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Returning straw can alter the soil microbial community, reduce the occurrence of soilborne diseases, and promote plant growth. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of Ricinus straw on tomato growth and rhizosphere microbial community. We carried out microcosm experiments to investigate the effects of Ricinus straw with different dosages (0, 1, and 3%) on tomato dry biomass and rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities. The results indicated that the dry biomass of tomato seedlings with 1% addition of Ricinus straw increased by 53.98%. In addition, Ricinus straw also changed the abundance, diversities, and composition of tomato rhizosphere microbial communities. In detail, the addition of 1% Ricinus straw increased the relative abundance of putative beneficial bacteria and fungi in straw decomposition, such as Ramlibacter sp., Azohydromonas sp., Schizothecium sp., and Acaulium sp., and decreased the relative abundance of Fusarium sp. Meanwhile, Ricinus straw inhibited the growth of putative pathogenic microorganisms. The correlation analysis showed that the changes in fungal community operational taxonomic units stimulated by the addition of Ricinus straw may play a crucial positive regulatory role in tomato growth. Finally, the representative fungal strain Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Lycopersici (FOL), named TF25, was isolated and cultured. We found that Ricinus straw extract inhibited the growth of TF25 in an in vitro experiment with an inhibition rate of 34.95–51.91%. Collectively, Ricinus straw promoted plant growth by changing the rhizosphere microbial community composition and inhibiting FOL growth, which provides new evidence for understanding the improvement of key microorganism composition in improving crop growth and the sustainability of agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-(5-((3E,5E)-10-Acetoxy-5,7,9,11-tetramethyltrideca-3,5-dien-1-yl)-2-oxotetrahydrofuran-3-yl)acetamide (1), a new amide compound, and five known ones (2–6) were isolated from the EtOH extract of the solid culture of Fusarium sp. Their structures were determined by means of extensive 1D and 2D NMR techniques, as well as comparison with literature values. Additionally, compounds 1–6 were tested for their cytotoxic activities. The results showed that compounds 2, 3, 6 exhibited cytotoxic activities against five human cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 2.088 to 26.40 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulosic biomass is contemplated to be an inexpensive and copious feedstock that can be used for numerous industrial applications. However, lignin forms the lignin sheath and provides a physical barrier to enzymatic hydrolysis. In addition, lignin physically blocks cellulase, preventing it from being combined with the substrate in a process known as non-productive binding. Therefore, the depletion of lignin is a crucial method for obtaining fermentable sugars from the lignocellulosic biomass. Different white-rot fungi secrete different sets of lignin-mineralizing enzymes and each fungus secretes one or more of the three enzymes essential for lignin degradation. Among efficient redox enzymes, versatile peroxidase is extensively studied for its ability to degrade aromatics without the need for a mediator or polyvalent catalytic site. However, the presence of versatile peroxidase in F. spp. has not been studied. This study was planned with the objective of screening and comparing the production of versatile peroxidase enzymes from F. spp. and a standard culture of Pleurotus ostreatus MTCC-142. These fungal strains were first screened on solid media containing tannic acid, malachite green, or bromocresol green. The potency index for the tannic acid, malachite green, and bromocresol green on the 16th day of incubation was reported to be 1.28, 1.07, 1.09, and 1.10, respectively. Versatile peroxidase production patterns were investigated under solid state fermentation conditions for a period of 25 days at different temperatures ranging from 10 to 35 °C. The highest versatile peroxidase activity (592 UL−1) in F. sp. was observed at 30 °C after the 7th day of incubation. The molecular confirmation showed the presence of the vp gene in F. sp. along with Pleurotus ostreatus MTCC-142. The results determined that F. sp. possesses a versatile peroxidase enzyme and is able to degrade lignin efficiently, and thus it could be utilized as an alternative to other ligninolytic enzyme-producing fungi.

Fungal endophytes, symbiotic microorganisms residing within plants, are renowned for producing bioactive secondary metabolites with diverse beneficial properties. We investigated the antimicrobial potential of fungal endophytes isolated from Solanum mauritianum, an invasive weed, against clinically significant bacterial pathogens. Selected fungal endophytes (Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium sp., and Paracamarosporium leucadendri) were isolated from the plant's leaves and fruits. Their crude extracts were tested against various referenced strains, such as Mycobacterium species (M. smegmatis ATCC 607 and M. bovis ATCC 27290), Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6571, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 11774, Klebsiella species (K. pneumoniae ATCC 10031 and K. oxytoca ATCC 8724), Escherichia coli ATCC 10536, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145, using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Resazurin Microtiter Assay was used for the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration. The chemical nature of the secondary metabolites in the crude extracts produced by fungal endophytes was evaluated using high-resolution liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) using water and acetonitrile gradient. Liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS/MS) was employed for untargeted metabolomics. LC-QTOF-MS/MS identified 63 bioactive compounds across the three endophytes. P. chrysogenum had the highest activity against S. aureus and M. smegmatis (1.15 mg/mL and 0.02 mg/mL, respectively), while P. leucadendri demonstrated moderate activity against M. smegmatis (2.91 mg/mL) and E. coli (1.16 mg/mL). Fusarium sp. exhibited the broadest spectrum of antibacterial activity, with MIC values ranging from 0.03 mg/mL (B. subtilis) to 10 mg/mL (M. smegmatis). P. leucadendri produced 29 metabolites, Fusarium sp. had 23 identified metabolites, and a total of 11 metabolites were identified from P. chrysogenum. The fruits of the plant, accounting for 60%, appeared to be the most abundant in the endophyte diversity when compared to the stems and leaves. This study highlights the potential of fungal endophytes from S. mauritianum as a source of novel bioactive compounds, particularly against multidrug-resistant pathogens, contributing to the ongoing efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: The lignin in paddy and wheat straws is highly resistant to degradation, and burning the same is a global warming issue. Dye degrading ability and expression of three vp genes were studied in Pleurotus ostreatus and Fusarium sp. cultures. High enzymatic activity and the vp2 gene were observed in the Fusarium sp. culture, which makes it an alternate fungal species for lignin degradation. Lignocellulosic biomass is contemplated to be an inexpensive and copious feedstock that can be used for numerous industrial applications. However, lignin forms the lignin sheath and provides a physical barrier to enzymatic hydrolysis. In addition, lignin physically blocks cellulase, preventing it from being combined with the substrate in a process known as non-productive binding. Therefore, the depletion of lignin is a crucial method for obtaining fermentable sugars from the lignocellulosic biomass. Different white-rot fungi secrete different sets of lignin-mineralizing enzymes and each fungus secretes one or more of the three enzymes essential for lignin degradation. Among efficient redox enzymes, versatile peroxidase is extensively studied for its ability to degrade aromatics without the need for a mediator or polyvalent catalytic site. However, the presence of versatile peroxidase in F. spp. has not been studied. This study was planned with the objective of screening and comparing the production of versatile peroxidase enzymes from F. spp. and a standard culture of Pleurotus ostreatus MTCC-142. These fungal strains were first screened on solid media containing tannic acid, malachite green, or bromocresol green. The potency index for the tannic acid, malachite green, and bromocresol green on the 16th day of incubation was reported to be 1.28, 1.07, 1.09, and 1.10, respectively. Versatile peroxidase production patterns were investigated under solid state fermentation conditions for a period of 25 days at different temperatures ranging from 10 to 35 °C. The highest versatile peroxidase activity (592 UL−1) in F. sp. was observed at 30 °C after the 7th day of incubation. The molecular confirmation showed the presence of the vp gene in F. sp. along with Pleurotus ostreatus MTCC-142. The results determined that F. sp. possesses a versatile peroxidase enzyme and is able to degrade lignin efficiently, and thus it could be utilized as an alternative to other ligninolytic enzyme-producing fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Returning straw can alter the soil microbial community, reduce the occurrence of soilborne diseases, and promote plant growth. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of Ricinus straw on tomato growth and rhizosphere microbial community. We carried out microcosm experiments to investigate the effects of Ricinus straw with different dosages (0, 1, and 3%) on tomato dry biomass and rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities. The results indicated that the dry biomass of tomato seedlings with 1% addition of Ricinus straw increased by 53.98%. In addition, Ricinus straw also changed the abundance, diversities, and composition of tomato rhizosphere microbial communities. In detail, the addition of 1% Ricinus straw increased the relative abundance of putative beneficial bacteria and fungi in straw decomposition, such as Ramlibacter sp., Azohydromonas sp., Schizothecium sp., and Acaulium sp., and decreased the relative abundance of Fusarium sp. Meanwhile, Ricinus straw inhibited the growth of putative pathogenic microorganisms. The correlation analysis showed that the changes in fungal community operational taxonomic units stimulated by the addition of Ricinus straw may play a crucial positive regulatory role in tomato growth. Finally, the representative fungal strain Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Lycopersici (FOL), named TF25, was isolated and cultured. We found that Ricinus straw extract inhibited the growth of TF25 in an in vitro experiment with an inhibition rate of 34.95–51.91%. Collectively, Ricinus straw promoted plant growth by changing the rhizosphere microbial community composition and inhibiting FOL growth, which provides new evidence for understanding the improvement of key microorganism composition in improving crop growth and the sustainability of agriculture.

