scholarly journals Fungi and invasions in South Africa

Bothalia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan R. Wood
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Invasion Biology ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Status Report ◽  
Fish Pathogen ◽  
Terrestrial Plants ◽  
Indigenous Plants ◽  
Almost All ◽  
National Environmental

Background: Fungi are a major component of the functioning of all terrestrial ecosystems. Objectives: To increase awareness of fungi as drivers of ecosystem processes, including invasion biology. Method: Here, I reviewed the information available regarding fungal invasions of native ecosystems in South Africa in the context of the National Status Report on Biological Invasions. Results: Only seven fungal species are regulated as invaders (all category 1b) under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEM:BA) AIS regulations. Four of these species are not yet known to occur in South Africa. Similarly, under the NEM:BA AIS regulations, two of the four species listed as prohibited (i.e. not present in the country but which would pose a threat if introduced) are already present in the country. The actual number of alien fungi in South Africa is much greater. A preliminary listing of alien fungal species is made, with a total of 9 pathogenic species known to attack indigenous plants, 11 saprotrophic species, 1 fish pathogen, 23 host-specific pathogens of listed alien terrestrial plants, 61 ectomycorrhizal species and 7 host-specific pathogens deliberately introduced as biological control agents. The majority of fungal species were introduced to South Africa most likely via the introduction of crop plants as passengers, although there are as yet very little details available on pathways of introduction into South Africa. Conclusion: For almost all aspects considered, it is concluded that there is simply not sufficient data to begin to understand the role and impact of fungal invasions in South Africa.

The Reflection of Apartheidic Trauma / Traumatic Apartheid in None to Accompany Me by Nadine Gordimer

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 328
Author(s):  
Şahin KIZILTAŞ
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Black People ◽  
Native People ◽  
Nadine Gordimer ◽  
Equal Rights ◽  
White People ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Violence Victimization ◽  
White Settlers ◽  
Almost All

The world has gone through a trauma for centuries. Almost all nations have experienced all sorts of traumatic events and feelings in this period. Among those nations, the black seem to be the most unlucky and ill-fated suffered from traumatic disasters. However, among those black nations, the natives of South Africa have been the most piteous and wretched ones. Their misfortune began in 1652 with the arrival of white colonists in the country. Since then, the oppression and persecution of white European colonists and settlers on natives increasingly continued. Those native people were displaced from the lands inherited from their ancestors a few centuries ago. They were not allowed to have equal rights with white people and to share same environment in public premises. The natives have put up resistance against the racial and colonial practices of white settlers which excluded them from all living spaces; yet, they could not manage, even they came into power in 1994. Today their exclusion and violence victimization still go on and they are still subjected to inferior treatment by (post)colonial dominant white powers. As a white intellectual and writer who had European origins, Nadine Gordimer witnessed the repression and torturing of European settlers on native people in South Africa. In her novels, she has reflected the racial discrimination practiced by white people who have considered of themselves in a superior position compared to the black. This study aims to focus on how Gordimer has reflected the trauma which the black people of South Africa have experienced as a consequence of racist practices. This will contribute to clarify and get across the real and true-life traumatic narratives of native people in the colonized countries.

scholarly journals Metabolomic Analysis of The Chemical Diversity of South Africa Leaf Litter Fungal Species Using an Epigenetic Culture-Based Approach

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (14) ◽  
pp. 4262
Author(s):  
Rachel Serrano ◽  
Víctor González-Menéndez ◽  
Germán Martínez ◽  
Clara Toro ◽  
Jesús Martín ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Genome Mining ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Chemical Diversity ◽  
Fermentation Conditions ◽  
Metabolite Profiles ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Fungal Genomes ◽  
Microbial Natural Products ◽  
Fermentation Media

Microbial natural products are an invaluable resource for the biotechnological industry. Genome mining studies have highlighted the huge biosynthetic potential of fungi, which is underexploited by standard fermentation conditions. Epigenetic effectors and/or cultivation-based approaches have successfully been applied to activate cryptic biosynthetic pathways in order to produce the chemical diversity suggested in available fungal genomes. The addition of Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid to fermentation processes was evaluated to assess its effect on the metabolomic diversity of a taxonomically diverse fungal population. Here, metabolomic methodologies were implemented to identify changes in secondary metabolite profiles to determine the best fermentation conditions. The results confirmed previously described effects of the epigenetic modifier on the metabolism of a population of 232 wide diverse South Africa fungal strains cultured in different fermentation media where the induction of differential metabolites was observed. Furthermore, one solid-state fermentation (BRFT medium), two classic successful liquid fermentation media (LSFM and YES) and two new liquid media formulations (MCKX and SMK-II) were compared to identify the most productive conditions for the different populations of taxonomic subgroups.

