Extreme overall mushroom genome expansion in Mycena s.s. irrespective of plant hosts or substrate specializations.

Mycena s.s. is a ubiquitous mushroom genus whose members degrade multiple dead plant substrates and opportunistically invade living plant roots.

External aluminium supply regulates photosynthesis and carbon partitioning in the Al-accumulating tropical shrub Melastoma malabathricum.

Aluminium (Al) is toxic to most plants, but recent research has suggested that Al addition may stimulate growth and nutrient uptake in some species capable of accumulating high tissue Al concentrations. The physiological basis of this growth response is unknown, but it may be associated with processes linked to the regulation of carbon assimilation and partitioning by Al supply. To test alternative hypotheses for the physiological mechanism explaining this response, we examined the effects of increasing Al concentrations in the growth medium on tissue nutrient concentrations and carbon assimilation in two populations of the Al-accumulator Melastoma malabathricum.

Increased Biological Activity of Strains Correlates with the Production of New Gramicidin Secondary Metabolites.

The soil-borne gram-positive bacteria strain shows considerable potential as a biocontrol agent against plant diseases. In contrast, proved less effective for inhibition of plant pathogens. strain exerts biocontrol activity against some gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, fungi and oomycetes through the production of gramicidin S (GS).

Draft Genome Sequence of Aneurinibacillus migulanus NCTC 7096.

Aneurinibacillus migulanus has biocontrol activities against fungal, fungus-like, and bacterial plant pathogens with different levels of efficacy depending on the target pathogens. Here, we report the high-quality draft genome sequence of A. migulanus NCTC 7096.

Draft Genome Sequence of Aneurinibacillus migulanus Strain Nagano.

Aneurinibacillus migulanus is characterized by inhibition of growth of a range of plant-pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Here, we report the high-quality draft genome sequences of A. migulanus Nagano.

An ecotoxicity assessment of contaminated forest soils from the Kola Peninsula.

Point source copper and nickel contamination emanating from smelters of the Kola Peninsula, NW Russia, has been observed since the mid-1960s. Previous studies have concentrated on the spatial distribution of heavy metals and their effects on forest ecology and indigenous mammals and birds. Soil is perceived as the major repository for the metal pollutants but there is a need to link the soil concentration of pollutants on the Kola Peninsula with biological parameters.

Development of a novel, bioluminescence-based, fungal bioassay for toxicity testing.

Naturally bioluminescent fungi, Armillaria mellea and Mycena citricolor, were used to develop a novel, bioluminescence-based bioassay for toxicity testing. Bioassays were carried out to assess the toxicity of 3,5-dichlorophenol (3,5-DCP), pentachlorophenol (PCP), copper and zinc. The results suggested that 60 min was a suitable exposure time for the bioassay.