Endophytic microorganisms represent promising solutions to environmental challenges inherent in conventional agricultural practices. This study concentrates on the identification of endophytic bacteria isolated from the root, stem, and leaf tissues of four Artemisia plant species. Sixty-one strains were isolated and sequenced by 16S rDNA. Sequencing revealed diverse genera among the isolated bacteria from different Artemisia species, including Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, and Lysinibacillus. AR11 and VR24 obtained from the roots of A. absinthium and A. vulgaris demonstrated significant inhibition on Fusarium c.f. oxysporum mycelial growth. In addition, AR11, AR32, and CR25 exhibited significant activity in phosphatase solubilization, nitrogen fixation, and indole production, highlighting their potential to facilitate plant growth. A comparative analysis of Artemisia species showed that root isolates from A. absinthium, A. campestris, and A. vulgaris have beneficial properties for inhibiting pathogen growth and enhancing plant growth. AR11 with 100% similarity to Bacillus thuringiensis, could be considered a promising candidate for further investigation as microbial biofertilizers. This finding highlights their potential as environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides, thereby contributing to sustainable crop protection practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible honeysuckle is a popular fruit crop. Its therapeutic and health-promoting effects are attributed to a high content of bioactive compounds in the fruits. Unlike the traditional plant multiplication methods, the in vitro propagation allows scientists to obtain high-quality planting material of honeysuckle in a great quantity and within a short time. The research was carried out at the Laboratory of Breeding and Genetic Research on Field Crops of the Federal Scientific Center of Agricultural Biotechnology of the Far East named after A.K. Chaiki. Honeysuckle variety Podarok amurchanam created by the Far Eastern State Agrarian University was used as the research object. The research materials were sterilized according to the methodology of N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources with some modifications. Several products were used as chemical agents for sterilization in the following sequence: a 5% solution of surfactants, fungicide Fundazol, EC (1 g/l), the bleaching agent ACE freshly diluted with distilled water in the proportion 1:9 (0.50% of NaOCl in the working solution), and 70% ethanol. The primary explants were cultured on an MS containing 20 g/l sucrose and 6 g/l agar (hereafter – MS) and supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) at a concentration of 0.5 mg/l. The pH of the medium was adjusted to 5.7-5.8 using 1N КОН. The explants (microcuttings with one-two internodes) were subcultured on an MS supplemented with BA (0.5 mg/l). The morphometric parameters of the plants were measured on the 35th day of cultivation. The sterilization of the explants with Fundazol (1 g/l) and the ACE diluted with distilled water in the proportion 1:9 allowed us to obtain a high number of viable microclones (50%). The elimination of leaves from the honeysuckle microcuttings drastically decreased the survival rate and led to the death of the microclones in most cases (the mortality rate was 98.7 %). Subculturing the microcuttings on the MS supplemented with BA at a concentration of 0.5 mg/l facilitated the normal growth and development of the regenerated honeysuckle plants (the average reproduction rate was 4.65).

Tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum) diseases are among the most constraining factors of tomato production in Côte d'Ivoire. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of Carica papaya and Hydrocotyle bonariensis leaf aqueous extracts, for preventive efficacy against tomatoes diseases agents Alternaria sp., Fusarium sp1 and Fusarium sp2. A greenhouse study was conducted using three different concentrations of leaf extracts (12.5, 25 and 37.5 mg ml-1) obtained by diluting 25, 50 and 75%, respectively, of the crude extract (50 mg ml-1) on the three tomato pathogenic fungi. The concentrations of each of the two extracts with the best fungistatic activities on fungal isolates were selected for in vivo tests. All aqueous extracts inhibited fungal mycelial growth by more than 70%, at the highest concentration (37.5 mg ml-1); compared to the other two concentrations. At 37.5 mg ml-1, the extracts reduced the severity of fungal diseases on tomato plants compared to the control. Hydrocotyle bonariensis was more effective. A more refined formulation of these extracts could increase their effectiveness and serve for sustainable control of tomato fungal diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanda tricolor is currently a protected species because is the occurrence of orchid late blight caused by the Fusarium sp. pathogenic fungus. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Rhizoctonia mycorrhizae in inducing resistance against Fusarium sp., the causative agent of late blight, in V. tricolor. The research employed CRBD with three treatments and six replications. Rhizoctonia mycorrhizae were isolated and identified following the procedure outlined by Bayman. Pre-inoculation of Rhizoctonia mycorrhizae was conducted on PDA media, and mycorrhizae were subsequently inoculated onto the roots of V. tricolor seedlings derived from tissue culture. The presence of peloton structures on the roots was determined using the Nakano methods. The Saravanan method was employed to measure peroxidase activity. The results demonstrated that V. tricolor induced by Rhizoctonia mycorrhizae exhibited resistance against Fusarium sp. and displayed the formation of peroxidase enzymes, peloton structures, and lignification. In contrast, the non-induced orchids suffered significant damage to the epidermal tissue of the leaves, did not exhibit an increase in peroxidase enzymes, and failed to form peloton or lignified structures. The novelty of this research is the use of Rhizoctonia mycorrhizae to control orchid late blight diseases at Mount Merapi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vitro plants that are free of pathogens are crucial for biotechnological breeding methods. The present study investigates the effects of sterilization with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and the addition of Plant Preservative Mixture (PPMTM) to the growth medium on pathogen elimination, germination, and seedling development of the winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) variety Mara. The sterilization treatments differed in the duration of seed sterilization in 4% NaClO and the PPM concentration added to the growth medium. Pathogenic fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Bipolaris were completely eliminated when the seeds were sterilized in NaClO and placed on growth media with the addition of PPM. Extending the duration of the sterilization treatment with NaClO to 50 min reduced Fusarium contamination, while the interaction between the 50 min sterilization treatment with NaClO and the addition of PPM to the growth medium reduced Alternaria contamination. Our results suggest that PPM could complement sterilization procedures with NaClO in the introduction of highly infected wheat seeds in vitro. Seed germination was not affected by sterilization with NaClO or by the addition of PPM. However, PPM at a concentration of 4 mL L−1 had a negative effect on seedling development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Melon Manis Terengganu, MMT is one of the economically important fruits in Terengganu, which contains numerous nutritional values and bioactive compounds that benefit human health. The major problem is MMT has been affected by Fusarium sp., which is the common fungus in the Cucurbitaceae family resulting in Fusarium wilt disease and lowering melon production. It may also affect the antioxidant value of MMT; however, limited study has been conducted on this issue. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the non-enzymatic as well as enzymatic activities in response to Fusarium sp. (S2 and S4) infection. Methodology and results: In this study, MMT leaves were incubated in culture filtrate (CF) obtained from Murashige and Skoog (MS) liquid medium. The antioxidative responses were assayed at 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 days of treatment. In response to Fusarium infection, the ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol and carotenoid content were significantly stimulated at the early stages of the experiment and slowly reduced afterward. This current study also demonstrated that the CATspecific activities were initially induced in S2 CF-treated leaves. Similar APX and gPOD specific activity patterns were observed in both S2 and S4 CFs treatments. The APX and gPOD-specific activities were induced at the later stages of infection in S4 CF-treated leaves. