Biodiversite microfongique du Fagus grandifolia dans une forêt ancienne : bioindicateurs et structure mycosociologique

En Amérique du Nord, l’étude de la biodiversité des micromycètes dans les forêts anciennes représente un potentiel incontournable et largement inexploré. Le présent inventaire nous a permis de mettre en évidence la biodiversité microfongique, les bioindicateurs et la structure mycosociologique associée au hêtre à grandes feuilles (Fagus grandifolia) dans une forêt ancienne de l’est du Canada. La méthodologie utilisée s’appuie sur la stratégie proposée par le All-Taxa Biodiversity Inventory of Fungi (ATBIF). Plusieurs espèces s’avèrent des nouvelles mentions sur un hôte du genre Fagus. C’est le cas pour tous les membres de la sous-famille Phialostromatinae (Deuteromycota, Coelomycetes), soit quatre genres et cinq espèces, dont certaines pourraient être des espèces très rares ou menacées. Quatre associations, chacune étant associée à une partie spécifique de l’arbre, ont été déterminées. De plus, deux autres associations sont caractéristiques d’habitats particuliers dans la forêt. Notre étude supporte l’hypothèse selon laquelle les forets anciennes sont des écosystèmes en homéostasie qui constituent des réservoirs d’espèces microfongiques d’une grande diversité génétique. Outre la valeur intrinsèques de cette diversité exceptionnelle, les micromycètes ont également une valeur pratique potentielle, comme dans le contexte de la lutte biologique

Tehnološki potencijal lekovitog bilja Balkana

Balkan Peninsula abounds with large number of medical herbal species. Throughout traditional usage and modern science presence of significant compounds with high biological activities. Aim of modern science is development of groceries with beneficial effects on human health. Such products reduce risk of development of various diseases allowing the prevention in the same time. Application of medical herbs and their extracts represent a new trend in food industry with high potential for development new technological processes as well as new products. In this study, application of stinging nettle leaves in the formulation of new bakery products was described.Balkansko poluostrvo obiluje značajnim brojem lekovitih biljnih vrsta. Kroz tradicionalnu upotrebu i savremenu nauku dokazano je prisustvo značajnih jedinjenja u lekovitom bilju sa visokom biloškom aktivnošću. Cilj nauke danas je razvoj prehrambenih proizvoda koji pozitivno utiču na zdravlje, daju mogućnost prevencije i istovremeno smanjuju rizik od pojave bolesti. Primena lekovitog bilja i njihovih ekstrakta je nov trend u prehrambenoj industriji koji je stvorio širok tehnološki potencijal za razvoj novih tehnoloških procesa i proizvoda različite namene. U radu je dat primer opravdanosti primene lista koprive u formulaciji funkcionalnih pekarskih proizvoda

Biocontrol and plant-growth-promoting traits of Talaromyces apiculatus and Clonostachys rosea consortium against Ganoderma Basal Stem Rot disease of oil palm

Basal stem rot (BSR) disease caused by Ganoderma boninense basidiomycetous fungus is the most economically important disease in oil palms in South East Asia. Unfortunately, there is no single most effective control measure available. Tremendous efforts have been directed in incorporation of environmentally friendly biocontrol approaches in minimizing BSR disease. This study investigated the performance of two potential biocontrol agents (BCAs), AAT0115 and AAB0114 strains recovered from oil palm on suppression of BSR in planta, and also assessed their plant-growth-promoting (PGP) performance. ITS rRNA-sequence phylogeny discriminated the two ascomycetous Talaromyces apiculatus (Ta) AT0115 and Clonostachys rosea (Cr) AAB0114 biocontrol species with PGP characteristics. In vitro studies have demonstrated both Ta and Cr are capable of reducing linear mycelial growth of G. boninense. Inoculation of individual Cr and Ta-as well as Cr+Ta consortium-induced a significant increment in leaf area and bole girth of oil-palm seedlings five months post-inoculation (MPI) under nursery conditions. At five months post-inoculation, shoot and root biomass, and nutrient contents (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and boron) were significantly higher in Ta-inoculated seedlings compared to control treated with non-Ta-inoculated maize. Chlorophyll and carotenoids contents in rapidly growing oil-palm seedlings challenged with Cr, Ta or a combination of both were not negatively affected. Cr, Ta and Cr+Ta consortium treated seedlings had 4.9-60% BSR disease reduction compared to the untreated control. Co-inoculation of Cr and Ta resulted in increased BSR control efficiencies by 18-26% (compared with Cr only) and 48-55% (compared with Ta only). Collectively, Cr and Ta, either individually or in consortium showed potential as BSR biocontrol agents while also possess PGP traits in oil palm

Willow short-rotation production systems in Canada and Northern United States: A review

Willow short rotation coppice (SRC) systems are becoming an attractive practice because they are a sustainable system fulfilling multiple ecological objectives with significant environmental benefits. A sustainable supply of bioenergy feedstock can be produced by willow on marginal land using well-adapted or tolerant cultivars. Across Canada and northern U.S.A., there are millions of hectares of available degraded land that have the potential for willow SRC biomass production, with a C sequestration potential capable of offsetting appreciable amount of anthropogenic green-house gas emissions. A fundamental question concerning 1 sustainable SRC willow yields was whether long-term soil productivity is maintained within a multi-rotation SRC system, given the rapid growth rate and associated nutrient exports offsite when harvesting the willow biomass after repeated short rotations. Based on early results from the first willow SRC rotation, it was found willow systems are relatively low nutrient-demanding, with minimal nutrient output other than in harvested biomass. The overall aim of this manuscript is to summarize the literature and present findings and data from ongoing research trials across Canada and northern U.S.A. examining willow SRC system establishment and viability. The research areas of interest presented here are the crop production of willow SRC systems, above- and below-ground biomass dynamics and the C budget, comprehensive soil-willow system nutrient budget, and soil nutrient amendments (via fertilization) in willow SRC systems. Areas of existing research gaps were also identified for the Canadian context

