Studies on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal association in the plant species of theerthamalai hills, western ghats of dharmapuri district tamilnadu, india

The present study to investigate the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal root colonization and spore population of some medicinal plants species at Theerthamalai hills Western Ghats of Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu. Root and rhizosphere soil samples were collected during the month of August, 2010-March, 2011. From the surface to 20 cm depth as well as pH were also measured. Totally 42 plant species belonging to 24 families recovered Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spore and root colonization. The results of the present study arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spore population in the rhizosphere soil and root colonization of all the plant species. The maximum spore population was found in the rhizosphere soil samples of the plant species Leucas aspera (386/100g of soil) which belongs to the family Lamiaceae and lowest spore population was observed in the Wrightia tinctoria (117/100g of soil) belongs to Apocyanaceae. The maximum AM fungal infection was found in roots of Cassia auriculata (63%) belongs to the family Fabaceae, while the lowest AM fungal association was found in the root of Achyranthes aspera (17%) belongs to the family Amaranthaceae. A total of 24 AM fungal species belonging to 4 genera were recorded from the rhizosphere soil samples of this study region. Among these genus Glomus was dominant had seen in rhizosphere soil samples in all the medicinal plant species.

Influence of fungicide and fertilizer amendments on mycorrhizal association in Quiona (Chenopodium quinoa. Willd.)

Effect of soil factor like alkaline cultivated versus saline non-cultivated soil, fertilization with organic (PYM) and inorganic (DAP) manure and addition of fungicides (Bavistin + Thiram, Difolatan and Thiram) on indigenous VA mycorrhizal fungi was examined in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd). DAP in combination with Bavistin + Thiram enhanced the spore population ad decreased mycorrhizal formation. FYM in combination with Difolatan enhanced both. Adverse effects of fungicides were nullified by fertilizers. Activity of Glomus was enhanced in the presence of DAP and Gigaspora was favoured by FYM.

Mycorrhizal fungi Glomus spp. propagation in zeolite enriched with mycorrhiza helper bacteria for controlling nematode in coffee

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a role in suppressing the nematode Pratylenchus coffeae. Mycorrhizal helper bacteria (MHB) can increase the effectiveness of AMF to control the diseases. The experimental purpose was to increase the spore population of AMF Glomus spp. in zeolite-based formulation inoculated with liquid consortia of Pseudomonas diminuta and Bacillus subtilis as MHB. The experimental design was a completely random design with six treatments consisted of 106, 107, 108, and 109 CFU/mL MHB liquid inoculants. The control treatments were water and 2% molasses. All treatments were replicated four times. A total of 300 mL/pot Liquid inoculant of MHB have been inoculated a three day before transplanting the maize seedling to the Zeolite inoculated with Glomus spp. in the pot. One month after MHB inoculation, Glomus formulation in Zeolite with different levels of MHB increased the degree of infection. Three months after MHB inoculation, spore content in Zeolite increased. The density of P. diminuta and B. subtilis in zeolite-based mycorrhizal inoculant increased at the end of the experiment. Liquid inoculant MHB contained 108 CFU/mL enhanced spora number fourth times compared to the control. This experiment suggests that P. diminuta and B. subtilis were effective to increase the spore density of AMF inoculant.

Elimination of Aspergillus flavus from Pistachio Nuts with Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) Cold Plasma and Its Impacts on Biochemical Indices

In the present research, the effects of different durations (0, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 sec) of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) cold plasma on decontaminating Aspergillus flavus, detoxifying pure aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and the quality attributes of pistachio nuts (total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, chlorophylls, total carotenoids, instrumental color, total soluble protein, and malondialdehyde determination) were studied. The results showed that the viable spore population reduced with the increase of plasma treatment duration, so that after 180 s of the treatment, a decrease by 4 logs was observed in the spore population. Chlorophyll a and b, as well as total carotenoid levels and color parameters, decreased, which led to darker pistachio samples and intensity reduction in soluble protein content and protein bands. Plasma treatment did not alter the total phenolic content but slightly increased the antioxidant activity of pistachio nuts samples. The malondialdehyde values significantly increased all the plasma treatment durations. The maximum reduction of AFB1 was observed after 180 s of the treatment, which was 64.63% and 52.42% for glass slides and pistachio nut samples, respectively. The present findings demonstrated that cold plasma could be used as an efficient decontamination method of food products without inducing undesirable quality changes in nuts.