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The results revealed that enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants worked together to fight against stress caused by the fungal infection, with the activation of the plant defense system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adansonia digitata L. is a royal tree that is highly valued in Africa for its medicinal and nutritional properties. The objective of this study was to use its fruit shell extract to develop new, powerful mono and bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) and biochar (BC) using an eco-friendly approach. Silver (Ag), iron oxide (FeO), the bimetallic Ag-FeO NPs, as well as (BC) were fabricated by A. digitata fruit shell extract through a reduction process and biomass pyrolysis, respectively, and their activity against tomato pathogenic fungi Alternaria sp., Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Fusarium equiseti, and Fusarium venenatum were detected by agar dilution method. The Ag, FeO, Ag-FeONPs, and BC were characterized using a range of powerful analytical techniques such as ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform-Infra Red (FT-IR), dynamic light scatter (DLS), and zeta potential analysis. The fabricated Ag, FeO and Ag-FeO NPs have demonstrated a remarkable level of effectiveness in combating fungal strains. UV-Vis spectra of Ag, FeO, Ag-FeONPs, and BC show broad exhibits peaks at 338, 352, 418, and 480 nm, respectively. The monometallic, bimetallic NPs, and biochar have indicated the presence in various forms mostly in Spherical-shaped. Their size varied from 102.3 to 183.5 nm and the corresponding FTIR spectra suggested that the specific organic functional groups from the plant extract played a significant role in the bio-reduction process. Ag and Ag-FeO NPs exhibited excellent antifungal activity against pathogenic fungi Alternaria sp., S. sclerotiorum, F. equiseti, and F. venenatum. The current study could be a significant achievement in the field of antifungal agents since has the potential to develop new approaches for treating fungal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial interactions, which regulate the dynamics of eco- and agrosystems, can be harnessed to enhance antagonism against phytopathogenic fungi in agriculture. This study tests the hypothesis that plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can also be potential biological control agents (BCAs). Antifungal activity assays against potentially phytopathogenic fungi were caried out using cultures and cell-free filtrates of nine PGPR strains previously isolated from agricultural soils. Cultures of Bacillus sp. BS36 inhibited the growth of Alternaria sp. AF12 and Fusarium sp. AF68 by 74 and 65%, respectively. Cell-free filtrates of the same strain also inhibited the growth of both fungi by 54 and 14%, respectively. Furthermore, the co-cultivation of Bacillus sp. BS36 with Pseudomonas sp. BS95 and the target fungi improved their antifungal activity. A subsequent metabolomic analysis using Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) identified fengycin- and surfactin-like lipopeptides (LPs) in the Bacillus sp. BS36 cell-free filtrates, which could explain their antifungal activity. The co-production of multiple families of LPs by Bacillus sp. BS36 is an interesting feature with potential practical applications. These results highlight the potential of the PGPR strain Bacillus sp. BS36 to work as a BCA and the need for more integrative approaches to develop biocontrol tools more accessible and adoptable by farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To study the effects of fungi Fusarium sp. to rhizosphere soil and physiological characteristics of Camellia oleifera Abel. [Methods] We investigated the effects of Fusarium sp. to rhizosphere soil nutrient element content and metabolites of C. oleifera. C. oleifera was inoculated with the suspension of Fusarium sp. in pot experiments and ammonium-N, available phosphorus, available potassium, organic matter, enzymes and pH of rhizosphere soil, MDA content, activity of SOD, POD of C. oleifera leaves were analyzed. [Results] Fusarium sp. stress significantly inhibited soil enzyme activities and significantly reduced available phosphorus content, especially for phosphatase and sucrase. Antioxidant enzyme activities in C. oleifera tissues showed that Fusarium sp. stress significantly increased MDA and SOD enzyme activities and decreased POD enzyme activity. Especially, SOD enzyme activity was elevated by 53.86% compared with the CK group. In addition, analysis of the content of major metabolites in C. oleifera leaves showed that Fusarium sp. stress significantly reduced the content of total flavonoids, quercetin, isoquercitrin and isoquercitrin in C. oleifera leaves by 7.80%, 50.00% and 75.90%, respectively. [Conclusions] Our results are an important step which showed strong resistance of C. oleifera and can give a novel insight for researches on the effects in the rhizosphere soil enzyme, soil nutrient elements and metabolites of C. oleifera under the Fusarium sp. too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Truffles are one of the least studied groups of fungi in terms of their biological and biotechnological aspects. This study aimed to isolate truffle-inhabiting fungi and assess the metagenomic communities of the most common Russian summer truffle, Tuber aestivum. This study is the first to characterize the biodiversity of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms living in the truffle T. aestivum using molecular analysis and sequencing. Plant pathogens involved in a symbiotic relationship with truffles were identified by sequencing the hypervariable fragments of the 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA genes. In addition, some strains of fungal symbionts and likely pathogens were isolated and recognized for the first time from the truffles. This study also compared and characterized the general diversity and distribution of microbial taxa of T. aestivum collected in Russia and Europe. The results revealed that the Russian and European truffle study materials demonstrated high similarity. In addition to the truffles, representatives of bacteria, fungi, and protists were found in the fruiting bodies. Many of these prokaryotic and eukaryotic species inhabiting truffles might influence them, help them form mycorrhizae with trees, and regulate biological processes. Thus, truffles are interesting and promising sources for modern biotechnological and agricultural studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twisted disease is one of the problems in shallot cultivation. The application of the biological agents Bacillus velezensis and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi is an alternative expected to overcome disease problems in shallot plantings. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the application of B. velezensis and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on the growth and health of shallot. The research was conducted in Gotakan, Panjatan, Kulon Progo, and the Phytopathology Laboratory, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta. Shallot treatments with the application of biological agents were carried out either individually by soaking the bulbs in B. velezensis suspension before planting, coating the bulbs using Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus (Rhizophagus intraradices) with a carrier medium of kaolin flour before planting, and a combination of spraying the B. velezensis suspension on plants at two-week intervals during the growth period and coating the bulbs before planting with R. intraradices. The results of the study showed that the shallot-applied single application of B. velezensis reduced the intensity and incidence of twisted disease by 2.51% and 37.6%, respectively. The combination treatment of B. velezensis and R. intraradices was able to increase the resistance of bulbs to postharvest pathogen Fusarium solani infection, with infected bulbs and areas of 0.70% and 0.71%, respectively.

