazil. Decolorization started in a few hours and after 4 days the removal of dye by Phellinus gilvus culture was in 100%, by Pleurotus sajor-caju 94%, by Pycnoporus sanguineus 91% and by Phanerochaete chrysosporium 75%. No color decrease was observed in a sterile control. Thin layer chromatography of fungi culture extracts revealed only one unknown metabolite of Rf=0.60, as a result of dye degradation.     

Identification of spores in the polycentric anaerobic gut fungi which enhance their ability to survive

Two new isolates of the gut fungi were obtained from the rumen digesta and faeces of a cow. These isolates, designated Anaeromyces following rDNA typing, displayed a polycentric growth habit but differed from all other gut fungi in that they were able to survive in the laboratory for considerable periods without the need for sub-culture. Light microscopy of preparations from old liquid-grown cultures revealed the presence of DNA-containing spores with two or four chambers. A comparative evaluation of the growth produced when fresh media were inoculated with a sample originating from young or old cultures revealed that active growth was delayed with the inoculum from the older culture. We propose that the chambered spores observed in these cultures provide an alternative path in the life cycle of these fungi and may function as a resting stage within the anaerobic environment of the herbivore gut.     

Decolourisation of synthetic textile dyes by Phlebia tremellosa

Phlebia tremellosa decolourised eight synthetic textile dyes (200 mg l(-1)) by greater than 96% within 14 days under stationary incubation conditions. High performance liquid chromatography analysis of culture supernatants indicated that Remazol Black B was degraded by the fungus, however, complete mineralisation did not occur as a colourless organic breakdown product accumulated. Laccase activity was detectable in culture supernatants after 5 days when the fungus was grown in the presence of an artificial textile effluent, with activity reaching a maximum of 15 U l(-1) on day 14.     

Effect of Initial Nematode Population Density on the Interaction of Pratylenchus penetrans and Verticillium dahliae on 'Russet Burbank' Potato

Four similar growth chamber experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that the initial population density (Pi) of Pratylenchus penetrans influences the severity of interactive effects of P. penetrans and Verticillium dahliae on shoot growth, photosynthesis, and tuber yield of Russet Burbank potato. In each experiment, three population densities of P. penetrans with and without concomitant inoculation with V. dahliae were compared with nematode-free controls. The three specific Pi of JR penetrans tested varied from experiment to experiment but fell in the ranges 0.8-2.5, 1.8-3.9, 2.1-8.8, and 7.5-32.4 nematodes/cm³ soil. Inoculum of V. dahliaewas mixed into soil, and the assayed density was 5.4 propagules/gram dry soil. Plants were grown 60 to 80 days in a controlled environment. Plant growth parameters in two experiments indicated significant interactions between P. penetrans and V. dahliae. In the absence of V. dahliae, P. penetrans did not reduce plant growth and tuber yield below that of the nematode-free control or did so only at the highest one or two population densities tested. In the presence of K dahliae, the lowest population density significantly reduced shoot weight and photosynthesis in three and four experiments, respectively. Higher densities had no additional effect on shoot weight and caused additional reductions in photosynthesis in only one experiment. Population densities of 0.8 and 7.5 nematodes/cm³ soil reduced tuber yield by 51% and 45%, whereas higher densities had no effect or a 15% additional effect, respectively. These data indicate that interactive effects between P. penetrans and V. dahliae on Russet Burbank potato are manifested at P. penetrans population densities less than 1 nematode/cm³ soil and that the nematode population density must be substantially higher before additional effects are apparent.     

Variation in Efficacy of Isolates of the Fungus ARF Against the Soybean Cyst Nematode Heterodera glycines

An unnamed fungus, designated ARF, that parasitizes eggs and sedentary stages of cyst nematodes is a potential biological control agent of Heterodera glycines. The objectives of this study were to determine whether ARF isolates differ in their ability to suppress nematode numbers in soil and to compare the efficacy of ARF in heat-treated and native soil. The effectiveness of 11 ARF isolates was compared by introducing homogenized mycelium into heat-treated soil. Soybean seedlings were transplanted into pots containing fungus-infested soil and inoculated with H. glycines. After 30 or 60 days, the number of nematodes and the percentage of parasitized eggs were determined. Three isolates (907, 908, and TN14), which were previously reported to be weak egg parasites in vitro, consistently suppressed nematode numbers by 50% to 100%. Of the isolates previously reported to be aggressive egg parasites, four (903, BG2, MS3, and TN12) reduced nematode numbers by 56% to 69% in at least one experimental trial, but the other four had no effect on nematode numbers. When the efficacy of isolate TN14 was tested in heat-treated and native soil, nematode suppression was greater in the heat-treated soil in only one of two trials. In both soil treatments, nematode numbers were reduced by more than 60%. We conclude that virulence toward nematode eggs in vitro is a poor indicator of effectiveness of an ARF isolate in soil, and that the presence of soil microbes may reduce, but does not completely inhibit, activity of isolate TN14.     

Channelling of glucose by methanol for citric acid production from Aspergillus niger

Citric acid produced by Aspergillus niger was increased from 4.6g l^-1 to 7.8gl^-1 by supplementing basal medium with methanol (30mll^-1). While stimulating citric acid production, methanol did not improve membrane permeability of the fungus for citric acid. Methanol inhibited the germination of Aspergillus spores. An increase in glucose concentration from 50gl^-1 to 100gl^-1 in the presence of methanol (30mll^-1) improved citric acid production (1.6-fold) while at higher levels of glucose concentration methanol had no effect on citic acid production.