Use of elicitors from macroalgae and microalgae in the management of pests and diseases in agriculture

Feeding a growing population is a big challenge for agriculture, being necessary for new and ecological alternatives to reduce chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Scientists have found that microand macroalgae are essential reservoirs of chemical compounds with a high potential role as biopesticides. Some of these molecules can act as elicitors, activating systemic and local defensive responses even without biotic stress. Among elicitors from macroalgae, there are ulvans, laminarin, alginate, carrageenan, glucuronan, fucans and tannins, which can activate plant defenses against viruses, bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, nematodes, and insects. The induction of defense mechanisms on crops by microalgae is related to their application as biomass, polysaccharides, exopolysaccharide or other elicitors, such as lactic acid or glucosamine. Unlike macroalgae, the biopesticide effect by microalgae has only been described against bacteria, fungi, and oomycetes, being necessary more studies to elucidate and discover their role as elicitors. In general, both macroand microalgae are sources of compounds with great potential as biopesticides following the current needs for the development of sustainable agriculture.Grants for the Recualification of the Spanish University System for 2021–2023, Public University of Navarra; Recualification Modality; Funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Improvement of saffron production using Curtobacterium herbarum as a bioinoculant under greenhouse conditions

[EN] Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) are natural soil bacteria which establish a beneficial relationship with their host. This microbiota community exists in the rhizosphere and inside plant tissues and stimulates plant growth by a variety of direct or indirect mechanisms. These bacterial plant promoters are frequently present in different environments, and are associated with many plant species, both wild and agricultural. Saffron is the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus (L.) and is the most expensive spice in the world. Remarkably, saffron cultivation and collection is carried out by hand and does not involve the use of machines. Additionally, 150 flowers are needed to produce one gram of dried stigmas. Hence, a slight increase in the size of the saffron filaments per plant would result in a significant increase in the production of this spice. In this study, we report the improved production of saffron using Curtobacterium herbarum Cs10, isolated from Crocus seronitus subs clusii, as a bioinoculant. The bacterial strain was selected owing to its multifunctional ability to produce siderophores, solubilize phosphate and to produce plant growth hormones like IAA. Furthermore, the isolate was tested on saffron producing plants under greenhouse conditions. The results indicate that Curtobacterium herbarum Cs10 improves the number of flowers and significantly enhances the length of the saffron filaments and overall saffron production compared to the control treated plants

Control of postharvest diseases in berries through edible coatings and bacterial probiotics

The world’s population is growing, which requires more resources, including food. Some necessary foods, such as berries, are very perishable fresh products that suffer contamination by pathogens, generating great economic losses. Various physical and chemical strategies have been used to mitigate these losses over the years, including the use of pesticides. However, the negative impact on the environment and human health of these chemical products has aroused interest in the development of other control methods. Biocontrol is one of these innovative strategies, in which various biological control agents can be used, including bacteria probiotics. Probiotics act as antagonists of fungal pathogens by competition for space and nutrients, production of secondary metabolites, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), lytic enzymes, and activation of plant defenses. On the other hand, there are materials in which protection against pathogens has been seen, such as edible coatings, since they have components, such as chitosan, with antimicrobial properties. In addition, probiotics can be used in conjunction with other elements such as edible coatings, resulting from a new control strategy against post-harvest diseases. This review compiles studies that use probiotics and/or edible coatings as a method of reducing post-harvest diseases, specifically, in berries.Grants for the Recualification of the Spanish University System for 2021-2023, Public University of Navarra; Recualification Modality; Funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU (J.P. beneficiary). Open access funding provided by Universidad Pública de Navarra.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Valorization of berries’ agro-industrial waste in the development of biodegradable pectin-based films for fresh Salmon (Salmo salar) shelf-life monitoring

The healthy properties of berries are known; however, red fruits are very perishable, generating large losses in production and marketing. Nonetheless, these wastes can be revalued and used. The main objective of this study was the development of biodegradable pectin films with berry agro-industrial waste extracts to monitor salmon shelf-life. The obtained extracts from blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries wastes were evaluated in terms of flavonols, phenols and anthocyanins contents, and antioxidant capacity. Then, pectin films with the extracts of different berries were developed and characterized. The results showed that the blueberry extract film was thicker (0.248 mm), darker (L* = 61.42), and opaquer (17.71%), while the highest density (1.477 g/cm3 )was shown by the raspberry films. The results also showed that blueberries were the best for further application due to their composition in bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity, and color change at different pHs. The salmon samples wrapped in blueberry films showed lower values of pH and deterioration of fish during storage compared to the control and pectin samples. This study contributes to the valorization of berries agro-industrial waste by the development of eco-friendly films that can be used in the future as intelligent food packaging materials contributing to the extension of food shelf-life as a sustainable packaging alternative.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Diseño de contenidos inclusivos y remodelación de una asignatura para una docencia “sin barreras”

Memoria ID2022-208 Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2022-2023

Empleo de Instagram para la enseñanza y aprendizaje de la Microbiología

Memoria ID-0198. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2017-2018

Creación de micro-vídeos para su distribución por redes sociales y una pagina web específica como estrategia de enseñanza y aprendizaje en el ámbito de la Microbiología

Memoria ID-183. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2018-2019

Youtube como herramienta dinamizadora en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje dentro del ámbito de la Microbiología

Memoria ID-0092. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2015-2016

Grabación de vídeo-tutoriales con protocolos básicos de Microbiología y difusión de su contenido a través de Youtube

Memoria ID-0122. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2014-2015