Ethanol-driven building fungus colonisation: “Whisky Black” in urban built environments

PurposeThe spirits industry is a major economic contributor worldwide, often requiring years of maturation in barrels that is associated with significant release of ethanol into the surrounding environment. This provides carbon nutrition for colonisation of black fungal growths, one type being Baudoinia compniacensis, or Whisky Black. Although growth is localised in production areas, numerous sites exist globally, and this paper's purpose is to investigate the extent and implications of colonisation.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents and discusses the results of a visual survey of the area surrounding a site where whisky is maturing in nearby bonded warehouses. The evaluation considers radial zoning distance from the ethanol source and material substrate types and surface textures. Classical key stages of Building Pathology, namely manifestation, diagnosis, prognosis and therapy, are considered.FindingsKey findings are that the colonisation of the fungus is non-uniform and dependent on the substrate building material. Additionally, rougher-textured building materials displayed heavier levels of fungal manifestation than smooth materials. Aspects such as distance, wind direction and moisture are considered relative to the extent and level of fungal growth.Originality/valueThis investigation provides the first assessment of the extent and nature of the fungal growth in properties built in surrounding areas to bonded warehouses. Such information can facilitate open dialogue between stakeholders that recognise the aspirations of values of corporate social responsibility, whilst balancing the economic importance of distilling with recognition of the fungus's impact on property values and appropriate recurring remedial treatments.

Use of impurities to increase yield of seeds for food purposes

The growth-stimulating activity of the drug "Humir", created on the basis of humates, polyethylene oxides, wastes of yeast production, hydrated fullerenes and other BAS is investigated. The introduction of these components in the technology of crop production requires careful study of the properties of drugs based on them in specific soil and climatic conditions of different zones and on different types of seeds. The use of growth regulators is one of the main elements of modern technology. Changing the hormonal status of plants under the influence of exogenous growth regulators increases the activity of metabolic processes in the plant, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, increases yields and product quality. Growth regulators are very effective not only for field crops but also for other crops. The use of growth regulators is determined by the stage of ontogenesis, environmental conditions and tasks that are solved by phytoregulators (root formation, removal of seeds from dormancy, regulation of vegetative generative organs, regulation of fruit formation and maturation, regulation of plant stability, product quality, etc.). A number of regulators have a complex effect on the plant, stimulating seed germination, disease resistance, increasing yields and quality. The regulatory effect on the plant organism is closely related to the trophic factor (mineral and carbon nutrition), water regime, metabolism of phenolic compounds, natural conditions. It is possible to regulate the transition of a plant or organ to a state of rest, which is important before laying the fruit and seeds for storage. This served as the basis for our research to create a complex drug with growth-promoting effect. The object of research was selected mustard seeds "Talisman".

THE BIOLOGICAL PECULIARITIES OF PRODUCER STRAIN OF MICROBIOPREPARATION 11-1 BACILLUS SP. – THE ANATAGONIST OF SUNFLOWER PHOMA ROT PATHOGEN

We studied the cultural and physiological characteristics of the producer strain 11-1 Bacillus sp. – the antagonist of sunflower Phoma rot pathogen to develop the technological regulations for the production of a microbiological preparation in a «wettable powder» form. We studied the cultural characteristics of the producer strain on three agar media: potato sucrose agar (PSA), Czapek’s agar and Tylon-3; the characteristics varied significantly depending on the nutrient medium. The maximum diameter of colonies on the tenth day of incubation developed on the Tylon-3 medium – 66×99 mm. We established the optimal conditions for the cultivation of the strain on liquid nutrient media: temperature – 30–35 °С, medium pH from 6 to 10. We found that molasses is an optimal source of carbon nutrition, while peptone is the most favorable source of nitrogen nutrition. We established that the Tylon-3 medium is the optimal complex liquid nutrient medium for the cultivation of the bacterial strain 11-1 Bacillus sp.