Discovery of fungal-specific targets and inhibitors using chemical phenotyping of pathogenic spore germination

There is a critical need for new antifungal drugs; however, the lack of available fungal-specific targets is a major hurdle in the development of antifungal therapeutics. Spore germination is a differentiation process absent in humans that could harbor uncharacterized fungal-specific targets. To capitalize on this possibility, we developed novel phenotypic assays to identify and characterize inhibitors of spore germination of the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus. Using these assays, we carried out a high throughput screen of ~75,000 drug-like small molecules and identified and characterized 191 novel inhibitors of spore germination, many of which also inhibited yeast replication and demonstrated low cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. Using an automated, microscopy-based, quantitative germination assay (QGA), we discovered that germinating spore populations can exhibit unique phenotypes in response to chemical inhibitors. Through the characterization of these spore population dynamics in the presence of the newly identified inhibitors, we classified 6 distinct phenotypes based on differences in germination synchronicity, germination rates, and overall population behavior. Similar chemical phenotypes were induced by inhibitors that targeted the same cellular function or had shared substructures. Leveraging these features, we used QGAs to identify outliers among compounds that fell into similar structural groups and thus refined relevant structural moieties, facilitating target identification. This approach led to the identification of complex II of the electron transport chain as the putative target of a promising structural cluster of germination inhibitory compounds. These inhibitors showed high potency against Cryptococcus spore germination, while maintaining low cytotoxicity against mammalian cells, making them prime candidates for development into novel antifungal therapeutics.

Studies on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal association in some medicinal plant species of paithal hills, western ghats kannur district, kerala

In the present study to analyzed that the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spores in root colonization and spore population in rhizosphere soils samples in various medicinal at Paithal hills,Western Ghats of Kannur district, Kerala, India. Root and rhizosphere soil samples were collected during the month of August, 2018-March, 2019 from the surface to 30 cm depth as well as pH were also recorded. Totally 30 plant species belonging to 19 families were collected and identified. The present result showed arbuscular mycorrhizal spore population in the rhizosphere soil and root colonization of all the plant species. A total of 19 AM fungal spores were recovered from the rhizosphere soil samples in this study region. The Glomus was dominant had seen in rhizosphere soil samples in all the medicinal plant species. The maximum spore population was found in the rhizosphere soil samples of Mimosa pudica (590/100g of soil) which belongs to the family Mimosaceae and the lowest spore population was observed in the Terminalia bellirica 135/100g of soil) belongs to Combretaceae family. The highest 78 % AM fungal colonization was found in roots of Euphorbia hirta belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. While the lowest 11 % AM fungal colonization was found in the root of Sida acuta belongs to the family Malvaceae.

Delivery of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungus Spores via Seed Coating with Biodegradable Binders for Enhancement of the Spores Viability and Their Beneficial Properties in Maize

biodegradable polymer such as PVA is considered the most promising candidates for developing the sustainable sticker. The objective of this study was to determine the most suitable PVA + TS blends as adhesives agent for AMF spores inoculation via seed coating which can enhance the spores viability and their beneficial properties in maize. The polythene bag experiment was performed in a screen house of the Department of Plant Protection Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bengkulu Indonesia in 2015. Six adhesive blends were employed: 100% PVA + 0% TS, 75% PVA + 25% TS, 50% PVA + 50% TS, 25% PVA + 75% TS, 0% PVA + 100% TS, and no coating. The six experimental treatments were laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications. The results show that root colonization, AMF spore population, and shoot dry weight in 75% PVA + 25% TS were equal to those in 100% PVA. Root colonization, AMF spore population, shoot P content, and shoot P concentration were greater for 50% PVA + 50% TS than 100% PVA, 100% TS, and no coating. A mixture of 50% PVA + 50% TS was considered the preferred sticker. Thus, the tapioca starch can be used to substitute 25 - 50% of the PVA used without reducing AMF inoculant adhering to seed.Keywords: polymeric seed coating, seed coating formulation, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, sustainable coating adhesive, seed inoculation, seed inoculant

Studies On The Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Association In The Plant Species Of Ponnuthu Hills, Western Ghats Coimbatore District, Tamilnadu

The present study analyzed the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spores in root colonization and spore population in rhizosphere soils samples in various medicinal plant species at Ponnuthu hills, Western Ghats of Coimbatore district, Tamilnadu, India. Root and rhizosphere soil samples were collected during the monthof August, 2018-March, 2019 from the surface to 30 cm depth as well as pH were also recorded. Totally 36 plant species belonging to 21 families were collected and identified. The present result showed arbuscular mycorrhizal spore population in the rhizosphere soil and root colonization of all the plant species. A total of21 AM fungal spores were recovered from the rhizosphere soil samples in this study region. The Glomus was dominant and found in rhizosphere soil samples in all the medicinal plant species. The maximum spore population was found in the rhizosphere soil samples of Hemidesmus indicus (573/100g of soil) whichbelongs to the family Asclepiadaceae and the lowest spore population was observed in the Abutilon indicum 145/100g of soil) which belongs to Malvaceae family. The highest 81% AM fungal colonization was found in roots of Gymnema sylvestre which belongs to the family Apocynaceae. While the lowest 16 % AM fungalcolonization was found in the root of Tridax procumbens which belongs to the family Asteraceae.