How sustainable is CO2 conversion to ethanol? - a life cycle assessment of a new electrocatalytic carbon utilisation process

Although bioethanol production is considered to be sustainable from a global warming perspective, its dependence on agricultural systems, land management, and geographical limitations have sparked concern. The electrocatalytic CO2 reduction...

Bacterial spot and blight diseases of ornamental plants caused by different Xanthomonas species in Turkey

Putative strains belonging to Xanthomonas spp. causing leaf spot and blight diseases on geranium (Pelargonium peltatum and P. hortorum), begonia (Begonia × tuberhybrida), anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum), Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), and English ivy (Hedera helix) growing in Turkey were isolated. All bacterial strains were classified as Gram-negative, oxidase negative, catalase, levan and starch hydrolysis positive, with hypersensitive reaction positive on tobacco and pathogenic to host plants. Identification of these strains was further confirmed by serological method using ELISA kits, conventional PCR, carbon utilisation, and FAME. Results of the identification showed that 28, 24, 10, 2, and 1 strains were identified as X. axonopodis pv. begoniae, X. hortorum pv. pelargonii, X. axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae, X. hortorum pv. hederae, and Xanthomonas sp., respectively. This is the first report of X. hortorum pv. hederae on English ivy in Turkey.

Pilaira australis sp. nov. (Mucorales, Mucoromycota) isolated from emu faeces in Australia

Pilaira australis, a new species of fungus in the coprophilous genus Pilaira, was isolated from emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) faeces and is described. Morphologically, the species resembles other species in the genus, particularly P. moreaui, except differs in its unique combination of sporangiophore height and sporangiospore length. Molecular phylogenetic analysis indicates that P. australis is distinct from other species in the genus with two regions, the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and a fragment of the pyrG gene, showing 91% and 90% identity to the nearest species, respectively. Ultrastructure features and carbon utilisation were determined for P. australis, and may provide characteristics for species identification in this genus.