Peanut Web Blotch: I. Cultural Characteristics and Identity of Causal Fungus1

1984 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Taber ◽  
R. E. Pettit ◽  
G. L. Philley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cultural Studies ◽  
Mycelial Growth ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Optimum Temperature ◽  
Cultural Characteristics ◽  
Foliar Disease ◽  
The Usa

Abstract A foliar disease of peanuts, previously unreported in the USA, was found in Texas in 1972. The pathogen was identified as a species of Ascochyta. Further cultural studies have revealed this fungus to be Phoma arachidicola Marasas, Pauer, and Boerema. Pycnidia form profusely at 20 C and 25 C. Pycnidiospores are borne on short pycnidiosphores and are predominantly one-celled in culture. Spores produced in pycnidia on infected leaflets become 1 septate. Large 1-septate spores, as well as an occasional 2-septate spore, may form in culture. Optimum temperature for mycelial growth in 20 C; little or no growth occurs at 5 C or above 30 C. The teleomorphic state develops in the field on fallen leaflets and can be induced to form in the laboratory on sterilized peanut leaflets between 15 and 20 C. Cultures derived from single ascospores form pseudothecia. Pycnidiospores, ascospores, and chlamydospores are all infective units. Because this fungus produces hyaline ascospores and pseudoparaphyses, it has been transferred to the genus Didymella as Didymella arachidicola (Choch.) comb. nov. Comparisons with 15 isolates causing web blotch of peanut in the USA, Argentina, and South Africa indicate that web blotch symptoms are produced by the same fungal species.

scholarly journals Forest plantations reduce soil functioning in terrestrial ecosystems from South Africa

Pedobiologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 150757
Author(s):  
Adenike Eunice Amoo ◽  
Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo ◽  
Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Forest Plantations ◽  
Soil Functioning

Effective Planning for Rural Development in A Democratic South Africa: The Prospects of Rural Cooperatives

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
France Khutso Lavhelani Kgobe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Development ◽  
South African ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Social Capital Theory ◽  
Capital Theory ◽  
Rural Cooperatives ◽  
The Government ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Effective Planning

This paper explores the potency of rural cooperatives for the effective planning and implementation of rural strategies to address poverty. Rural cooperatives function as a participatory approach that provides the potential to equip and empower people in rural areas with various skills. Hence, rural cooperatives represent the means and strategies to unshackle rural people from the vicious circle of poverty. The contestation about a deadlock of rural development has become pertinent in the recent and ongoing political transformation in South Africa. This paper is grounded on the social capital theory and its ideals. As such, it depends on a literature review for its premise, argument, crux and purpose, as well as drawing up results and conclusions. The paper gathers information in respect of various scholars’ notions on rural cooperatives and rural development from related articles, journals and books. The paper reveals that where the South African government is confronted and characterised by some form of upheaval and service delivery challenges, so rural cooperatives are fit to capacitate citizens to avoid depending on the government for scarce resources. The paper further reveals that rural cooperatives are deemed to ameliorate the long-standing patterns of developmental backlogs in almost all South African municipalities. The conclusion that can be made from this paper is that the authentic promotion of rural development in the formulation of a well-informed legislative framework, that is clear and unambiguous, can deal effectively with the challenges of rural cooperatives.

scholarly journals Medicinal Plants Used for the Traditional Management of Diabetes in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: Pharmacology and Toxicology

Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 2759 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Odeyemi ◽  
Graeme Bradley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Insulin Mimetic ◽  
Almost All

The use of medicinal plants for the management of diabetes mellitus is on the rise in the developing countries, including South Africa. There is increasing scientific evidence that supports the claims by the traditional healers. In this review, we compare the families of previously reported anti-diabetic plants in the Eastern Cape by rating the anti-diabetic activity, mode of action and also highlight their therapeutic potentials based on the available evidence on their pharmacology and toxicity. Forty-five plants mentioned in ethnobotanical surveys were subjected to a comprehensive literature search in the available electronic databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and Elsevier, by using “plant name” and “family” as the keywords for the primary searches to determine the plants that have been scientifically investigated for anti-diabetic activity. The search returned 25 families with Asteraceae highly reported, followed by Asphodelaceae and Alliaceae. Most of the plants have been studied for their anti-diabetic potentials in vivo and/or in vitro, with most of the plants having a higher percentage of insulin release and inhibition against carbohydrate digesting enzymes as compared with insulin mimetic and peripheral glucose uptake. Almost all the investigated plants also inhibit oxidative stress as part of their hypoglycemic activity with less toxicity. However, the isolation of their bioactive molecules is still lacking. This review provides a resource to enable thorough assessments of the therapeutic profiles of available medicinal plants used for the management of diabetes in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Further studies such as the identification of the active ingredients of potent plants still need to be carried out; this may lead to new molecules in drug discovery and development.

scholarly journals Microbiological analysis of commonly used toothpaste samples in Bangladesh

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-40
Author(s):  
Mousumi Talukder ◽  
Ifra Tun Nur
Keyword(s):  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Enteric Bacteria ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Microbiological Analysis ◽  
Bacillus Spp ◽  
Viable Bacteria ◽  
Dental Diseases ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Staphylococcus Spp ◽  
Great Public Health

