Chromium (III) removal by perennial emerging macrophytes in floating treatment wetlands.

Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) are a sustainable solution to treat polluted water, but their role in chromium (Cr(III)) removal under neutral pH conditions remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the potential of FTWs planted with two perennial emergent macrophytes, Phragmites australis and Iris pseudacorus, to remove Cr(III) and nutrients (N and PO-P) from water containing 7.5 mg/L TN, 1.

Whole-genome sequence and mass spectrometry study of the snow blight fungus Phacidium infestans (Karsten) DSM 5139 growing at freezing temperatures.

Phacidium infestans (synonym Gremmenia infestans) is a significant pathogen that impacts Pinus species across the northern regions of Europe and Asia. This study introduces the genome sequence of P. infestans Karsten DSM 5139 (Phain), obtained through Pacbio technology.

Cadmium accumulation by Phragmites australis and Iris pseudacorus from stormwater in floating treatment wetlands microcosms: Insights into plant tolerance and utility for phytoremediation.

Environmentally sustainable remediation is needed to protect freshwater resources which are deteriorating due to severe industrial, mining, and agricultural activities. Treatment by floating wetlands could be a sustainable solution to remediate water bodies. The study aimed to examine the effects of Cd on Phragmites australis and Iris pseudacorus growth (height, biomass, root length and chlorophyll contents), anatomy, Cd accumulation in their biomass and their ability to remove Cd, N and P.

Response of woody vegetation to bush thinning on freehold farmlands in north-central Namibia.

Bush encroachment affects much of the Namibian woodland landscape, causing significant loss of open savannah habitat and farm profits. Thinning of the trees/shrubs is recommended; however, research is required to identify the overall efficacy and effects of this method on the woodland habitat. We aimed to examine the effect of the thinning strategy applied on the vegetation structure of encroaching tree/shrub species, as well as the sighting lines of the habitat.

Phytoextraction and recovery of rare earth elements using willow (Salix spp.).

Soil and water contaminations are caused by rare earth elements (REEs) due to mining and industrial activities, that threaten the ecosystem and human health. Therefore, phytoremediation methods need to be developed to overcome this problem. To date, little research has been conducted concerning the phytoremediation potential of Salix for REEs.

Effect of solvent mixture pretreatment on sugar release from short-rotation coppice Salix schwerinii for biobutanol production.

This study investigated the effects of pretreatment using an acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) mixture with and without HSO (H) as a catalyst on sugar recovery from Salix schwerinii biomass. The sugar recovery was susceptible to both the temperature and the catalyst. Moreover, the relatively higher concentration of ABE (HABE4) at 200 °C yielded glucose recovery of 85.

Whole-genome sequencing of two Streptomyces strains isolated from the sand dunes of Sahara.

Background: Sahara is one of the largest deserts in the world. The harsh climatic conditions, especially high temperature and aridity lead to unique adaptation of organisms, which could be a potential source of new metabolites. In this respect, two Saharan soils from El Oued Souf and Beni Abbes in Algeria were collected.

Effect of salts formed by neutralization for the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose and acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation.

Neutralization is essential to maintain the pH for enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose followed by fermentation of biofuels. This study investigated the effect of salts formed during the neutralization on the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic materials and acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation. The results showed that the formed Ca-citrate salt considerably decreased the glucose release by 26.

Biomass growth variation and phytoextraction potential of four varieties grown in contaminated soil amended with lime and wood ash.

In a greenhouse experiment, plant growth and copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) uptake by four cultivars grown in Cu and Zn contaminated soils collected from a mining area in Finland were tested to assess their suitability for phytoextraction. The cultivars displayed tolerance to heavily contaminated soils throughout the experiment. After uptake, total mean Cu concentrations in the leaves, shoots and roots in all cultivars and treatments ranged from 163 to 474 mg kg and mean Zn concentrations ranged from 776 to 1823 mg kg.

Amino acid-functionalized carbon nanotube framework as a biomimetic catalyst for cleavage of glycosidic bonds.

In this work, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) functionalized by acidic amino acids were used as a framework, which aims to form a mimetic structure of an active site of the glycoside hydrolases. It was demonstrated that the glycosidic bonds of the disaccharides were cleaved by the fabricated biofunctionalized CNTs. It was implied that the number of carboxyl groups and their individual pKa values in the amino acids, and the distance between the NH and the side chain carboxyl groups of the amino acid are predominant factors for determining the reaction efficiency and the optimum pH.

Effects of soil amendments on the growth response and phytoextraction capability of a willow variety (S. viminalis × S. schwerinii × S. dasyclados) grown in contaminated soils.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of lime and bisphosphonates (BPs) such as N10O chelate amendment on the growth, physiological and biochemical parameters, and phytoextraction potential of the willow variety Klara (Salix viminalis × S. schwerinii × S. dasyclados) grown in soils heavily contaminated with copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn).

Impacts of forests on children's diet in rural areas across 27 developing countries.

Micronutrient deficiency affects about a third of the world's population. Children in developing countries are particularly vulnerable. Consequences include impaired cognitive and physical development and increased childhood morbidity and mortality.

Influence of size reduction treatments on sugar recovery from Norway spruce for butanol production.

This study investigated whether the effectiveness of pretreatment is limited by a size reduction of Norway spruce wood in biobutanol production. The spruce was milled, chipped, and mashed for hydrogen peroxide-acetic acid (HPAC) and dilute acid (DA) pretreatment. Sugar recoveries from chipped and mashed spruce after enzymatic hydrolysis were higher than from milled spruce, and the recoveries were not correlated with the spruce fiber length.

