Ligninolytic ability and potential biotechnology applications of the South American FungusPleurotus laciniatocrenatus

Salicylic acid induced by Bacillus megaterium causing systemic resistance against collar rot in Capsicum chinense

KEY MESSAGE

Our findings suggest that the phytohormone salicylic acid, stimulated by Bacillus megaterium JPR68, plays a role in mitigating collar rot disease of Bhut Jolokia (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) Salicylic acid (SA) is a phytohormone that stimulates the plants immune response against various diseases. However, its function as a signaling molecule, particularly in relation to systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and induced systemic resistance (ISR), is still unclear. In this study, Bacillus megaterium JPR68 (BmJPR68) enhances the ISR of Capsicum chinense Jacq., resulting in elevated levels of SA within the plants. SA effectively inhibited the mycelial growth of Rhizoctonia solani and significantly reduced the necrosis, chlorosis, and collar rot in plants. The in vitro investigation revealed that the mycelial growth declined with increasing concentrations of SA and was completely inhibited at a concentration of 15 mM. The pathogenicity assay showed that leaves and fruits treated with SA impeded hyphal development and significantly retarded the growth of R. solani. In split root techniques, more SA was accumulated in the root tissues at the bacterized site compared to the non-bacterized side, although this accumulation reduced after 45 days. Additionally, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was significantly diminished in plants treated with BmJPR68. SA production was assessed in both BmJPR68 and induced plants, indicating that the bacterial strain produced more SA compared to the induced plants. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups like O-H, N-H, S = O, C = C, C-N, and carboxylic/amine. The isoform of pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins was detected in the induced plants. This study provided valuable insights into SA induction using BmJPR68 to manage fungal disease in Capsicum chinense Jacq. during induced systemic resistance.

Gigaspora roseae and Coriolopsis rigida Fungi Improve Performance of Quillaja saponaria Plants Grown in Sandy Substrate with Added Sewage Sludge

The use of living organisms to treat human by-products, such as residual sludge, has gained interest in the last years. Fungi have been used for bioremediation and improving plant performance in contaminated soils. We investigated the impact of the mycorrhizal fungus (MF) Gigaspora roseae and the saprophytic fungus (SF) Coriolopsis rigida on the survival and growth of Quillaja saponaria seedlings cultivated in a sandy substrate supplemented with residual sludge. Q. saponaria is a sclerophyllous tree endemic to Chile, known for its high content of saponins. We inoculated plants with the MF, the SF, and a combination of both (MF + SF). Following inoculation, varying doses of liquid residual sludge equivalent to 0, 75, and 100% of the substrate's field capacity were applied. After 11 months, we found a positive influence of the utilized microorganisms on the growth of Q. saponaria. Particularly, inoculation with the SF resulted in higher plant growth, mycorrhizal colonization percentage, and higher enzymatic activity, especially after the application of the sludge. This increase was more evident with higher doses of the applied sludge. These results highlight the potential of combined microorganism and residual sludge application as a sustainable strategy for enhancing plant growth and reducing waste.

Lignocellulosics in plant cell wall and their potential biological degradation

Lignocellulosic materials are composed of three main structural polymers: hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. Cellulose is a long chain molecule of glucose requiring a small number of enzymes for degradation due to its simple structure while lignin is a complex polymer of phenylpropane making its biochemical decomposition difficult. Under anaerobic conditions, lignocellulose breakdown is much easier and more rapid than aerobic conditions. Various studies have been carried out to estimate the rate of degradation of lignocellulosic materials. Microorganisms play a key role in the degradation of lignocellulosic materials because they produce a variety of hydrolytic enzymes including cellulase, proteases, xylanases, lipases, laccase, and phosphatases during the degradation of lignocellulosic materials. Based on the body of literature, microorganismal activity can provide useful information about the process of organic matter decomposition.

