To artificial inoculation of sunflower plants with modern pathotypes of rust for breeding on immunity

Under global warming of the last decade, there is observed an intensive spread of rust in sunflower fields in the Russian Federation, due to the emergence of new races of the pathogen. It is obvious that there is a need to breed sunflower for resistance to new pathotypes and to correct the technique of artificial inoculation of plants in relation to them. Sunflower breeding for rust resistance has not been carried out since the 1980s. Objective of the study is determining the optimal temperature range for artificial inoculation of sunflower leaves with modern pathotypes (300 and 700) of the rust pathogen. The work was performed in the laboratory of immunity of the V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops in 2020–2021 using monopustular isolates of Puccinia helianthi with virulence codes 300 and 700. The germination of mature urediniospores, the duration of the incubation period and the degree of damage to sunflower plants at different temperatures were studied. The incubation period of pathotypes 300 and 700 of P. helianthi at a temperature of 26–28 °C is reduced by 2–3 days, which is essential both for the rapid identification of the racial identity of the pathogen isolates and for shortening the period for assessing sunflower genotypes when breeding for immunity. To speed up this work, the infection of sunflower plants should be carried out in the phase of the first pair of true leaves at a temperature of 22 °C, followed by a 24-hour stay in a humid chamber at 20 °C and a further increase in the growing temperature to 26–28 °C.

Using local micro-biota to extract biodegradable plastics from food waste through a natural fermentation process

The main problems of mankind in recent decades are the accumulation of various industrial, agricultural, and food production wastes. Their ineffective disposal and management practices have a detrimental effect on human health and cause environmental pollution, which requires urgent action. Food waste has become a complex phenomenon lately, attracting the attention of scientists, consumers, and activists. This study aims to apply the biotechnology of converting food waste into crystals of polylactic acid (PLA), a monomer for biodegradable plastic. A food waste sample is taken from the student canteen; wash, to remove impurities and fermentation of carbohydrate waste by autotrophic lactic acid bacteria in a natural process for about seven days in the optimal temperature range. Finally, lactic acid molecules polymerized by condensation reaction to form poly L-lactic acid (PLA) crystals, and then a biodegradable bioplastic.

Flexible use of a dynamic energy landscape buffers a marine predator against extreme climate variability

Animal migrations track predictable seasonal patterns of resource availability and suitable thermal habitat. As climate change alters this ‘energy landscape’, some migratory species may struggle to adapt. We examined how climate variability influences movements, thermal habitat selection and energy intake by juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna ( Thunnus orientalis ) during seasonal foraging migrations in the California Current. We tracked 242 tuna across 15 years (2002–2016) with high-resolution archival tags, estimating their daily energy intake via abdominal warming associated with digestion (the ‘heat increment of feeding’). The poleward extent of foraging migrations was flexible in response to climate variability, allowing tuna to track poleward displacements of thermal habitat where their standard metabolic rates were minimized. During a marine heatwave that saw temperature anomalies of up to +2.5°C in the California Current, spatially explicit energy intake by tuna was approximately 15% lower than average. However, by shifting their mean seasonal migration approximately 900 km poleward, tuna remained in waters within their optimal temperature range and increased their energy intake. Our findings illustrate how tradeoffs between physiology and prey availability structure migration in a highly mobile vertebrate, and suggest that flexible migration strategies can buffer animals against energetic costs associated with climate variability and change.

Thermal-biological aspects of germination of seeds in tropical forest tree species

The present study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the ecological and applied aspects of temperature in the germination of Colubrina glandulosa (Rhamnaceae), Chloroleucon dumosum (Fabaceae), Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Fabaceae), Mimosa bimucronata (Fabaceae) and Sapindus saponaria (Sapindaceae). Then we assessed germination, average germination time, germination uniformity and germination activation energy as a function of temperatures. The experiment was conducted at the Plant Propagation Laboratory, on the Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Campus, at the Federal University of Alagoas, Rio Largo, AL, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized with four replications of 25 seeds per treatment. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and the means were compared using the Tukey test at 5% probability. The isothermal incubation was performed in Biochemical Oxigen Demand (B.O.D.) germination chamber, at constant temperatures of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 ºC and alternating at 20-30 ºC. The seeds of C. glandulosa, C. dumosum, E. contortisiliquum and M. bimucronata germinated in the range of 10 ºC ≤ T ≤ 35 ºC, and S. saponaria germinated in the range of 20 ºC ≤ T ≤ 35 ºC. We found that seeds in the optimal temperature range has unimodal distribution of relative frequency, concentrating germination in the shortest time. The activation energy was positive in the range of 10 ºC ≤ T ≤ 30 ºC, with an inversion of the signal at a temperature of 35 ºC. The studied species had a wide range of temperature tolerance and the speed was curvilinearly dependent on them. The germination process is predominantly endergonic

