This paper describes the characteristics of microalgal strains that originated out of an 31 isolation and screening project included within the National Alliance for Advanced 32 Biofuels and Bioproducts (NAABB). The project's goal was to identify new potential 33 platform strains with high growth rates and/or lipid productivities. To classify the best 34 performing strains, we conducted a combined microscopic and phylogenetic analysis. 35Among the best performing strains were many coccoid green algae. Several strains 36 belong to the species Acutodesmus (Scenedesmus) obliquus and to the species Chlorella 37 sorokiniana, thus expanding on existing germplasm. Identified at the genus level were 38 some Desmodesmus strains and one Ankistrodesmus strain. Several strains were classified 39 as belonging to the genus Coelastrella, a taxon reported for the first time for North 40 America. Multiple additional strains had ambiguous identities, with some strains possibly 41 representing novel species. Reporting on the above strains, some of which have been 42tested successfully in outdoor ponds and most of which are deposited at the University of 43 Texas Culture Collection of Algae, is a step forward in expanding the biological 44 resources available for algae biofuel production.

This study shows the effects of maltodextrins and gum arabic as microencapsulation agents on the stability of sugarcane bagasse extracts and the potential use of the extracts as antimicrobial agents. The bioactive compounds in sugarcane bagasse (SCB) were extracted using 90% methanol and an orbital shaker at a fixed temperature of 50 °C, thereby obtaining a yield of the total phenolic content of 5.91 mg GAE/g. The bioactive compounds identified in the by-product were flavonoids, alkaloids, and lignan (-) Podophyllotoxin. The total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity, and shelf-life stability of fresh and microencapsulated TPC were analyzed. This experiment’s optimal microencapsulation can be obtained with a ratio of 0.6% maltodextrin (MD)/9.423% gum arabic (GA). Sugarcane bagasse showed high antioxidant activities, which remained stable after 30 days of storage and antimicrobial properties against E. coli, B. cereus, S. aureus, and the modified yeast SGS1. The TPC of the microencapsulated SCB extracts was not affected (p > 0.05) by time or storage temperature due to the combination of MD and GA as encapsulating agents. The antioxidant and antimicrobial capacities of sugarcane bagasse extracts showed their potential use as a source of bioactive compounds for further use as a food additive or nutraceutical. The results are a first step in encapsulating phenolic compounds from SCB as a promising source of antioxidant agents and ultimately a novel resource for functional foods.

Induced resistance in plants is a systemic response to certain microorganisms or chemicals that enhances basal defense responses during subsequent plant infection by pathogens. Inoculation of chile pepper with zoospores of non-host Phytophthora nicotianae or the chemical elicitor beta-aminobutyric acid (BABA) significantly inhibited foliar blight caused by Phytophthora capsici. Tissue extract analyses by GC/MS identified conserved change in certain metabolite concentrations following P. nicotianae or BABA treatment. Induced chile pepper plants had reduced concentrations of sucrose and TCA cycle intermediates and increased concentrations of specific hexose-phosphates, hexose-disaccharides and amino acids. Galactose, which increased significantly in induced chile pepper plants, was shown to inhibit growth of P. capsici in a plate assay.

The toxin producing cyanobacterium Microcystis sp. was collected in the mid October 2020 from the shallow waters of Snow Lake (New Mexico, USA). This species caused a visible bloom consisting of the pale green irregular macro colonies. Mass spectral analysis of the biomass revealed the presence of 4 derivatives of microcystin in that bloom: MC-LR (in the water and biomass), MC-RR (in biomass), MC-LY (in biomass), and MC-YR (in biomass).Next-generation sequencing allowed the retrieval of two Microcystis sequences in the bloom; which are molecular benchmarks for toxic Microcystis that may be used in future monitoring studies. Light microscopy provided evidence for the taxonomic affiliation of the found morphotype as Microcystis flos-aquae (Wittrock) Kirchner. However, molecular sequencing and the present situation in cyanobacterial taxonomy prevented affiliation of our morphotype to Microcystis flos-aquae, justifying following name – Microcystis sp. Confocal microscopy was used to determine the distribution of the cell content utilizing 3D stereo imaging. Emission spectra analysis identified the pigment composition and pigment distribution within the cells. SEM revealed 3D arrangement of the cells in the colonies, texture of the surface of the cells (perhaps dehydrated collapsed polysaccharides), F-layer and pili-like structures. Additionally, SEM/EDS analysis confirmed the F-layer using elemental composition analysis, which showed sulfur in the F-layer – typical element for that structure. Through the use of AFM, we analyzed the texture of the cell's surface and confirmed pili-like structures.

Microalgae are one of the most versatile and promising organisms for biomanufacturing. To expedite research and development, we generated an improved genome assembly and annotation of the highly productive microalga Scenedesmus obliquus UTEX393. We measured the systems level, multi-omic responses during exposure to 15 ppt (high) vs 5 ppt (low/control) salt. Exposure to 15 ppt salt level resulted in a systematic dysregulation of redox balancing components, a reduction in photosynthetic components, and a concomitant increase in lipid accumulation. Using DNA affinity purification sequencing, we identified the regulatory landscape of several transcription factors. Two transcription factors were identified as sharing binding-site homology with Arabidopsis orthologs SPL12 and LHY1 and were experimentally determined to target the promoter regions of genes which encode for enzymes involved in central metabolism. Engineering the redox and metabolic pathways in Scenedesmus obliquus UTEX393 could enhance productivity under higher salt conditions.