Potency of Trichoderma aureoviride UPM 09 and Fusarium equiseti UPM 09 in the pretreatment and hydrolysis of lignocelluolosic biomass

Two new strains of fungi, namely, Trichoderma aureoviride UPM 09 and Fusarium equiseti UPM 09 were isolated from elephant dung and identified morphologically and through the use of molecular assay. Their genomic DNA was extracted using Epicenter kit®. PCR amplification of their genomic DNA was successfully conducted with BIOMETRA Tpersonal/Tprofessional Thermocycler  (Germany) using ITS-1 forward primer (5’ TCC GTA GGT GAA CCT GCG G3’) and the ITS-4 reverse primer (5’ GCT GCG TTC TTC TTG ATC GAT GC 3’). The sequences of the fungal strains were deposited in the NCBI (USA) Gen Bank Database and were assigned accession numbers (in parenthesis) and were identified as Trichoderma aureoviride strain UPM 09 (JN811063) and  Fusarium equiseti strain UPM 09 (JN811061). The two fungal strains individually and in consortium were then used for the  pretreatment of rice husk (RH), rubber wood saw dust (RW) and oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) using solid state cultivation (SSC) and submerged cultivation (SMC). The amount of glucose, reducing sugars and protein from the pretreated lignocellulose biomass was determined using glucose analyzer, DNS reagent and Biorad assay, respectively. The result of this study, therefore, shows that native fungi possess potentials for use in the pretreatment of lignocelluloses biomass.Key Words: pretreatment, lignocellulose, biomass, fungi, cultivation, reducing suga

Effect of microorganisms in the bioremediation of spent engine oil and petroleum related environmental pollution

The technological developments currently witnessed in the world regarding the utilization of hydrocarbon related products have increasingly brought about all forms of hydrocarbon related environmental pollution. This current review documents the influence of hydrocarbon utilizing microorganisms in bringing about biodegradation of spent engine oil and other petroleum related environmental pollution.  Hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria and fungi when given optimum environmental  conditions and nutritional requirements have been documented to bring about effective bioremediation of oil polluted environments. This review has compiled the monumental influence of hydrocarbonoclastic microorganisms most especially bacteria and fungi in aiding bioremediation of spent engine oil and other petroleum related environmental pollution. Pseudomonas alcaligenes LR14 (59%), Klebsiella aerogenes CR21 (62%), Klebsiella pneumonia CR23 (58%), Bacillus coagulans CR31 (45%) and Pseudomonas putrefacience CR33 (68%) reportedly exhibited spent engine oil polluted soil degradation rate while Fungi like Aspergillus,  Cephalosporium and Pencillium species were also found to be the potential microorganisms responsible for hydrocarbon bioremediation. This current review, equally documents the environmental and nutritional requirements needed by these hydrocarbon oxidizers to accomplish the desired bioremediation process

Detection of Bacteriological Contaminants in Hand-Pump Fitted Borehole Water from a Residential Suburb in Ringim Local Government, Jigawa State

Water from borehole source can be contaminated due to indiscriminate waste disposal. This pilot study was conducted to assess the bacteriological quality of water from five (5) hand-pump-fitted borehole sources present in Sabon Gari quarters in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State. Presumptive, confirmed and completed tests were employed to determine total and faecal coliforms from the water samples using most probable number (MPN) technique. Bacterial isolates were identified by standard microbiologicalmethods. Results obtained indicate that all the water samples across all the dilution strengths tested recorded substantial growth of total coliforms at 37.3°C while faecal coliforms were observed at 44°C after incubation for 48 h. Using the MPN table, the five water samples assayed recorded 50 MPN/100mL, 14 MPN/100mL, 3 MPN/100mL, 5 MPN/100mL and 1 MPN/100mL. Results were also positive for gas and acid production in all samples collected characteristic of presence of E. coli. The results obtained in this study show bacterial contamination of the water from the boreholes which may constitute a public health risk. It is therefore recommended that the water pumped from these boreholes should be subjected to  adequate treatment to meet World Health Organization (WHO) required  standard for potable water meant for drinking. Keywords: Boreholes, hand pump, most probable number, total coliforms and faecal coliforms

