Effects of zinc and copper on development and survival of the moss Atrichum undulatum in controlled conditions

We studied the effects of zinc and copper on gametophyte development and survival of the moss Atrichum undulatum in axenic and controlled conditions. Various salts of these two essential elements were applied in different ways in order to document effects dependent ion binding of zinc and copper to this moss. It can be concluded that zinc is less toxic than copper in higher concentrations. Survival is better and the recovery rate faster after exposure to zinc. Both metals are more harmful to the moss when applied in an aqueous solution

An eco-physiological and biotechnological approach to conservation of the world-wide rare and endangered aquatic liverwort Riella helicophylla (Bory et Mont.) Mont.

The rare aquatic liverwort Riella helicophylla (Bory et Mont.) Mont., inhabitant of temporary shallow ponds around the Mediterranean basin, is considered threatened throughout its distribution range. In addition, little is known of its biology and ecology or of its role in such an important ecosystem where environmental conditions vary yearly in unpredictable ways. In these variable habitats, due to the seasonal fluctuation of water levels, there is no guarantee of yearly spore input into the spore bank. Spore germination rate and the effects of different culture media in an axenic culture establishment, as well as propagation procedures of R. helicophylla, were tested. New insights into the ecology and biology of R. helicophylla are given. Spore dormancy is documented, and the protocols for the in vitro culture establishment, propagation and acclimatization of this liverwort are developed. Dry storage at 20 ± 2 °C for about three months broke the dormancy of spores, which subsequently germinated in a high percentage (over 90%). A two phase (solid and liquid) culture media system was developed for the purpose of achieving fully developed gametophytes. The liquid phase contained electrolytes simulating brackish water

Antimicrobial activity of Rhodobryum ontariense

The antimicrobial activity of dimethyl sulfoxide extract of moss Rhodobryum ontariense (Kindb.) Kindb. was evaluated by microdilution method against eight bacterial (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Enterobacter cloacae, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus flavus and Staphylococcus aureus) and five fungal species (Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium funiculosum, Penicillium ochrochloron and Trichoderma viride). The extract was proven to be active against all the bacteria and fungi tested but to varying degrees. It showed better inhibitory activity compared to the known antifungal drug against T. viride (MIC 100 and 200 μg/ml, respectively). This finding implies that R. ontariense could be considered as a promising material for natural antifungal products.U in vitro ispitivanju antimikrobne aktivnosti dimetil-sulfoksidnog ekstrakta mahovine Rhodobryum ontariense na osam bakterijskih (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Enterobacter cloacae, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus flavus i Staphylococcus aureus) i pet gljivičnih sojeva (Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium funiculosum, Penicillium ochrochloron i Trichoderma viride) korišćena je modifikovana mikrodiluciona tehnika. Dati ekstrakt u različitoj meri pokazao je aktivnost na sve testirane organizme. Njegova aktivnost na gljivu T. viride bila je jača od aktivnosti koju je pokazao antifungalni lek bifonazol upotrebljen kao pozitivna kontrola (MIK 100 i 200 μg/ml, redom). Ovaj rad ukazuje na činjenicu da R. ontariense predstavlja obećavajući izvor prirodnih proizvoda sa antifungalnom aktivnošću.Projekat ministarstva br. 143015, br. 143031, br. 143049 i br. 17304

Bryophyte extracts suppress growth of the plant pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea

In this study, the extracts of three selected bryophyte species are shown to have inhibitory effects on grey mould disease (Botrytis cinerea). Methanol extracts of one leafy liverwort (Porella platyphylla) and two mosses, one aquatic (Cinclidotus fontinaloides) and one terrestrial (Anomodon viticulosus), were applied in vitro to Botrytis cinerea, after which tests showed suppression of fungal development

Effect of ABA treatment on activities of antioxidative enzymes in selected bryophyte species

The effect of the signal molecule and stress phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) on activities of antioxidant enzymes was tested in three bryophyte species, viz., the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha and the phylogenetically unrelated mosses Physcomitrella patens and Atrichum undulatum. Production of reactive oxygen species increases in plants exposed to both abiotic and biotic stress. Antioxidant enzymes are very effective and usually represent the plant's first line of defence against the cytotoxic effects of these reactive oxygen species. The activities of enzymes of the antioxidative system (POX, CAT, SOD) in the tested bryophyte species are shown to be increased by treatment with lower concentrations of exogenous ABA. Higher concentrations of exogenous ABA did not significantly influence activities of the tested antioxidative enzymes. The obtained results point to possible involvement of ABA as a signal molecule in the first line of defence against stress in all three bryophyte species.Botanica Serbica (2017), 41(1): 11-1

Antimicrobial activity of Rhodobryum ontariense

The antimicrobial activity of dimethyl sulfoxide extract of moss Rhodobryum ontariense (Kindb.) Kindb. was evaluated by microdilution method against eight bacterial (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Enterobacter cloacae, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus flavus and Staphylococcus aureus) and five fungal species (Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium funiculosum, Penicillium ochrochloron and Trichoderma viride). The extract was proven to be active against all the bacteria and fungi tested but to varying degrees. It showed better inhibitory activity compared to the known antifungal drug against T. viride (MIC 100 and 200 μg/ml, respectively). This finding implies that R. ontariense could be considered as a promising material for natural antifungal products.U in vitro ispitivanju antimikrobne aktivnosti dimetil-sulfoksidnog ekstrakta mahovine Rhodobryum ontariense na osam bakterijskih (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Enterobacter cloacae, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus flavus i Staphylococcus aureus) i pet gljivičnih sojeva (Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium funiculosum, Penicillium ochrochloron i Trichoderma viride) korišćena je modifikovana mikrodiluciona tehnika. Dati ekstrakt u različitoj meri pokazao je aktivnost na sve testirane organizme. Njegova aktivnost na gljivu T. viride bila je jača od aktivnosti koju je pokazao antifungalni lek bifonazol upotrebljen kao pozitivna kontrola (MIK 100 i 200 μg/ml, redom). Ovaj rad ukazuje na činjenicu da R. ontariense predstavlja obećavajući izvor prirodnih proizvoda sa antifungalnom aktivnošću.Projekat ministarstva br. 143015, br. 143031, br. 143049 i br. 17304