Effects of genetic modifications to flax (Linum usitatissimum) on arbuscular mycorrhiza and plant performance

Although arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known for their positive effect on flax growth, the impact of genetic manipulation in this crop on arbuscular mycorrhiza and plant performance was assessed for the first time. Five types of transgenic flax that were generated to improve fiber quality and resistance to pathogens, through increased levels of either phenylpropanoids (W92.40), glycosyltransferase (GT4, GT5), or PR2 beta-1,3-glucanase (B14) or produce polyhydroxybutyrate (M50), were used. Introduced genetic modifications did not change the degree of mycorrhizal colonization as compared to parent cultivars Linola and Nike. Arbuscules were well developed in each tested transgenic type (except M50). In two lines (W92.40 and B14), a higher abundance of arbuscules was observed when compared to control, untransformed flax plants. However, in some cases (W92.40, GT4, GT5, and B14 Md), the mycorrhizal dependency for biomass production of transgenic plants was slightly lower when compared to the original cultivars. No significant influence of mycorrhiza on the photosynthetic activity of transformed lines was found, but in most cases P concentration in mycorrhizal plants remained higher than in nonmycorrhizal ones. The transformed flax lines meet the demands for better quality of fiber and higher resistance to pathogens, without significantly influencing the interaction with AMF

Honey’s Yeast—New Source of Valuable Species for Industrial Applications

Honey is a rich source of compounds with biological activity; moreover, it is a valuable source of various microorganisms. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify yeast from a sample of lime honey from Poland as well as to assess its ability to biosynthesize value-added chemicals such as kynurenic acid, erythritol, mannitol, and citric acid on common carbon sources. Fifteen yeast strains belonging to the species Yarrowia lipolytica, Candida magnolia, and Starmerella magnoliae were isolated. In shake-flask screening, the best value-added compound producers were chosen. In the last step, scaling up of the culture in the bioreactor was performed. A newly isolated strain of Y. lipolytica No. 12 produced 3.9 mg/L of kynurenic acid growing on fructose. Strain Y. lipolytica No. 9 synthesized 32.6 g/L of erythritol on technical glycerol with a low concentration of byproducts. Strain Y. lipolytica No. 5 produced 15.1 g/L of mannitol on technical glycerol, and strain No. 3 produced a very high amount of citric acid (76.6 g/L) on technical glycerol. In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge this is the first study to report the use of yeast isolates from honey to produce valuable chemicals. This study proves that natural products such as lime honey can be an excellent source of wild-type yeasts with valuable production properties

Characterization of Carnivorous Plants Sarracenia purpurea L. Transformed with Agrobacterium rhizogenes

People have used carnivorous plants of the genus Sarracenia in folk medicine for centuries due to the biochemical composition of Sarracenia plants, which are rich in numerous bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral and antibacterial properties. The subject of this study was the genetic transformation of Sarracenia purpurea L. with Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains 15834, 9402 and A4 using two different methods: bacterial injection or co-culture of the bacteria with plant explants. This study confirmed the possibility of hairy root induction in S. purpurea using A. rhizogenes strain 15834 and the injection method. Seven lines of transformed plants, exhibiting the integration of the rolB gene, were obtained. The hairy roots formed showed morphological differences in comparison to the roots of unmodified plants. A mathematical model was used to optimize the conditions for the extraction of bioactive compounds. Extracts isolated under optimal conditions from the transformed plants showed biochemical changes, i.e., an increase in the accumulation of total polyphenols (line 7#1 in hairy roots: 71.048 mg GAE g−1 DW; in leaves: 9.662 mg GAE g−1 DW) and triterpenes (line 7#1 in hairy roots: 1.248 mg BA g−1 DW; in leaves: 0.463 mg BA g−1 DW) in comparison to untransformed plants (polyphenols in roots: 7.957 mg GAE g−1 DW and in leaves: 5.091 mg GAE g−1 DW; triterpenes in roots: 0.298 mg BA g−1 DW and in leaves: 0.296 mg BA g−1 DW), especially when induced roots were analyzed. HPLC analysis showed an increase in the level of betulinic acid in some transformed Sarracenia lines. Betulinic acid is a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound with high pharmacological significance

Improved Production of Kynurenic Acid by Yarrowia lipolytica in Media Containing Different Honeys

Y. lipolytica remains a nonpathogenic, unconventional yeast, which can be applied for the production of bioactive compounds. Our previous study confirmed the ability of yeast Yarrowia lipolytica to produce kynurenic acid (KYNA). Here, we investigated the effectiveness of KYNA production in cultures cultivated in medium containing honey of various origin, used as a source of carbon and energy. It was evidenced that the highest content of KYNA in culture broth (68 mg/L) and yeast biomass (542 mg/kg) was obtained when chestnut honey was used. The content of lipids and amino acids composition in yeast biomass producing KYNA was also determined. It was found that the composition of both amino acids and lipids in yeast biomass depended on the honey type used as a component of the medium. This finding revealed that supplementation of medium broth with honey may significantly affect the nutritional value of yeast biomass. The practical applicability of this finding requires further study

Characterization of Carnivorous Plants <i>Sarracenia purpurea</i> L. Transformed with <i>Agrobacterium rhizogenes</i>

People have used carnivorous plants of the genus Sarracenia in folk medicine for centuries due to the biochemical composition of Sarracenia plants, which are rich in numerous bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral and antibacterial properties. The subject of this study was the genetic transformation of Sarracenia purpurea L. with Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains 15834, 9402 and A4 using two different methods: bacterial injection or co-culture of the bacteria with plant explants. This study confirmed the possibility of hairy root induction in S. purpurea using A. rhizogenes strain 15834 and the injection method. Seven lines of transformed plants, exhibiting the integration of the rolB gene, were obtained. The hairy roots formed showed morphological differences in comparison to the roots of unmodified plants. A mathematical model was used to optimize the conditions for the extraction of bioactive compounds. Extracts isolated under optimal conditions from the transformed plants showed biochemical changes, i.e., an increase in the accumulation of total polyphenols (line 7#1 in hairy roots: 71.048 mg GAE g−1 DW; in leaves: 9.662 mg GAE g−1 DW) and triterpenes (line 7#1 in hairy roots: 1.248 mg BA g−1 DW; in leaves: 0.463 mg BA g−1 DW) in comparison to untransformed plants (polyphenols in roots: 7.957 mg GAE g−1 DW and in leaves: 5.091 mg GAE g−1 DW; triterpenes in roots: 0.298 mg BA g−1 DW and in leaves: 0.296 mg BA g−1 DW), especially when induced roots were analyzed. HPLC analysis showed an increase in the level of betulinic acid in some transformed Sarracenia lines. Betulinic acid is a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound with high pharmacological significance