Laboratory based degradation of light crude oil by aquatic phycomycetes

Water samples were collected from Dundaye river (an offshoot of sokoto river Rima) using sterile conical flasks. The samples were immediately transported to the Microbiology Laboratory and introduced into petri dishes containing hemp seeds ( Crotalaria juncea) and allowed to stand on the bench. The hemp seeds served as baits, after five days a whitish cottony growth surrounding the seeds was observed. The growth was subcultured in potato dextrose broth (PDB) and incubated at 37°C for 48 h. In the degradation experiment, a minimal medium containing 0.2% of the crude oil as sole source of carbon was prepared in replicates. The results obtained indicate that phycomycetes have a potential use in bioremediation

Rumen derived anaerobic digestion of water hyacinth (Eicchornia crassipes)

Samples of water hyacinth were obtained from Sidi fish farm located in Sokoto metropolis. The samples were chopped, dried and ground into powder. The ground water hyacinth (25 g) was introduced into Buchner flask which served as digesters. The rumen bacteria used in this experiment was isolated from fresh rumen content. The content was pressed into a sterile container and immediately brought to the Laboratory. Serial dilution was carried out and used to inoculate nutrient agar and chocolate agar. The agar plates were then incubated anaerobically at 37°C for 24 h. The digesters were seeded with rumen bacteria and immersed into water bath operated at 37°C. During the anaerobic digestion, volume of biogas produced was recorded accordingly. This paper, therefore, suggests ways by which water hyacinth can be put into better use through biogas production

Bio-enhanced removal of hydrocarbon contents from spent engine oil contaminated soil using Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus co-culture

The study assessed the removal of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from spent engine oil (SEO) contaminated soil through bioenhancement of bacteria isolated from SEO polluted soil. Sterilized soil was subjected to a three level of SEO contamination before the addition of sterilized biostimulants including powdered cow dung (CD), powdered cocoa pod husk (CPH) and compost (made from fresh CPH and CD). Bacterial inoculum being Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus co-culture (150 mL) was added to the mixture in polyethylene bags. It was a factorial experiment that was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD). The TPH and PAHs were estimated in the first day, fifth week and the tenth week that the room incubation lasted. Results generated from the influence of biostimulants on TPH and PAHs degradation potential of the bacterial co-culture showed that degradation of the hydrocarbon contents was significantly enhanced (p < 0.05). At the tenth week, compost enhanced the most TPH reductions (315 and 380 mg kg–1) compared with other biostimulants on 5% and 15% SEO contamination levels, respectively. Compost equally enhanced the most PAHs reductions (48.8, 39.6 and 94.6 mg kg–1) compared with other biostimulants on 5%, 10% and 15% SEO contamination levels respectively. However, the quantity of SEO contents degraded was significantly higher in the bioaugmented and biostimulated soil samples compared with the control employed. The technology adopted in this study can be effectively employed for the bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon related pollution

From shade to light : fonio, an african orphan crop, towards renewed challenges

The FAO recently estimated that demand for food will increase by 70% by 2050. The challenge will not only be on increasing the food supply but also on improving its nutritional value under an accelerating rate of environmental and social changes. One solution would be the wider use of underutilized crops to diversify alimentation and develop sustainable and low-input agriculture. Are orphan crops commodities for the future, and how can they be promoted. In this regard, fonio (Digitaria exilis Stapf) appears to be a promising crop. It is an indigenous staple cereal from Western Africa playing a crucial role in food security. Additionally, it is a model crop in important up-to-date concepts such as resilience, agroecology, population health, climatic changes, poverty reduction, and women's empowerment. Nevertheless, fonio has received limited attention from mainstream research compared to other dryland cereals, such as pearl millet and sorghum. Increasingly available genomic resources promise to promote advanced breeding strategies in fonio. This paper presents the past, present, and future of fonio research. We argue the need for interdisciplinarity and multistakeholder research approaches for increasing fonio production, conservation, and sustainable uses