Characterization of the surface hydrophobicity of filamentous fungi

We investigated the fertilizing potential of three agro-industrial wastes (Compost (C), Dehydrated Manures (DM) and Digestate (D)) on soil properties, on seeds germination and the plants growth. Results showed that the addition of wastes modified several soil properties as pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Water Retention Capacity (WRC) and Soil Organic Matter (SOM). Hence, SOM increase from 1.5% in unamended soil to 2, 2.3 and to 3.1% in soils amended with (D), with (DM) and with (C) respectively. A fast SOM biodegradation was illustrated in presence of compost where we noted a decrease of 20% of initial organic matter content. Besides, wastes improve strongly microbial and respirometric soil activities mainly in presence of DM and D. These same wastes stimulate seeds germination of two standard plants species (Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)). The growth levels of three cultivated plants species (Wheat (Triticum durum), Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)) were enhanced in presence of wastes than those irrigated with water.

show abstract

“…Indeed, several families of fungi are identified as having a low affinity for water mainly Basidiomycetes and Actinomycetes (Smits et al, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disposal of Agro-Industrials Wastes as Soil Amendments

Mekki¹,

Arous²,

Aloui³

et al. 2013

American Journal of Environmental Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Soil organic carbon content and pH influence the structure of soil microbial communities (14,16), and the soils used here differed in these parameters ( Table 1). Attachment of microorganisms to buried PU is mediated by nonspecific hydrophobic interactions (7), and local environmental conditions influence the surface hydrophobicity of fungi (35) and bacteria (3). Therefore, differences in the physicochemical properties of the two soils may influence which microbes successfully colonize the surface of the PU.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fungal Communities Associated with Degradation of Polyester Polyurethane in Soil

Cosgrove

McGeechan²,

Robson

et al. 2007

Appl Environ Microbiol

156

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Soil fungal communities involved in the biodegradation of polyester polyurethane (PU) were investigated. PU coupons were buried in two sandy loam soils with different levels of organic carbon: one was acidic (pH 5.5), and the other was more neutral (pH 6.7). After 5 months of burial, the fungal communities on the surface of the PU were compared with the native soil communities using culture-based and molecular techniques. Putative PU-degrading fungi were common in both soils, as <45% of the fungal colonies cleared the colloidal PU dispersion Impranil on solid medium. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed that fungal communities on the PU were less diverse than in the soil, and only a few species in the PU communities were detectable in the soil, indicating that only a small subset of the soil fungal communities colonized the PU. Soil type influenced the composition of the PU fungal communities. Geomyces pannorum and a Phoma sp. were the dominant species recovered by culturing from the PU buried in the acidic and neutral soils, respectively. Both fungi degraded Impranil and represented >80% of cultivable colonies from each plastic. However, PU was highly susceptible to degradation in both soils, losing up to 95% of its tensile strength. Therefore, different fungi are associated with PU degradation in different soils but the physical process is independent of soil type.The worldwide production of synthetic polymers continues to rise, resulting in an increased environmental burden through the generation of plastic waste. More than 140 million tonnes of plastic was produced worldwide in 2001 (34), and the proportion of household plastic waste in the average American home increased from 3 to 5% of total waste in 1969 (15) to more than 30% in 1995 (21) and continues to rise. Many plastics are both physically and chemically robust and cause waste management problems (10). However, several families of plastics undergo biodegradation in the environment, and an understanding of how this degradation occurs may aid in the development of strategies to exploit these processes for waste management purposes.Microorganisms are responsible for the majority of plastic degradation (6), and abiotic factors such as photodegradation or hydrolysis play a very minor role (18,42). Plastics vulnerable to biodegradation include the polyhydroxyalkanoates, polycaprolactone, polylactic acid, polyvinyl chloride (31, 32), and polyester polyurethane (PU). PU is used in a variety of industrial applications, including insulating foams, fibers, and synthetic leather and rubber goods. The presence of ester and urethane linkages in the backbone of PUs makes them susceptible to hydrolysis by enzymes secreted by microorganisms, releasing breakdown products which may act as a carbon source and lead to a weakening of the tensile strength (1,13,22,26,27).Both PU-degrading fungi (5,6,12,32) and bacteria (1, 20, 23) have been isolated from PU, indicating that there are potential reservoirs of PU-degrading organisms widespread in the environment. It...

show abstract

“…The corn leaf pathogen Cochliobolus heterostrophus is an example of a plant pathogenic fungus that is insensitive to surface hydrophobicity and differs from M. grisea, U. appendiculatus, Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum sp., Candida albicans, Nomuraea rileyi, Metarhizium anisopliae and a number of other fungi that have been shown to adhere with greater tenacity to more hydrophobic surfaces [13,63]. Moreover, fungal surface hydrophobicity can vary among species, as well as within one species, depending on the age of the fungus and the composition of the growth medium [57].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Production of fungal antibiotics using polymeric solid supports in solid-state and liquid fermentation

Bigelis

Yang

et al. 2006

J IND MICROBIOL BIOTECHNOL

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The use of inert absorbent polymeric supports for cellular attachment in solid-state fungal fermentation influenced growth, morphology, and production of bioactive secondary metabolites. Two filamentous fungi exemplified the utility of this approach to facilitate the discovery of new antimicrobial compounds. Cylindrocarpon sp. LL-Cyan426 produced pyrrocidines A and B and Acremonium sp. LL-Cyan416 produced acremonidins A-E when grown on agar bearing moist polyester-cellulose paper and generated distinctly different metabolite profiles than the conventional shaken or stationary liquid fermentations. Differences were also apparent when tenfold concentrated methanol extracts from these fermentations were tested against antibiotic-susceptible and antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, and zones of inhibition were compared. Shaken broth cultures of Acremonium sp. or Cylindrocarpon sp. showed complex HPLC patterns, lower levels of target compounds, and high levels of unwanted compounds and medium components, while agar/solid support cultures showed significantly increased yields of pyrrocidines A and B and acremonidins A-E, respectively. This method, mixed-phase fermentation (fermentation with an inert solid support bearing liquid medium), exploited the increase in surface area available for fungal growth on the supports and the tendency of some microorganisms to adhere to solid surfaces, possibly mimicking their natural growth habits. The production of dimeric anthraquinones by Penicillium sp. LL-WF159 was investigated in liquid fermentation using various inert polymeric immobilization supports composed of polypropylene, polypropylene cellulose, polyester-cellulose, or polyurethane. This culture produced rugulosin, skyrin, flavomannin, and a new bisanthracene, WF159-A, after fermentation in the presence and absence of polymeric supports for mycelial attachment. The physical nature of the different support systems influenced culture morphology and relative metabolite yields, as determined by HPLC analysis and measurement of antimicrobial activity. The application of such immobilized-cell fermentation methods under solid and liquid conditions facilitated the discovery of new antibiotic compounds, and offers new approaches to fungal fermentation for natural product discovery.

show abstract

Characterization of the surface hydrophobicity of filamentous fungi

Cited by 63 publications

References 29 publications

Disposal of Agro-Industrials Wastes as Soil Amendments

Disposal of Agro-Industrials Wastes as Soil Amendments

Fungal Communities Associated with Degradation of Polyester Polyurethane in Soil

Production of fungal antibiotics using polymeric solid supports in solid-state and liquid fermentation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About