Decolorization and detoxication of reactive industrial dyes by immobilized fungi Trametes pubescens and Pleurotus ostreatus

Trametes pubescens and Pleurotus ostreatus, immobilized on polyurethane foam cubes in bioreactors, were used to decolorize three industrial and model dyes at concentrations of 200, 1000 and 2000 ppm. Five sequential cycles were run for each dye and fungus. The activity of laccase, Mn-dependent and independent peroxidases, lignin peroxidase, and aryl-alcohol oxidase were daily monitored during the cycles and the toxicity of media containing 1000 and 2000 ppm of each dye was assessed by the Lemna minor (duckweed) ecotoxicity test. Both fungi were able to efficiently decolorize all dyes even at the highest concentration, and the duckweed test showed a significant reduction (p < or = 0.05) of the toxicity after the decolorization treatment. T. pubescens enzyme activities varied greatly and no clear correlation between decolorization and enzyme activity was observed, while P. ostreatus showed constantly a high laccase activity during decolorization cycles. T. pubescens showed better decolorization and detoxication capability (compared to the better known P. ostreatus). As wide differences in enzyme activity of the individual strains were observed, the strong decolorization obtained with the two fungi suggested that different dye decolorization mechanisms might be involved.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa inducing rice resistance against Rhizoctonia solani: production of salicylic acid and peroxidases

Three isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used for seed treatment of rice; all showed plant growth promoting activity and induced systemic resistance in rice against Rhizoctonia solani G5 and increased seed yield. Production of salicylic acid (Sal) by P. aeruginosa both in vitro and in vivo was quantified with high performance liquid chromatography. All three isolates produced more Sal in King's B broth than in induced roots. Using a split root system, more Sal accumulated in root tissues of bacterized site than in distant roots on the opposite site of the root system after 1 d, but this difference decreased after 3 d. Sal concentration 0-200 g/L showed no inhibition of mycelial growth of R. solani in vitro, while at > or =300 g/L it inhibited it. P. aeruginosa-pretreated rice plants challenged inoculation with R. solani (as pathogen), an additional increase in the accumulation of peroxidase was observed. Three pathogenesis-related peroxidases in induced rice plants were detected; molar mass of these purified peroxidases was 28, 36 and 47 kDa. Purified peroxidase showed antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi R. solani, Pyricularia oryzae and Helminthosporium oryzae.

Production of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes and changes in soil bacterial communities during the growth ofPleurotus ostreatus in soil with different carbon content

The extracellular enzyme activity and changes in soil bacterial community during the growth of the ligninolytic fungus Pleurotus ostreatus were determined in nonsterile soil with low and high available carbon content. In soil with P. ostreatus, the activity of ligninolytic enzymes laccase and Mn-peroxidase was several orders of magnitude higher than in soil without the fungus. Addition of lignocellulose to soil increased the activity of cellulolytic fungi and the production of Mn-peroxidase by P. ostreatus. The counts of heterotrophic bacteria were more significantly affected by the presence of lignocellulose than by P. ostreatus. The effects of both substrate addition and time (succession) were more significant factors affecting the soil bacterial community than the presence of P. ostreatus. Bacterial community structure was affected by fungal colonization in low carbon soil, where a decrease of diversity and changes in substrate utilization profiles were detected.

The role of Mn-dependent peroxidase in dye decolorization by static and agitated cultures ofIrpex lacteus

Dye decolorization capacity of two white-rot fungi, Irpex lacteus and Phanerochaete chrysosporium, was compared in N-limited liquid cultures. The agitated cultures showed lower ability to decolorize azo dyes Reactive Orange 16 and Naphthol Blue Black than static cultures. Similar effect was also observed with other structurally different synthetic dyes. The effect of surfactants on the decolorization process is discussed. A significant increase in the Reactive Orange 16 decolorization by the agitated I. lacteus cultures was observed after adding 0.1% Tween 80, following a higher Mn-dependent peroxidase production. The in vitro dye decolorization using the purified enzyme proved its decolorization ability.