Technologies for the bioconversion of methane into more valuable products

Producción CientíficaMethane, with a global warming potential twenty five times higher than that of CO2 is the second most important greenhouse gas emitted nowadays. Its bioconversion into microbial molecules with a high retail value in the industry offers a potential cost-efficient and environmentally friendly solution for mitigating anthropogenic diluted CH4-laden streams. Methane bio-refinery for the production of different compounds such as ectoine, feed proteins, biofuels, bioplastics and polysaccharides, apart from new bioproducts characteristic of methanotrophic bacteria, has been recently tested in discontinuous and continuous bioreactors with promising results. This review constitutes a critical discussion about the state-of-the-art of the potential and research niches of biotechnologies applied in a CH4 biorefinery approach.2019-12-122019-12-12Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (Proyect CTM2015-70442-R)Junta de Castilla y León (UIC71

Elucidating the multifunctional role of the cell wall components in the maize exploitation

Background Besides the use of maize grain as food and feed, maize stover can be a profitable by-product for cellulosic ethanol production, whereas the whole plant can be used for silage production. However, yield is reduced by pest damages, stem corn borers being one of the most important yield constraints. Overall, cell wall composition is key in determining the quality of maize biomass, as well as pest resistance. This study aims to evaluate the composition of the four cell wall fractions (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and hydroxycinnamates) in diverse maize genotypes and to understand how this composition influences the resistance to pests, ethanol capacity and digestibility. Results The following results can be highlighted: (i) pests’ resistant materials may show cell walls with low p-coumaric acid and low hemicellulose content; (ii) inbred lines showing cell walls with high cellulose content and high diferulate cross-linking may present higher performance for ethanol production; (iii) and inbreds with enhanced digestibility may have cell walls poor in neutral detergent fibre and diferulates, combined with a lignin polymer composition richer in G subunits. Conclusions Results evidence that there is no maize cell wall ideotype among the tested for optimal performance for various uses, and maize plants should be specifically bred for each particular applicationAgencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RTI2018–096776-B-C21Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RTI2018–096776-B-C2

Habitat quality affects the condition of Luciobarbus sclateri in the Guadiamar River (SW Iberian Peninsula): Effects of disturbances by the toxic spill of the Aznalcóllar mine

This study analyzes the somatic condition of southern Iberian barbel Luciobarbus sclateri (Günther, 1868) in the Guadiamar River (SW Iberian Peninsula). This river was seriously affected by a toxic spill of about 4 million cubic meters of acidic water and 2 million cubic meters of mud rich in heavy metals. Once the spill removal works concluded, sites affected and unaffected by the accident were sampled to study its effects on the fish fauna. The ecological variables registered were related to water quality, physical state of reaches, ecological quality, resources exploited by fish, and potential intra-specific interactions. From an initial 15 ecological variables, seasonal water flow and pH explained most of the variation in barbel condition. This study shows that the Guadiamar River, 56 months after the accident, is still undergoing a recovery process where, beyond ecological variables, proximity to the affected area is the most influential factor for fish condition. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V

Método para el enraizamiento de estaquillas semileñosas de chirimoyo (anona cherimola mill.) cv. Fino de jete, micropropagadas por cultivo de tejidos in vitro

Referencia OEPM: P9200401.-- Fecha de solicitud: 24/02/1992.-- Titular: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC).Método para el enraizamiento de estaquillas semileñosas de chirimoyo (Anoda cherimola Mill.) cv. Fino de Jete, micropropagandas por cultivo de tejidos in vitro (ver figura en archivo de texto adjunto). El material utilizado es: Estaquillas de chirimoyo, cv. Fino de Jete, micropropagadas clonalmente in vitro. El método tiene tres fases: Preparación del material y pretratamiento: Medio M-S con carbón activo. Incubación: luz; Inducción de raíces: Medio con auxinas, antioxidantes, bajo en azúcar. Incubación: luz; Brotación-elongación de raíces: Medio bajo en sales y azúcares, con antioxidantes. Incubación: luz. Se aplica para: enraizamiento de estaquillas semileñosas de chirimoyo; obtención de plántulas completas, normales y viables de chirimoyo; propagación vegetativa de clones seleccionados de chirimoyo; resolución del problema de la incapacidad rizogenética consiguiéndose la reproducción vegetativa conforme de clones de chirimoyo.Peer reviewe