Studies on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal association in the plant species of theerthamalai hills, western ghats of dharmapuri district tamilnadu, india

The present study to investigate the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal root colonization and spore population of some medicinal plants species at Theerthamalai hills Western Ghats of Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu. Root and rhizosphere soil samples were collected during the month of August, 2010-March, 2011. From the surface to 20 cm depth as well as pH were also measured. Totally 42 plant species belonging to 24 families recovered Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spore and root colonization. The results of the present study arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spore population in the rhizosphere soil and root colonization of all the plant species. The maximum spore population was found in the rhizosphere soil samples of the plant species Leucas aspera (386/100g of soil) which belongs to the family Lamiaceae and lowest spore population was observed in the Wrightia tinctoria (117/100g of soil) belongs to Apocyanaceae. The maximum AM fungal infection was found in roots of Cassia auriculata (63%) belongs to the family Fabaceae, while the lowest AM fungal association was found in the root of Achyranthes aspera (17%) belongs to the family Amaranthaceae. A total of 24 AM fungal species belonging to 4 genera were recorded from the rhizosphere soil samples of this study region. Among these genus Glomus was dominant had seen in rhizosphere soil samples in all the medicinal plant species.

Endophytic fungal association in roots of exotic medicinal plants cultivated in the Nilgiris, Western Ghats, Peninsular India

Algunos microbios beneficiosos para el suelo ayudan en el establecimiento y crecimiento de plantas medicinales exóticas. Por lo tanto, evaluamos la presencia y el estado de la asociación de endófitos de raíces [hongos micorrízicos arbusculares (AM) y hongos endofíticos septados oscuros (DSE)] en diez especies de plantas medicinales exóticas cultivadas en Nilgiris de los Ghats occidentales. El alcance de las variables endófitas de hongos y las características del pelo de la raíz difirieron significativamente entre las plantas medicinales. Se identificaron seis morfotipos de esporas de hongos AM en las muestras de suelo. Por lo tanto, este estudio indicó la asociación de plantas medicinales exóticas con hongos nativos AM y DSE que podrían explotarse para promover el crecimiento y aumentar la producción de metabolitos secundarios en estas especies de plantas. Some soil beneficial microbes help in the establishment and growth of exotic medicinal plants. Therefore, we evaluated the presence and status of root endophyte [arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi] association in ten exotic medicinal plant species cultivated in the Nilgiris of the Western Ghats. The AM fungi colonized all the examined plant species and eight plants had the co-occurrence of DSE fungi. The extent of fungal endophyte variables and root hair characteristics significantly differed among the medicinal plants. Six AM fungal spore morphotypes were identified in the soil samples. Thus, this study indicated the association of exotic medicinal plants with native AM and DSE fungi which could be exploited to promote growth and increase secondary metabolite production in these plant species.

Molecular Mechanisms and Evolutionary Consequences of Spore Killers in Ascomycetes

In this review, we examine the fungal spore killers. These are meiotic drive elements that cheat during sexual reproduction to increase their transmission into the next generation.

Molecular Analysis of Genes Involved in Chitin Degradation from the Chitinolytic Bacterium Bacillus Velezensis

Bacillus velezensis RB.IBE29 is a potent biocontrol agent with high chitinase activity isolated from the rhizosphere of black pepper cultivated in the Central Highlands, Vietnam. Genome sequences revealed that this species possesses some GH18 chitinases and AA10 protein(s); however, these enzymes have not been experimentally characterized. In this work, three genes were identified from the genomic DNA of this bacterium and cloned in Escherichia coli. Sequence analysis exhibited that the ORF of chiA consists of 1,203 bp and encodes deduced 45.46 kDa-chitinase A of 400 aa. The domain structure of chitinase A is composed of a CBM 50 domain at the N-terminus and a catalytic domain at the C-terminus. The ORF of chiB includes 1,263 bp and encodes deduced 47.59 kDa-chitinase B of 420 aa. Chitinase B consists of two CBM50 domains at the N-terminus and a catalytic domain at the C-terminus. The ORF of lpmo10 is 621 bp and encodes a deduced 22.44 kDa-AA10 protein, BvLPMO10 of 206 aa. BvLPMO10 contains a signal peptide and an AA10 catalytic domain. Chitinases A and B were grouped into subfamily A of family 18 chitinases. Amino acid sequences in their catalytic domains lack aromatic residues (Trp, Phe, Tyr) probably involved in processivity and substrate binding compared with well-known bacterial GH18 chitinases. chiB was successfully expressed in E. coli. Purified rBvChiB degraded insoluble chitin and was responsible for inhibition of fungal spore-germination and egg hatching of plant-parasitic nematode. This is the first report describing the analysis of the chitinase system from B. velezensis.

