Abdallah M. Elgorban

The impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in mitigating salt-induced adverse effects in sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.).

Salinity is one of the serious abiotic stresses adversely affecting the majority of arable lands worldwide, limiting the crop productivity of most of the economically important crops. Sweet basil (Osmium basilicum) plants were grown in a non-saline soil (EC = 0.64 dS m−1), in low saline soil (EC = 5 dS m−1), and in a high saline soil (EC = 10 dS m−1). There were differences between arbuscular mycorrhizal (Glomus deserticola) colonized plants (+AMF) and non-colonized plants (−AMF). Mycorrhiza mitigated the reduction of K, P and Ca uptake due to salinity. The balance between K/Na and between Ca/Na was improved in +AMF plants. Growth enhancement by mycorrhiza was independent from plant phosphorus content under high salinity levels. Different growth parameters, salt stress tolerance and accumulation of proline content were investigated, these results showed that the use of mycorrhizal inoculum (AMF) was able to enhance the productivity of sweet basil plants under salinity conditions. Mycorrhizal inoculation significantly increased chlorophyll content and water use efficiency under salinity stress. The sweet basil plants appeared to have high dependency on AMF which improved plant growth, photosynthetic efficiency, gas exchange and water use efficiency under salinity stress. In this study, there was evidence that colonization with AMF can alleviate the detrimental salinity stress influence on the growth and productivity of sweet basil plants.

Antifungal silver nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation

ABSTRACT Silver nanoparticles have a high antimicrobial activity and are broadly utilized for several disinfection purposes including water and materials’ sanitization for medical purposes. There have been comparatively few studies on using silver against plant pathogenic fungi. In this study, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were used at concentrations of 0.0, 0.0002, 0.0005, 0.0007, 0.0009, 0.0014 and 0.0019 mol/L. Six different Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis groups (AGs) infecting cotton plants were treated in vitro with Ag NPs on Czapek Dox agar (CDA) and potato dextrose agar plates. The results showed that various concentrations of Ag NPs have antifungal properties to control R. solani AGs. The obtained results also revealed that strong inhibition of R. solani AGs was noticed on CDA at all concentrations.

Antimicrobial activity and green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Trichoderma viride

ABSTRACT Green synthesis of nanoparticles has an increasing benefit because of the rising need for developing environmentally friendly, cost-effective and safe strategies for nanomaterials synthesis. In this study, we investigated the fungus Trichoderma viride, which is used for the synthesis of biogenic silver nanoparticles. The bioreduction of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was observed spectrophotometrically, and the studied Ag NPs were characterized by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The Ag NPs synthesized by T. viride were observed as stabilized and polydispersed globular particles, in sizes ranging from 1 to 50 nm. The antibacterial potential of Ag NPs was evaluated against human pathogenic bacteria. The biogenic Ag NPs significantly inhibited the growth of all tested pathogenic bacteria.

Integrated control of white rot disease on beans caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum using Contans® and reduced fungicides application

This study was conducted to determine the compatibility of Contans® (Coniothyrium minitans) with fungicides against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Results showed that both Contans® and Topsin® significantly reduced the disease incidence caused by S. sclerotiorum by 90% and 95% survival plants, respectively when they were individually applied and compared to control. While, soil application of Contans® and Sumisclex mixture was the most effective in suppressing the white rot disease incidence that produced 100% survival plants, application of C. minitans combined with the reduced doses of fungicides would be advantageous in saving labor cost, thus increasing production efficiency of bean.

New saprobic marine fungi and a new combination

Abstract This paper documents five new saprobic marine fungi occurring on various substrata in the marine environment. Bacusphaeria nypae gen. et sp. nov. was discovered on bases of fronds of Nypa fruticans in Malaysia and phylogenetically, it belongs to the Tirisporellaceae (Tirisporellales, Diaporthomycetidae, Sordariomycetes) based on 18S and 28S rDNA. Cryptovalsa avicenniae, Ceriosporopsis minuta and Jattaea mucronata also belong to the Sordariomycetes; Cr. avicenniae was saprobic on Avicennia marina collected in Saudi Arabia, J. mucronata on intertidal decaying bark of Rhizophora mucronata while Ce. minuta was found on driftwood collected on a sandy beach in Japan. Phylogeny based on 18S and 28S rDNA placed Cr. avicenniae with other Cryptovalsa species in the Diatrypaceae. Jattaea mucronata groups well in the Calosphaeriales and is closely related to J. algeriensis based on a phylogeny using ITS and 28S rRNA and RPB2 genes. Aegeanispora elanii gen. et sp. nov. is an asexual fungus which produces pycnidia on decaying driftwood collected in the Aegean Sea. Combined 18S and 28S rDNA phylogenetic analyses suggest that it is a member of the Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes. Ceriosporopsis minuta resembles C. capillacea with its tubular, long polar appendages of ascospores but dimensions of ascomata and ascospores for the former species are considerably smaller. Ceriosporopsis is considered the best genus to accommodate C. minuta without support from sequence data. Sammeyersia is established as a new genus to accommodate Lulworthia grandispora, a species unrelated to Lulworthia fucicola, the type species. The diagnostic characteristic for the genus is a melanized region at the base of the neck of the ascomata.