Using mounting, orientation, and design to improve bat box thermodynamics in a northern temperate environment

Wildlife managers design artificial structures, such as bird houses and bat boxes, to provide alternative nesting and roosting sites that aid wildlife conservation. However, artificial structures for wildlife may not be equally efficient at all sites due to varying climate or habitat characteristics influencing thermal properties. For example, bat boxes are a popular measure employed to provide compensatory or supplementary roost sites for bats and educate the public. Yet, bat boxes are often thermally unstable or too cold to fulfill reproductive females needs in northern temperate environments. To help improve the thermodynamics of bat boxes, we tested the effect of (1) three mountings, (2) four orientations, and (3) twelve bat box designs on the internal temperature of bat boxes. We recorded temperatures in bat boxes across a climate gradient at seven sites in Quebec, Canada. Bat boxes mounted on buildings had warmer microclimates at night than those on poles and those facing east warmed sooner in the morning than those facing west or south. Our best new model based on passive solar architecture (Ncube PH1) increased the time in the optimal temperature range (22–40 °C) of targeted species by up to 13% compared to the most commonly used model (Classic 4-chamber) when mounted on a building with an east orientation (other designs presented in the Supplementary Information). Based on bioenergetic models, we estimated that bats saved up to 8% of their daily energy using the Ncube PH1 compared to the Classic 4-chamber when mounted on a building with an east orientation. We demonstrate that the use of energy-saving concepts from architecture can improve the thermal performance of bat boxes and potentially other wildlife structures as well.

Porungo cheese whey: β-galactosidase production, characterization and lactose hydrolysis

This study evaluated the lactose hydrolysis by immobilized β-galactosidase, which was produced by Kluyveromyces marxianus using porungo cheese whey as substrate. Initially, the yeast was cultivated in porungo cheese medium at 30 °C and 200 rpm, showing a maximal β-galactosidase production of 14.19 U mL-1. The crude extract obtained was used to evaluate the enzymatic hydrolysis in lactose solution. The optimal pH and temperature of the free and immobilized enzyme was investigated, whereas the lactose hydrolysis was carried out using two enzyme solutions (total activities of 2 U and 6 U) for both forms of the biocatalyst. Ca-alginate immobilization of β-galactosidase increased optimal temperature range to 40 °C, compared to the value for the free enzyme, which was 37 °C. The optimal pH was also increased by immobilization to 7.0, from pH 6.5 observed for the free enzyme. The highest lactose hydrolysis conversion was 15.82% using 6 U of free enzyme and 13.77% for 2 U of immobilized enzyme. Although, free enzyme showed higher conversion rates in the initial reaction time, the immobilized enzyme kept operational stability throughout reaction time, suggesting the advantage of using this technology. The use of porungo cheese whey allowed to aggregate value to this agro-industrial by-product, with the concomitant production of β-galactosidase to be used in the food industry chain itself.

Using Thermodynamics to Improve Bat Houses in Cold Climates

Wildlife managers design artificial structures, such as bird and bat houses, to provide alternative habitats that aid wildlife conservation. However, prototypes may not be equally efficient at all sites due to varying climate or habitat characteristics influencing thermal properties. For example, bat houses are a popular measure employed to protect bats and educate citizens, yet bat houses have achieved limited success in cool climates. To address this problem, we tested different orientations and mountings for both traditional and newly designed bat house models based on modern architectural energy saving concepts, by recording temperatures in bat houses across a climate gradient in Quebec, Canada. Bat houses mounted on buildings had warmer conditions at night than those on poles and warmed sooner in the morning when facing east. Our new insulated model with passive heating maximized the time in the extended optimal temperature range (22 − 40 °C) of targeted species by up to 13% compared to the Classic model, providing bats with an estimated average daily energy savings of up to 7.8% when mounted on a building. We conclude that the use of energy-saving concepts from architecture can improve the thermal performance of wildlife structures.