Enhanced acetone-butanol-ethanol production from lignocellulosic hydrolysates by using starchy slurry as supplement.

This study aims to improve acetone-butanol-ethanol production from the hydrolysates of lignocellulosic material by supplementing starchy slurry as nutrients. In the fermentations of glucose, xylose and the hydrolysates of Salix schwerinii, the normal supplements such as buffer, minerals, and vitamins solutions were replaced with the barley starchy slurry. The ABE production was increased from 0.

Effects of contaminated soil on the growth performance of young Salix (Salix schwerinii E. L. Wolf) and the potential for phytoremediation of heavy metals.

Salix schwerinii was tested in a pot experiment to assess plant growth performance i.e., relative height and dry biomass and the potential for heavy metal uptake in soils polluted with chromium, zinc, copper, nickel and total petroleum hydrocarbons.

Seasonal Succession of Fungi Associated with Ips typographus Beetles and Their Phoretic Mites in an Outbreak Region of Finland.

The ophiostomatoid fungi (Microascales and Ophiostomatales, Ascomycota) are common associates of Ips typographus, and include tree pathogens and species responsible for blue-stain of timber. Fungal assemblages associated with I. typographus have varied considerably between studies but few investigations have attempted to explain this variation.

Enhanced sugar production from pretreated barley straw by additive xylanase and surfactants in enzymatic hydrolysis for acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation.

This study aims to improve enzymatic sugar production from dilute sulfuric acid-pretreated barley straw for acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation. The effects of additive xylanase and surfactants (polyethylene glycol [PEG] and Tween) in an enzymatic reaction system on straw hydrolysis yields were investigated. By combined application of 2g/100g dry-matter (DM) xylanase and PEG 4000, the glucose yield was increased from 53.

Co-fermentation of hemicellulose and starch from barley straw and grain for efficient pentoses utilization in acetone-butanol-ethanol production.

This study aims to efficiently use hemicellulose-based biomass for ABE (acetone-butanol-ethanol) production by co-fermentation with starch-based biomass. Two processes were investigated: (I) co-fermentation of sugars derived from hemicellulose and starch in a mixture of barley straw and grain that was pretreated with dilute acid; (II) co-fermentation of straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate and gelatinized grain slurry in which the straw was pretreated with dilute acid. The two processes produced 11.

Effect of dilute acid pretreatment on the conversion of barley straw with grains to fermentable sugars.

This study investigated the effects of pretreatment conditions, dilute sulfuric acid concentration and treatment time, on the carbohydrate solubility of a mixture of barley straw and grain. The conditions were expressed as combined severity (CS) to evaluate sugar recovery from pretreated samples. Enzymatic hydrolysates from the lignocellulose pretreatment residues were also included to the results.

Grosmannia and Leptographium spp. associated with conifer-infesting bark beetles in Finland and Russia, including Leptographium taigense sp. nov.

Species of Grosmannia with Leptographium anamorphs include important forest pathogens and agents of blue stain in timber. They are commonly found in association with forest pests, such as bark beetles. During a survey of ophiostomatoid fungi in eastern parts of Finland and neighboring Russia, species belonging to the genus Grosmannia were isolated from 12 different bark beetle species infesting Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris, the most economically important conifers in the region.

Ophiostoma spp. associated with pine- and spruce-infesting bark beetles in Finland and Russia.

The timber and pulp industries of Finland rely heavily on importations from Russia as source of raw timber. These imports raise the risk of accidentally importing forest pests and pathogens, especially bark beetles and their associated fungi, into Finland. Although ophiostomatoid fungi have previously been reported from Finland and Russia, the risks of accidentally moving these fungi has prompted a first survey to compare the diversity of conifer-infesting bark beetles and associated fungi from boreal forests on both sides of the Finnish-Russian border.

Effects of sugar beet chitinase IV on root-associated fungal community of transgenic silver birch in a field trial.

Heterogenous chitinases have been introduced in many plant species with the aim to increase the resistance of plants to fungal diseases. We studied the effects of the heterologous expression of sugar beet chitinase IV on the intensity of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) colonization and the structure of fungal communities in the field trial of 15 transgenic and 8 wild-type silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) genotypes. Fungal sequences were separated in denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and identified by sequencing the ITS1 region to reveal the operational taxonomic units.

Phylogeny of chitinases and its implications for estimating horizontal gene transfer from chitinase-transgenic silver birch (Betula pendula).

Chitinases are hydrolytic enzymes that have been employed in biotechnology in attempts to increase plants' resistance against fungal pathogens. Genetically modified plants have given rise to concerns of the spreading of transgenes into the environment through vertical or horizontal gene transfer (HGT). In this study, chitinase-like sequences from silver birch (Betula pendula) EST-libraries were identified and their phylogenetic relationships to other chitinases were studied.

Fungi, including Ophiostoma karelicum sp. nov., associated with Scolytus ratzeburgi infesting birch in Finland and Russia.

Several elm-infesting bark beetles belonging to the genus Scolytus (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) are vectors of Ophiostoma spp., most notably the Dutch elm disease fungi. A related bark beetle species, Scolytus ratzeburgi, is known to infest birch in various parts of Europe, but it is unknown whether fungi are associated with this beetle.