Fungal endophytes, symbiotic microorganisms residing within plants, are renowned for producing bioactive secondary metabolites with diverse beneficial properties. We investigated the antimicrobial potential of fungal endophytes isolated from Solanum mauritianum, an invasive weed, against clinically significant bacterial pathogens. Selected fungal endophytes (Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium sp., and Paracamarosporium leucadendri) were isolated from the plant’s leaves and fruits. Their crude extracts were tested against various referenced strains, such as Mycobacterium species (M. smegmatis ATCC 607 and M. bovis ATCC 27290), Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6571, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 11774, Klebsiella species (K. pneumoniae ATCC 10031 and K. oxytoca ATCC 8724), Escherichia coli ATCC 10536, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145, using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Resazurin Microtiter Assay was used for the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration. The chemical nature of the secondary metabolites in the crude extracts produced by fungal endophytes was evaluated using high-resolution liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) using water and acetonitrile gradient. Liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS/MS) was employed for untargeted metabolomics. LC-QTOF-MS/MS identified 63 bioactive compounds across the three endophytes. P. chrysogenum had the highest activity against S. aureus and M. smegmatis (1.15 mg/mL and 0.02 mg/mL, respectively), while P. leucadendri demonstrated moderate activity against M. smegmatis (2.91 mg/mL) and E. coli (1.16 mg/mL). Fusarium sp. exhibited the broadest spectrum of antibacterial activity, with MIC values ranging from 0.03 mg/mL (B. subtilis) to 10 mg/mL (M. smegmatis). P. leucadendri produced 29 metabolites, Fusarium sp. had 23 identified metabolites, and a total of 11 metabolites were identified from P. chrysogenum. The fruits of the plant, accounting for 60%, appeared to be the most abundant in the endophyte diversity when compared to the stems and leaves. This study highlights the potential of fungal endophytes from S. mauritianum as a source of novel bioactive compounds, particularly against multidrug-resistant pathogens, contributing to the ongoing efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Abstract Background Use of endophytic fungi, as pathogen control of Bipolaris maydis and Curvularia sp., is an alternative method of control without the use of synthetic pesticides that are more environmentally friendly. This study aimed to determine the potential of endophytic fungi in controlling the growth of pathogens B. maydis and Curvularia sp. in vitro and in spurring the growth of corn plants. It was consisted of three types of testing three endophytic fungal species (Aspergillus_1, Fusarium_2, and Trichoderma_11), namely (1) testing the antagonistic activity of endophytic fungal against pathogens by double culture method, (2) physiological characterization of endophytic fungal as phosphate solvents and chitinase producers, and (3) testing of corn seed vigor with the blotter test method. Results The results of testing endophytic fungal isolates against B. maydis pathogens showed that the three isolates were able to suppress the development of B. maydis, whereas the Trichoderma_11 isolate showed higher suppression results than others. The isolate that showed the best ability to dissolve phosphates is Fusarium_2 with a dissolving index of 1.9 and their effectiveness up to 91.5%. Meanwhile, Trichoderma_11 was able to produce the highest chitinase activity index of 1.9 with an effectiveness of 90.6%. The best corn root lengths and plant height were shown on Fusarium_2 treatment. Similar outcomes were observed when Curvularia sp. was tested. The whole isolates were able to suppress the growth of the pathogen by 16.43–40.44% on the 4th day after incubation. Trichoderma sp. isolate was 72.50% more effective at suppressing than the other two isolates. On day 11, the isolate of Aspergillus sp. was suppressed by 62.50%, while Fusarium sp. showed the lowest suppression of 59.17%. Conclusions Trichoderma_11 isolate was potentially the best biocontrol agent against maydis leaf blight and Curvularia leaf spot in vitro. Meanwhile, the Fusarium_2 isolate had promoted the growth of the corn seedlings.

Adansonia digitata L. is a royal tree that is highly valued in Africa for its medicinal and nutritional properties. The objective of this study was to use its fruit shell extract to develop new, powerful mono and bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) and biochar (BC) using an eco-friendly approach. Silver (Ag), iron oxide (FeO), the bimetallic Ag-FeO NPs, as well as (BC) were fabricated by A. digitata fruit shell extract through a reduction process and biomass pyrolysis, respectively, and their activity against tomato pathogenic fungi Alternaria sp., Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Fusarium equiseti, and Fusarium venenatum were detected by agar dilution method. The Ag, FeO, Ag-FeONPs, and BC were characterized using a range of powerful analytical techniques such as ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform-Infra Red (FT-IR), dynamic light scatter (DLS), and zeta potential analysis. The fabricated Ag, FeO and Ag-FeO NPs have demonstrated a remarkable level of effectiveness in combating fungal strains. UV–Vis spectra ofAg, FeO, Ag-FeONPs, and BC show broad exhibits peaks at 338, 352, 418, and 480 nm, respectively. The monometallic, bimetallic NPs, and biochar have indicated the presence in various forms mostly in Spherical-shaped. Their size varied from 102.3 to 183.5 nm and the corresponding FTIR spectra suggested that the specific organic functional groups from the plant extract played a significant role in the bio-reduction process. Ag and Ag-FeO NPs exhibited excellent antifungal activity against pathogenic fungi Alternaria sp., S. sclerotiorum, F. equiseti, and F. venenatum. The current study could be a significant achievement in the field of antifungal agents since has the potential to develop new approaches for treating fungal infections.