Present study attempted to identify and enumerate microorganisms spoiling commonly used toothpaste samples. Among 7 brand of toothpaste, almost all were found to be rigorously contaminated with total viable bacteria within a range of 103 – 105 cfu/g. Proliferation of fungal species was observed up to 105 cfu/g. Prevalence of Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus spp. was observed within a range of 103-105 cfu/g while Vibrio spp. were completely absent. Among the enteric bacteria, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. was found in all the samples tested. Such findings highlighted a great public health risk associated with dental diseases among the users and thereby specified the importance to introduce a proper guideline in maintaining good microbiological quality for such daily usage healthcare products. Stamford Journal of Microbiology, Vol.8(1) 2018: 38-40

scholarly journals Public Interest Environmental Litigation: Recent Cases Raise Possible Obstacles

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Michael Kidd
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Environmental Management ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Locus Standi ◽  
The Republic ◽  
History Books ◽  
National Environmental

Despite the broadening of locus standi in environmental cases by both Section 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, and Section 32 of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, two recent cases suggest that the pre-constitutional approach to locus standi still holds sway in our Courts.  Moreover, failure to recognise the environmental right in Section 24 of the Constitution may be an impediment to applicants' ability to bring an interdict application successfully.  Correct use of the relevant constitutional provisions ought to obviate such problems, but alternatives are suggested.  In the course of the article, it is suggested that the rule in Patz v Greene is no longer relevant and should be consigned to the history books.

scholarly journals Eutypa, Eutypella, and Cryptovalsa Species (Diatrypaceae) Associated with Prunus Species in South Africa

Plant Disease ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 102 (7) ◽  
pp. 1402-1409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Providence Moyo ◽  
Ulrike Damm ◽  
Lizel Mostert ◽  
Francois Halleen
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Fruit Trees ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Stone Fruit ◽  
Prunus Species ◽  
Internal Transcribed Spacer Region ◽  
Eutypa Lata ◽  
Eutypa Dieback ◽  
Prunus Spp

Stone fruit trees (Prunus spp.) are economically important fruit trees cultivated in South Africa. These trees are often grown in close proximity to vineyards and are to a large extent affected by the same trunk disease pathogens as grapevines. The aim of the present study was to determine whether stone fruit trees are inhabited by Diatrypaceae species known from grapevines and whether these trees could act as alternative hosts for these fungal species. Isolations were carried out from symptomatic wood of Prunus species (almond, apricot, cherry, nectarine, peach, and plum) in stone fruit growing areas in South Africa. Identification of isolates was based on phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region and β-tubulin gene. Forty-six Diatrypaceae isolates were obtained from a total of 380 wood samples, from which five species were identified. All five species have also been associated with dieback of grapevine. The highest number of isolates was found on apricot followed by plum. No Diatrypaceae species were isolated from peach and nectarine. Eutypa lata was the dominant species isolated (26 isolates), followed by Cryptovalsa ampelina (7), Eutypa cremea (5), Eutypella citricola (5), and Eutypella microtheca (3). First reports from Prunus spp. are E. cremea, E. citricola, and E. microtheca. Pathogenicity tests conducted on apricot and plum revealed that all these species are pathogenic to these hosts, causing red-brown necrotic lesions like those typical of Eutypa dieback on apricot.

Sensitivity of global gross primary production to elevated CO2

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjia Cai ◽  
Iain Colin Prentice
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Carbon Sink ◽  
Gross Primary Production ◽  
Light Response ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Percentage Increase ◽  
Terrestrial Plants ◽  
Fertilization Effect ◽  
Vegetation Models ◽  
The Impact

<p>Terrestrial ecosystems have accounted for more than half of the global carbon sink during the past decades and offset 25%-30% of current anthropogenic CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. The projected increase in CO<sub>2</sub> concentration will depend on the magnitude of terrestrial plants’ feedback to CO<sub>2</sub>: i.e. the sensitivity of plant carbon uptake in response to elevated CO<sub>2</sub>, and the strength of the CO<sub>2</sub> fertilization effect (CFE) in a changing (and warming) environment. Projecting vegetation responses to future increases in CO<sub>2</sub> concentration under climate change is a major uncertainty, as ecosystem models, field experiments and satellite-based models show large disagreements. In this study, using a recently developed, parameter-sparse model (the ‘P model’), we assess the sensitivity of GPP to increasing CO<sub>2</sub> under idealized conditions, in comparison with other vegetation models and field experiments. We investigate the impact of two central parameters, the ratio of J<sub>max </sub>to V<sub>cmax</sub> (at a common temperature) and the curvature of the light response curve, on the sensitivity of GPP to CO<sub>2</sub>. We also quantified the spatial-temporal trend of CFE using the β factor, defined as the percentage increase in GPP in response to a 100-ppm increase in atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentration over a defined period. We show how modelled β has changed over the satellite era, and infer the possible effect of climatic variables on changes of CFE from spatial patterns of the modelled trend in β.</p>

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