Temperature and Inoculum Origin Influence the Performance of Ex-Situ Biological Hydrogen Methanation

The conversion of H2 into methane can be carried out by microorganisms in a process so-called biomethanation. In ex-situ biomethanation H2 and CO2 gas are exogenous to the system. One of the main limitations of the biomethanation process is the low gas-liquid transfer rate and solubility of H2 which are strongly influenced by the temperature. Hydrogenotrophic methanogens that are responsible for the biomethanation reaction are also very sensitive to temperature variations. The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of temperature on batch biomethanation process in mixed culture. The performances of mesophilic and thermophilic inocula were assessed at 4 temperatures (24, 35, 55 and 65 °C). A negative impact of the low temperature (24 °C) was observed on microbial kinetics. Although methane production rate was higher at 55 and 65 °C (respectively 290 ± 55 and 309 ± 109 mL CH4/L.day for the mesophilic inoculum) than at 24 and 35 °C (respectively 156 ± 41 and 253 ± 51 mL CH4/L.day), the instability of the system substantially increased, likely because of a strong dominance of only Methanothermobacter species. Considering the maximal methane production rates and their stability all along the experiments, an optimal temperature range of 35 °C or 55 °C is recommended to operate ex-situ biomethanation process.

Novel Non-Cerevisiae Saccharomyces Yeast Species Used in Beer and Alcoholic Beverage Fermentations

A great deal of research in the alcoholic beverage industry was done on non-Saccharomyces yeast strains in recent years. The increase in research interest could be attributed to the changing of consumer tastes and the search for new beer sensory experiences, as well as the rise in popularity of mixed-fermentation beers. The search for unique flavors and aromas, such as the higher alcohols and esters, polyfunctional thiols, lactones and furanones, and terpenoids that produce fruity and floral notes led to the use of non-cerevisiae Saccharomyces species in the fermentation process. Additionally, a desire to invoke new technologies and techniques for making alcoholic beverages also led to the use of new and novel yeast species. Among them, one of the most widely used non-cerevisiae strains is S. pastorianus, which was used in the production of lager beer for centuries. The goal of this review is to focus on some of the more distinct species, such as those species of Saccharomyces sensu stricto yeasts: S. kudriavzevii, S. paradoxus, S. mikatae, S. uvarum, and S. bayanus. In addition, this review discusses other Saccharomyces spp. that were used in alcoholic fermentation. Most importantly, the factors professional brewers might consider when selecting a strain of yeast for fermentation, are reviewed herein. The factors include the metabolism and fermentation potential of carbon sources, attenuation, flavor profile of fermented beverage, flocculation, optimal temperature range of fermentation, and commercial availability of each species. While there is a great deal of research regarding the use of some of these species on a laboratory scale wine fermentation, much work remains for their commercial use and efficacy for the production of beer.

Co-overproducing Rubisco and Rubisco activase enhances photosynthesis in the optimal temperature range in rice

Rubisco limits C3 photosynthesis under some conditions and is therefore a potential target for improving photosynthetic efficiency. The overproduction of Rubisco is often accompanied by a decline in Rubisco activation, and the protein ratio of Rubisco activase (RCA) to Rubisco (RCA/Rubisco) greatly decreases in Rubisco-overproducing plants (RBCS-ox). Here, we produced transgenic rice (Oryza sativa) plants co-overproducing both Rubisco and RCA (RBCS-RCA-ox). Rubisco content in RBCS-RCA-ox plants increased by 23%–44%, and RCA/Rubisco levels were similar or higher than those of wild-type plants. However, although the activation state of Rubisco in RBCS-RCA-ox plants was enhanced, the rates of CO2 assimilation at 25°C in RBCS-RCA-ox plants did not differ from that of wild-type plants. Alternatively, at a moderately high temperature (optimal range of 32°C–36°C), the rates of CO2 assimilation in RBCS-ox and RBCS-RCA-ox plants were higher than in wild-type plants under conditions equal to or lower than current atmospheric CO2 levels. The activation state of Rubisco in RBCS-RCA-ox remained higher than that of RBCS-ox plants, and activated Rubisco content in RCA overproducing, RBCS-ox, RBCS-RCA-ox, and wild-type plants was highly correlated with the initial slope of CO2 assimilation against intercellular CO2 pressures (A:Ci) at 36°C. Thus, a simultaneous increase in Rubisco and RCA contents leads to enhanced photosynthesis within the optimal temperature range.