In the presented study, isolation of bacterial strains, viz., Pantoea agglomerans, Priestia megaterium and phytopathogenic micromycetes that cause damage and eventually death of grape crops, came from a 10 to 15-year-old vine plantation. A Pantoea agglomerans gram-negative bacillus facultative and anaerobic bacterium strain achieved isolation from grape plants, with its morphological characteristics studied. Bacterial strains with antifungal activities against phytopathogenic micromycetes succeeded in their identification. Bacterial isolates collected from the vines underwent screening for their growth properties. It was apparent that Pantoea agglomerans actively grew wheat coleoptiles by 2.6 mm and maize coleoptiles by 2.3 mm compared with the control. Observable evidence also showed that sorghum coleoptile actively grew by 1.7 mm compared with the control treatment by 2.9 mm. The 26 Aspergillus sp., 23 Penicillium sp., 25 Fusarium sp., 30 Alternaria sp., and five Curvularia sp. phytopathogenic micromycetes belonging to the genus were notable. Bacterial strains isolated from the vine showed the highest antifungal activity against micromycetes belonging to the genus Penicillium and reduced the radius of phytopathogenic growth to 47-54 mm. Compared with micromycetes belonging to the genus Fusarium, it was also apparent that the pathogen reduced the growth radius to 27-35 mm. Isolation of phytopathogenic micromycetes from the vine allows early detection and prevention of grape diseases. Based on these studies, the identification of antifungal activity of the bacterial strains isolated from the vine and the presence of phytohormones in the culture fluid indicated that it is an essential and environmentally friendly biological tool in the cultivation of grapes for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytic microorganisms represent promising solutions to environmental challenges inherent in conventional agricultural practices. This study concentrates on the identification of endophytic bacteria isolated from the root, stem, and leaf tissues of four Artemisia plant species. Sixty-one strains were isolated and sequenced by 16S rDNA. Sequencing revealed diverse genera among the isolated bacteria from different Artemisia species, including Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, and Lysinibacillus. AR11 and VR24 obtained from the roots of A. absinthium and A. vulgaris demonstrated significant inhibition on Fusarium c.f. oxysporum mycelial growth. In addition, AR11, AR32, and CR25 exhibited significant activity in phosphatase solubilization, nitrogen fixation, and indole production, highlighting their potential to facilitate plant growth. A comparative analysis of Artemisia species showed that root isolates from A. absinthium, A. campestris, and A. vulgaris have beneficial properties for inhibiting pathogen growth and enhancing plant growth. AR11 with 100% similarity to Bacillus thuringiensis, could be considered a promising candidate for further investigation as microbial biofertilizers. This finding highlights their potential as environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides, thereby contributing to sustainable crop protection practices.

In the context of global demand for carbon reduction, the formation of inorganic carbon (IC) in the wastewater from oil flooding becomes a potential threat. In this study, Chlorella sp. and Fusarium sp. were used to assemble a fungal-algal pellet to degrade polyacrylamide (PAM) and fix IC in synthetic oil-flooding wastewater. The results showed that the combination of Chlorella sp. and Fusarium sp. was more effective at degrading PAM and removing carbon than a monoculture. With PAM as the sole nitrogen source, the degradation of PAM by the consortium was enhanced up to 35.17 ± 0.86% and 21.63 ± 2.23% compared with the monocultures of fungi or microalgae, respectively. The degradation of the consortium was significantly enhanced by the addition of an external nitrogen source by up to 27.17 ± 2.27% and 22.86 ± 2.4% compared with the monoculture of fungi or microalgae, respectively. This may depend on the effect of synergy between the two species. For the removal of IC from the water, the removal efficiency of the consortium was higher than that of the microalgae by 38.5 ± 0.08%, which may be attributed to the ability of the fungi to aid in the adsorption of nutrients and its assimilation by the microalgae. Therefore, the Fusarium-Chlorella consortium can effectively degrade PAM, while simultaneously fixing carbon, which provides a feasible scheme for the treatment and carbon neutralization of the wastewater that contains PAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ege Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Ege Universitesi, Ziraat Fakultesi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The excessive proliferation of Pontederia crassipes poses serious threats to freshwater bodies in many parts of the world. This aquatic weed causes severe ecological and economic losses worldwide. In South Africa, research has focused on the release of insect biological control agents associated with P. crassipes, with eight insect agents, and only one fungus released to date. Fungi have been explored as a safe method for the management of P. crassipes, due to their ability to cause and spread a vast array of weed diseases. In this study, naturally occurring fungi associated with P. crassipes were surveyed, isolated, and identified using culture methods to determine their prevalence and pathogenicity to P. crassipes. Forty-two fungal isolates were morphologically identified as belonging to genera Alternaria, Fusarium, Epicoccum and Colletotrichum. Subsequently, molecular techniques and bioinformatics confirmed the identity of the fungi that were most pathogenic as Fusarium incarnatum, Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium equiseti. In whole plant bioassays, these fungi caused 68, 63 and 54% disease infection, respectively, by the end of six weeks, and thus may be considered for future developments into bioherbicides. Moreover, F. incarnatum exhibited 97% disease severity during in vitro assays. This study is also the first to report F. incarnatum occurrence on P. crassipes in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To compare the performance of conventional, semi‐nested and real‐time panfungal ITS PCRs for diagnosing fungal keratitis (FK) and develop genus‐specific real‐time PCR for the most common aetiology of FK. Methods: This multicentric study includes 232 corneal samples from suspected FK patients from four centres across India between November 2019 through August 2021. A total of 87 corneal buttons were included for the comparison of conventional, semi‐nested and real‐time ITS PCRs, of which 68 were from confirmed FK patients. Of these 87 samples, 44 (microscopy and culture positive for Aspergillus sp. and/or Fusarium sp.) were used for the standardisation of genus‐specific real‐time primers/probes. Subsequently, the best method showing highest sensitivity and specificity was validated in 188 samples. Results: On Bayesian comparison, conventional ITS2 PCR showed best performance (sensitivity and specificity of 55.88% and 100%, respectively). Since, real‐time ITS2 PCR was also considerably efficient (sensitivity and specificity of 51.47% and 84.21%, respectively) in comparison with the conventional PCR but faster, cost‐effective, and less labor‐intensive, ITS‐2 real‐time PCR is a suitable method that can be applied along with culture and microscopy. During validation, real‐time PCR with genus‐specific primers showed 61.76% and 91.18% sensitivity with specificity of 98.05% and 79.22%, respectively, for Aspergillus sp. and Fusarium sp. Aspergillus probe, Fusarium probe and duplex PCR showed sensitivity of 52.94%, 50% and 54.41% with specificity of 92.86%, 82.47% and 75%, respectively. No cross‐reactivity of genus‐specific PCRs was observed during standardisation. Conclusions: ITS‐2 real‐time PCR can be applied as an adjunct with conventional methods for the diagnosis of FK. The genus‐specific duplex real‐time PCRs are rapid which reduces the turnaround time (TAT) avoiding the need for sequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Use of endophytic fungi, as pathogen control of Bipolaris maydis and Curvularia sp., is an alternative method of control without the use of synthetic pesticides that are more environmentally friendly. This study aimed to determine the potential of endophytic fungi in controlling the growth of pathogens B. maydis and Curvularia sp. in vitro and in spurring the growth of corn plants. It was consisted of three types of testing three endophytic fungal species (Aspergillus_1, Fusarium_2, and Trichoderma_11), namely (1) testing the antagonistic activity of endophytic fungal against pathogens by double culture method, (2) physiological characterization of endophytic fungal as phosphate solvents and chitinase producers, and (3) testing of corn seed vigor with the blotter test method. Results: The results of testing endophytic fungal isolates against B. maydis pathogens showed that the three isolates were able to suppress the development of B. maydis, whereas the Trichoderma_11 isolate showed higher suppression results than others. The isolate that showed the best ability to dissolve phosphates is Fusarium_2 with