The Endophytic Strain Trichoderma asperellum 6S-2: An Efficient Biocontrol Agent against Apple Replant Disease in China and a Potential Plant-Growth-Promoting Fungus

A study was conducted for endophytic antagonistic fungi obtained from the roots of healthy apple trees growing in nine replanted orchards in Shandong Province, China. The fungi were assessed for their ability to inhibit Fusarium proliferatum f. sp. malus domestica MR5, a fungal strain associated with apple replant disease (ARD). An effective endophyte, designated as strain 6S-2, was isolated and identified as Trichoderma asperellum. Strain 6S-2 demonstrated protease, amylase, cellulase, and laccase activities, which are important for the parasitic and antagonistic functions of pathogenic fungi. The inhibition rate of 6S-2 against Fusarium proliferatum f. sp. malus domestica MR5 was 52.41%. Strain 6S-2 also secreted iron carriers, auxin, ammonia and was able to solubilize phosphorus. Its fermentation extract and volatile substances inhibited the growth of MR5, causing its hyphae to twist, shrink, swell, and rupture. The antifungal activity of the 6S-2 fermentation extract increased with increasing concentrations. It promoted the production and elongation of Arabidopsis thaliana lateral roots, and the strongest effects were seen at a concentration of 50 mg/mL. A GC-MS analysis of the 6S-2 fermentation extract and volatile substances showed that they comprised mainly alkanes, alcohols, and furanones, as well as the specific volatile substance 6-PP. The application of 6S-2 spore suspension to replanted apple orchard soils reduced plant oxidative damage and promoted plant growth in a pot experiment. Therefore, the endophytic strain T. asperellum 6S-2 has the potential to serve as an effective biocontrol fungus for the prevention of ARD in China, and appears to promote plant growth.

Analysis of aroma compounds of nine autochthonous and non-autochthonous loquat cultivars grown in Sicily

Loquat cultivation in Sicily is mainly based on nonnative cultivars and local ecotypes characterized by high nutraceutical value and appreciable physicochemical characteristics. Increased interest in commercial loquat production has increased the intention to provide premium quality loquat cultivars that include volatile substances capable of conditioning the sensorial properties and, therefore, the acceptability of fruits by consumers. This study determined the content of volatile compounds in nonnative and local loquat fruits grown in Sicily. Analyses were performed on five international cultivars and four local cultivars.

Analysis of Pressurized Pyrolysis Behavior of Yichun Coal at Different Temperature with Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometer

The fast pyrolysis connected with gas chromatography/mass spectrometer is used to explore the pyrolysis process of Yichun raw coal, and the influence of different pyrolysis temperatures on the composition and distribution of pyrolysis products under high pressure is investigated. Studies have shown that as the temperature increases, the number of volatile substances gradually decreases, which indicates that high pressure inhibits the production of volatiles. In addition, aromatic hydrocarbons in pyrolysis volatile substances dominate, and as the pyrolysis temperature increases, their content gradually increases. The volatile substances transform towards low carbon number compounds with the increment of temperature.

Suggestion Petroleum Coke from Iraq Oil Mix. (T-21A+T-5) & PF2 as Alternative Fuel for Cement and Metallurgy

The feasibility of utilizing petroleum coke as an alternative fuel for cement kilns and other industries was suggesting. The feedstock using in this study are mixture (T-21A+T-5) Tawke and Shekhan PF2 AT residues were obtained from two Iraqi-Kurdistan crude oils by removing distillates boiling point up to 350°C using the atmospheric distillation unit. The coking processing of AT residues at high temperatures to produce gas, coking distillates and petroleum coke. Coking of AT residues were carried out at temperature 450-460°C and atmospheric pressure, at this temperature, the duration of heat treatment of the feed was 2h. 45 min for Tawke and 2h. 15 min for Shekhan. The choice of temperature and time of the experiments was made on the basis that a lower temperature increases the duration of the process, and at a higher temperature a significant reduction in the duration of the process according to GOST methods, it becomes difficult to obtain the target product with the required content of volatile substances. An increase in the duration of the coking process about 3 hours and more in all cases leads to a decrease in the content of volatile substances. The study was suggested petroleum coke can be using instead of fuel oil on industry effectiveness in cost reduction when switched over from fuel oil to petroleum coke. in the last of this work, after all the measurements and characteristic obtained, two types of treatment scheme were proposed for how to refine these types of crude oils, which give petroleum products with a high sulfur content. The research proposed the technological, ecological and economic aspects of petroleum coke as fuel, including high sulfur content, use as energy in the electrical field (electro energy), and as an alternative fuel for cement production and metallurgical manufacture.

Diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) volatizes and cross-contaminates wells in a common 96-well plate zebrafish larvae exposure method

Diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) is an organophosphate (OP) that is commonly used to study the neurotoxic effects of acutely intoxicating OP exposure. In preliminary studies, we discovered abnormal deaths in DMSO-only exposed larvae housed in the same plate as DFP-exposed larvae, and hypothesized that DFP volatilizes and cross-contaminates wells when using a 96-well plate exposure method for exposing zebrafish larvae. Survivability and acetylcholinesterase activity assays confirmed DFP presence in the tissues of zebrafish ostensibly exposed to DMSO only. These findings indicate DFP cross-contamination, which raises concerns for the experimental design of studies evaluating the toxicity of volatile and semi-volatile substances.

Reduced volatility of aerosols from surface emission to the top of planetary boundary layer

Aerosols from surface emission can be transported upwards through convective mixing in the planetary boundary layer (PBL), subsequently interacting with clouds, serving important sources to nucleate droplets or ice particles. However, the evolution of aerosol composition during this vertical transport has yet to be explicitly understood. In this study, simultaneous measurements of detailed aerosol compositions were conducted at both sites of urban Beijing (50 m a.s.l.) and HaiTuo mountain (1344 m a.s.l.) during wintertime, representing the anthropogenically polluted surface environment and the top of PBL respectively. The pollutants from surface emissions were observed to reach the mountain site on daily basis through daytime PBL connective mixing. From surface to the top of PBL, we found efficient transport or formation for lower-volatile species (black carbon, sulphate and low-volatile organic aerosol, OA); however notable reduction of semi-volatile substances, such as the fractions of nitrate and semi-volatile OA reduced by 74 % and 76 % respectively, during the upward transport. This implied the evaporation process may have occurred, in repartitioning the condensed semi-volatile substances to gas-phase, when aerosols were transported and exposed to a cleaner environment. Combining with the oxidation processes, these led to enhanced oxidation state of OA at the top of the PBL compared to surface environment, with an increase of oxygen to carbon atomic ratio by 0.2. Such reduction of aerosol volatility during vertical transport may be important in modifying its viscosity, nucleation activity and atmospheric lifetime.

Thermodynamic and Chemical Analysis of Water-Coal Fuel Ignition and Combustion in Adiabatic Combustion Chamber

The article presents results of improvement of physicochemical model of coal-water fuel ignition and combustion processes, taking into account ash content and release of volatile substances of solid phase. In this case, model of ignition and combustion of two systems of atomized coal-water fuel: drops and pure coal particles is taken as a basis. As a result of the analysis, the influence of ash content of coal-water fuel on output of combustible gases and content of water vapor in furnace atmosphere was established. Based on comparison of the diffusion coefficients of gases and the calculated values of equilibrium constants of reaction in combustion zone, conclusion has been of the leading role of water vapor oxidation of carbon in vortex adiabatic furnace. Performed numerical calculations have shown that combustion process of the above inhomogeneous systems (droplets and particles) in an adiabatic furnace within a short time becomes identical. Concentrations of volatile substances, oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in various sections of the furnace have been established