Effects of Fusarium verticillioides and Lactobacillus Strains Inoculation on Growth and Antioxidant Enzymes Activity of Zea mays Plants

The current research based on greenhouse experiment evaluates the impact of the Lactobacillus strains (Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paralimentaris, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus pentosus, and Lactobacillus buchneri) previously isolated from maize silage on the Fusarium verticillioides-infected maize plants. The growth parameters as well as catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and peroxidase antioxidant enzymes activity were investigated in one-month old seedlings, after inoculations with Fusarium or co-inoculations with Fusarium and the Lactobacillus strains. Application of Lactobacillus strains in maize seedlings significantly enhanced the plant growth and biomass. The best effect was observed when the L. buchneri was applied. It was revealed that inoculation with Fusarium stimulated antioxidant enzyme activity and co-inoculation with Lactobacillus strains reduced the enzyme activity, compared to Fusarium treatment alone. This is the first report that revealed the bioprotective role of Lactobacillus strains against F. verticillioides

Effects of Bacteriocin-Producing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on Fermentation, Dynamics of Bacterial Community, and Their Functional Shifts of Alfalfa Silage with Different Dry Matters

This study investigated the effects of two bacteriocin-producing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains on fermentation, bacterial communities, and their functions of alfalfa silage with two dry matter (DM) contents of 355 (moderate DM) and 428 (high DM) g/kg fresh weight. Before ensiling, alfalfa was treated with (1) distilled water (control), (2) the commercial strain L. plantarum MTD/1, (3) bacteriocin-producing L. plantarum ATCC14917, and (4) bacteriocin-producing L. plantarum LP1-4, and ensiled for 3 d, 7 d, 14 d, 60 d, and 90 d, respectively. Application of ATCC14917 promoted lactic acid production in the moderate DM silage at the early fermentation stage (3 d). Silages treated with ATCC14917 and LP1-4 showed lower DM losses and non-protein nitrogen concentrations versus the control or MDT/1-treated silage (p < 0.05). During fermentation, a high proportion of Weissella cibaria was observed in the silages with high DM content from 3 to 60 d of ensiling, and the functions of carbohydrate and amino acid metabolisms of silage bacterial community were decreased by ATCC14917 before 60 d of ensiling. In addition, ATCC14917 also inhibited the growth of Aerococcus and Enterobacter in silage. Therefore, the bacteriocin-producing L. plantarum ATCC14917 has a great potential to improve alfalfa silage quality, nutritive value, and safety as well

Effects of inoculating feruloyl esterase-producing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum A1 on ensiling characteristics, in vitro ruminal fermentation and microbiota of alfalfa silage

Abstract Background Ferulic acid esterase (FAE)-secreting Lactiplantibacillus plantarum A1 (Lp A1) is a promising silage inoculant due to the FAE’s ability to alter the plant cell wall structure during ensiling, an action that is expected to improve forage digestibility. However, little is known regarding the impacts of Lp A1 on rumen microbiota. Our research assessed the influences of Lp A1 in comparison to a widely adopted commercial inoculant Lp MTD/1 on alfalfa’s ensilage, in vitro rumen incubation and microbiota. Results Samples of fresh and ensiled alfalfa treated with (either Lp A1 or Lp MTD/1) or without additives (as control; CON) and ensiled for 30, 60 and 90 d were used for fermentation quality, in vitro digestibility and batch culture study. Inoculants treated silage had lower (P < 0.001) pH, acetic acid concentration and dry matter (DM) loss, but higher (P = 0.001) lactic acid concentration than the CON during ensiling. Compared to the CON and Lp MTD/1, silage treated with Lp A1 had lower (P < 0.001) aNDF, ADF, ADL, hemicellulose, and cellulose contents and higher (P < 0.001) free ferulic acid concentration. Compared silage treated with Lp MTD/1, silage treated with Lp A1 had significantly (P < 0.01) improved ruminal gas production and digestibility, which were equivalent to those of fresh alfalfa. Real-time PCR analysis indicated that Lp A1 inoculation improved the relative abundances of rumen’s total bacteria, fungi, Ruminococcus albus and Ruminococcus flavefaciens, while the relative abundance of methanogens was reduced by Lp MTD/1 compared with CON. Principal component analysis of rumen bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons showed a clear distinction between CON and inoculated treatments without noticeable distinction between Lp A1 and Lp MTD/1 treatments. Comparison analysis revealed differences in the relative abundance of some bacteria in different taxa between Lp A1 and Lp MTD/1 treatments. Silage treated with Lp A1 exhibited improved rumen fermentation characteristics due to the inoculant effects on the rumen microbial populations and bacterial community. Conclusions Our findings suggest that silage inoculation of the FAE-producing Lp A1 could be effective in improving silage quality and digestibility, and modulating the rumen fermentation to improve feed utilization

Le site paléolithique de plein air de Mirak, en bordure nord du désert central iranien (Semnan, Iran) : preuves d’occupations humaines successives pendant le Pléistocène supérieur

International audienceThe open-air Paleolithic site of Mirak, northern edge of the Iranian Central Desert (Semnan, Iran): Evidence of repeated human occupations during the late Pleistocene Le site paléolithique de plein air de Mirak, en bordure nord du désert central iranien (Semnan, Iran) : preuves d'occupations humaines successives pendant le Pléistocène supérieu