a dissolving index of 1.9 and their effectiveness up to 91.5%. Meanwhile, Trichoderma_11 was able to produce the highest chitinase activity index of 1.9 with an effectiveness of 90.6%. The best corn root lengths and plant height were shown on Fusarium_2 treatment. Similar outcomes were observed when Curvularia sp. was tested. The whole isolates were able to suppress the growth of the pathogen by 16.43–40.44% on the 4th day after incubation. Trichoderma sp. isolate was 72.50% more effective at suppressing than the other two isolates. On day 11, the isolate of Aspergillus sp. was suppressed by 62.50%, while Fusarium sp. showed the lowest suppression of 59.17%. Conclusions: Trichoderma_11 isolate was potentially the best biocontrol agent against maydis leaf blight and Curvularia leaf spot in vitro. Meanwhile, the Fusarium_2 isolate had promoted the growth of the corn seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the mycotoxins produced by fungi from the genera Fusarium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Claviceps and other types of molds, their characteristics and importance. Mycotoxins are secondary fungi metabolites that serve as a defense mechanism in stressful conditions. Several hundred mycotoxins have been identified so far, and the most significant in terms of danger to human health and animals are aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, patulin, fumonisin, zearalenone and nivalenol/deoxynivalenol produced by toxigenic fungi from the genera Penicillium, Aspergillus, Claviceps, Stachybotris and Fusarium. Moisture and temperature are two factors that have a crucial influence on the development of the fungus and the synthesis of toxins. It is estimated that approximately 25% of agricultural crops are infected with fungi. Consequently, foods can also be contaminated with mycotoxins. By treating the stored grain with various chemicals, and in recent years, using environmentally friendly fungicides, the synthesis of mycotoxins is being prevented and the development of mycotoxicogenic fungi is being controlled. The mycotoxicosis can occur directly through the consumption of infected food, inhalation and skin contact, or indirectly through animals that eat contaminated feed. Mycotoxins have a pathological effect primarily on liver. Some mycotoxins also interfere with cellular protein synthesis, causing hypersensitivity and extreme immunodeficiency. Despite mycotoxins being resilient and remaining stable while undergoing chemical and thermal food processing, methods such as applying good hygiene and production practices from field to table can reduce their occurence.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antagonistic activity of Trichoderma spp. against wild pathogen Fusarium oxysporum F.28.1A, which causes wilt disease on sesame. Twenty-six isolates of Trichoderma spp. isolated from soil samples were tested to control F. oxysporum F.28.1A. Prescreening showed that five isolates were T-02B1, T-18B2, T-20B1, T-28B1, and T-29A1, based on the lowest values of colony radius of F. oxysporum F.28.1A. The selected isolates were identified by their ITS region as T. yunnanense T-02B1, T. lentiforme T-18B2, T. asperellum T-20B1, T. hamatum T-28B1, and T. hamatum T-29A1, with similarities around 96–100%. The isolates selected were able to produce enzymes including chitinase, exo-β-1,3-glucanase, and endo-β-1,3-glucanase at levels of 0.34–0.44, 0.017–0.034, and 0.032–0.121 UI · ml –1, respectively, which were considered to be a mechanism to prevent the growth of F. oxysporum F.28.1A. The isolates tested were applied in soil pots to prevent damage from F. oxysporum F.28.1A as a following experiment. The greenhouse experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with 10 treatments, including a negative control, application of only F. oxysporum F.28.1A, application of both F. oxysporum F.28.1A and fungicide chemicals, application of both F. oxysporum F.28.1A and Trichoderma spp. DHCT, application of T. yunnanense T-02B1, application of T. lentiforme T-18B2, application of T. asperellum T-20B1, application of T. hamatum T-28B1, application of T. hamatum T-29A1 and a mixture of the five selected isolates of Trichoderma spp. with their total population equal to that in individual strain application. The results showed that the five mixed isolates of Trichoderma had a synergistic effect on the reduction of the disease’s prevalence by 35% compared to the negative control treatment.

Spodoptera frugiperda is a new pest in Indonesia that attacks corn and can cause up to 100 percent damageon young plants. As an invasive pest, information on potential indigenous natural enemies that cancontrol this pest is needed. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of indigenous entomopathogenic fungi and their application methods on mortality, feeding activity, growth, fecundity, and fertility of S. frugiperda. This study used a factorial Completely Randomized Block Design (RCBD) method consisting of 10 treatments. Treatmentstested werecombination of fungi species, namely Fusarium sp., Aspergillus oryzae, Entomophthora sp. with conidia density 109 ml-1, distilled water and cypermethrin at concentration of 1 ml.L-1 as a control. Two application techniques used were direct application on S. frugiperda larvae and diet test. Each treatment was repeated three times resulting in30 experimental units. Variables observed included mortality, feeding activity, growth, fecundity, and fertility of S. frugiperda. Results showed that the three fungi and cypermethrin treatment did not cause mortality, but reduced feeding activity, fecundity and fertility of S. frugiperda. Application of entomopathogenic fungi ondietswas more effective than directly spraying S. frugiperda larvae. The best treatment combination that suppressed feeding activity was the application of Aspergillus oryzae sprayed on S. frugiperda diet.It was also suspected that S. frugiperda larvae used in this test had developed resistance to cypermethrin.

Twisted disease is one of the problems in shallot cultivation. The application of the biological agents Bacillus velezensis and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is an alternative to overcome disease problems in shallot plantings. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the application of B. velezensis and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on the growth and health of shallot. The research was conducted in Gotakan, Panjatan, Kulon Progo, and the Phytopathology Laboratory, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta. Shallot treatments with the application of biological agents were carried out either individually by soaking the bulbs in B. velezensis suspension before planting, coating the bulbs using Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus (Rhizophagus intraradices) with a carrier medium of kaolin flour before planting, and a combination of spraying the B. velezensis suspension on plants at two-week intervals during the growth period and coating the bulbs before planting with R. intraradices. The results of the study showed that the shallot-applied single application of B. velezensis reduced the intensity and incidence of twisted disease by 2.51% and 37.6%, respectively. The combination treatment of B. velezensis and R. intraradices was able to increase the resistance of bulbs to postharvest pathogen Fusarium solani infection, with infected bulbs and areas of 0.70% and 0.71 cm², respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogenicity of two isolates (FS1 and FS2) of the Fusarium solani isolated from diseased chickpea plants harvested from two different regions from Morocco, which were identified morphologically and molecular, was evaluated as the severity, incidence and index of the disease. The results show that the two isolates tested were able to induce symptoms in both parts of the plant (root and aerial), of the seven chickpea varieties ('Garbanzo', 'Farihane', 'Moubarak', 'Douyet', 'Rizki', 'Arifi' and 'Zahour'), which were associated with a reduction in all measured agronomic parameters. However, the intensity of the symptoms depends on the combination of the variety and the isolate of Fusarium. It appears that the FS2 isolate affected the 'Moubarak' variety much more, while the pathogenicity of the FS2 isolate was more pronounced on the 'Rizki' variety. The increase in the leaf damage index as a function of time is due to the evolution of leaf yellowing through several physiological stages (necrosis, stunting, wilting, leaf fall), before causing plant death. At the end of the experiment, the re-isolation of the two Fusarium isolates from the four vegetative parts of all inoculated varieties was positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During reclamation organisms like fungi directly interact at the soil–plant interface and can potentially impact plant growth, health, and overall revegetation success. