Optimizing conditions of mycelial inoculum immobilized in Ca-alginate beads: a case study in ectomycorrhizal fungus Astraeus odoratus.

Ectomycorrhizal inoculum has emerged as a critical tool for forest restoration, especially under challenging climate change conditions. The inoculation of selective ectomycorrhizal fungi can enhance seedling survival and subsequent growth in the field. This study optimized the liquid media for mycelial growth of Astraeus odoratus strain K1 and the sodium alginate solution composition for enhanced mycelial viability after entrapment.

Aspergillus niger upregulated glycerolipid metabolism and ethanol utilization pathway under ethanol stress.

The knowledge of how Aspergillus niger responds to ethanol can lead to the design of strains with enhanced ethanol tolerance to be utilized in numerous industrial bioprocesses. However, the current understanding about the response mechanisms of A. niger toward ethanol stress remains quite limited.

(Ascomycota, Trypetheliaceae), a remarkable new lichen species from Thailand challenging ascospore septation as an indicator of phylogenetic relationships.

Luangsuphabool, Lumbsch & Sangvichien is described for a crustose lichen occurring in dry evergreen forest in Thailand. It is characterised by a green to yellow-green corticated thallus, perithecia fused in black pseudostromata with white rim surrounding the ostiole and small, hyaline and muriform ascospores. Currently, all species in the genus have transversely septate ascospores, hence the discovery of this new species indicates that ascospore septation is variable within the genus, similar to numerous other groups of lichen-forming ascomycetes.

Efficiency of the formulated plant-growth promoting Pseudomonas fluorescens MC46 inoculant on triclocarban treatment in soil and its effect on Vigna radiata growth and soil enzyme activities.

For bioaugmentation-based treatment of triclocarban (TCC), an emerging soil pollutant that is recalcitrant to biodegradation and phytotransformation, efficient TCC-degrading bacteria with an effective soil-delivering means are required. This work developed the formulated bacterial inoculant, and successfully demonstrated its TCC removal and detoxification performance in pot soil experiment with Vigna radiata plants. The soil bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens MC46 was isolated as TCC-degrading, plant-growth promoting bacterium.

Biotransformation of ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid by Psilocybe cubensis.

Biotranformation of ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (1) using Psilocybe cubensis resulted in hydroxylated products. After two days of incubation, ent-16beta,17-dihydroxy-kauran-19-oic acid (2) was isolated. After further incubation for nine days, two novel metabolites, ent-12alpha,16beta,17-trihydroxy-kauran-19-oic acid (3) and ent-11alpha,16beta,17-trihydroxy-kauran-19-oic acid (4), were obtained.

A new sesquiterpenoid metabolite from Psilocybe samuiensis.

A novel 2,3-secoaromadendrane-type sesquiterpenoid metabolite, psilosamuiensin A (1), was isolated from the broth of Psilocybe samuiensis. The structure of psilosamuiensin A was established by spectroscopic data and its configurations were confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis. This is the first report of psilosamuiensin A found in the genus Psilocybes.

Biodegradation of benzo(a)pyrene by a newly isolated Fusarium sp.

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a five-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon produced by the incomplete combustion of organic materials. It is one of the priority pollutants listed by the US Environmental Protection Agency. This study describes a fungal isolate that is able to biodegrade benzo(a)pyrene.

Cytotoxic activity of four xanthones from Emericella variecolor, an endophytic fungus isolated from Croton oblongifolius.

Four xanthones were isolated from mycelia of Emericella variecolor, an endophytic fungus isolated from the leaves of Croton oblongifolius. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis to be shamixanthone, 14-methoxytajixanthone-25-acetate, tajixanthone methanoate, and tajixanthone hydrate. All compounds were tested for cytotoxic activity against various human tumor cell lines including gastric carcinoma, colon carcinoma, breast carcinoma, human hepatocarcinoma, and lung carcinoma.