Solid-Phase Extraction Embedded Dialysis (SPEED), an Innovative Procedure for the Investigation of Microbial Specialized Metabolites

Solid-phase extraction embedded dialysis (SPEED technology) is an innovative procedure developed to physically separate in-situ, during the cultivation, the mycelium of filament forming microorganisms, such as actinomycetes and fungi, and the XAD-16 resin used to trap the secreted specialized metabolites. SPEED consists of an external nylon cloth and an internal dialysis tube containing the XAD resin. The dialysis barrier selects the molecular weight of the trapped compounds, and prevents the aggregation of biomass or macromolecules on the XAD beads. The external nylon promotes the formation of a microbial biofilm, making SPEED a biofilm supported cultivation process. SPEED technology was applied to the marine Streptomyces albidoflavus 19-S21, isolated from a core of a submerged Kopara sampled at 20 m from the border of a saltwater pond. The chemical space of this strain was investigated effectively using a dereplication strategy based on molecular networking and in-depth chemical analysis. The results highlight the impact of culture support on the molecular profile of Streptomyces albidoflavus 19-S21 secondary metabolites.     

Genetic variation in the olive tree (Olea europaea L.) cultivated in Morocco

Summary Genetic variation was studied using enzyme polymorphism at 8 loci in ancient olive trees. These were being cultivated in 10 sites along a transect from North (Pre-Rif) to South (Anti-Atlas), involving the main ecological areas where the species is cultivated in Morocco. For the 328 trees studied, 16 alleles and 68 multilocus genotypes, of which one was present in more than half the individuals analysed, were detected. Eighty seven per cent of the total genetic diversity was attributable to within site variation and showed a high proportion of local genotypes. The highest values for both genotype number and heterozygosity were observed in the South of Morocco. Such high variation may be due to the partial domestication of olive material which may be derived from crosses between cultivars or between cultivars and feral or wild olive (oleaster) trees growing frequently in the Southern region. Genetic diversity in Moroccan olive, constitutes an important genetic resource which must be conserved for further breeding.     

ISSR Variation in Olive-tree Cultivars from Morocco and other Western Countries of the Mediterranean Basin

In olive tree (Olea europaea L.), 12 varieties (or cultivars) representing the main domesticated material used in Morocco and 19 olive cultivars used extensively in five countries of the western Mediterranean Basin, were analysed using inter-simple sequences repeat (ISSR) markers which had never been used previously for extensive discrimination of cultivars. Four selected primers produced a total of 26 polymorphic reproducible amplification fragments. Combinations of these ISSR markers allowed to identify 25 of the 31 cultivars. Two additional combinations were distinguished, each corresponding to three Moroccan cultivars or local varieties. Evidence of a multiclonal composition in the widely cultivated variety ‘Picholine marocaine’ was obtained by the identification of three genotypes within the four morphologically distinct clones analysed in the variety. In the UPGMA phenogram based on the proportion of shared ISSR fragments, five groups of cultivars were distinguished at the 40% critical value of similarity. Four of the groups contained varieties from various geographic origins, as the consequence of successive human migrations which favoured olive dispersion throughout the Mediterranean Basin. However, the fifth group gathered together 9 of the 12 Moroccan cultivars and very few cultivated clones from Greece and Spain. The results suggest that most of the Moroccan cultivars are closely related and likely originated from local domestication.     

Chloroplast-DNA variation in the wild and cultivated olives (Olea europaea L.) of Morocco

The male sterile plants that segregated in a BC₅F₂ of `C. sericeus × C. cajan var. TT-5' population were maintained by sib mating. The male sterile plants were crossed with ICPL-85012.Approximately 50% of the F₁ plants were sterile. F₂ plants derived from the fertile F₁ plants did not segregate for male sterility. The reciprocal hybrid i.e. ICPL-85012 × Fertile derivatives from C. sericeus × TT-5, did not express male sterility. However, among the 12 F₂ plant to row progenies, two segregated 25% male sterile plants and remaining 10 did not segregate. The segregation pattern in subsequent progenies revealed that the sterility was under control of a single recessive allele. Studies on the backcross and their BC₁F₂ and BC₁F₃progenies revealed another sterility gene which was found to be dominant in inheritance. This paper shows that what was thought to be cytoplasmic male sterility from C. sericeus cytoplasm is actually a single dominant gene possibly acting in concert with a single recessive gene to mimic cytoplasmic male sterility. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Soil proprieties and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) responses to sustainable treated urban wastewater reuse

ABSTRACT

The present work aims to perform an experimental reuse study of raw and sustainable treated urban wastewaters in the irrigation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) under semi-controlled conditions. The obtained results highlight a significant effect (p < 0.05) of water quality on soil monitored parameters. Compared to control soils irrigated with groundwater (GW), those irrigated with treated urban wastewaters from the modified activated sludge process (PTW) and raw urban wastewater (RW) showed significant increase in their organic matter (OM) and nutrients content. Indeed, in comparison to GW organic matter (OM) of RW and PTW was 5,37 and 3,84 times higher; Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) was 3,50 and 2,81 times higher and total phosphorus (TP) was 4,00 and 3,25 times higher, respectively. The results showed also a significant effect of water quality on yield, macro and microelements concentrations of alfalfa plant. Hence, the highest yield, macro and microelements uptake of the plant were obtained in response to irrigation with PTW and RW compared to control soil GW. Concerning trace metallic elements concentrations, pots irrigated with RW and PTW showed relatively higher concentrations than those of GW pots.     

Comparison of Organelle Polypeptide Profiles among Sections and Species in the Genus Beta: Evidences for Old Hybridization between Table Beets and Corollinae

Mitochondrial and chloroplastic proteins of the three sections Vulgares, Corollinae and Procumbentes of the genus Beta were analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of SDS. Most of the chloroplastic or mitochondrial polypeptides are common to the three sections, but some are present in one section only. Thus their presence in an individual allows it to be assigned to a section. The variation of chloroplastic and mitochondrial poly-peptide profiles of closely related species has not been frequently reported. Thus the question arises about the differentiation of these species and subspecies. We found that table beets display polypeptides present either in the Vulgares or in the Corollinae, and consequently they probably result from an old hybridization.