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine how topsoil amendments (mycorrhizae, biochar, compost, manure) influence root‐associated fungal communities and growth of fast growing Populus balsamifera trees on a phosphogypsum (PG) reclamation site in Alberta, Canada. Tree height, diameter, biomass, and diversity of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were assessed using Illumina MiSeq sequencing targeting the fungal internal transcribed spacer region 1 (ITS1) and ITS2. Topsoil amendments and root location (topsoil vs. PG within a treatment), greatly affected the root fungal community. Basidiomycota preferentially grew in PG, and had a high treatment specific root fungal community with highest diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi and basidiomycete yeast in biochar PG and compost PG. Populus balsamifera roots were associated with a high diversity of Ascomycota, found equally in roots in topsoil and PG, with a trend towards higher diversity and abundance in PG. The core genus found across all samples was Fusarium, a potential plant pathogen. All topsoil amendments strongly reduced abundance of Fusarium and other Ascomycota in poplar roots. Biochar and compost reduced number and abundance of potential fungal pathogens and increased number of potential plant growth promoting Basidiomycota, indicating favorable growth conditions for P. balsamifera on a phosphygypsum reclamation site by application of these amendments. This study indicates compost and biochar can be effective soil amendments to support P. balsamifera establishment and growth on a PG reclamation site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substantial yield losses have been reported during the storage of Allium cepa L., and effective methods to minimize postharvest losses are currently lacking. Therefore the objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of pre-treatment with Trichoderma asperellum and Trichoderma virens on post-harvest losses during storage and to evaluate factors associated with these losses. The storage behaviors of Allium cepa L. bulbs after different field treatments with Trichoderma spp. were examined using a complete randomized design. The common onion bulb diseases encountered during storage were basal rot and black mould diseases, with Fusarium sp., Mucor sp., Penicillium sp., Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus being associated with diseased bulbs. The results regarding the percentage of diseased bulbs showed that pre-harvest treatments with Trichoderma asperellum and Trichoderma virens did not have a significant effect on disease control during storage. Furthermore, storage losses of onions were attributed to sprouting, rooting and wilting, which were exacerbated by the prevailing temperature (~30-32°C) and relative humidity (~77%-79%) during the storage period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants interact with a great diversity of microorganisms or insects throughout their life cycle in the environment. Plant and insect interactions are common; besides, a great variety of microorganisms associated with insects can induce pathogenic damage in the host, as mutualist phytopathogenic fungus. However, there are other microorganisms present in the insect-fungal association, whose biological/ecological activities and functions during plant interaction are unknown. In the present work evaluated, the role of microorganisms associated with Xyleborus affinis, an important beetle species within the Xyleborini tribe, is characterized by attacking many plant species, some of which are of agricultural and forestry importance. We isolated six strains of microorganisms associated with X. affinis shown as plant growth-promoting activity and altered the root system architecture independent of auxin-signaling pathway in Arabidopsis seedlings and antifungal activity against the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium sp. INECOL_BM-06. In addition, evaluating the tripartite interaction plant-microorganism-fungus, interestingly, we found that microorganisms can induce protection against the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium sp. INECOL_BM-06 involving the jasmonic acid-signaling pathway and independent of salicylic acid-signaling pathway. Our results showed the important role of this microorganisms during the plant- and insect-microorganism interactions, and the biological potential use of these microorganisms as novel agents of biological control in the crops of agricultural and forestry is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beauvercin H (1), a new cyclic hexadepsipeptide, and two known ones (2 and 3) were isolated from the EtOH extract of the solid culture of Fusarium sp. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, including extensive 1D and 2D NMR techniques, as well as comparison with literature values. Additionally, compounds 1–3 were tested for their cytotoxic activities. The results showed that all isolated compounds exhibited cytotoxic activities against five human cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 1.379 to 13.12 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the effectiveness of sterilization of peracetic acid (PA) solution and sodium hypochlorite (SH) solution for several fungi (Penicillium sp., Cladosporium sp., and Fusarium sp.) attached on the cut surface of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) was evaluated. The mixture of each strain isolated from rotten sweet potatoes was inoculated on the cut surface of presterilized sweet potato blocks. Further, each inoculated cut potato was washed with water, 200 mg/L SH, a mixture of SH, and 100 mM acetic acid (SH+AA), or 20–80 mg/L PA for 5 min at room temperature. Comparing with the untreated ones (4.2–5.1 log CFU/mL), the 80 mg/L PA washing could reduce 2.2, 2.2, and 2.0 log CFU/mL of Penicillium, Fusarium, and Cladosporium species, respectively. The increasing concentration of PA resulted in an increase the fungicidal efficiency. The use of 80 mg/L PA solution was suggested to be more highly effective than the one of (pH controlled) SH solution to control the spoilage fungi on cut sweet potato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogenicity of two isolates (FS1 and FS2) of the Fusarium solani isolated from diseased chickpea plants harvested from two different regions from Morocco, which were identified morphologically and molecular, was evaluated as the severity, incidence and index of the disease. The results show that the two isolates tested were able to induce symptoms in both parts of the plant (root and aerial), of the seven chickpea varieties (‘Garbanzo’, ‘Farihane’, ‘Moubarak’, ‘Douyet’, ‘Rizki’, ‘Arifi’ and ‘Zahour’), which were associated with a reduction in all measured agronomic parameters. However, the intensity of the symptoms depends on the combination of the variety and the isolate of Fusarium. It appears that the FS2 isolate affected the ‘Moubarak’ variety much more, while the pathogenicity of the FS2 isolate was more pronounced on the ‘Rizki’ variety. The increase in the leaf damage index as a function of time is due to the evolution of leaf yellowing through several physiological stages (necrosis, stunting, wilting, leaf fall), before causing plant death. At the end of the experiment, the re-isolation of the two Fusarium isolates from the four vegetative parts of all inoculated varieties was positive.

Two new anthraquinones, (11S)-1,4,6-trihydroxy-7-(1-hydroxyethyl)-3-methoxyanthracene-9,10-dione (1) and (11S)-1,6-dihydroxy-7-(1-hydroxyethyl)-3-methoxyanthracene-9,10-dione (2), together with six known compounds, including four naphthoquinones (3–6), one thiophene derivative (7), and one cyclohexanedione derivative (8), were isolated from the mangrove rhizosphere soil-derived fungus Fusarium sp. J3-2. Compound 1 displayed weak to moderate antibacterial activities against five strains of pathogenic bacteria with MIC values ranging from 25 to 50 μg/mL. Compound 3 showed weak cytotoxic activities toward human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, SMMC-7721 and SGC-7901, with IC50 values of 48.87 and 41.23 μg/mL, respectively. Compounds 1–7 exhibited antifouling activities against the larval settlement of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fusarium rot is a newly introduced, devastating disease of citrus fruits. The current investigation was undertaken to characterize the microbes responsible for fruit rot in Citrus reticulata. Methods: Pathogens were isolated from infected citrus fruits using morphological and molecular approaches. For confirmation of the isolated fungi, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and internal transcribed spacer gene sequencing techniques were used. Results: The isolated fungus was grown on potato dextrose agar for three days and it produced clamydospores, hyphae and macroconidia. PCR amplification of isolated fungal DNA gave a 650 bp product. The sequence obtained from isolated fungi had 99.42% similarity with the reference Fusarium concentricum sequence in NCBI GenBank. The obtained sequence was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. MT856371). Two isolates showed virulence capability on fresh guava, sweet orange and tomato fruits, which confirmed species identification and Koch’s postulates. Artificially inoculated fungal species grown on tested fruits showed typical Fusarium species symptoms. Conclusions: Outcomes of the present study are beneficial for the detection of this detrimental disease in postharvest Citrus reticulata fruits. Further research is needed for the control of this economically important disease. This is the first study of fruit rot in Citrus reticulata caused by Fusarium in Bangladesh.

