Silage and total mixed ration hygienic quality on commercial farms: implications for animal production

Implications of silage hygienic quality for animal production were investigated on forty‐five dairy farms in South West England. Samples of grass and maize silages and of total mixed rations (TMR) were obtained together with information on silage technology, herd size and animal production. Samples were analysed for mycotoxins, bacteria, yeasts, moulds and chemical composition. Thirteen mycotoxins were assayed, but none were detected in the samples of grass silage. However, mycotoxins were found in 0·9 of all maize and other silage samples, with deoxynivalenol and zearalenone predominating. There was no relationship between total mycotoxin concentration and mean lactation milk yield per cow. Enterobacteria counts tended to be higher in maize silage than in grass silage and higher still in TMR – a cause for concern. There were no relationships between mould counts and mycotoxin concentrations in silages, implying that mycotoxins may have been produced in the field pre‐ensiling.     

Coniosporium epidermidis sp. nov., a new species from human skin

Coniosporium epidermidis sp. nov. is described from a superficial skin lesion with blackish discolouration in an 80-yr-old Chinese patient. The species produces dark, thick-walled, inflated, reluctantly liberating arthroconidia without longitudinal septa. Sequences of the ribosomal operon, as well as of the translation elongation factor 1-α support its novelty. The species is found in a lineage basal to the order Chaetothyriales, amidst relatives from rock, but also species repeatedly isolated from human skin and nails and eventually causing mild cutaneous infections. Coniosporium epidermidis is consistently found on humans, either asymptomatic or symptomatic. The species indicates a change of life style towards human pathogenicity, which is a recurrent type of ecology in derived Chaetothyriales. Superficial and cutaneous infection by melanized fungi is a new category in dermatology.Taxonomic novelties: Coniosporium epidermidis D.M. Li, de Hoog, Saunte & X.R. Chen, sp. nov.     

Investigations concerning the role of Chalara fraxinea in declining Fraxinus excelsior

A study was carried out to clarify the role of the fungus Chalara fraxinea in decline of Fraxinus excelsior , which is observed on a large scale in central and northern Europe with high incidence of tree mortality. The aims of this work were: (i) to check for the presence of C. fraxinea in various tissues of declining F. excelsior by agar culture isolations and by direct analysis of plant tissues using molecular techniques (DNA extraction, ITS-PCR, cloning, ITS sequencing and T-RFLP); (ii) to study fungal communities inhabiting tissues with symptoms; and (iii) to test the pathogenicity of C. fraxinea to F. excelsior . Chalara fraxinea was isolated from 93% of stem cankers, 91% of necrotic leaf stalks, 27–28% of bark wounds and 30% of visually healthy leaf stalks. Molecular analyses of necrotic leaves, leaf stalks and bark revealed the presence of 25 different fungal taxa, 14 of which were detected in all three types of tissue sample. Chalara fraxinea was the second most common species (61% of samples), and only Cryptococcus foliicola occurred more often (70%). All eight of the tested C. fraxinea isolates induced necroses in bark and cambium on each of 86 inoculated trees, and all controls remained healthy. Average length of necroses caused by different C. fraxinea strains varied from 4·2 to 8·9 cm, but the differences were statistically insignificant. Instead, differences in resistance of individual trees to C. fraxinea were observed.     

Characterisation of the substrate specificity of the nitrile hydrolyzing system of the acidotolerant black yeast Exophiala oligosperma R1

The ‘black yeast’ Exophiala oligosperma R1 can utilise various organic nitriles under acidic conditions as nitrogen sources. The induction of a phenylacetonitrile converting activity was optimised by growing the strain in the presence of different nitriles and /or complex or inorganic nitrogen sources. The highest nitrile hydrolysing activity was observed with cells grown with 2-cyanopyridine and NaNO₃. The cells metabolised the inducer and grew with 2-cyanopyridine as sole source of nitrogen. Cell extracts converted various (substituted) benzonitriles and phenylacetonitriles. They usually converted the isomers carrying a substituent in the meta-position with higher relative activities than the corresponding para- or ortho-substituted isomers. Aliphatic substrates such as acrylonitrile and 2-hydroxy-3-butenenitrile were also hydrolysed. The highest specific activity was detected with 4-cyanopyridine. Most nitriles were almost exclusively converted to the corresponding acids and no or only low amounts of the corresponding amides were formed. The cells hydrolysed amides only with extremely low activities. It was therefore concluded that the cells harboured a nitrilase activity. The specific activities of whole cells and cell extracts were compared for different nitriles and evidence obtained for limitation in the substrate-uptake by whole cells. The conversion of 2-hydroxy-3-butenenitrile to 2-hydroxy-3-butenoic acid at pH 4 demonstrated the unique ability of cells of E. oligosperma R1 to hydrolyse aliphatic α-hydroxynitriles under acidic conditions. The organism could grow with phenylacetonitrile as sole source of carbon, energy and nitrogen. The degradation of phenylacetonitrile presumably proceeds via phenylacetic acid, 2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 2,5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (homogentisate), maleylacetoacetate and fumarylacetoacetate.     

