Trichoderma–plant–pathogen interactions

Biological control involves the use of beneficial organisms, their genes, and/or products, such as metabolites, that reduce the negative effects of plant pathogens and promote positive responses by the plant. Disease suppression, as mediated by biocontrol agents, is the consequence of the interactions between the plant, pathogens, and the microbial community. Antagonists belonging to the genus Trichoderma are among the most commonly isolated soil fungi. Due to their ability to protect plants and contain pathogen populations under different soil conditions, these fungi have been widely studied and commercially marketed as biopesticides, biofertilizers and soil amendments. Trichoderma spp. also produce numerous biologically active compounds, including cell wall degrading enzymes, and secondary metabolites. Studies of the three-way relationship established with Trichoderma, the plant and the pathogen are aimed at unravelling the mechanisms involved in partner recognition and the cross-talk used to maintain the beneficial association between the fungal antagonist and the plant. Several strategies have been used to identify the molecular factors involved in this complex tripartite interaction including genomics, proteomics and, more recently, metabolomics, in order to enhance our understanding. This review presents recent advances and findings regarding the biocontrol-resulting events that take place during the Trichoderma–plant–pathogen interaction. We focus our attention on the biological aspects of this topic, highlighting the novel findings concerning the role of Trichoderma in disease suppression. A better understanding of these factors is expected to enhance not only the rapid identification of effective strains and their applications but also indicate the potentials for improvement of natural strains of Trichoderma.     

LDL-antioxidant pterocarpans from roots of Glycine max (L.) Merr

The methanolic root extract of Glycine max (L.) Merr. was chromatographed, which yielded 10 flavonoids, including three isoflavones 1-3, five pterocarpans 4-8, one flavonol 9, and one anthocyanidin 10. All isolated compounds were examined for LDL-antioxidant activities using four different assay systems on the basis of Cu2+-mediated oxidation. Among them, seven compounds showed potent LDL-antioxidant activities in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay, the lag time of conjugated diene formation, relative electrophoretic mobility (REM), and fragmentation of apoB-100 on copper-mediated LDL oxidation. Three pterocarpans 4, 6, and 7, never reported as LDL-antioxidant, showed potent activities with IC50 values of 19.8, 0.9, 45.0 microM, respectively, in comparison with probucol (IC50 = 5.6 microM) as positive control. Interestingly, coumestrol 6 (IC50 = 0.9 microM) showed 20 times more activity in the TBARS assay than genistein (IC50 = 30.1 microM) and daidzein (IC50 = 21.6 microM), representative antioxidants in soybean. Moreover, coumestrol 6 had an extended lag time of 190 min at 3.0 microM in measuring conjugated diene formation, while both genistein (120 min) and daidzein (93 min) lag times were extended to less than 120 min at the same concentration.     

Impacts of weaning age on dietary needs of whey permeate for pigs at 7 to 11 kg body weight

Background:Whey permeate is an effective lactose source for nursery pigs and the most benefits are obtained when pigs are at 7 to 11 kg BW.Altering weaning ages could cause different length of early-weaner phases until 7 kg BW and thus it would influence the dietary need of whey permeate during 7 to 11 kg BW of pigs.This study aimed to evaluate if weaning ages would affect the dietary needs of whey permeate for optimum growth performance of pigs at 7 to 11 kg BW.Methods:A total of 1,632 pigs were weaned at d 21(d 21.2±1.3)or d 25(d 24.6±1.1)after birth.All pigs had a common early-weaner feeds until they reached 7 kg BW.When pigs reached 7 kg BW within a weaning age group,they were allotted in a randomized complete block design(2×4 factorial).Two factors were weaning age groups(21 and 25 d of age)and varying whey permeate levels(7.50%,11.25%,15.00%,and 18.75%).Data were analyzed using the GLM and NLIN procedures of SAS for slope-ratio and broken-line analyses to determine the growth response to whey permeate and optimal daily whey permeate intake for the growth of the pigs weaned at different ages.Results:Pigs weaned at 21 d of age had a common diet for 11 d to reach 7 kg BW whereas pigs weaned at 25 d of age needed 2 d.The G:F of pigs weaned at 25 d of age responded to increased daily whey permeate intake greater(P<0.05)than pigs weaned at 21 d of age.Breakpoints were obtained(P<0.05)at 88 and 60 g/d daily whey permeate intake or 17.0%and 14.4%of whey permeate for G:F of pigs weaned at 21 and 25 d of age,respectively.Conclusion:Pigs weaned at an older age with a short early-weaner phase had a greater growth response to whey permeate intake compared with pigs weaned at a younger age with a long early-weaner phase.Altering weaning ages affected dietary needs of whey permeate for optimum growth performance of pigs from 7 to 11 kg BW.     

