Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for the growth optimization of Clonostachys rosea TNAU CR04 under varying temperatures, pH and water activity

This study examined the saprophytic fungus Clonostachys rosea TNAU CR04, noted for its strong antagonistic capabilities against several plant pathogens, as a prospective biological control agent in sustainable agriculture. Moreover, this study aimed to optimize the growth conditions of C. rosea by examining the interactive effects of temperature, pH, and water activity (aw) on its mycelial development. To accomplish this objective, we employed response surface methodology (RSM), specifically using a Box Behnken design, which allowed for a systematic exploration of these three critical variables across 17 experimental trials. The analysis revealed that temperature and pH positively affected growth, whereas relatively high-water activity negatively affected growth. The ideal conditions identified were 30 °C, pH 6.5, and aw of 0.88, resulting in a maximum radial growth of 44.80 mm. Model validation showed a strong correlation between the predicted and actual outcomes, with an R² value of 0.9901. This research underscores the necessity of optimizing environmental parameters to improve the efficacy of C. rosea in agricultural applications. Future studies should focus on validating these findings under field conditions and examining the influence of additional environmental variables on various C. rosea strains to enhance the formulation of bio fungicides and promote sustainable pest and disease management

Atmospheric cold plasma: A novel technique for microbial inactivation and quality preservation of spices and herbs

The global production of spices and herbs has increased significantly in recent decades due to growing consumer demand. However, this expansion has been accompanied by a rise in foodborne illness outbreaks associated with these products, necessitating advancements in processing methods. Atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) has emerged as a promising food treatment technique for improving product safety and extending shelf life. This paper reviews the application of ACP in spices and herbs processing, focusing on its microbial inactivation capabilities and its effects on nutritional and physico-chemical properties. While research generally supports the effectiveness of ACP, its impact varies significantly based on treatment parameters and the specific spice or herb being processed. Comprehending these variations is critical for optimizing ACP conditions to ensure the safety and quality of the final products. Further research is required to refine ACP applications tailored to different spices and herbs, providing deeper insight into its potential. The findings underscore the importance of customized processing strategies that meet safety standards while preserving the natural qualities of spices and herbs, catering to an increasingly health-conscious market. Additionally, the scalability of ACP technology for industrial applications remains an area of active investigation, as larger-scale processing introduces unique challenges. Addressing these challenges will be critical for the widespread adoption of ACP in the spice and herb industry, ensuring consistent outcomes across diverse production environments

Bacterial laccases: some recent advances and applications

Laccases belong to the large family of multi-copper oxidases (MCOs) that couple the one-electron oxidation of substrates with the four-electron reduction of molecular oxygen to water. Because of their high relative non-specific oxidation capacity particularly on phenols and aromatic amines as well as the lack of requirement for expensive organic cofactors, they have found application in a large number of biotechnological fields. The vast majority of studies and applications were performed using fungal laccases, but bacterial laccases show interesting properties such as optimal temperature above 50 °C, optimal pH at the neutral to alkaline range, thermal and chemical stability and increased salt tolerance. Additionally, bacterial systems benefit from a wide range of molecular biology tools that facilitates their engineering and achievement of high yields of protein production and set-up of cost-effective bioprocesses. In this review we will provide up-to-date information on the distribution and putative physiological role of bacterial laccases and highlight their distinctive structural and biochemical properties, discuss the key role of copper in the biochemical properties, discuss thermostability determinants and, finally, review biotechnological applications with a focus on catalytic mechanisms on phenolics and aromatic amines.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Gibberellic acid production by <i>Fusarium fujikuroi </i>SG2

211-214Present study isolates efficient strains of gibberellins producing fungal strains from ‘bakanae’ diseased root system of rice plants for their GA3 production potentials in Czapek-Dox liquid medium/improved medium. One of the isolates SG2 (GA3, 1175 mg/l) produced higher GA3 than standards strains of Gibberella fujikuroi, which was identified as Fusarium fujikuroi SG2 (MTCC4649). While studying GA3 production pattern by this strain, gibberellin synthesis initiated on 3rd day and reached maximum by 9th day of fermentation

Calcite dissolution by <em>Bacillus subtilis</em> SSRCI02: An <em>in vitro</em> study for the reclamation of calcareous saline-sodic soils

1267-1273Dissolution of calcite by microorganisms to supply Ca2+ to replace Na+ in soil exchange sites is an important trait to reduce salinity and sodicity. An attempt was made to isolate and screen calcite dissolving bacteria for reclamation of calcareous saline-sodic soils and also to promote better crop growth. While screening the isolates for calcite solubilization index (0.37 to 2.62) and titratable acidity (0.04 to 0.25 g.l-1), the isolate SSRCI02 possessing higher dissolution was identified as Bacillus subtilis. Acetic and gluconic acid produced by B. subtilis SSRCI02 in the presence of CaCO3 recorded 20% of calcite dissolution with release of sufficient Ca2+ ions. Further, FT-IR spectra confirmed reduction of native calcite (69.1 to 62.5) suggesting their dissolution. Siderophore and extracellular polysaccharide productions might also aid in calcite dissolution and plant growth promotion as evidenced by indole acetic acid production, P and Zn solubilization