A window into fungal endophytism in Salicornia europaea: deciphering fungal characteristics as plant growth promoting agents

Aim Plant-endophytic associations exist only when equilibrium is maintained between both partners. This study analyses the properties of endophytic fungi inhabiting a halophyte growing in high soil salinity and tests whether these fungi are beneficial or detrimental when non-host plants are inoculated. Method Fungi were isolated from Salicornia europaea collected from two sites differing in salinization history (anthropogenic and naturally saline) and analyzed for plant growth promoting abilities and non-host plant interactions. Results Most isolated fungi belonged to Ascomycota (96%) including dematiaceous fungi and commonly known plant pathogens and saprobes. The strains were metabolically active for siderophores, polyamines and indole-3-acetic acid (mainly Aureobasidium sp.) with very low activity for phosphatases. Many showed proteolytic, lipolytic, chitinolytic, cellulolytic and amylolytic activities but low pectolytic activity. Different activities between similar fungal species found in both sites were particularly seen for Epiccocum sp., Arthrinium sp. and Trichoderma sp. Inoculating the non-host Lolium perenne with selected fungi increased plant growth, mainly in the symbiont (Epichloë)-free variety. Arthrinium gamsii CR1-9 and Stereum gausapatum ISK3-11 were most effective for plant growth promotion. Conclusions This research suggests that host lifestyle and soil characteristics have a strong effect on endophytic fungi, and environmental stress could disturb the plant-fungi relations. In favourable conditions, these fungi may be effective in facilitating crop production in non-cultivable saline lands

ICAR: endoscopic skull‐base surgery

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The promotive effect of N2 fixers, Bacillus circulans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the viability of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the impact on the productivity of alfalfa (Medicago sativa l.)

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of inoculation with symbiotic (Rhizobium meloti), Asymbiotic (Azospirillium lipoferum), K- solubilizers (B. circulans) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (as plant growth promoters) on the viability of native mycorrhizal spores (endogenous) and the increase of its propagula and the impact on growth and productivity of Alfa-Alfa .This study was carried out in field experiment during winter season (2011/2012) at an experimental farm of Giza Research Station, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Giza, Egypt. These strains were capable of producing hormone like substances and exo- polysaccharides in variable quantities besides the ability of nitrogen fixation by R. meloti and A. lipoferum in their specific media. The obtained results revealed that the populations of Azospirillum spp., B. circulans and S. cerevisiae in the rhizospheric area were higher with the treatment mixture compared to control. The inoculation with these microorganisms led to the increase of native mycorrhizal colonization (%) in rhizospheric area and abundance of mycorrhizal spores in soil in addition the number of nodules in Alfalfa roots. The mixture treatments was still the superior one where it gave the highest enzymes activity represented in Dehydrogenase (μg TPF/g dry soil/day), nitrogenase (μmole C2H4/g rhizosphere/h) and acid and alkaline phosphatase (μg/g dry soil). This treatments also indicated the highest values of carbohydrates crude protein and NPK (%) therefore, this treatment recorded the highest dry highest dry weight (ton/fed) as yield parameter during the first and second cuts, respectively. Its values are: 1.35 and 2.55 (ton/fed), respectively, more than the control and other treatments. It was concluded that the inoculation with these beneficial microorganisms enhanced and promoted the other native microorganisms to exist and colonize the rhizospheric area of plants and hence the increase of soil fertility and plant productivity

Bionomics of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the province of Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia

The bionomics of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) were studied for two successive years (January 1996-December 1997) at 12 collecting stations representing six sectors of the province of Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia. The predominant species was Phlebotomus bergeroti (41.7%), followed by lesser numbers of Phlebotomus sergenti (11%), Phlebotomus arabicus (10.6%), Sergentomyia tiberiadis (10.5%), Phlebotomus papatasi (10.2%), Sergentomyia antennata (9.6%), Phlebotomus alexandri (3%), Phlebotomus orientalis (2.3%) and Sergentomyia clydei (1.1%). The distribution of the collected species including species that are elsewhere known to act as vectors of human cutaneous leishmaniasis were distributed across different altitudes in Al-Baha. P. bergeroti, P. papatasi and P. arabicus were more abundant indoors; however, P. sergenti was more abundant outdoors. Sand fly populations exhibited three patterns of seasonal abundance in terms of their monthly activity. P. bergeroti, P. sergenti and P. arabicus were found to be naturally infected with Leishmania-like flagellates at an infection rate of 0.2%