World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

The world heritage of Huangshan is located in the east-central China. In order to obtain a better overview of biodiversity in Huangshan, we investigated the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the soil of Huangshan. Forty-two rhizosphere soil samples were collected and 989 arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spore samples were obtained using the wet-sieving method. Twenty-five species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were identified from the collections. The species were of the genera Acaulospora (6 species), Entrophospora (1 species), Glomus (16 species) and Scutellospora (2 species). Acaulospora and Glomus were dominant at the study site. The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi spore density ranged from 45 to 3,250 per 100 g soil (average 839), and the species richness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi ranged from 1 to 9 (average 4.2) per soil sample. Shannon–Wiener index and Simpson’s index were calculated to evaluate the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity. The diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community in the subtropical forest of Huangshan may be the result of mutual selection between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the ecological environment.

A total of 116 strains of Brazilian tropical rainforest basidiomycetes were evaluated in terms of their ability to oxidize the dye rhemazol brilliant blue R (RBBR) and guaiacol. Laccase and peroxidase activities were detected by the drop test using solutions of α-naphthol and pyrogallol, respectively. RBBR and guaiacol oxidation occurred in 96.6 and 87.1% of the strains tested, respectively. One hundred strains oxidized both substrates. In the drop test, most strains presented laccase (96.6%) and peroxidase (92.2%) activity. The quick screening method used here can be useful to identify ligninolytic fungal strains to be used in various biotechnological applications.

The commercialization of fruits in markets generates a large amount of waste because they are perishable and have a short shelf life, so, they are discarded. This study aimed to provide a noble end to discarded fruits that have fermentable sugars. Banana, apple, mango and papaya residues were collected from supermarkets and underwent an enzymatic hydrolysis process. The ability of four pectinases, two amylases, one xylanase and one cellulase to release reducing sugars from fruit biomass before fermentation with two yeast strains (S. cerevisiae CAT-1 and S. cerevisiae Angel) for bioethanol production was investigated, obtaining a total of RS (Reducing sugar) of 268.08 mg/mL in banana residues. A fermentation with yeast S. cerevisiae CAT-1 resulted in 98% consumption of RS and the production of a total of 28.02 g/L of ethanol. Furthermore, fermentation with the yeast S. cerevisiae Angel, resulted in 97% RS consumption and 31.87 g/L ethanol production, which was the best result obtained throughout all the tests of hydrolysis, highlighting the banana residue as a promising biomass for the production of bioethanol.

Xanthomonas campestris pv campestris (Xcc), causing black rot, is one of the most yield-limiting and destructive pathogens of cruciferous crops. The intention of this study was to evaluate the potential of rhizobacteria in black rot management. Fifty-four isolates from rhizosphere soil of Brassica campestris were screened against Xcc. Two isolates namely, KA19 and SE, with inhibition radius >11 mm were selected. The combined use of them produced an average inhibition zone of 18.1 ± 1.4 mm radius (P < 0.05). 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis identified KA19 and SE as the nearest homologs (>99.4%) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus thuringiensis, respectively. In greenhouse study, both isolates were effective (P < 0.05) in reducing black rot lesions compared to untreated control involving either a foliar spray or the combined seed soak and soil drench. However, the combined strains (KA19 + SE) were significantly more effective (P < 0.05) when the mode of application was combined seed and soil drench. The lipid content of seeds increased significantly with the application of these strains, especially with SE alone and in combination. After 9 weeks, the Xcc population was significantly lower in soil treated with combined strains (P < 0.05). KA19 produced extracellular siderophores, influenced by various carbon sources and identified as 4-hydroxy-2-nonyl-quinoline by NMR. In Bacillus SE, two antibacterial factors corresponding to autolysins (β-N-acetylglucosaminidase) and AHL-lactonases were established. This study would strengthen our understanding for application of different rhizobacteria with various active principles like Pseudomonas and Bacillus as ingredients of a biocontrol mixture.