Nectar bacteria stimulate pollen germination and bursting to enhance their fitness

For many flower visitors, pollen is the primary source of non-carbon nutrition, but pollen has physical defenses that make it difficult for consumers to access nutrients. Nectar-dwelling microbes are nearly ubiquitous among flowers and can reach high densities, despite the fact that floral nectar is nitrogen limited, containing only very low concentrations of non-carbon nutrients. Pollen contains trace micronutrients and high protein content but is protected by a recalcitrant outer shell. Here, we report that a common genus of nectar-dwelling bacteria, Acinetobacter, exploits pollen nutrition by inducing pollen germination and bursting. We use time course germination assays to quantify the effect of Acinetobacter species on pollen germination and pollen bursting. Inoculation with Acinetobacter species resulted in increased germination rates within 15 minutes, and bursting by 45 minutes, as compared to uninoculated pollen. The pollen germination and bursting phenotype is density-dependent, with lower concentrations of A. pollinis SCC477 resulting in a longer lag time before the spike in germination, which is then closely followed by a spike in bursting. Lastly, A. pollinis grows to nearly twice the density with germinable pollen vs ungerminable pollen, indicating that their ability to induce and exploit germination plays an important role in rapid growth. To our knowledge, this is the first direct test of non-plant biological induction of pollen germination, as well as the first evidence of induced germination as a method of nutrient procurement, as the microbes appear to hijack the pollens normally tightly controlled germination mechanisms for their benefit. Our results suggest that further study of microbe-pollen interactions may inform many aspects of pollination ecology, including microbial ecology in flowers, the mechanisms of pollinator nutrient acquisition from pollen, and cues of pollen germination for plant reproduction.

Biological features and conditions of the surface cultivation of a strain-producer of microbiopreparation 11-3 Bacillus sp. – an antagonist of fusarium pathogens infecting oil flax

To develop a technological regimen of production of microbiopreparation in a preparative form ‘wettable powder’ (WP) we studied biological features and conditions of surface cultivation of the strainproducer 11-3 Bacillus sp. – an antagonist of fusariosis pathogen infecting oil flax. Cultural qualities of the strain-producer were studied in three agarized mediums. The optimal conditions for cultivation of the strain-producer on liquid nutrient mediums are estimated: temperature – 30–35 оС, рН – 8–10. As a source of carbon nutrition, glycerin and molasses can be used. Yeastrel and corn-steep concentrate are the optimal sources of nitrogen nutrition; the Tylon’s medium is optimal compound liquid nutrient medium for cultivation of the perspective bacterial strain 11-3 Bacillus sp. Optimal period of the surface cultivation of the bacterial strain 11-3 Bacillus sp. on the liquid nutrient Tylon’s medium was ten days, and a volume of sowing culture to nutrient medium – 2.0%.

Comparative ecological and physiological characteristics of Penicillium chrysogenum Thom 1910 strains found on the territory of Surgut

The paper deals with ecological and physiological properties of four strains of the species Penicillium chrysogenum Thom 1910, taken on the territory of Surgut from soil, water and the surface of synthetic polymers, depending on the source of carbon nutrition and temperature. The author also considers phytotoxic properties of these strains in relation to several test objects. The cultural and morphological characteristics of the strains are similar to each other in places with sucrose, lactose, mannitol, starch and cellulose, and are variable in places with sorbitol and glycerol. The highest average values of the radial growth rate were recorded in places with alcohols sorbitol and glycerine. General cultural and morphological characteristics are typical for strains when cultivated in the same temperature regime; a low temperature of +5C contributes more to the growth of colonies than a high temperature of +37C, the optimal one is +25C; the obtained data confirm that P. chrysogenum belongs to mesophilic (psychrotolerant) species. All strains are toxic to radish seedlings; variably toxic to wheat seedlings, Canada water weed and duckweed and non-toxic to wheat and radish seeds. The obtained results can be used for studying the ecology of P. chrysogenum strains, as well as for identifying this species.

INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE AND CARBON SOURCE ON BIOXIDATION OF PYRITE-ARSENOPYRITE CONCENTRATE

The effect of temperature and sources of carbon nutrition on the composition of microbial communities carrying out the biooxidation of gold-bearing sulfide concentrate and on the efficiency of the biooxidation was investigated. It was shown that the use of additional carbon sources makes it possible to influence the activity of the biooxidation process and the composition of microbial populations.

