Publications by authors named "Robert N G Miller"

causes devastating vascular wilt diseases in numerous crop species, resulting in substantial yield losses. The - (FOC) model system enables the identification of meaningful genotype-phenotype correlations and was applied in this study to evaluate the effects of overexpressing an NLR gene () from against pathogen infection. overexpression (OE) lines exhibited enhanced resistance to FOC without any discernible phenotype penalties.

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The spectrum of enzymes required for complete lignocellulosic waste hydrolysis is too diverse to be secreted by a single organism. An alternative is to employ fungal co-cultures to obtain more diverse and complete enzymatic cocktails without the need to mix enzymes during downstream processing. This study evaluated the co-cultivation of and RUT-C30 in different conditions using sugarcane bagasse as the carbon source.

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Cotton is an important plant-based protein. Cottonseed cake, a byproduct of the biodiesel industry, offers potential in animal supplementation, although the presence of the antinutritional sesquiterpenoid gossypol limits utilization. The macrofungus offers potential in detoxification of antinutritional factors.

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This article comments on: Ana Clara Fanton, Martin Bouda and Craig Brodersen, Xylem-dwelling pathogen unaffected by local xylem vessel network properties in grapevines ( spp.), Annals of Botany, Volume 133, Issue 4, 1 April 2024, Pages 521–532 https://doi.org/10.

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Jatropha curcas is an oilseed crop with biorefinery applications. Whilst cake generated following oil extraction offers potential as a protein source for animal feed, inactivation of toxic phorbol esters present in the material is necessary. Pleurotus pulmonarius is a detoxifying agent for jatropha cake with additional potential as animal feed, edible mushroom and for enzyme production.

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Whilst Brazil is the fourth largest cotton producer globally, incidence of ramularia leaf spot (RLS) has decreased yield. In 2017-18 and 2018-19, ca. 300 fungal samples were collected throughout Brazil.

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Brazil has a crucial role in global food security and biodiversity, boasting one of the largest agricultural areas and two globally vital biomes, the Amazon and the Atlantic Forest [...

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Article Synopsis
  • * In a study utilizing Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencing, researchers identified 202 conserved miRNAs and 24 novel miRNAs in the resistant Calcutta 4 banana variety, many of which are linked to immune responses in plants.
  • * The analysis showed a negative correlation in the expression of selected miRNAs and their target genes involved in defense mechanisms, providing insights for potential genetic engineering strategies to combat the Sigatoka disease in bananas.
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Banana ( spp.), which is one of the world's most popular and most traded fruits, is highly susceptible to pests and diseases. , responsible for Sigatoka leaf spot disease, is a principal fungal pathogen of spp.

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Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is an analytical tool for gene expression quantification. Reference genes are not yet available for gene expression analysis during interactions of Ralstonia solanacearum with 'Hawaii 7996' (the most stable source of resistance in tomato). Here, we carried out a multi-algorithm stability analysis of eight candidate reference genes during interactions of 'Hawaii 7996' with one incompatible/avirulent and two compatible/virulent (= resistance-breaking) bacterial isolates.

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Bananas are an important staple food crop in tropical and subtropical regions in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Central and South America. The plant is affected by numerous diseases, with the fungal leaf disease black Sigatoka, caused by Morelet [anamorph: (Morelet) Deighton], considered one of the most economically important phytosanitary problem. Although the development of resistant cultivars is recognized as most effective method for long term control of the disease, the majority of today's cultivars are susceptible.

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Plant-parasitic nematodes cause extensive annual yield losses to worldwide agricultural production. Most cultivated plants have no known resistance against nematodes and the few bearing a resistance gene can be overcome by certain species. Chemical methods that have been deployed to control nematodes have largely been banned from use due to their poor specificity and high toxicity.