As important components of enzymes and coenzymes involved in energy transfer and Wood-Ljungdahl (WL) pathways, Fe2+ and Ni2+ supplementation may promote the acetate synthesis through CO2 reduction by the microbial electrosynthesis (MES). However, the effect of Fe2+ and Ni2+ addition on acetate production in MES and corresponding microbial mechanisms have not been fully studied. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of Fe2+ and Ni2+ addition on acetate production in MES, and explored the underlying microbial mechanism from the metatranscriptomic perspective. Both Fe2+ and Ni2+ addition enhanced acetate production of the MES, which was 76.9% and 110.9% higher than that of control, respectively. Little effect on phylum level and small changes in genus-level microbial composition was caused by Fe2+ and Ni2+ addition. Gene expression of ‘Energy metabolism’, especially in ‘Carbon fixation pathways in prokaryotes’ was up-regulated by Fe2+ and Ni2+ addition. Hydrogenase was found as an important energy transfer mediator for CO2 reduction and acetate synthesis. Fe2+ addition and Ni2+ addition respectively enhanced the expression of methyl branch and carboxyl branch of the WL pathway, and thus promoted acetate production. The study provided a metatranscriptomic insight into the effect of Fe2+ and Ni2+ on acetate production by CO2 reduction in MES. λ Acetate microbial electrosynthesis was enhanced by Fe2+ and Ni2+ addition. λ Fe2+ and Ni2+ addition caused small changes in genus-level microbial composition. λ Genes expression of hydrogenase was increased with Fe2+ and Ni2+ addition. λ Fe2+ improved methyl and Ni2+ improved carboxyl branch expression of WL pathway.

“Dirty” glycerol from biodiesel production is having a considerable environmental impact since its disposal is expensive and difficult. The increased biodiesel production in the last two decades has forced glycerol prices down, thereby making it now unprofitable for chemical companies to produce. The problem lies with the impurities of the biodiesel conversion process usually ending up within the crude glycerol fraction. These impurities are often too costly to purify with current processes, particularly for small scale producers. A wide variety of industries, including the paint, tobacco, food and pharmaceutical industries, utilize glycerol as part of their technology or products. However, the crude glycerol from biodiesel production is not of a high enough grade to be used in these industries. Biodiesel-produced crude glycerol is therefore cheap, readily available and presents itself as an attractive carbon source for industrial microbial production systems synthesizing value-added products. This mini-review will look at (a) microbial production processes which use crude glycerol to produce high-value products (product-driven research) and (b) genetic engineering of microbes which is aimed at improving microbial “dirty” glycerol utilization (substrate driven research).

Brettanomyces/Dekkera yeasts grow in wine and their presence is often associated with spoiling activity. In this report, we investigated on the influence of different conditions of aerobiosis on growth and fermentation behaviour of these spoilage yeasts in wine. Results showed that in all conditions tested the Brettanomyces strain consumed all sugars, taking wine fermentation to completion. Strict-anaerobic conditions limited the growth of Brettanomyces. Both anaerobiosis (using a fermentation trap) and strict anaerobiosis did not negatively affect the principal by-products of fermentation whereas semi-anaerobiosis caused an increase of acetic acid, acetaldehyde and ethyl acetate that negatively affected the fermentation profile of resulting products.

Endophytic fungi are plant beneficial rhizospheric microorganisms often applied as bioinoculants for enhanced and disease-free crop production. The objectives of the present work were to develop a carrier-based formulation of root endophyte Piriformospora indica as a bioinoculant. Powder formulation of four different carrier materials viz., talcum powder, clay, sawdust and bioboost (organic supplement) were evaluated and a talc-based formulation was optimized for a longer shelf life with respect to microbial concentration, storage temperature and biological activity. Finally the effect of optimized talc formulation on plant productivity was determined. The application dosages were optimized by studies on plant growth parameters of Phaseolus vulgaris L. plants under green house conditions. Five percent formulation (w/w) of talcum powder was observed to be the most stable at 30 °C with 108 CFU g−1 and effective for a storage period of 6 months. The application of this optimized formulation resulted in increase of growth parameters of P. vulgaris L. and better adaptation of plants under green house conditions.