Susceptibility of Garden Plants to Phytophthora Root Rot.

Phytophthora root rot (PRR) is a serious disease of horticultural, forest, and ornamental plant species caused by species of the oomycete genus . Their wide host range makes the choice of resistant plants in the management of the disease difficult. We used the Royal Horticultural Society diagnostic dataset of PRR records from U.

Susceptibility of Garden Trees and Shrubs to Armillaria Root Rot.

Armillaria root rot (ARR) is a serious disease of woody plants caused by several species of . isolates from diagnostic samples received in 2017 were identified by genus- and species-specific PCR and compared with isolates from an earlier survey (2004 to 2007). The results were comparable and, therefore, were combined for further analysis.

High rates of anaerobic methanotrophy at low sulfate concentrations with implications for past and present methane levels.

Despite the importance of the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) to global biogeochemical cycles, the relationship between sulfate concentration and the rate of AOM has not been previously experimentally constrained. Here, we present measurements showing substantial methane oxidation at low sulfate concentrations, with no significant decrease in the rate of AOM until sulfate levels are well below 1 mM. At sulfate levels below 1 mM, there appears to be a strong decoupling of AOM and sulfate reduction, with a (13)C-label transferred from methane to carbon dioxide occurring at a rate almost an order of magnitude faster than the observed rate of sulfate reduction.

The Apparent Involvement of ANMEs in Mineral Dependent Methane Oxidation, as an Analog for Possible Martian Methanotrophy.

On Earth, marine anaerobic methane oxidation (AOM) can be driven by the microbial reduction of sulfate, iron, and manganese. Here, we have further characterized marine sediment incubations to determine if the mineral dependent methane oxidation involves similar microorganisms to those found for sulfate-dependent methane oxidation. Through FISH and FISH-SIMS analyses using 13C and 15N labeled substrates, we find that the most active cells during manganese dependent AOM are primarily mixed and mixed-cluster aggregates of archaea and bacteria.

Manganese- and iron-dependent marine methane oxidation.

Anaerobic methanotrophs help regulate Earth's climate and may have been an important part of the microbial ecosystem on the early Earth. The anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) is often thought of as a sulfate-dependent process, despite the fact that other electron acceptors are more energetically favorable. Here, we show that microorganisms from marine methane-seep sediment in the Eel River Basin in California are capable of using manganese (birnessite) and iron (ferrihydrite) to oxidize methane, revealing that marine AOM is coupled, either directly or indirectly, to a larger variety of oxidants than previously thought.

Methyl sulfides as intermediates in the anaerobic oxidation of methane.

While it is clear that microbial consortia containing Archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) can mediate the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM), the interplay between these microorganisms remains unknown. The leading explanation of the AOM metabolism is 'reverse methanogenesis' by which a methanogenesis substrate is produced and transferred between species. Conceptually, the reversal of methanogenesis requires low H(2) concentrations for energetic favourability.

An environmentally benign soybean derived fuel as a blending stock or replacement for home heating oil.

The use of bio-derived materials both as fuels and/or as blending stocks becomes more attractive as the price of middle distillate fuels, especially home heating oil, continues to rise. Historically, many biomass and agricultural derived materials have been suggested. One of the most difficult problems encountered with home heating oil is that of storage stability.

Napalm as an energy resource: a study of the molecular weight distribution of polystyrene in napalm and its use in middle distillate fuels.

The large quantity of napalm that is currently being treated as hazardous waste represents a viable energy resource that is too valuable to waste. However, there are significant problems to be overcome before this material can be used as an energy source. The scientific and environmental problems include: the broad molecular weight distribution of polystyrene, solubility and compatibility in a fuel matrix, methods to ensure complete combustion, high benzene concentration, low flash point due to the presence of gasoline, and safety in transportation and handling.