Exploring the untapped potential of naturally occurring antimicrobial compounds: novel advancements in food preservation for enhanced safety and sustainability

Current research trends emphasize the strategic utilization of natural and renewable resources, specifically within food and medicine, focusing on naturally occurring antimicrobial compounds. While growing interest is in extracting secondary metabolites from plants, bacteria, and enzymes, a substantial portion of these naturally derived molecules remains inadequately explored. These antimicrobial agents exhibit heightened safety compared to their synthetic counterparts, posing no health risks to consumers. This presents an opportunity to replace perilous synthetic chemicals within the food sector. Despite the increasing popularity of natural additive sources, there is a potential for adverse effects on product sensory qualities. Therefore, notwithstanding recent advancements, further investigation is imperative to optimize effective quantities for the successful inhibition of pathogenic microorganisms. This article delves into pioneering developments in food preservation, offering contemporary insights into natural preservation solutions, especially for perishable commodities

Phenotypic (assessment of rice Oryza sativa L.) genotypes for genetic variability and varietal diversity under direct seeded condition

 The study on variability and diversity of 32 genotypes of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under direct seeded condition revealed significant variability at 5% level among the genotypes for all the characters. High level of broad sense heritability was observed for days to 50% flowering (0.986) followed by filled grains (0.8216) and 1000-grain weight (0.7306). Expected genetic advance was highest for yield per hectare (39.639) and filled grains per panicle (51.39). Genetic divergence analysis using Mahalanobis’s D2 statistic grouped the genotypes into 7 clusters. Cluster II had maximum number (16) of genotypes. Maximum inter cluster distance was found between cluster IV and VII (984.82). However, intra cluster distance was maximum in cluster III (363.58). Genotypes from diverse clusters viz.NR 89, PAU 3284, ARIZE SWIFT, RY 248, Varadhan, RYC489, MTU 1010 and RYC 674 could be recommend-ed for inclusion in hybridization programme for breeding under aerobic rice condition

Assessment of plant growth-promoting stress-tolerant endophytes screened from Bougainvillea glabra for the growth of Triticum aestivum L. and Zea mays

Globally, more than 5.2 billion hectares of farming fields are damaged through erosion, salinity, and soil deterioration. Salt stress-tolerant bacteria have plant growth-promoting (PGP) characteristics that can be used to overcome environmental stresses. Isolation and screening of salt-tolerant endophytes from Bougainvillea glabra were achieved through surface sterilization of leaves, followed by their cultivation on 0.5% NaCl-supplemented media. The performance of isolates for indole acetic acid (IAA) production, phosphate solubilization, ACC deaminase activity, ammonia production, siderophore production, and stress tolerance was determined. In the present study, 5 morphologically distinct salt-tolerant endophytic bacteria were cultured. Out of 5 isolates, 60% salt-tolerant endophytes showed phosphate solubilization, 100% IAA production, 40% ACC-deaminase activity, 100% siderophore production, 40% ammonia production and 60% HCN production. Dendrogram generated based on stress tolerance showed three clusters: clusters 1 and 2 containing two isolates and cluster 3 containing 1 isolate. Based on the highest PGP activities, BoGl17 and BoGl21 isolates were chosen and further tested for wheat and corn growth promotion. The isolates increased wheat shoot and root dry weight by 40% and 80%, and by 69% and 126% for BoGl17 and BoGl21, respectively. The bacterial isolates identified as Pseudomonas reidholzensis BoGl17 had 95.59% identity with Pseudomonas reidholzensis strain ID3, while the isolate Bacillus aerius BoGl21 had 90.96% identity with Bacillus aerius strain 24K based on phenotypic features and 16S rRNA gene sequencing results. Both isolates significantly improved plant growth as compared to uninoculated plants

Enhancing zinc levels in Solanum lycopersicum L. through biofortification with plant growth-promoting Pseudomonas spp. isolated from cow dung