Delonicicola siamense gen. & sp. nov. (Delonicicolaceae fam. nov., Delonicicolales ord. nov.), a Saprobic Species from Delonix regia Seed Pods

Abstract This paper introduces a new genus Delonicicola, to accommodate D. siamense sp. nov., which was found associated with Delonix regia seed pods, collected in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. ITS sequence data confirmed a close relationship of Delonicicola with Liberomyces and Asteromella in Xylariomycetidae. Phylogenetic and molecular clock analyses of combined LSU, SSU and RPB2 sequence data provide evidence for a new family Delonicicolaceae and a new order Delonicicolales in Xylariomycetidae. Members of Delonicicolaceae are saprobes, endophytes or pathogens of angiosperms and it is characterized by pseudostromatal immersed, papillate ascomata, short pedicellate asci with a simple apex and 1-septate, hyaline ascospores. The asexual morph is coelomycetous with pycnidial conidiomata and allantoid, filiform or bacilloid, hyaline conidia.

Enhancing using glucose encapsulation, the efficacy of CdO NPs against multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli

In this study, monodispersed, highly biocompatible and substantially stable glucose encapsulated CdO nanoparticles (G-CdO NPs) of uniform sizes were synthesized using a sol-gel route. In addition, naked CdO (n-CdO) NPs without any capping or surface functionalization were synthesized using the same method. These NPs were uniformly dispersed in an aqueous solution. The synthesis of G-CdO and n-CdO NP was confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential, and dynamic light scattering analyses. The average size of G-CdO and n-CdO NP was found to be 17±1and 27 ± 1 nm, under TEM, respectively. X-ray diffraction analysis of G-CdO and n-CdO NPs confirmed their sizes to be 18.83 and 28.41 nm, respectively, and revealed their cubic crystal structures with no impurity. The surface functionalization of G-CdO NPs with glucose was confirmed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses. As per our knowledge, this is the first report to investigate the potencies of G-CdO and n-CdO NPs against gram-negative and gram-positive multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of G-CdO and n-CdO NPs were6.42 and 16.29 μg/ml, respectively, against Escherichia coli (NCIM 2571-MDR), whereas 7.5 μg/ml & 11.6 μg/ml, respectively against S. aureus (NCIM- 2079) as determined by the double dilution method. The minimum bactericidal concentration was determined at the concentration for which no growth was observed. TEM analysis of E. coli cells treated with G-CdO NPs revealed cell shrinkage and degraded cell membranes, while the cell surfaces of untreated viable cells were smooth.

Characterization and anti-Aspergillus flavus impact of nanoparticles synthesized by Penicillium citrinum

This work was conducted to evaluate the ability of grape molding fungus; Penicillium citrinum to synthesize silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The potency of biosynthesized Ag NPs was checked against the aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus var. columnaris, isolated from sorghum grains. Biosynthesized Ag NPs were characterized and confirmed in different ways. X ray diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and optical absorption measurements confirmed the bio-synthesis of Ag NPs. The in vitro antifungal investigation showed that biosynthesized Ag NPs were capable of inhibiting the growth of aflatoxigenic A. flavus var. columnaris. Utilization of plant pathogenic fungi in the Ag NPs biosynthesis as well as the use of bio-Ag NPs to control fungal plant diseases instead of chemicals is promising. Further work is needed to confirm the efficacy of the bio-Ag NPs against different mycotoxigenic fungi and to determine the potent applicable doses.

A New Hysteriform Dothideomycete (Gloniaceae, Pleosporomycetidae Incertae sedis), Purpurepithecium murisporum gen. et sp. nov. on Pine Cone Scales

Abstract The family Gloniaceae is represented by the genera Glonium (plant saprobes) and Cenococcum (ectomycorrhizae). This work adds to the knowledge of the family, by introducing a new taxon from dead scales of pine cones collected on the ground in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Analysis of a combined LSU, SSU, RPB2 and TEF1 sequence dataset matrix placed it in Gloniaceae and Purpurepithecium murisporum gen. et sp. nov. is introduced to accommodate the new taxon. The genus is characterized by erumpent to superficial, navicular hysterothecia, with a prominent longitudinal slit, branched pseudoparaphyses in a gel matrix, with a purple pigmented epithecium, hyaline to dark brown muriform ascospores and a Psiloglonium stygium-like asexual morph which is produced in culture. The new taxon is illustrated and compared with similar genera.

Efficient Double Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reactions of 2,5-Dibromo-3-hexylthiophene: Anti-Tumor, Haemolytic, Anti-Thrombolytic and Biofilm Inhibition Studies.

The present study describes several novel 2,5-biaryl-3-hexylthiophene derivatives (3a–i) synthesized via a Pd(0)-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reaction in moderate to good yields. The novel compounds were also analyzed for their anti-thrombolytic, haemolytic, and biofilm inhibition activities. In addition, the anti-tumor activity was also evaluated in vitro for newly-synthesized compounds, where 3-hexyl-2,5-bis(4-(methylthio)phenyl)thiophene exhibited the best anti-tumor activity against 4T1 cells with IC50 value of 16 μM. Moreover, 2,5-bis(4-methylphenyl)-3-hexylthiophene showed the highest activity against MCF-7 cells with an IC50 value of 26.2 μM. On the other hand, the compound 2,5-bis(4-chloropheny)-3-hexylthiophene exhibited excellent biofilm inhibition activity. Furthermore, the compound 2,5-bis(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-3-hexylthiophene also exhibited better anti-thrombolytic and hemolytic activity results as compared to the other newly-synthesized compounds.