Copyright of Journal of Central European Agriculture is the property of Journal of Central European Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus) is a significant weed in arable systems with cereals being negatively impacted through yield reduction and contamination of harvested grain. There are limited herbicide options for its control, and reduction of the weed seed bank is a key part of its management. Ripgut brome seeds were incubated in three soils known to harbour a range of plant pathogens, and a range of fungi were subsequently isolated from ungerminated seeds. The most prevalent putative fungal pathogens isolated were Fusarium spp. and Marasmius sp. Selected isolates were cultured on artificial media and tested for their ability to inhibit germination of ripgut brome seeds in a series of in vitro assays, with many isolates completely inhibiting germination. When isolates were tested for their activity against non-target arable species in plant assays, three of five Fusarium spp. isolates significantly inhibited germination of oats and barley while a Marasmius sp. isolate had no effect on germination of these species. Further plant assays using four Marasmius sp. isolates against a wider range of plant species (oats, barley, ryegrass, brome, cocksfoot, and prairie grass) indicated some variability between Marasmius sp. isolates, with two isolates slightly inhibiting germination of some plant species, while two isolates (W14, W17) had no adverse effects. Sequencing of the ITS region of the Marasmius sp. isolates indicated that they were closely related but distinct from M. graminum, which is known to have some phytopathogenic activity and M. oreades which has not yet been reported as a plant pathogen. Further investigation of the Marasmius isolates as potential biocontrol agents for ripgut brome seed is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation is a complicated disorder that is produced as a result of consecutive processes. 5-LOX (5-lipoxygenase) is accountable for various inflammation mediators and leukotrienes synthesis, and its inhibition is the target of anti-inflammation therapeutics. Fungi have acquired enormous attentiveness because of their capability to biosynthesize novel bio-metabolites that reveal diversified bio-activities. A new tetracyclic triterpenoid, integracide L (1), along with integracides B (2) and F (3), were separated from Mentha longifolia-associated Fusarium sp. (FS No. MAR2014). Their structures were verified utilizing varied spectral analyses. The isolated metabolites (1–3), alongside the earlier reported integracides G (4), H (5), and J (6), were inspected for 5-LOX inhibition capacity. Interestingly, 1–6 possessed marked 5-LOX inhibition potentials with IC50s ranging from 1.18 to 3.97 μM compared to zileuton (IC50 1.17 µM). Additionally, molecular docking was executed to examine the interaction among these metabolites and 5-LOX, as well as to validate the in vitro findings. The docking study revealed their inhibitory activity interactions in the binding pocket. These findings highlighted the potential of integracides as lead metabolites for anti-inflammation drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La canela (Cinnamomum sp.) es una especie con algunas limitantes sanitarias pero significativas, siendo Phytophthora cinnamomi y Fusarium sp. las de mayor importancia que afectan la raíz. Su control con fungicidas sintéticos ha favorecido el desarrollo de resistencia debido a su mal manejo, por lo que su control con aceites esenciales es una alternativa viable. El objetivo fue determinar el potencial antifúngico de los aceites esenciales de tomillo y clavo para el control de P. cinnamomi y Fusarium sp. aislados de Cinnamomum verum. Se evaluaron concentraciones de 60, 120 y 300 µL L-1 para los dos aceites esenciales. Los datos registrados sobre la tasa de crecimiento radial micelial de los patógenos después de la incubación de Fusarium sp. a 25 ± 1 °C y 28 ± 1 °C tuvo diferencia significativa en las concentraciones ensayadas. P. cinnamomi, no creció radialmente con la concentración de 300 µL L‑1, mientras que con 120 µL L-1 la tasa de crecimiento fue de 0.06 mm por día. En tanto, con Fusarium sp. se inhibe por completo el crecimiento micelial con las dosis de 120 y 300 µL L-1 de aceites esenciales. Con el aceite de tomillo se observó una tendencia similar en las concentraciones 120 y 300 µL L-1 con mayor efecto de inhibición de los dos patógenos. La dosis de 300 µL L-1 de los dos aceites esenciales son capaces de inhibir en su totalidad (P ≤ 0.05) el crecimiento de ambos patógenos. En una concentración máxima de 280 esporas de ambos patógenos; se observó que, el número de esporas se reduce hasta 73 esporas con 300 µL L-1 de aceite de tomillo. Por tanto, pueden ser una alternativa preventiva en el control de enfermedades de la raíz en canela.

Context: Human life is contested with the emergence of new infectious diseases and antibiotic-resistant pathogens, cellular deterioration due to oxidative stress, and age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Aims: To evaluate the antibacterial, antioxidant, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of crude extract from the endophytic fungus Fusarium sp. isolate OQ-Fus-2-F as a basis for medical application. Methods: Fusarium sp. isolate OQ-Fus-2-F was isolated from the stem of Euphorbia sp. plant. It was identified morphologically and based on 18S rRNA gene partial sequence. The isolated was cultivated in a malt extract glucose medium. Cell filtrate was extracted with ethyl acetate, and the crude extract was dried in vacuum. The crude extract was assessed for its antimicrobial activity through agar diffusion and micro-broth dilution assays; antioxidant activity was measured using DPPH and ABTS methods, and the anticholinergic activity was evaluated in terms of inhibition in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Results: Crude extract of Fusarium sp. isolate OQ-Fus-2-F was more potent in inhibiting the growth of B. subtilis with a MIC value of 125 µg/mL. Its antioxidant activity was highly detected in ABTS than DPPH assay with IC50 values 37.5 ± 3.5 µg/mL and 191.3 ± 17.6 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the extract inhibited the AChE activity with IC50 177.0 ± 13.7 µg/mL. Conclusions: Crude extract of Fusarium sp. isolate OQ-Fus-2-F has potential biomedical applications as it contains secondary metabolites with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and neuroprotective activates.

Three new hexadepsipeptides (1–3), along with beauvericin (4), beauvericin D (5), and four 4-hydroxy-2-pyridone derivatives (6–9) were isolated from the endophytic fungus Fusarium sp. CPCC 400857 that derived from the stem of tea plant. Their structures were determined by extensive 1D and 2D NMR, and HRESIMS analyses. The absolute configuration of hexadepsipeptides were elucidated by the advanced Marfey’s method and chiral HPLC analysis. Compounds 4, and 7–9 displayed the cytotoxicity against human pancreatic cancer cell line, AsPC-1 with IC50 values ranging from 3.45 to 29.69 μM, and 7 and 8 also showed the antiviral activity against the coronavirus (HCoV-OC43) with IC50 values of 13.33 and 6.65 μM, respectively.

Despite efforts to control toxigenic Fusarium species, wilt and head-blight infections are destructive and economically damaging diseases that have global effects. The utilization of biological control agents in disease management programs has provided an effective, safe, and sustainable means to control Fusarium-induced plant diseases. Among the most widely used microbes for biocontrol agents are members of the genus Bacillus. These species influence plant and fungal pathogen interactions by a number of mechanisms such as competing for essential nutrients, antagonizing pathogens by producing fungitoxic metabolites, or inducing systemic resistance in plants. The multivariate interactions among plant-biocontrol agent-pathogen are the subject of this study, in which we survey the advances made regarding the research on the Bacillus-Fusarium interaction and focus on the principles and mechanisms of action among plant-growth promoting Bacillus species. In particular, we highlight their use in limiting and controlling Fusarium spread and infestations of economically important crops. This knowledge will be useful to define strategies for exploiting this group of beneficial bacteria for use as inoculants by themselves or in combination with other microbes for enhanced crop protection.