Efficacy of Purpureocillium lilacinum AUMC 10149 as biocontrol agent against root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita infecting tomato plant

Root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita is among the biotic factors which has greatly affected both the yield and the quality of the tomato crop. The egg parasitic nematode, Purpureocillium lilacinum (Pl) is considered as one of the most promising agents in controlling and overcoming this plant pathogen. The nematicidal effect of the native isolate Pl AUMC 10149 on second stage juvenile’s survival and egg hatching of M. incognita at different times of exposure was tested in vitro. The obtained data showed that Pl gave a maximum percentage of J2 mortality (97.6%) and egg hatching inhibition (79.8%) after 72 hours of exposure. The potentiality of Pl as well as Bio-Nematon to control M. incognita infecting tomato was conducted using different times of application in vivo. Nine treatments with five replicates were used for such bioagents compared with the nematicide Oxamyl. Each seedling was inoculated with 1000 J2s of nematode/pot and 10 mL of Pl (1x1010 CFU/mL) or Bio-Nematon spore suspension (1x108 CFU/mL) 10mL/pot. The results indicated that the most effective treatments in reducing nematode population, number of galls and egg masses of M. incognita in plant roots was performed with treatment by Pl pre-planting and post-infection with Pl (Rf 1.9) giving a significant enhancement in plant length (64.9%), fresh weight (72.52%) and shoot dry weight (163.41%) without negatively impacting environment. Therefore, the present study confirmed that using P. lilacinum AUMC 10149 can be used as a practical supplement to environmentally friendly disease management of root-knot nematodes in Egypt.

Development of a saprophytic fungal inoculum for the biodegradation of sub-bituminous coal

The rhizospheres of the weeds Ageratum conyzoides, Axonopus compressus, Emilia coccinea, Synedrella nodiflora, Urena lobata and Sida acuta from a sub-bituminous coal mining site and a control site, without coal discards, were screened for new fungi with ability to degrade sub-bituminous coal in the laboratory. The isolates were identified by cultural and molecular methods. Seventeen out of the sixty-one fungal isolates tested could utilize sub-bituminous coal as an energy source. Upon further evaluation, only seven of these were promising candidates for coal biodegradation, and they were assayed for their biosolubilization and depolymerization activities to determine their mechanisms of coal biodegradation. Based on the accumulation of humic acid (HA), which is the marker for biosolubilization, Mucor circinelloides and Aspergillus tubingensis were the most active. On the other hand, Cunninghamella bertholletiae, Simplicillium subtropicum, Penicillium daleae and Trichoderma koningiopsis were the highest producers of fulvic acid (FA), the indicator of depolymerization. Purpureocillium lilacinum produced the lowest yields of both HA and FA compared to the other six coal-degrading candidates. The presence of laccase in Trichoderma koningiopsis, Penicillium daleae and Simplicillium subtropicum suggests a role for this enzyme in the enhancement of the coal biodegradation process. However, the inability to amplify the laccase gene in Cunninghamella bertholletiae indicates that another enzyme probably aids its coal bioconversion. The current investigation highlights the potentials of these strains in harnessing biotechnological processes of sub-bituminous coal conversion into value-added products, which could be extended to the bioremediation of coal-polluted soils. The fungi with the highest coal bioconversion capabilities belonged to Ascomycota and Zygomycota and were found in the rhizospheres of the weeds Emilia coccinea, Ageratum conyzoides and Axonopus compressus.

Secondary Metabolites of Purpureocilliumlilacinum

Fungi can synthesize a wealth of secondary metabolites, which are widely used in the exploration of lead compounds of pharmaceutical or agricultural importance. Beauveria, Metarhizium, and Cordyceps are the most extensively studied fungi in which a large number of biologically active metabolites have been identified. However, relatively little attention has been paid to Purpureocillium lilacinum. P. lilacinum are soil-habituated fungi that are widely distributed in nature and are very important biocontrol fungi in agriculture, providing good biological control of plant parasitic nematodes and having a significant effect on Aphidoidea, Tetranychus cinnbarinus, and Aleyrodidae. At the same time, it produces secondary metabolites with various biological activities such as anticancer, antimicrobial, and insecticidal. This review attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of the secondary metabolites of P. lilacinum, with emphasis on the chemical diversity and biological activity of these secondary metabolites and the biosynthetic pathways, and gives new insight into the secondary metabolites of medical and entomogenous fungi, which is expected to provide a reference for the development of medicine and agrochemicals in the future.

