Microbial identification for an effective biocleaning: the case study of the Santa Lucia alle Malve rupestrian church

Identifying the microbial community that lives on the lithic cultural heritage through phenotypic and genotypic approaches is fundamental for understanding the contribution of colonisers in biodeterioration and selecting the best cleaning solutions with environmentally-friendly products. This was done with the cultivable microbiota present on the internal walls of the Santa Lucia alle Malve (SLM) rock church, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The SLM church is in the Sasso Caveoso area (Matera, South Italy). It is fully excavated in the limestone rock. Numerous frescoes cover the internal surfaces, but the bacterial and fungal colonisation spoils its beauty. The results of this study clearly showed the predominance of bacteria of the phylum Firmicutes and precisely of the genus Bacillus, whose prevalence may be due to the specific environmental conditions, very similar in all sampling sites of the church, and to their ability to produce endospores. These dormant forms allow bacteria to survive in unfavourable conditions. The genotypic approach showed that the various Bacillus species isolated on the surfaces of the experimented church are closely related and similar but show a different phenotypic profile. This diversity of physiological and morphological traits reflects the potential complexity of the metabolomes present in the bacterial communities of the internal walls of the SLM and confirms the need to identify the colonisers correctly and proceed with a non-temporary bio-cleaning. The results of bio-cleaning using Solanum nigrum extracts were effective, but the durability of the treatment has yet to be verified

Microbial identification for an effective biocleaning: the case study of the Santa Lucia alle Malve rupestrian church

Identifying the microbial community that lives on the lithic cultural heritage through phenotypic and genotypic approaches is fundamental for understanding the contribution of colonisers in biodeterioration and selecting the best cleaning solutions with environmentally-friendly products. This was done with the cultivable microbiota present on the internal walls of the Santa Lucia alle Malve (SLM) rock church, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The SLM church is in the Sasso Caveoso area (Matera, South Italy). It is fully excavated in the limestone rock. Numerous frescoes cover the internal surfaces, but the bacterial and fungal colonisation spoils its beauty. The results of this study clearly showed the predominance of bacteria of the phylum Firmicutes and precisely of the genus Bacillus, whose prevalence may be due to the specific environmental conditions, very similar in all sampling sites of the church, and to their ability to produce endospores. These dormant forms allow bacteria to survive in unfavourable conditions. The genotypic approach showed that the various Bacillus species isolated on the surfaces of the experimented church are closely related and similar but show a different phenotypic profile. This diversity of physiological and morphological traits reflects the potential complexity of the metabolomes present in the bacterial communities of the internal walls of the SLM and confirms the need to identify the colonisers correctly and proceed with a non-temporary bio-cleaning. The results of bio-cleaning using Solanum nigrum extracts were effective, but the durability of the treatment has yet to be verified

The communities of ectomycorrhizal fungal species associated with Betula pendula ROTH and Pinus sylvestris L. growing in heavy-metal contaminated soils

Aims Pioneer tree species such as Betula pendula and Pinus sylvestris encroach soils contaminated with heavy metals (HMs). This is facilitated by ectomycorrhizal fungi colonizing tree roots. Thus, we evaluated the ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) communities of B. pendula and P. sylvestris growing in HMcontaminated soils compared to non-contaminated soils. We also studied the effect of HMs and soil properties on EMF communities and soil fungal biomass. Methods Roots of B. pendula and P. sylvestris were collected from three HM-contaminated sites and from two non-contaminated sites located in Poland. EMF species were identified using DNA barcoding. Soil fungal biomass was determined by soil ergosterol. Results B. pendula and P. sylvestris growing in HMcontaminated soils had similar EMF communities, where Scleroderma, Rhizopogon and Russula as well as ectomycorrhizae of the long-distance exploration type dominated. Among all of the examined soil factors studied, toxicity index (TITotal) was the most significant factor shaping the composition of EMF communities. Despite significant differences in the structure of the EMF communities of trees growing in HMcontaminated sites compared to control sites, no differences in overall diversity were observed. Conclusions Only well-adapted EMF species can survive toxic conditions and form ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with encroaching trees facilitating the forest succession on contaminated soils

Inter and Intra Subpopulation Genetic Variability of Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) Assessed by I and II Class Genetic Markers

This article is published as Kamieniarz, Robert, Anna Wolc, Mirosław Lisowski, Mirosława Dabert, Bartosz Grajewski, Ryszard Steppa, and Tomasz Szwaczkowski. "Inter and intra subpopulation genetic variability of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) assessed by I and II class genetic markers." Folia biologica 59, no. 3-4 (2011): 127-133. doi: 10.3409/fb59_3-4.127-133.</p

Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities of native and non-native Pinus and Quercus species in a common garden of 35-year-old trees

