Biological potential and microencapsulation of Cinnamomum cassia essential oil as an alternative for pest control in stored maize

This study proposes a review of biological potential of cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) essential oil with a focus on microencapsulation as an alternative to control the occurrence of pests in stored maize grains. Due to the demands on corn productivity, there is the need to improve grain storage processes and conditions, since that in this stage there are quantitative and/or qualitative losses, mainly due to the maize weevils (Sitophilus zeamais) and the incidence of mycotoxin-producing fungi (Penicillium crustosum, Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus flavus). The control of these pests is usually carried out with chemical insecticides, which can leave toxic residues in the grain. Therefore, the microencapsulation of essential oils appears as a promising alternative, considering the volatility of aromatic compounds, which are largely responsible for the activity against pests.

Spatial fungal community diversity profiles in pit mud samples from fermentation cellars used to manufacture Chinese Strong-flavour liquor

Background Few studies to date have sought to characterize the spatial profiles of pit mud microbial communities in fermentation cellars from Chinese strong-flavour liquor distilleries. This study was thus designed to evaluate these eukaryotic communities in pit mud samples via a multidimensional DGGE approach and by assessing associated sample physicochemical properties. Results Penicillium fuscoglaucum, Penicillium glandicola, Aotearoamyces nothofagi, Malassezia restricta, Penicillium lanosocoeruleum, Penicillium crustosum, and Aspergillus tonophilus were detected only in pit mud from the upper cellar wall, while Alternaria alstroemeriae, Trichosporon insectorum, Fusarium equiseti, Calonectria pseudoreteaudii, Penicillium clavigerum, Penicillium compactum, Ascochyta phacae, Metarhizium frigidum, Alternaria burnsii, Fusarium nurragi, and Didymella keratinophila were present only in the middle cellar wall layer. Alternaria zantedeschiae and Ilyonectria cyclaminicola were only present in pit mud samples from the lower cellar wall, while Leptobacillium leptobactrum, Calonectria queenslandica, Aspergillus appendiculatus, and Candida pseudolambica were only detected in pit mud from the cellar bottom. Moisture, pH, PO43−, acetic acid, humus, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, acetic acid, butyric acid, and caproic acid levels in these different pit mud positions exhibited a rising incremental pattern from the upper wall layer to the bottom layer, whereas lactic acid levels were significantly lower in the bottom pit mud layer relative to other layers. Conclusions A clear relationship between fungal community structure and physicochemical variables in different spatial pit mud samples, especially moisture, pH, and NH4+-N were identified as the three most significant factors associated with fungal community through a redundancy analysis.

Effect of the Pesticide Endosulfan and Two Different Biostimulants on the Stress Responses of Phaseolus leptostachyus Plants Grown in a Saline Soil

Soil salinity and the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals has significantly reduced the productivity of the ‘Chinampas’ agroecosystem in Mexico City. Crop improvement under these stressful conditions may be achieved by soil bioremediation. In this study, we checked the effects of the organochlorine pesticide endosulfan and bioremediation with Penicillium crustosum or a citric waste on the growth of Phaseolus leptostachyus plants in saline soil from the Chinampas area. Biochemical markers associated with specific stress responses were also determined after one month of growth in the different substrates. Plant growth was stimulated by bioremediation of the soil. Both biostimulants reduced the degree of stress affecting the plants, as shown by the increase in photosynthetic pigments and the reduction of proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), and H2O2 contents, and the activation of antioxidant systems. However, the biostimulants appeared to mitigate oxidative stress through different mechanisms. Endosulfan contamination inhibited seed germination—which was reverted to control values in the presence of the biostimulants—and further decreased plant growth. No clear patterns of variation of biochemical stress markers were observed combining endosulfan and the biostimulants. In any case, bioremediation with P. crustosum and/or citric waste is recommended to improve the germination and growth of P. leptostachyus plants.

Penicillium and Talaromyces species as postharvest pathogens of pear fruit (Pyrus communis L.) in Serbia

Pears are one of the oldest and the third most important fruit species grown in temperate regions. They are consumed because of their nutritional and health benefits, in fresh form or as various processed products. This paper resolves the etiology of the Penicillium-like mold symptoms on pear fruits in Serbia. Samples of pear fruits with blue mold and other Penicillium-like mold symptoms were collected in Serbia from 2016 to 2019, from four storages. The recovered isolates were identified and characterized using polyphasic approach. Morphological and physiological analyses were performed on three media and five temperatures, respectively. Four loci (internal transcribed spacer, beta-tubulin, calmodulin, and DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II second largest subunit) were used for sequencing, genetic identification and phylogenetic analyses. The results of the identification using conventional and molecular methods were in agreement and they revealed that the obtained isolates belong to five species: Penicillium crustosum, P. expansum, P. italicum, Talaromyces minioluteus and T. rugulosus. In a pathogenicity test, P. crustosum, P. expansum, T. minioluteus and T. rugulosus produced decay on artificially inoculated pear fruits, and P. italicum induced tissue-response lesions. The results of this study are the first reports of T. minioluteus and T. rugulosus as postharvest pear pathogens. Also, these are the first world records of T. minioluteus, T. rugulosus and P. italicum on fruits of European pear. Further, this is the first finding of P. crustosum, P. expansum, P. italicum, T. minioluteus and T. rugulosus on pear fruit in Serbia.

Optimization of Mycoremediation Potential of A Fungi: Aspergillus Ochraceus Strain

Mycoremediation is an important process that targets the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons by fungi. Accordingly, colorimetric method was used in the preliminary investigation of petroleum degradation with ten fungal strains as Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium acuminatum, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium equiseti, Fusarium oxysporum, Paecilomyces lilac, Penicillium crustosum, and Penicillium chrysogenum. Petroleum degradation of spore suspension, live biomass (fungal pellet and disc) and cell-free culture supernatant of the potent A. ochraceus strain were determined by gravimetric analysis. It was obtained that the fungal disc (94%) was more successful than the spore suspension (87%) in petroleum degradation under optimized conditions as pH:5.0, 1% of petroleum concentration, %5 (v/v) of inocum concentration, 1 g/100mL of inoculum amount and 7 days of incubation period. The degradation rate constant and half-life period of spore suspension were calculated as 0.291 day− 1 and t1/2 = 0.340 and of fungal disc were 0.401 day− 1 and t1/2 = 0.247. 7.5% and 10% (v/v) concentration of cell-free culture supernatant were achieved more than 80% of petroleum removal. However, the cell-free culture supernatant was not as effective as fungal disc. According to GC/MS analysis, the fungal disc of A. ochraceus strain degraded long chain n-alkanes such as C35 and C36 more effectively than n-alkanes in the range of C22-C34. Drop-collapse and oil-spreading methods showed that A. ochraceus is a good biosurfactant producer. This study clearly pointed out that Aspergillus ochraceus NRRL 3174 strain with high its removal capacity can be used as an effective agent in petroleum bioremediation process.