In Vitro Pancreatic Lipase Inhibition by Marine Fungi Purpureocillium lilacinum Associated with Stylissa sp. Sponge as Anti-obesity Agent

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of marine fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum isolated from an Indonesian marine sponge Stylissa sp. as an anti-obesity agent through pancreatic lipase inhibition assay. The fungus was identified as P. lilacinum through morphological and molecular characteristics. The fungal extract’s inhibition activity and kinetics were evaluated using spectrophotometry and Lineweaver-Burk plots. Ethyl acetate and butanol were used for extraction. Both extracts showed pancreatic lipase inhibition in a concentration-dependent manner. Both crude extracts were then fractionated once. All fractionated extracts showed inhibitory activity above 50%, with the highest activity found in fraction 5 of ethyl acetate at 93.41% inhibition. The best fractionated extract had an IC50value of 220.60 µg.mL-1. The most active fraction of P. lilacinum had a competitive-type inhibitor behavior as shown by the value of Vmax not significantly changing from 388.80 to 382.62 mM pNP.min-1, and the Michaelis-Menten constant (KM) increased from 2.02 to 5.47 mM in the presence of 500 µg.mL-1 fractionated extract. Metabolite identification with LC-MS/MS QTOF suggested that galangin, kaempferol, and quercetin were responsible for the observed lipase inhibition.

Differential Responses of Ceratitis Capitata to Infection by the Entomopathogenic Fungus Purpureocillium Lilacinum.

Ceratitis capitata (medfly), is one of the most injurious pests of fruits with quarantine importance because of its extremely wide host range. The use of entomopathogenic fungi constitutes a promising approach for potential applications in integrated pest management. Nonetheless, developing methods of insect control can also involve the use of fungal machinery to produce metabolic disturbance that can increase its effectiveness by producing a detrimental effect on insect development. Insect species, such as Ceratitis capitata, depend on reproduction potential, nutrient reserves, metabolic activities and immune response for their survival. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to use the entomopathogenic fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum to investigate, its sublethal effects on Ceratitis capitata. Laboratory bioassays were conducted on medfly V8 strain. The bioassays were monitored to determine the virulence of P. lilacinum on the fruit fly. P. lilacinum was tested against 5 days-old males and females, through abdominal topical applications. Following the fungal inoculation, we showed (i) a significant increase of sugar amount in tissues, (ii) a significant decrease in carbohydrase activities, digestive glycosyl hydrolase and proteinase activities in whole midguts of treated flies, (iii) an over-expression of Takeout and Attacin-A genes induced by infection. Moreover, the up-regulations observed for relish, cecropin 1, ceratotox-A and defensin genes are due to physiological mechanisms occurring during infection.

Producción de plántulas de chile habanero con fertilización orgánica y biológica

En los sistemas de cultivo se busca sustituir la fertilización química; por esto, se propone la alternativa de combinar a la composta con los fertilizantes orgánicos líquidos y biofertilizantes, para la obtención de plántulas de chile habanero de calidad. El objetivo de la investigación fue evaluar dos fertilizantes orgánicos líquidos en combinación con Purpureocillium lilacinum y Beauveria brongniartii en el crecimiento, concentración nutrimental y calidad de plántulas de chile habanero sobre el sustrato peat moss/composta, con el fin de sustituir la fertilización química. Se utilizó un diseño experimental completamente al azar con arreglo bifactorial, los factores fueron los fertilizantes orgánicos líquidos (lixiviado de vermicomposta y el producto comercial Pez Terra®, que sediluyeron en agua en una relación 1:200), y los biofertilizantes (B. brongniartii y P. lilacinum), también se evaluó un testigo (solución nutritiva de Steiner al 25%). Se encontró que las plántulas que se trataron con el producto comercial incrementaron su crecimiento, unidades SPAD, concentración de N, P y K, y la calidad; con la inoculación de P. lilacinum aumentó la altura de plántula, diámetro de tallo, área foliar, concentración de N e índice de esbeltez, con respecto a B. brongniartii. La interacción del fertilizante comercial y P. lilacinum, más el uso del sustrato peat moss/composta 1:1 (v/v), incrementaron la altura de plántula en 10%, área foliar en 35%, concentración de N en 57% y P en 35%, e índice de esbeltez en 8% en comparación con las plántulas que se produjeron con la solución nutritiva de Steiner al 25% y peat moss, por lo que esta combinación se consideró viable para la producción de plántulas de chile habanero y sustituir la fertilización química.

