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.

Prevalence of fungi associated with storage seeds of different maize varieties

A total of seven species of fungi were isolated from seed samples of maize (Zea mays L.) collected from Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur. Association of fungi with maize seeds was recorded three times viz., within a month after harvest, after three and six months of storage at 25°C and 4°C. The fungal association varied with duration of storage period. Seven fungi viz., Aspergillus flavus Link, A. fumigatus Fresenius, A. niger Van Teighem, Curvularia lunata (Wakker) Boedijn, Fsarium verticillioides, Penicillium italicum and Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb.) Vuill., were isolated from the different maize varieties namely KhaiBhutta, Barnali, Mohor, Bari Misty Bhutta, BHM-3, BHM-5, BM-5, BHM-6, BHM-7, BM-7 and BHM-9. Species of Aspergillus, Penicillium and Rhizopus were predominating fung iwhich increased with the increase of storage period. Bioresearch Commu. 7(2): 1010-1018, 2021 (June)

Significant Differences in Host-Pathogen Interactions Between Murine and Human Whole Blood

Murine infection models are widely used to study systemic candidiasis caused by C. albicans. Whole-blood models can help to elucidate host-pathogens interactions and have been used for several Candida species in human blood. We adapted the human whole-blood model to murine blood. Unlike human blood, murine blood was unable to reduce fungal burden and more substantial filamentation of C. albicans was observed. This coincided with less fungal association with leukocytes, especially neutrophils. The lower neutrophil number in murine blood only partially explains insufficient infection and filamentation control, as spiking with murine neutrophils had only limited effects on fungal killing. Furthermore, increased fungal survival is not mediated by enhanced filamentation, as a filament-deficient mutant was likewise not eliminated. We also observed host-dependent differences for interaction of platelets with C. albicans, showing enhanced platelet aggregation, adhesion and activation in murine blood. For human blood, opsonization was shown to decrease platelet interaction suggesting that complement factors interfere with fungus-to-platelet binding. Our results reveal substantial differences between murine and human whole-blood models infected with C. albicans and thereby demonstrate limitations in the translatability of this ex vivo model between hosts.

Dactylorhizahatagirea: A Critical Issue for Research and Development in Nepal

Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. don), commonly known as ‘Panchaule’ in Nepal, is a terrestrial orchid found in temperate to the alpine region. It is valued for its ornamental and medicinal use. It is collected haphazardly from nature due to high economic demand. However, its propagation is limited in nature due to its non-endospermous seeds requiring mycorhizal fungal association for germination. This limitation is leading to the extinction of this orchid from nature and has been enlisted as an endangered and threatened species. Its collection and trade are restricted but have been prioritized for research, conservation, and agro-technology development. As very few research has been reported in D. hatagirea, found in Nepal, intensive research, propagation, reintroducing, and commercial cultivation will help control the rhizome collection from nature and meet the economic demand. It will help in the identification and conservation of our local germplasm through its diversity study at the molecular and revenue generation through commercial cultivation under artificial conditions. In this review paper, we discuss the limited research and developments conducted in Dactylorhiza at various levels and ways forward for its research, conservation, and utilization. As the plant is valued for its biochemical constituents, modern biotechnological tools such as transcriptomics and metabolomics can be best utilized to explore the opportunities and increase its production and reintroduction through mass propagation for better commercialization and conservation.

SCREENING OF ASPERGILLUS FUNGI FOR EXTRA CELLULAR PROTEASE AND COLLAGENASE PRODUCTION

Protease and collagenase are the most important enzymes used for the processing of meat raw materials. In the meat industry, proteolytic enzymes are used to accelerate the maturation of meat and increase its yield. The use of enzyme preparations in meat processing makes it possible to rationally use meat raw materials, intensify technological processes, improve quality and expand the range of products. Collagenase, unlike protease, acts on those connective proteins of meat raw materials that determine its stiffness, breaking down hard-hydrolyzable and non-digestible collagen. The aim of this study was selection of strains of industrially valuable micromycetes from the collection of micromycetes that have the ability to synthesize extracellular protease and collagenase and create a fungal association. A comparative characterization of 7 strains of micromycetes of the genus Aspergillus and Penicillium - potential producers of protease and collagenase enzymes, was carried out. A. awamori 16 and A. awamori 22 showed the highest clearance zones and was used for further studies. The clearance zones of casein of A. awamori 16 on day 5 were 22.8 mm, and collagen 20.8 mm, while the clearance zones of casein of A. awamori 22 were 20.1 mm, and collagen - 19.1 mm.