Post covid-19 fungal infection and its impact on orthodontic practice: A review

As COVID-19 cases are reducing worldwide, the patients recovered from this disease are showing some complications include impact on lungs, kidneys, heart, and cases of a black fungal infection, called mucormycosis. There are a variety of bacterial and fungal co-infections which is associated with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus and other immune impaired condition. The COVID-19 exhibits, a specific pathophysiological feature, which will result in secondary fungal infections. The recent COVID-19 wave showed that many children and young people are testing positive for this disease. There is high chance for some of them can come across an orthodontic clinic. Oral mucormycosis is normally developed from the breathing of spores or through an open contaminated oral wound, affecting mainly immunocompromised patients. Oral mucormycosis is reported in some patient, following tooth extraction. The fungal spore can reach the body when there is a loss of anatomical continuity as can occur after a tooth extraction or in an ulcer. Chance for Post COVID-19 Mucormycosis in orthodontic patients are very rare. However, Orthodontist should take care when doing minor surgical procedure in the patient recovered from severe COVID-19 infection. Orthodontic appliances can increase the number of bacteria and fungus by limiting oral hygiene. Orthodontist should advise patients to the importance of maintaining basic oral hygiene measures, which include simple things like changing the toothbrush once they test negative, oral rinsing and brushing.

ISOLATION, IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIAL ANTAGONISTS OF THE DRAGON FRUIT FUNGAL PATHOGEN Neoscytalidium dimidiatum

Dragon fruit or pitahaya (Hylocereus spp.) are famous for their nutrient-rich favourable taste, which brings high economic value to subtropical and tropical countries. However, dragon fruit cultivation all over the world is threatened by fungal pathogens and among them, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum has recently been shown to be responsible for stem canker and fruit rot which cause big economic losses. In order to find an environmentally friendly way to control this pathogen, five out of sixty-nine bacterial isolates used in a screening test for antifungal activity were selected. All five strains appeared to be aerobic Gram positive spore forming bacteria suggesting that they all belong to the Bacillus genus. Cell-free culture supernatants of these strains were found to strongly inhibit both fungal spore germination and mycelia growth in vitro for at least 5 days. The strain D19 which possessed the highest antagonistic effect was further identified to be Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, a well-known species shown to have antifungal effect against several other pathogenic fungi. Thus, the results of this study opened a new promising perspective to prevent Neoscytalidium dimidiatum infection during cultivation of dragon fruit.

Mucormycosis its Pathogenesis and Treatment

Mucormycosis is an ailment that originates from a saprophyte. Mucorales are a group of a growing number of members who have mucormycosis. The environmental contamination with fungal spore and now in COVID-19 the high use of steroid, which increases the occasion of mucor. It is a worldwide infectious disease as well as there is no vaccine to treat mucormycosis. Therapies for mucormycosis involve a coordinated surgical and medical approach. Antifungal therapy, iron sequestration, and adjunctive therapy are the various therapies to treat mucormycosis that will discuss in the article. Also the pathogenesis, identification of mucormycosis will review here.

Co-invading ectomycorrhizal fungal succession in pine-invaded mountain grasslands

Pines (Pinus spp.) rely on co-introduced ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi to invade native ecosystems in the Southern Hemisphere. Although co-invasive EM fungal communities are expected to be poor in species, long-term successional trajectories and the persistence of dispersal limitations are not well understood. We sampled the roots and surrounding soil of Pinus elliottii and P. taeda trees invading mountain grasslands of Argentina. We also sampled the EM fungal spore bank in grassland soil near (~150 m) and far (~850 m) from original pine plantations. We found an impressive total of 47 different co-invasive EM fungal OTUs. Differential dispersal capacities among EM fungi were detected in the spore bank of grassland soil, but not under mature invading pines. After thirty years of invasion, the age but not the degree of spatial isolation of pine individuals affected the EM fungal composition. We showed that invading pines can host a highly diverse EM fungal community and although dispersal limitations can be important during the colonization of non-invaded sites, they can be overcome in the life-span of pines, allowing EM succession to continue. These results enhance our understanding of the spatial structure and dispersal dynamics of EM fungi during pine invasions.