Microbiome-Driven Proline Biogenesis in Plants under Stress: Perspectives for Balanced Diet to Minimize Depression Disorders in Humans

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and a major contributor to the overall global burden of mental disorders. An increasing number of studies have revealed that among 20 different amino acids, high proline consumption is a dietary factor with the strongest impact on depression in humans and animals, including insects. Recent studies acknowledged that gut microbiota play a key role in proline-related pathophysiology of depression. In addition, the multi-omics approach has alleged that a high level of metabolite proline is directly linked to depression severity, while variations in levels of circulating proline are dependent on microbiome composition. The gut–brain axis proline analysis is a gut microbiome model of studying depression, highlighting the critical importance of diet, but nothing is known about the role of the plant microbiome–food axis in determining proline concentration in the diet and thus about preventing excessive proline intake through food consumption. In this paper, we discuss the protocooperative potential of a holistic study approach combining the microbiota–gut–brain axis with the microbiota–plant–food–diet axis, as both are involved in proline biogenesis and metabolism and thus on in its effect on mood and cognitive function. In preharvest agriculture, the main scientific focus must be directed towards plant symbiotic endophytes, as scavengers of abiotic stresses in plants and modulators of high proline concentration in crops/legumes/vegetables under climate change. It is also implied that postharvest agriculture—including industrial food processing—may be critical in designing a proline-balanced diet, especially if corroborated with microbiome-based preharvest agriculture, within a circular agrifood system. The microbiome is suggested as a target for selecting beneficial plant endophytes in aiming for a balanced dietary proline content, as it is involved in the physiology and energy metabolism of eukaryotic plant/human/animal/insect hosts, i.e., in core aspects of this amino acid network, while opening new venues for an efficient treatment of depression that can be adapted to vast groups of consumers and patients. In that regard, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and molecular biomarkers combined with rapid and non-destructive imaging technologies were also discussed in the scope of enhancing integrative science outcomes, agricultural efficiencies, and diagnostic medical precisions

Scientific Prospects for Cannabis-Microbiome Research to Ensure Quality and Safety of Products

Cannabis legalization has occurred in several countries worldwide. Along with steadily growing research in Cannabis healthcare science, there is an increasing interest for scientific-based knowledge in plant microbiology and food science, with work connecting the plant microbiome and plant health to product quality across the value chain of cannabis. This review paper provides an overview of the state of knowledge and challenges in Cannabis science, and thereby identifies critical risk management and safety issues in order to capitalize on innovations while ensuring product quality control. It highlights scientific gap areas to steer future research, with an emphasis on plant-microbiome sciences committed to using cutting-edge technologies for more efficient Cannabis production and high-quality products intended for recreational, pharmaceutical, and medicinal use

Seed endosymbiosis: a vital relationship in providing prenatal care to plants

Global food security is a challenge, especially under changing climatic conditions. Recent advances in plant technology using plant-microbiome interactions promise an increased crop production. Indeed, all healthy plants or crop genotypes carry a beneficial microbiome, encompassing root- and seed-associated endosymbionts, providing mycotrophy and mycovitality to plants, respectively. Recent studies have found that mycovitality, or the endosymbiotic seed-fungus relationship and its key translational functions, bear tangible biotechnological benefits. Thus, this paper underlines the role of endophytes as early plant growth promoters under stressful environments. Notably, it explores the concept of plant prenatal care towards enhanced seed vigor/germination and resilience, which results in an improved crop yield under stressful conditions. It presents an extensive research overview of endosymbiotic plant-fungi relationships with special focus on the wheat seed, an important source of staple food. Historical advances in terminology and scientific concepts on the subject are also presented to highlight the areas where further research is urgently needed.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Biodegradation and biodetoxification of Fusarium mycotoxins by Sphaerodes mycoparasitica

Abstract A fungus Sphaerodes mycoparasitica SMCD 2220-01 is a host specific mycoparasite against plant pathogenic Fusarium species. Fusarium spp. are producing a plethora of mycotoxins including zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON) and its acetylated derivatives, 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-ADON) and 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15-ADON). The SMCD 2220-01 strain substantially reduced DON, 3-ADON, 15-ADON, and ZEN production capacity in co-culture system. Degradation and detoxification of the pure mycotoxins were also achieved when exposed to SMCD 2220-01 in shake flasks. The thin layer chromatography (TLC) combined with high performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI–HRMS) revealed that the amount of mycotoxins exposed to SMCD 2220-01 was considerably reduced compared to control. ZEN level was decreased by 97%, while zearalenone sulfate ([M−H+SO3]− at m/z 397.1052 C18H21O8S1) was detected as a metabolite of ZEN converted to less toxic molecule by the mycoparasite. Further, the mycoparasite appeared to degrade DON, 3-ADON, and 15-ADON by 89, 58, and 72%, respectively. The deoxynivalenol sulfate ([M−COCH3+SO3−CH2O]− at m/z 345.2300 C14H17O8S1) was detected as a less toxic metabolic product of DON and 3-ADON. These findings report the SMCD 2220-01 effectiveness to lower mycotoxins-producing capacities of Fusarium, degrade pure mycotoxins and transform them to less toxic metabolites, opening new opportunities for research and innovation for detoxification of mycotoxins