Search

Additional file 1: Figure S1. Primary structure of the Arabidopsis thaliana WRINKLED 1 protein. Figure S2. Southern blot analysis of WRI1 and ΔWRI1 Indica rice plants. Figure S3. TAG levels in embryo-removed mature seed of wild-type Indica rice, and AtWRI1 transformants. Figure S4. Phenotypic characteristics of homozygous WRI1 Indica rice plants compared with wild-type MH86. Figure S5. Phenotypic characteristics of homozygous WRI1 Japonica rice plants compared with wild-type Nipponbare. Figure S6. Effect of AtWRI1 on gene expression in vegetative tissues of Nipp and full-length AtWRI1 transformants. Figure S7. Fatty acid levels in leaf and stem of Nipp and full-length AtWRI1 transformants. Figure S8. Fatty acid-related gene expression in reproductive tissues of Nipp and full-length AtWRI1 transformants. Figure S9. Fatty acid and starch levels in reproductive tissues of Nipp and full-length AtWRI1 transformants. Figure S10. Total nitrogen value in mature husk-removed rice grain from wild-type Indica rice, and full-length AtWRI1 transformants. Figure S11. Total organic carbon and combustion energy values of straw from wild-type Indica rice plants, and full-length AtWRI1 transformants. Table S1. Quantitation of Western blot analyses. Table S2. Summary of biomethane yield from different rice straw and their oil, carbohydrate and total organic carbon contents. Table S3. Summary of oligonucleotides used in this investigation.

Bioenergy will be one of the most important renewable energy sources in the conversion from fossil fuels to bio-based products. Short rotation coppice Salix could be a key player in this conversion since Salix has rapid growth, positive energy balance, easy to manage cultivation system with vegetative propagation of plant material and multiple harvests from the same plantation. The aim of the present paper is to provide an overview of the main challenges and key issues in willow genetic improvement toward sustainable biofuel value chains. Primarily based on results from the research project "Optimized Utilization of Salix" (OPTUS), the influence of Salix wood quality on the potential for biofuel use is discussed, followed by issues related to the conversion of Salix biomass into liquid and gaseous transportation fuels. Thereafter, the studies address genotypic influence on soil carbon sequestration in Salix plantations, as well as on soil carbon dynamics and climate change impacts. Finally, the opportunities for plant breeding are discussed using willow as a resource for sustainable biofuel production. Substantial phenotypic and genotypic variation was reported for different wood quality traits important in biological (i.e., enzymatic and anaerobic) and thermochemical conversion processes, which is a prerequisite for plant breeding. Furthermore, different Salix genotypes can affect soil carbon sequestration variably, and life cycle assessment illustrates that these differences can result in different climate mitigation potential depending on genotype. Thus, the potential of Salix plantations for sustainable biomass production and its conversion into biofuels is shown. Large genetic variation in various wood and biomass traits, important for different conversion processes and carbon sequestration, provides opportunities to enhance the sustainability of the production system via plant breeding. This includes new breeding targets in addition to traditional targets for high yield to improve biomass quality and carbon sequestration potential.

This study aims to elucidate the role of sulfide and its precursors in anaerobic digestion (i.e., cysteine, representing sulfur-containing amino acids, and sulfate) on microbial oleate conversion to methane. Serine, with a similar structure to cysteine but with a hydroxyl group instead of a thiol, was included as a control to assess potential effects on methane formation that were not related to sulfur functionalities. The results showed that copresence of sulfide and oleate in anaerobic batch assays accelerated the methane formation compared to assays with only oleate and mitigated negative effect on methane formation caused by increased sulfide level. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of sulfide exposed oleate suggested that sulfide reaction with oleate double bonds likely contributed to negation of the negative effect on the methanogenic activity. Methane formation from oleate was also accelerated in the presence of cysteine or serine, while sulfate decreased the cumulative methane formation from oleate. Neither cysteine nor serine was converted to methane, and their accelerating effects was associated to different mechanisms due to establishment of microbial communities with different structures, as evidenced by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. These outcomes contribute with new knowledge to develop strategies for optimum use of sulfur-and lipid-rich wastes in anaerobic digestion processes.

An anaerobic bacterial strain, designated AMB_01T, recovered from mesophilic propionate enrichment of a high- ammonia biogas digester, was characterised using phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. Cells of AMB_01T are coccus- shaped and often occur arranged as diplococci or sarcina. Growth occurred at 20-45 degrees C, initial pH 5.5-8.5 and with up to 0.7 M NH4Cl, with optimum growth at 37-42 degrees C and pH 8.0. AMB_01T achieved high cell density and highest acetate production when grown on carbohydrates, including monomers, disaccharides and polysaccharides, such as glucose, maltose, cellobiose and starch. The strain was also able to use amino acids and some organic acids and alcoholic compounds for growth. Acetate was formed as the main product and yeast was not required for growth. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 4 (iso- C17:1I and/or anteiso-C17:1B), C18:1 omega 7, C14:0, C16: 0 and summed feature 3 (C16:1 omega 7 and/or iso- C15: 0 2OH). The highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity found was with Miniphocaeibacter massiliensis (96.6 %), within the family Peptoniphilaceae, phylum Bacillota (Firmicutes). The genomic DNA G+C content was 29.0 mol%. An almost complete set of genes for the acetyl- CoA pathway was found. Genome comparisons between AMB_01T and close relatives showed highest digital DNA-DNA hybridisation to Finegoldia magna (23 %), highest average nucleotide identity with genome nucleotide and amino acid sequences to M. massiliensis (72 and 73 %, respectively) and highest average nucleotide identity (87 %) with Schnuerera ultunensis, indicating that AMB_01T represents a novel species. Analysis of genomic, chemotaxonomic, biochemical and physiological data confirmed that strain AMB_01T represents a novel species, for which the name Miniphocaeibacter halophilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AMB_01T (=DSM 110247T=JCM 39107 T).