Zinc is a vital micronutrient for all life forms, and Zn-solubilizing bacteria (ZSB) present in the soil convert in organic zinc into forms available for plants. This study assessed ZSB isolated from cow dung for their plant growth-promoting (PGP) characteristics and potential to enhance tomato plant growth. The experiment assayed a total of 30 bacteria from cow dung for Zn-solubilization using insoluble ZnO and ZnCO 3 . Atomic absorption spectro¬scopy quantitatively evaluated Zn-solubilization, and the isolates were further studied for Zn-solubilization and plant growth in Solanum lycopersicum . The CDS7 and CDS27 isolates were the most significant Zn-solubilizing strains. CDS7 exhibited increased ZnO solubility (32.1 mg/l) compared to CDS21 (23.7 mg/l). PGP trait quantitative results revealed that the CDS7 and CDS21 bacterial strains solubilized insoluble phosphate (287.2 and 217.7 μg/ml, respectively) and produced indole acetic acid (22.1 and 14.8 μg/ml, respectively). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, CDS7 and CDS21 were identified as Pseudomonas kilonensis and Pseudomonas chlororaphis , and 16S rDNA sequences were submitted to the GenBank database. Furthermore, ZSB strains were administered to tomato seeds under a pot study. The treatments with CDS7 inoculant and a consortium of both isolates were reported with maximum plant development (stem length 63.16 and 59.89 cm, respectively) and zinc content (3.13 and 2.36 mg/100 g, respectively) in tomato fruit compared to the control. In conclusion, microorganisms isolated from cow dung with PGP activity can improve Zn bioavailability and plant growth sustainably. They can be used as biofertilizers in agricultural fields to improve plant growth and production

Potential of halotolerant PGPRs in growth and yield augmentation of Triticum aestivum var. HD2687 and Zea mays var. PSCL4642 cultivars under saline conditions

This study aimed to culture and screen salt-tolerant Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) from Bougainvillea glabra rhizosphere to improve wheat HD-2687 and maize PSCL-4642 cultivars under saline conditions up to the seedling stage. Twenty-four rhizobacterial isolates were screened for salt tolerance at different NaCl levels. Indole acetic acid (IAA) production, phosphate solubilization, and siderophore and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production of salinity-tolerant isolates were tested. Positive salt-tolerant PGPRs were further subjected to seedling studies to examine the improvement in the development of experimental crops under 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM NaCl concentrations with/without bacterial inoculant. Of the 24 isolates, BoGl123 was the most promising PGPR, which showed the maximum phosphate solubilization, and IAA, siderophore and HCN production. It was further subjected to seedling studies. In comparison with controls, BoGl123 resulted in a higher radicle length in maize (34 mm, 87.4%) and wheat (26.8 mm, 85.8%) at the 50 mM salinity level. At the 100 mM NaCl level, the radicle length of wheat and maize seedlings was increased by 82.5% and 78.6%, respectively, compared with controls. At different NaCl concentrations, BoGl123 improved the plumule length of seedlings in both crops. The stress tolerance attributes and plant growth promotion (PGP) indicate the potential of Pseudomonas fluorescens BoGl123 to be used as a microbial inoculant in the cultivation of wheat and maize under stressful conditions

Potential of halotolerant PGPRs in growth and yield augmentation of <i>Triticum aestivum</i> var. HD2687 and <i>Zea mays</i> var. PSCL4642 cultivars under saline conditions