两种拮抗酵母菌对桃果实贮藏期间主要病害的防治效果

 观测和比较了两种拮抗酵母菌丝孢酵母 (Thichosporonpullulans)和罗伦隐球酵母 (Cryptococcuslauren tii)单独使用和与化学杀菌剂配合使用 ,对大久保桃果实采后软腐病和青霉病的防治效果。试验采取刺伤接种或直接浸泡桃果实两种方式 ,果实处理后分别贮藏于常温 (2 5℃ )和低温 (5℃ )条件下。结果表明 ,在两种贮藏温度下 ,刺伤后接种酵母菌的桃果实 ,其青霉病和软腐病的发病率都比对照果实低 ,病斑直径小。拮抗菌和低剂量的扑海因 (50 μg·ml- 1)配合使用比单独使用拮抗菌或扑海因的效果更佳。不接种病原菌的桃果实 ,采后的病害主要是软腐病和青霉病。用拮抗菌直接浸泡桃果实的试验结果表明 ,两种拮抗酵母菌均可达到与扑海因 (50 0 μg·ml- 1)相当的防治效果 ,都能显著地抑制桃果实采后病害的发生     

Biocontrol Efficacy of Two Antagonistic Yeasts Against Postharvest Diseases in Peach Fruits During Storage Periods

Two antagonistic yeasts, Thichosporon pullulans and Cryptococcus laurentii, were investigated for their biocontrol potential to blue mold rot and rhizopus rot on harvested peach fruits (Prunus persica L. Batsch, cv. Okubao), alone or in combination with a Iow dose of iprodione (50 μg mi-1 ). The results indicated that T. pullulans and C. laurentii were effective at reducing disease incidence and severity of blue mold rot and rhizopus rot in peach fruits. Biocontrol efficacy of C. laurentii and T. pullulans were significantly enhanced by combination with a Iow dose of iprodione (50 μg mi-1) against blue mold and rhizopus rot in peach fruits. T. pullulans and C. laurentii combined with a low dose of iprodione (50 μg mi-1 ) resulted in better disease control than either iprodione or the yeasts used alone. Dipping fruits in suspensions of antagonist cells showed the similar control effect as the treatment with iprodione (500 μg ml-1 ).     

乳酸菌—生香酵母菌发酵饮料营养成分分析及质量检测

阐述了乳酸菌—生香酵母菌发酵饮料的研制过程，并分析了原料、发酵汁和产品的营养成分及其保健功能．     

蜂蜜酒酿造酵母的筛选

蜂蜜酒是通过酵母菌在稀释的蜂蜜液中发酵而成的一种传统酒。对4种活性干酵母EC1118、安琪、DV10、D254的发酵特性进行研究,比较4种干酵母在蜂蜜稀释液中的产气能力、产酒精能力、产香能力,并对其酒精耐受性、酸耐受性、SO2耐受性等3个方面进行综合比较,筛选出酿造蜂蜜酒的优良菌种。结果表明,EC1118发酵能力、产香能力强,耐受性强,适合用于蜂蜜发酵。     

Fermentation of pearl millet flour with yeasts and lactobacilli:in vitro digestibility and utilisation of fermented flour for weaning mixtures

Single as well as mixed culture fermentations by yeasts (S. diastaticus;S. cerevistiae) and lactobacilli (L. brevis;L. fermentum) at 30 °C for 72 h improved the starch and protein digestibility (in vitro) of pearl millet flour significantly. The flour fermented bySaccharomyces diastaticus, a starch hydrolysing yeast, had the highest starch digestibility whereas fermentation bySaccharomyces cerevisiae enhanced the in vitro protein digestibility of the flour significantly. Weaning mixtures prepared from the fermented flour were also found to be organoleptically acceptable.     

Sensitivity of four Yeasts to Fungicides and CO2 Concentrations and Their Antagonistic Ability in Combination with Fungicide to pathogenic Fungi in vitro

The yeasts Cryptococcus laurentii,Trichosporon pullulans,Rhodotorula glutinis and Trichosporon sp.were used to investigate their sensitivity to four fungicides and different concentrations of CO2,as well as their antagonistic ability to Penicilliumexpansum and Alternaria alternata in vitro when applied with fungicide.There were significant differences in sensitivity to the fungicides among the different yeasts(P = 0.05).R.glutinis was more sensitive to Deccocil,Iprodione and Stroby as compared to other yeasts.Combination antagonistic yeasts with fungicide could more significantly enhance biocontrol ability of the yeasts against the pathogenic fungi in vitro(P = 0.05).C.laurentii was the most effective antagonist among the four yeasts and could completely control spore germination of P.expansum and A.alternata when combined with Stroby at the concentration of 100 μL L-1.The yeasts,except R.glutinis,could grow well on nutrient yeast dextrose agar (NYDA) after 8 d incubation even at 20% CO2 concentration at 25℃.Particularly Trichosporon sp.showeda better adaptability to low temperature as compared to other antagonists.