No abstract

The fate of organic matter during composting is poorly understood. Therefore, we analysed composts of sewage sludges and green wastes (44 samples representative of 11 stages of biodegradation) by conventional chemical methods: pH, humic (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) content, C, N and organic matter (OM) content, and by 13 C CPMAS NMR to assess the decomposition process of the organic matter. Chemical changes clearly occurred in two phases: first, decomposition of OM during the first 2 months was characterized by decreased C/N ratios, OM content and increased pH; and second, a humification process with increased HA/FA ratios. NMR spectrum changes confirmed this pattern, with an increase in aromaticity and a decrease in alkyl C. A decrease of syringyl to guaiacyl ratio (S/G), a sign of lignin transformation, also indicated humification during composting. NMR spectroscopic properties of composts were also studied by means of principal components analysis (PCA) and revealed changes according to the degree of compost maturation. The factorial map presents a chronological distribution of composts on the two first principal components. The influences of eight chemical factors on the PCA ordination of composts as monitored by their evolution by NMR were also studied by multivariate analyses. PCA clearly indicated two phases: the rapid decomposition of organic matter followed by the formation of humic-like substances. The first phase, that is 'new' composts, was strongly correlated with OM contents, pH and C/N ratios whereas the second phase, corresponding to 'old' compost, was correlated with pH, HA content and HA/FA ratio. These results confirm that knowledge of the formation of humic substances is indispensable to suitable monitoring of the composting process.Correspondence: R. Albrecht.

Tree adaptation to environment has been extensively studied. However, little is known about the variations in structure and chemical composition of lignocellulosic biomass (LB) in relation to altitudinal gradient. We wonder, are there significant variations in the LB in the wood across an altitudinal gradient? To answer this, we carried out a study of Abies religiosa. Wood samples were collected from 36 trees, grown between 3000 and 3500 masl, and then subjected to gravimetric and FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) spectroscopic analyses. The gravimetric results showed a proportion of 54.81 ± 2.20 % cellulose, 12.37 ± 1.33 % hemicellulose and 24.68 ± 1.16 % of insoluble lignin. Using the principal components analysis with analysis of variance (ANOVA), significant differences were found at 3100 and 3200 masl in two independent components related to both hemicellulose and lignin, through gravimetry as well as the spectroscopic bands assigned to the carbonyl groups of these polymers, respectively. However, the observed changes in chemical composition of LB did not follow a linear relationship with respect to the altitudinal gradient, which suggests that complex environmental interactions could also be playing an important role. Also, there were significant differences (p \ 0.05) in two of the empirical indexes calculated from the FTIR analysis.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The effect of atrazine concentrations on mycelial growth and ligninolytic enzyme activities of eight native ligninolytic macrofungi isolated in Veracruz, México, were evaluated in a semi-solid culture medium. Inhibition of mycelial growth and growth rates were significantly affected (p=0.05) by atrazine concentrations (468, 937, 1875, and 3750 mg/l). In accordance with the median effective concentration (EC50), Pleurotus sp. strain 1 proved to be the most tolerant isolate to atrazine (EC50=2281.0 mg/l), although its enzyme activity was not the highest. Pycnoporus sanguineus strain 2, Daedalea elegans and Trametes maxima showed high laccase activity (62.7, 31.9, 29.3 U mg/protein, respectively) without atrazine (control); however, this activity significantly increased (p<0.05) (to 191.1, 83.5 and 120.6 U mg/protein, respectively) owing to the effect of atrazine (937 mg/l) in the culture medium. Pleurotus sp. strain 2 and Cymatoderma elegans significantly increased (p<0.05) their manganese peroxidase (MnP) activities under atrazine stress at 468 mg/l. The isolates with high EC50 (Pleurotus sp. strain 1) and high enzymatic activity (P. sanguineus strain 2 and T. maxima) could be considered for future studies on atrazine mycodegradation. Furthermore, this study confirms that atrazine can increase laccase and MnP activities in ligninolytic macrofungi.

No abstract