This study aimed to culture and screen salt-tolerant Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) from Bougainvillea glabra rhizosphere to improve wheat HD-2687 and maize PSCL-4642 cultivars under saline conditions up to the seedling stage. Twenty-four rhizobacterial isolates were screened for salt tolerance at different NaCl levels. Indole acetic acid (IAA) production, phosphate solubilization, and siderophore and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production of salinity-tolerant isolates were tested. Positive salt-tolerant PGPRs were further subjected to seedling studies to examine the improvement in the development of experimental crops under 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM NaCl concentrations with/without bacterial inoculant. Of the 24 isolates, BoGl123 was the most promising PGPR, which showed the maximum phosphate solubilization, and IAA, siderophore and HCN production. It was further subjected to seedling studies. In comparison with controls, BoGl123 resulted in a higher radicle length in maize (34 mm, 87.4%) and wheat (26.8 mm, 85.8%) at the 50 mM salinity level. At the 100 mM NaCl level, the radicle length of wheat and maize seedlings was increased by 82.5% and 78.6%, respectively, compared with controls. At different NaCl concentrations, BoGl123 improved the plumule length of seedlings in both crops. The stress tolerance attributes and plant growth promotion (PGP) indicate the potential of Pseudomonas fluorescens BoGl123 to be used as a microbial inoculant in the cultivation of wheat and maize under stressful conditions

ECOTERRA - ECOTERRA Journal of Environmental Research and Protection Bioremediation of heavy metals (Zn and Cr) using microbial biosurfactant

Abstract. In the present study ten different strains of bacteria were isolated from the heavy metal contaminated soil and water. The isolated colonies were cultured on Blood-Agar plates and subjected to haemolysis. The strains showing α and β haemolysis were observed positive for biosurfactant production. These strains were characterized biochemically and morphologically. The morphological identification confirms that the isolates were Gram negative Bacilli. Further the production of biosurfactant was confirmed with the help of CTAB method which confirms the production of biosurfactant, rhamnolipid. The purified biosurfactant from isolate vb4 was studied for degradation of heavy metal i.e. Chromium and Zinc. The degradation was analysed on X-Ray fluorescence spectrophotometry. In the sample with Chromium conc. of 10 and 20 ppm, the metal was reduced to the concentration of 4.5 ppm and 9 ppm, respectively. While in the sample with chromium at 80 ppm, the remaining amount of heavy metal was 41 ppm. In case of Zinc, the 40 ppm sample was degradated upto 2 ppm and 80 ppm sample was degradated upto 26 ppm

Enhancing zinc levels in <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L. through biofortification with plant growth-promoting <i>Pseudomonas</i> spp. isolated from cow dung

Zinc is a vital micronutrient for all life forms, and Zn-solubilizing bacteria (ZSB) present in the soil convert inorganic zinc into forms available for plants. This study assessed ZSB isolated from cow dung for their plant growth-promoting (PGP) characteristics and potential to enhance tomato plant growth. The experiment assayed a total of 30 bacteria from cow dung for Zn-solubilization using insoluble ZnO and ZnCO3. Atomic absorption spectroscopy quantitatively evaluated Zn-solubilization, and the isolates were further studied for Zn-solubilization and plant growth in Solanum lycopersicum. The CDS7 and CDS27 isolates were the most significant Zn solubilizing strains. CDS7 exhibited increased ZnO solubility (32.1 mg/l) compared to CDS21 (23.7 mg/l). PGP trait quantitative results revealed that the CDS7 and CDS21 bacterial strains solubilized insoluble phosphate (287.2 and 217.7 μg/ml, respectively) and produced indole acetic acid (22.1 and 14.8 μg/ml, respectively). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, CDS7 and CDS21 were identified as Pseudomonas kilonensis and Pseudomonas chlororaphis, and 16S rDNA sequences were submitted to the GenBank database. Furthermore, ZSB strains were administered to tomato seeds under a pot study. The treatments with CDS7 inoculant and a consortium of both isolates were reported with maximum plant development (stem length 63.16 and 59.89 cm, respectively) and zinc content (3.13 and 2.36 mg/100 g, respectively) in tomato fruit compared to the control. In conclusion, microorganisms isolated from cow dung with PGP activity can improve Zn bioavailability and plant growth sustainably. They can be used as biofertilizers in agricultural fields to improve plant growth and production