Biotransformation of Chromium (VI) via a Reductant Activity from the Fungal Strain Purpureocillium lilacinum

Industrial effluents from chromium-based products lead to chromium pollution in the environment. Several technologies have been employed for the removal of chromium (Cr) from the environment, including adsorption, ion-exchange, bioremediation, etc. In this study, we isolated a Cr (VI)-resistant fungus, Purpureocillium lilacinum, from contaminated soil, which could reduce chromium. We also characterized a reductant activity of dichromate found in the cellular fraction of the fungus: optimal pH and temperature, effect of enzymatic inhibitors and enhancers, metal ions, use of electron donors, and initial Cr (VI) and protein concentration. This study also shows possible mechanisms that could be involved in the elimination of this metal. We observed an increase in the reduction of Cr (VI) activity in the presence of NADH followed by that of formate and acetate, as electron donor. This reduction was highly inhibited by EDTA followed by NaN3 and KCN, and this activity showed the highest activity at an optimal pH of 7.0 at 37 °C with a protein concentration of 3.62 µg/mL.

Evaluation of the Fertilizing and Nematicidal Effects of Lixiviate from Banana Rachis and Purpureocillium lilacinum for a Reduction of Fallow Frequency in Dessert Banana Monoculture

The practice of fallowing for one year represents a viable alternative to chemical control of Radopholus similis and Pratylenchus coffeae in dessert banana monoculture. Although necessary, fallowing has an economic disadvantage for farmers. The objective of this work is to evaluate the nematicidal and fertilizing effects of lixiviate from banana rachis and Purpureocillium lilacinum in order to reduce the frequency of fallowing. In this study, we performed a chemical analysis of the lixiviate and then compared the two types (plantain lixiviate and dessert lixiviate) at 25% concentration, Bioact (Purpureocillium lilacinum) at 106 spores/ml) and two mixed treatments (plantain lixiviate + Bioact and dessert lixiviate + Bioact) to an untreated control and a reference nematicide, fluopyram at 10% (Verango) during three cycles of cultivation of the dessert banana seedling Grande naine. At the end of each crop cycle, the evolution of the nematode population and the yield of banana plants were evaluated. Chemical analysis revealed a high potassium content in both products and a more remarkable amount of nitrogen in the plantain lixiviate. The results showed that Bioact did not show antagonistic effect against nematodes and impact on production. On the other hand, despite less nematicidal activity, the lixiviate significantly increased the yield compared to the chemical nematicide treatment. Therefore, only in the plots treated with lixiviate, it was possible to carry out several successive crop cycles. This result was more marked with the plantain lixiviate. The results presented in this work are encouraging for the development of biological control methods of banana nematodes by lixiviate.

PENGARUH MEDIA LIMBAH PERTANIAN PADAT TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN JAMUR Purpureocillium lilacinum (Syn. Paecilomyces lilacinus)

Pengaruh Media Limbah Pertanian Padat terhadap Pertumbuhan Jamur Purpureocillium lilacinum (Syn. Paecilomyces lilacinus). Jamur P. lilacinum (Syn. P. lilacinus) adalah jamur parasit telur nematoda puru akar (Meloidogyne spp.). Selain sebagai musuh alami nematoda, jamur P. lilacinum (Syn. P. lilacinus) juga berperan sebagai dekomposer bahan organik. Limbah pertanian banyak yang digunakan untuk menumbuhkan jamur, sehingga berpotensi digunakan sebagai bahan pembawa pembuatan bionematisida berbahan aktif jamur. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mempelajari pertumbuhan jamur P. lilacinum (Syn. P. lilacinus) pada limbah pertanian padat kulit ubi ubikayu, bonggol pisang, beras dan campurannya. Rancangan Acak Kelompok (RAK) dengan 5 ulangan diterapkan dalam percobaan menggunakan jamur isolat dengan kode B4100. Data dianalisis ragam dan dilanjutkan dengan pemisahan nilai tengah menggunakan uji BNT pada taraf nyata 5%. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa isolat P. lilacinum (Syn. P. lilacinus) tumbuh pada media limbah pertanian padat yang derajat keasamannya dimodifikasi dan nutrisinya ditambah. Pertumbuhan jamur yang paling baik dengan produksi spora yang paling tinggi terjadi pada media beras