New Records of Aspergillus allahabadii and Penicillium sizovae from Crop Field Soil in Korea

Lignocellulolytic enzymes from Aspergillus allahabadii for efficient bioconversion of rice straw into fermentable sugars and biogas

The study was aimed at developing lignocellulolytic strain capable of efficient hydrolysis of mild alkali deacetylated (MAD) rice straw. The valorisation of lignin rich black liquor obtained during pre-treatment of rice straw into biogas was also evaluated. Study reports highly proficient cellulolytic Aspergillus allahabadii strain harbouring a spectrum of CAZymes based on comparative genome wide analysis that was subjected to strain breeding for developing a hyper producing strain. The secretome analysis showed up-modulation and several folds increase in the CAZyme activities in the culture extracts of the developed strain MAN 40 when compared to parent. The cellulolytic cocktail of the developed strain showed 1.52 folds higher saccharification of MAD rice straw when compared to Cellic CTec 3. Moreover, in-situ addition of cellulases derived from developed strains resulted in ∼3.7 folds higher methane production during anaerobic digestion of mixture of lignin rich black liquor and differently treated rice straw.

Entomopathogenic Fungi Biodiversity in the Soil of Three Provinces Located in Southwest China and First Approach to Evaluate Their Biocontrol Potential

Entomopathogenic fungi (EF), who represent active agents to control insect natural populations, usually persist in terrestrial habitats. Southwest area in China has various climate conditions and abundant plant biodiversity (crop, forest, grassy, orchard and arable areas). Nevertheless, the potential of soil-inhabitant EF as insect pest biocontrol agents, is unknown. In this study, first the EF biodiversity from soil of three provinces (Guizhou, Sichuan, and Yunnan) was surveyed. Then, the virulence of 29 isolated strains against Bemesia tabaci and Spodoptera litura was assessed. After analyzing 212 soil samples, 497 isolated fungi were identified. Out of them, 490 isolates were classified in 45 species of 24 genera, whereas the other seven isolates, belonging to Paecilomyces and Purpureocillium genera, were not identified under species level. Furthermore, the EF biodiversity from soil of Sichuan, Yunan, and Guizhou areas, analyzed by Shannon Wiener Index (SWI) was rated at 2.98, 1.89, and 2.14, while SWIs-biodiversity in crop, forest, grassy, orchard and arable areas was rated at 2.88, 2.74, 3.05, 2.39, and 2.47. SWI data suggested that soil from Sichuan area and grassy had higher EF biodiversity compared with other analyzed provinces and areas. Virulence bioassay results indicated that, out of the 29 isolates tested, 24 were pathogenic against B. tabaci and S. litura, resulting in mortality rates >10%. In conclusion, this study reports the EF distribution and biodiversity in soil from three provinces located at Southwest China, whereas their potential use as a tool for the B. tabaci and S. litura biocontrol must be further investigated.

Five New Records of the Family Aspergillaceae in Korea, Aspergillus europaeus, A. pragensis, A. tennesseensis, Penicillium fluviserpens, and P. scabrosum

During an investigation of the fungi from the Aspergillaceae family obtained from different environmental sources in Korea, we isolated six strains, including CNUFC WJC9-1, CNUFC BPM36-33, CNUFC MSW6, CNUFC ESW1, CNUFC TM6-2, and CNUFC WD17-1. The morphology and phylogeny of these isolates were analyzed based on their partial β-tubulin (BenA) and calmodulin (CaM) gene sequences. Based on the morphological characteristics and sequence analyses, the isolates CNUFC WJC9-1, CNUFC BPM36-33, CNUFC TM6-2, and CNUFC WD17-1 were identified as A. europaeus, A. pragensis, Penicillium fluviserpens, and P. scabrosum, respectively, and isolates CNUFC MSW6 and CNUFC ESW1 were identified as A. tennesseensis. To the best of our knowledge, the species A. europaeus, A. pragensis, A. tennesseensis, P. fluviserpens, and P. scabrosum have not been previously reported in Korea.