Superhydrophobic and Antibacterial Properties of Cotton Fabrics Treated with PVDF and nano-ZnO through Phase Inversion Process

Cotton fabrics exhibiting superhydrophobic and antibacterial properties were prepared through a non-solvent induced phase separation method using hydrophobic poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and its hybrids with photocatalytic zinc oxide nanoparticles (nano-ZnO) as surface modifying agents for cotton fabric. The effects of coagulating medium and temperature on microstructural morphology and surface hydrophobictity of the cotton fabrics were investigated by FE-SEM observation and contact angle measurement. Superhydrophobic cotton fabrics exhibiting water contact angle higher than 150 ° could be obtained by coating the fabrics with solutions of PVDF and nano-ZnO followed by coagulation in ethanol as non-solvent. This phenomenon is considered to be originated from both chemically hydrophobic PVDF layer and physical micro- and nano-bumps formed on the surface of cotton fabric, which are essential requirements for Lotus effect. Moreover, antibacterial properties could be synergistically obtained by utilizing photocatalytic effect of nano-ZnO.     

Cytogenetic analysis of hybrids and hybrid triploids between the river puffer,Takifugu obscurus,and the tiger puffer,Takifugu rubripes

Cytogenetic analyses of the river puffer, Takifugu obscurus, the tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes and hybrids produced between female T. obscurus and male T. rubripes and their hybrid triploids (produced by cold shock treatment at 4°C) were performed. T. obscurus had 2n = 44 chromosomes and 1.84 ± 0.019 pg DNA/cell, T. rubripes had 2n = 44 and 2.64 ± 0.015, the hybrids had 2n = 44 and 2.15 ± 0.010 and the hybrid triploids had 3n = 66 and 3.22 ± 0.010. The erythrocyte values of the hybrids were more similar to those for T. obscurus, whereas the hepatocyte, midgut and proximal tubule kidney cell values of the hybrids fell down between those for the parental species (p < .05). The erythrocyte, proximal tubule, hepatocyte and midgut epithelial cell sizes for the hybrid triploids were 1.5‐fold larger than those for the hybrids (p < .05). The thickness of retina and each layer in the hybrid triploids were 1.1‐fold larger than those of the hybrids (p < .05) and did not differ significantly among T. obscurus, T. rubripes and the hybrids (p > .05); however, the hybrid triploids had fewer cell nucleus outer layers than the hybrids (p < .05). Gonad development in the hybrids and hybrid triploids was less matured than in T. obscurus and T. rubripes. The metaphase nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) and the gill cells of T. obscurus, T. rubripes and the hybrids contained two satellite telocentrics, whereas the hybrid triploids contained three satellite telocentrics.     

Analysis of food preference and competition based on stomach contents of fish species inhabiting fresh and brackish waters in South Korea

We analysed the stomach contents of fish species inhabiting fresh and brackish waters of South Korea to improve our understanding of feeding preferences and competition among them. The stomach contents of 54 fish species contained 237 genera, 187 families, 84 orders, 37 classes and 25 phyla. Faunal food items included 164 genera, 129 families, 47 orders, 23 classes and 16 phyla. Floral food items were relatively limited, comprising 73 genera, 58 families, 37 orders, 14 classes and nine phyla. The most consumed faunal food item was Chironomidae (Diptera), whereas the most consumed floral food item was Fragilariaceae (Fragilariales). The 54 fish species were classified into six groups using hierarchical and nonmetric multidimensional analysis based on their food preferences: Group 1 (G1) fishes were zooplanktivores; group 2 (G2) fishes mainly consumed Malacostraca, Maxillopoda and other fishes (e.g. Osmeriformes); groups 3 (G3) and 4 (G4) consumed Chlorophyta, Cyanobacteria and Bacillariophyta; and groups 5 (G5) and 6 (G6) consumed macroinvertebrates. Network analysis was used to link fishes with their food items. The highest hub score for food items was for macroinvertebrates, including Diptera (13.9), Ephemeroptera (11.1) and Trichoptera (8.2). Niche breadth analysis represented the diversity of food items among the feeding groups (G1–G6). Food item diversity was high for planktivores (G1 and G3) and omnivores (G4). Conversely, the dietary diversity of carnivores (G2) and insectivores (G5) was limited. Competitive relationships between fishes, as represented by the niche overlap in G5 (insectivores), were higher than those between other groups.