Non-native tree species have been widely planted or have become naturalized in most forested landscapes. It is not clear if native trees species collectively differ in ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) diversity and communities from that of non-native tree species. Alternatively, EMF species community similarity may be more determined by host plant phylogeny than by whether the plant is native or non-native. We examined these unknowns by comparing two genera, native and non-native Quercus robur and Quercus rubra and native and non-native Pinus sylvestris and Pinus nigra in a 35-year-old common garden in Poland. Using molecular and morphological approaches, we identified EMF species from ectomycorrhizal root tips and sporocarps collected in the monoculture tree plots. A total of 69 EMF species were found, with 38 species collected only as sporocarps, 18 only as ectomycorrhizas, and 13 both as ectomycorrhizas and sporocarps. The EMF species observed were all native and commonly associated with a Holarctic range in distribution. We found that native Q. robur had ca. 120% higher total EMF species richness than the non-native Q. rubra, while native P. sylvestris had ca. 25% lower total EMF species richness than non-native P. nigra. Thus, across genera, there was no evidence that native species have higher EMF species diversity than exotic species. In addition, we found a higher similarity in EMF communities between the two Pinus species than between the two Quercus species. These results support the naturalization of non-native trees by means of mutualistic associations with cosmopolitan and novel fungi

Resistance tests of interspecific hybrids of the tribe Brassiceae to infection caused by the Leptosphaeria sp. and Alternaria sp.

W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań dotyczące odporności mieszańców międzygatunkowych z plemienia Brassiceae na porażenie powodowane przez patogeny Leptosphaeria sp. oraz Alternaria sp. Przedstawiono problematykę dotyczącą wytwarzania mieszańców międzygatunkowych techniką in vitro. Otrzymano 159 zarodków mieszańców międzygatunkowych, z których 52 genotypy klonowano in vitro i in vivo dla otrzymania roślin w większej wydajności. Poszukiwano genotypów z plemienia Brassiceae odpornych na porażenie powodowane przez Leptosphaeria sp. oraz Alternaria sp. Przebadano 49 obiektów, z których mała część wykazywała podwyższoną odporność na oba patogeny. Wykonano także analizy DNA dziesięciu patogenów użytych do inokulacji. Badano także odporność siewek (indeks porażenia dla 12 obiektów) otrzymanych z mieszańców międzygatunkowych oraz roślin kontrolnych i donorowych rzepaku, na porażenie powodowane przez patogeny z rodzaju Leptosphaeria oraz Alternaria. U wybranych genotypów odnotowano niski indeks porażenia (IP) i te formy przekazano do dalszej hodowli odpornościowej.The paper presents the results of studies on resistance of interspecies hybrids from the Brassiceae caused by Leptosphaeria sp. and Alternaria sp. pathogens. 159 intercross hybrid genomes were obtained, of which 52 genotypes were cloned in vitro and in vivo. The genotypes were searched from the Brassiceae less resistant to infestation by Leptosphaeria sp. and Alternaria sp. 49 oilseed rape lines were tested, of which a small proportion showed increased resistance to both pathogens. DNA analyses of ten pathogens used for inoculation were also performed. The resistance of seedlings (infection index for the 12 objects) obtained from interspecific hybrids and also control and donor plants of oilseed rape were tested for infection caused by pathogens of the genus Leptosphaeria and Alternaria. Selected genotypes with low infection indices were transferred to resistance breeding

Inter and Intra Subpopulation Genetic Variability of Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) Assessed by I and II Class Genetic Markers

This article is published as Kamieniarz, Robert, Anna Wolc, Mirosław Lisowski, Mirosława Dabert, Bartosz Grajewski, Ryszard Steppa, and Tomasz Szwaczkowski. "Inter and intra subpopulation genetic variability of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) assessed by I and II class genetic markers." Folia biologica 59, no. 3-4 (2011): 127-133. doi: 10.3409/fb59_3-4.127-133.</p

Ancient Mitochondrial Genomes Reveal the Absence of Maternal Kinship in the Burials of Çatalhöyük People and Their Genetic Affinities

&Ccedil;atalh&ouml;y&uuml;k is one of the most widely recognized and extensively researched Neolithic settlements. The site has been used to discuss a wide range of aspects associated with the spread of the Neolithic lifestyle and the social organization of Neolithic societies. Here, we address both topics using newly generated mitochondrial genomes, obtained by direct sequencing and capture-based enrichment of genomic libraries, for a group of individuals buried under a cluster of neighboring houses from the classical layer of the site&rsquo;s occupation. Our data suggests a lack of maternal kinship between individuals interred under the floors of &Ccedil;atalh&ouml;y&uuml;k buildings. The findings could potentially be explained either by a high variability of maternal lineages within a larger kin group, or alternatively, an intentional selection of individuals for burial based on factors other than biological kinship. Our population analyses shows that Neolithic Central Anatolian groups, including &Ccedil;atalh&ouml;y&uuml;k, share the closest affinity with the population from the Marmara Region and are, in contrast, set further apart from the Levantine populations. Our findings support the hypothesis about the emergence and the direction of spread of the Neolithic within Anatolian Peninsula and beyond, emphasizing a significant role of Central Anatolia in this process