β-Glucan synthase induction in mushrooms grown on olive mill wastewaters

Beta-1-3-Glucan synthase activity and its induction by olive mill wastewaters (OMW) was studied in ten fungal strains (Auricularia auricula-judae, Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus eryngii, Stropharia aeruginosa, Agrocybe aegerita, P. pulmonarius, Armillaria mellea, P. ferulae, P. ostreatus, P. nebrodensis). A microtiter-based enzymatic assay on -1-3-glucan synthase activity was carried out on all mycelia growth both on the control medium and on OMW. Among the fungi assayed, L. edodes -1-3-glucan synthase was highly enhanced in OMW. The main components of OMW, i.e. phenols and lipids, were added separately to the control medium, to highlight the mechanism of L. edodes -1-3-glucan synthase induction. A Southern blot analysis and PCR with degenerated primers were carried out to detect the presence of fks1-like genes in these Basidiomycetes. The sequences obtained from the ten Basidiomycota were remarkably similar to fks1 from Filobasidiella neoformans. Spectrofluorimetric and RT-PCR analyses of -1-3-glucan synthase were performed on the mycelia of L. edodes. In this fungus, a strong stimulation of -1-3-glucan synthase mRNA and protein was recorded in the presence of OMW and phenol

Plant Growth-Promoting Microbes from Herbal Vermicompost

Overreliance on chemical pesticides and fertilizers has resulted in problems including safety risks, outbreaks of secondary pests normally held in check by natural enemies, insecticide resistance, environmental contamination, and decrease in biodiversity. The increasing costs and negative effects of pesticides and fertilizers necessitate the idea of biological options of crop protection and production. This includes the use of animal manure, crop residues, microbial inoculum, and composts. They provide natural nutrition, reduce the use of inorganic fertilizers, develop biodiversity, increase soil biological activity, maintain soil physical properties, and improve environmental health

Bioremediation of olive mill pomaces for agricultural purposes

7 pages, 3 figures, 3 tables, 9 references. Trabajo presentado al 9th International Symposium on Environmental Pollution and Its Impact on Life in the Mediterranean Region (Mesaep), celebrado del 4-9, octubre, 1997 en S. Agnello di Sorrento, Italia.Existing laws in Italy propose olive mill pomaces (OMP), produced by the two phase system, as a soil amendant. The direct supply of such a raw material poses sorne problems due to the rainy season and its phytotoxicity. The bioremediation of olive mill pomaces can be an useful and economic technology to overcome those backdowns. Composting has been performed in a forced aerated static pile, mixing OMP with chopped wheat straw. During the process moisture content, pH, EC, organic carbon, nitro gen and phytotoxicity were determined. The thermophilic phase lasted 60 days. The phytotoxicity disappeared at the end of the thermophilic phase. The final product has been examined to determine its physical, chemical and biological characteristics. At the end of the process a C/N = 31 was determined. This high value depends on the presence ofthe grinded stones, hardly to be microbiologically degraded.Peer reviewe

Composting of wastes produced by low water consuming olive mill technology

Olive mill pomace (OMP) produced by low water consuming mill technologies (LWCT) were composted with chopped wheat straw in a forced aerated static pile. During the process temperature, oxygen consumption, moisture content, pH, electrical conductivity, total organic carbon, total extractable carbon, humic and fulvic acids, nitrogen, C/N, phenols, lipids and lignin were determined. Urease and casein-hydrolysing protease activities were also assayed. The humification was assayed following the degree of humification, the humification rate and the humification index which respectively reached the values of 0.12, 89% and 15% during the maturation phase. The analyses of final product revealed the presence of considerable amounts of mineral nutrients and stabilized organic matter and absence of harmful levels of heavy metals. The phytotoxicity disappeared at the end of the thermophilic phase.Peer Reviewe