Morphological-cultural and physiological-biochemical features of isolates of pathogenic bacteria of the Agaricus bisporus

Purpose. The study of the functional features of pathogenic bacteria, which we are isolated from Agaricus bisporus. Methods We used biotechnological research methods. We determined the trophic features of pathogenic bacteria using biochemical methods. This is the development of biotechnology to control their distribution. We determined the oxidase activity of bacteria according to the Kovach method (on a membrane filter that we previously wetted with NN-dimethyl-p-phenylene-diamine sulfate. We determined the catalase activity by adding 10% hydrogen peroxide solution to the culture drop. Results. We determined the sources of carbon nutrition pathogenic bacteria using a test system Isolate 9.4 utilizes sugars such as xylose, dextrose, galactose, which are monosaccharides and melibiosis, L-arabinose, mannose, ONPG (ortho-nitrophenyl-β-galactopyranose), esculin, citrate, m Alonate. Isolate 6.2 showed a positive result for xylose, dextrose during testing. Isolate 6.1 uses the following sugars: dextrose, trehalose, melibiosis, mannose. Isolate 9.5 indicates the presence of ONPG, esculin, citrate and malonate and the absence of catalase. Isolates 11.1 and 9.5 have a positive reaction to oxidase. Isolates 6.2 and 13.2 had a weak reaction. Sources of carbon nutrition revealed sugars of the monosaccharide group (xylose, dextrose, galactose), polysaccharides and amino acids. The reaction to the breakdown of carbohydrates showed that all isolates had an oxidative type of metabolism. Conclusions. We investigated the morphological and cultural features of isolates of pathogenic bacteria of champignon bicuspid isolated from Agaricus bisporus. We studied the physiological and biochemical properties of bacteria and reactions to the breakdown of carbohydrates in a synthetic medium, the oxidase activity of bacteria according to the Kovacs method, and catalase activity. We carried out the identification of the obtained isolates, comparing them with the properties of bacteria of the causative agents of bacteriosis of this fungus, already described in the articles and in the Bergey Bacteria Guide.

Functional features of trophic use of carbon sources by pathogenic champignon bacteria (Agaricus bisporus)

Goal. Purpose. The study of the functional features of pathogenic bacteria, which are isolated from Agaricus bisporus. Methods. The subject of the study is 16 isolates of pathogenic bacteria, which are isolated from Agaricus bisporus. They manifested as primary infections at the stage of active growth of the fungus. They are typically only for mushrooms. We used biotechnological methods. We isolated cultures of microorganisms to identify, sowing was carried out for splitting carbon sources on synthetic nutrient media with the adding of appropriate sugars. Using biochemical me­thods, trophic features of pathogenic bacteria were determined in order to develop biotechnologies for controlling their spread. The oxidase activity of bacteria was determined by the method of Kovach on a membrane filter previously moistened with NN-dimethil-p-pheniline diamine sulfate. Catalase activity was determined by adding to the culture drop a 10% solution of hydrogen peroxide. We used an innovative and universal method for determining the sources of carbon nutrition of microorganisms — КВ009 TM HiCarbo Kit. Results. We have identified the sources of carbon nutrition of pathogenic bacteria using a test system. Isolate 9.4 utilizes sugars such as xylose, dextrose, galactose, melibiose L-arabinose, mannose, ONPG (ortho-nitrophenyl-β-galactopyranose), esculin, citrate, malonate. Isolate 6.2 when tested showed a positive result for xylose, dextrose. Isolate 6.1 uses such sugars: dextrose, trehalose, melibiose, mannose. Isolate 9.5 is indicated by the presence of ONPG, esculin, citrate and malonate and the absence of catalase. Isolates 11.1 and 9.5 have a positive oxidase reaction. Isolates 6.2 and 13.2 had a weak reaction. The reaction to the breakdown of carbohydrates showed that all isolates had an oxidative type of metabolism. Conclusions. The biochemical properties of the reaction to the breakdown of carbohydrates in a synthetic nutrient media, the oxidase activity of bacteria by the Kovac method, the catalase activity and carbon nutrition sources of pathogenic bacteria isolated from the fruit bodies of Agaricus bisporus were studied.