Mohamed A. Elnaghy

Degradation of chicken feathers by Chrysosporium georgiae

Using a baiting technique, Chrysosporium georgiae was isolated from chicken feathers. Twenty-eight different fungal isolates were evaluated for their ability to produce keratinase enzymes using a keratin–salt agar medium containing either white chicken feathers or a prepared feather keratin suspension (KS). The Chrysosporium species were able to use keratin and grow at different rates. Chrysosporium georgiae completely degraded the added keratin after 9 days of incubation. Degradation of feathers by C. georgiae was affected by several cultural factors. Highest keratinolytic activity occurred after 3 weeks of incubation at 6 and 8~pH at 30 °C. Chrysosporium georgiae was able to degrade white chicken feathers, whereas bovine and human hair and sheep wool were not degraded and did not support fungal growth. Addition of 1% glucose to the medium containing keratin improved fungal growth and increased enzyme production. Higher keratin degradation resulted in high SH accumulation and the utilization of the carbohydrate carbon in the medium resulted in high keto-acid accumulation but decreased ammonia accumulation. Supplementation of the keratin–salt medium with minerals such as NH4Cl and MgSO4 slightly increased mycelial growth, but decreased production of extracelluar keratinase. Keratinase enzymes were very poorly produced in the absence of keratin, indicating its inducible nature. Analysis of endocellular keratinases in the mycelial homogenate indicated higher activity of intracellular keratinase as compared to the extracellular enzyme in culture filtrates. Chrysosporium georgiae was the most superior for keratinase production among the Chrysosporium species tested in the presence or absence of glucose. It produced more of the intracellular enzymes than the exocellular ones.

Trichoderma populations from alkaline agricultural soil in the Nile valley, Egypt, consist of only two species

The biodiversity of Trichoderma was studied in the Northern half of the Nile valley in Egypt. 20 strains were isolated from 9 different geographic locations, representing 19 different habitats, all with a pH between 7.3 and 8.4. Only T. harzianum (three ITS1/2 haplotypes and three RAPD-genotypes) and the anamorph of Hypocrea orientalis were found. One of the T. harzianum haplotypes (4 strains) is new. The occurrence of T. harzianum haplotypes and of H. orientalis appeared to be essentially independent of the habitat (pH, plant, soil type), and also did not correlate with biochemical properties (cellulase and chitinase activity) of the individual strains. These two taxa seem to be indigenous to the Nile valley, their presence not being influenced by the agricultural history of the soils.

Isolation of Pythium oligandrum from Egyptian soil and its mycoparasitic effect on Pythium ultimum var. ultimum the damping-off organism of wheat

Pythium oligandrum Drechsler bearing spherical sporangia with complex subglobose elements was isolated for the first time in Egypt from agricultural field soil cultivated with alfalfa (Trifolium alexandrinum) in El-Minia, Egypt. This fungus was found to be an active bio-control agent against P. ultimum var. ultimum, the damping-off organism of wheat. In agar plates, P. oligandrum parasitized P. ultimum var. ultimum hyphae with the aid of thin haustorial branches or infection pegs, eventually leading to host destruction. Incorporation of P. oligandrum into carboxymethylcellulose seed coating successfully eliminated pre-emergence damping-off of wheat caused by P. ultimum var. ultimum, whereas Post-emergence damping-off was prevented by adding inocula of P. oligandrum to the soil.

A technique for isolating bacteria-free Pythium spp. from pond water

A special technique for isolating aquaticPythium spp. that are free from bacteria is presented and discussed by citing the disadvantages of the previous studies.

Identification of Pythium carolinianum causing 'root rot' of cotton in Egypt and its possible biological control by Pseudomonas fluorescens.

A severe root rot disease of cotton caused by Pythium carolinianum was diagnosed in a cotton field in Beni-Musa village, 20 km southwest of El-Minia city, Egypt, during the summer of 1996. This was the first reported isolation of this fungus in Egypt. In the light of the importance of the cotton industry in Egypt, research was initiated to develop a biocontrol agent against Pythium carolinianum. In vitro agar plate technique identified a Pseudomonas fluorescens strain that was highly antagonist to Pythium carolinianum. Subsequent plant growth experiments establish that substantial disease control could be obtained by applying Pseudomonas fluorescens to the soil. Optimal control was obtained by mixing the bacteria with the soil rather than by dipping the cotton roots in the bacterial suspension immediately before planting. Disease was more severe in autoclaved soil than in nonsterile soil.

Classification of Pythium ‘group F’ based on mycelial protein and isozyme patterns

Taxonomic characteristics were compared among 10 isolates ofPythium ‘group F’ in tems of the electrophoretic patterns of their mycelial proteins and isozymes. These isolates were obtained from water of three ponds in different seasons and have an identical morphology of zoosporangia. Attempts to cross the isolates with each other themselves and with other isolates from the same group failed.Pythium ‘group F’ is the most dominant of the pythia in the aquatic ecosystem and is difficult to identify because of the lack of sexual reproductive structures. Isozyme analysis proved useful in this respect. Comparisons of banding patterns of total soluble proteins and isozymes revealed five subgroups inPythium ‘group F’. Two isolates obtained from water of different ponds in different seasons showed the same protein and isozyme patterns. Our findings indicate that the use of total soluble protein and isozyme patterns for determining the variation withinPythium ‘group F’ could become a valuable adjunct to the morphological and physiological criteria.

Pythium marsipium from pond water in Osaka

Pythium marsipium was isolated by baiting irrigation pond water from Osaka, Japan with satsuma mandarin rind ( Citrus unshiu ). New information about the fungus and a method for obtaining sexual structures is presented.

Pythium fluminum var. fluminum from pond water in Osaka

Pythium fluminum var. fluminum was isolated by cellulosic bait from irrigation pond water in Osaka, Japan. This is the first report of its isolation outside Ireland.

Effect of temperature, hydrogen-ion concentration and osmotic potential on zoospore production by three Pythium species isolated from pond water

Pythium fluminum produced zoospores most abundantly at 15°C, whereas the optima forPythium ‘group F’ andP. marsipium were 20 and 25°C, respectively. Increasing the incubation temperature above the optimum resulted in the decrease of the duration of zoospore production. InPythium ‘group F’ the ability to produce zoospores was not lost even after incubation at 40°C for 24 h. On the other hand,P. marsipium andP. fluminum lost the ability under these conditions. Zoospore production was inhibited at pH 4.5 and 10.5 in all the species tested.Pythium fluminum andP. marsipium were found to have two pH optima for zoospore production (7.5 and 9.5 for the former and 5.5 and 8.5 for the latter). The optimum pH for zoospore production byPythium ‘group F’ was 6.5–7.5. Moderate osmotic potentials (−0.27∼−0.47 MPa) appeared to favor zoospore production by the pythia tested. The effect of temperature, pH and osmotic potential on zoospore production was discussed in relation to pollution of pond water.

Materials for Pythium flora of Japan. X. Occurrence, identification and seasonality of Pythium spp. in three pond waters and mud soils in Osaka

Seasonal fluctuations ofPythium species in three pond waters and mud soils in Sakai, Osaka, were studied for periods of two years and 14 months, respectively. Thirteen species and four groups were isolated from the pond waters while nine species and three groups were obtained from the mud soils. The highest frequency and total number of species were recorded in the cold and moderately warm seasons and the lowest in summer. Most of the species isolated from the pond waters have been previously recorded from aquatic habitats.