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Given the global abundance of plant biomass residues, potential exists in biorefinery-based applications with lignocellulolytic fungi. Frequently isolated from agricultural cellulosic materials, is a fungus efficient in secretion of commercial enzymes such as cellulases, xylanases and phytases. In the context of biomass saccharification, lignocellulolytic enzyme secretion was analyzed in a strain of following liquid culture with sugarcane bagasse (SB) (1% ) and soybean hulls (SH) (1% ) as sole carbon source, in comparison to glucose (G) (1% ).

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Aspergillus tamarii grows abundantly in naturally composting waste fibers of the textile industry and has a great potential in biomass decomposition. Amongst the key (hemi)cellulose-active enzymes in the secretomes of biomass-degrading fungi are the lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs). By catalyzing oxidative cleavage of glycoside bonds, LPMOs promote the activity of other lignocellulose-degrading enzymes.

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, causal agent of Sigatoka leaf spot, or yellow Sigatoka disease, is considered a major pathogen of banana ( spp.). Widely disseminated in Brazil, this study explored the genetic diversity in field populations of the pathogen from production areas in the Distrito Federal and the States of Bahia, Minas Gerais, and Rio Grande do Norte.

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Arachis stenosperma is a wild peanut relative exclusive to South America that harbors high levels of resistance against several pathogens, including the peanut root-knot nematode (RKN) Meloidogyne arenaria. In this study, a proteomic survey of A. stenosperma-M.

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Species of are biotrophic leaf parasites with a tropical distribution, traditionally accepted in the family Phyllachoraceae, Phyllachorales in classifications based on morphological characters. Phylogenetic evidence presented here resolves the relationship of within the Sordariomycetes, based on a multilocus analysis of partial nuc rDNA large subunit (28S) and internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS), the DNA-directed RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (), and the translation elongation factor 1-α () gene.

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The production of bioethanol from non-food agricultural residues represents an alternative energy source to fossil fuels for incorporation into the world's economy. Within the context of bioconversion of plant biomass into renewable energy using improved enzymatic cocktails, Illumina RNA-seq transcriptome profiling was conducted on a strain of , efficient in biomass polysaccharide degradation, in order to identify genes encoding proteins involved in plant biomass saccharification. Enzyme production and gene expression was compared following growth in liquid and semi-solid culture with steam-exploded sugarcane bagasse (SB) (1% ) and glucose (1% ) employed as contrasting sole carbon sources.

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Peanut wild relatives (Arachis spp.) have high genetic diversity and are important sources of resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, proteins were analyzed in root tissues of A.

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Apiosphaeria guaranitica, the causal agent of brown crust disease of several bignoniaceous hosts, among them Handroanthus and Tabebuia species, has been traditionally placed in Phyllachoraceae, based exclusively on morphological studies, without supporting molecular evidence. Here, we provide molecular data for the link between sexual and asexual states of the fungus and elucidate the phylogeny of A. guaranitica.

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Cottonseed cake biomass, which is a residue of oil extraction, is potentially appropriate for use as animal feed, given the high mineral, fibre and protein content. The presence of free gossypol, however, a toxic pigment in the glands of the cotton plant, limits use of this biomass for monogastric livestock. A promising method to detoxify cottonseed cake relies on fermentation by fungi, which can eliminate up to 100% of gossypol.

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Jatropha curcas is an important oilseed plant, with considerable potential in the development of biodiesel. Although Jatropha seed cake, the byproduct of oil extraction, is a residue rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and carbon, with high protein content suitable for application in animal feed, the presence of toxic phorbol esters limits its application in feed supplements and fertilizers. This review summarizes the current methods available for detoxification of this residue, based upon chemical, physical, biological, or combined processes.

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Multienzymatic complexes with plant lignocellulose-degrading activities have recently been identified in filamentous fungi secretomes. Such complexes have potential biotechnological applications in the degradation of agro-industrial residues. Fungal species from the Clonostachys genus have been intensively investigated as biocontrol agents; however so far their use as producers of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes has not been extensively explored.

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