Heavy Metals Biosorption from Aqueous Solution by Endophytic Drechslera hawaiiensis of Morus alba L. Derived from Heavy Metals Habitats

The ability of dead cells of endophytic Drechslera hawaiiensis of Morus alba L. grown in heavy metals habitats for bioremoval of cadmium (Cd²⁺), copper (Cu²⁺), and lead (Pb²⁺) in aqueous solution was evaluated under different conditions. Whereas the highest extent of Cd²⁺ and Cu²⁺ removal and uptake occurred at pH 8 as well as Pb²⁺ occurred at neutral pH (6–7) after equilibrium time 10 min. Initial concentration 30 mg/L of Cd²⁺ for 10 min contact time and 50 to 90 mg/L of Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ supported the highest biosorption after optimal contact time of 30 min achieved with biomass dose equal to 5 mg of dried died biomass of D. hawaiiensis. The maximum removal of Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Pb²⁺ equal to 100%, 100%, and 99.6% with uptake capacity estimated to be 0.28, 2.33, and 9.63 mg/g from real industrial wastewater, respectively were achieved within 3 hr contact time at pH 7.0, 7.0, and 6.0, respectively by using the dead biomass of D. hawaiiensis compared to 94.7%, 98%, and 99.26% removal with uptake equal to 0.264, 2.3, and 9.58 mg/g of Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Pb²⁺, respectively with the living cells of the strain under the same conditions. The biosorbent was analyzed by Fourier Transformer Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis to identify the various functional groups contributing in the sorption process. From FT-IR spectra analysis, hydroxyl and amides were the major functional groups contributed in biosorption process. It was concluded that endophytic D. hawaiiensis biomass can be used potentially as biosorbent for removing Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Pb²⁺ in aqueous solutions.

A Case of Fungal Keratitis Caused by Drechslera Species

PURPOSE: To report a case of fungal keratitis caused by Drechslera species. CASE SUMMARY: A 77-year-old man visited our clinic complaining of left ocular pain and decrease of visual acuity for 1 week On slit-lamp examination, epithelial defect and stromal infiltration on the corneal center with numerous inflammatory cells in the anterior chamber were found. There was no improvement after routine antibiotic treatment. A corneal biopsy and culture were performed on the corneal lesion. The KOH smear study reported hyphae, thus the patient was treated with 0.25% amphotericin B, 0.2% fluconazole and 5% natamycin eye drops. A clinical improvement was observed on the corneal lesion and Drechslera species was identified by the culture study. CONCLUSIONS: The authors report an experience of fungal keratitis caused by Drechslera species.

Escala diagramática para avaliação de severidade de mancha-parda em arroz / Diagrammatic scale for assessment of rice brown spot severity

Uma escala diagramática com seis níveis: 1,6; 3,2; 6,4; 12,6; 23,1 e 38,6 por cento foi desenvolvida e validada para quantificar a severidade da mancha-parda em arroz causada por Bipolaris oryzae. A escala considerou o limite de severidade máxima da doença observado no campo, e os níveis intermediários seguiram incrementos logarítmicos, obedecendo-se à "Lei do estímulo de Weber-Fechner". Inicialmente, a estimativa da severidade foi realizada sem auxílio da escala, em 30 folhas com diferentes níveis de severidade, por oito indivíduos, sem experiência na avaliação de doenças. Em seguida, os mesmos avaliadores utilizaram a escala diagramática proposta. As avaliações com a escala diagramática foram mais precisas e acuradas nas estimativas de todos os avaliadores, não ocorrendo erro sistemático na superestimativa ou subestimativa da doença entre estes. A escala diagramática proposta foi considerada adequada para estimar a severidade da mancha-parda em arroz.

A diagrammatic scale with six levels of disease severity: 1.6; 3.2; 6.4; 12.6; 23.1 and 38.6 percent was developed and validated to assess rice brown spot, caused by Bipolaris oryzae. The scale was developed considering the maximum limit of disease severity observed in the field and the intermediate values followed logarithmic increases according to the "Stimulus Law by Weber-Fechner". Initially, the estimatives of severity were performed without the use of the scale in 30 leaves with different levels of severity by eight people without previous experience in assessing diseases severity. Then, the same people estimated the severity of leaves using the proposed diagrammatic scale. Assessments with the diagrammatic scale were of great precision for all raters and did not presented systematic errors in over- or underestimating the disease severity. The proposed diagrammatic scale was considered adequate to estimate rice brown spot severity.

Modelos de pontos críticos para relacionar o rendimento de grãos de aveia branca com a intensidade de doença no patossistema múltiplo ferrugem da folha: helmintosporiose / Critical-point models to relate white oat yield and disease intensity of the multiple pathosystem leaf rust: helminthosporium blight

A ferrugem da folha e a helmintosporiose são as principais doenças fúngicas foliares de aveia branca. Em cultivares suscetíveis, o controle químico não considera o limiar de dano econômico (LDE). O objetivo deste trabalho foi obter funções de dano, por modelos de ponto crítico, ao relacionar o dano pela ocorrência simultânea da ferrugem da folha e a helmintosporiose com o rendimento de grãos nas safras de 2006 e 2007, em Lages, Santa Catarina (SC). O gradiente da intensidade das doenças foi gerado por número de aplicações e doses de fungicidas nas cultivares 'UPFA 20' e 'UPFA 22'. Os ensaios consistiram de 10 tratamentos, distribuídos em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. As doenças foram avaliadas nos estádios de alongamento, emborrachamento e florescimento. Os modelos de ponto crítico foram obtidos por regressão linear entre rendimento de grãos e incidência (I) e severidade (S). Em 2006, funções significativas foram obtidas para 'UPFA 20' no emborrachamento (R=6.345-22,07I), enquanto para a 'UPFA 22' foi obtida no alongamento (R=5.726-17,96I; R=5.160-541,5S), emborrachamento (R=5.961-21,85I; R=5.433-966,8S) e florescimento (R=6.217-36,41I; R=5.539-1.185S). Em 2007, para 'UPFA 20', no alongamento (R=6.369-55,61I; R=4.965-2.911S), emborrachamento (R=6.620-40,91I; R=5.181-1.702S) e florescimento (R=6.129-32,34I; R=5.252-638,6S), e para 'UPFA 22', no alongamento (R=5.201-41,96I; R=4.977-657,8S), emborrachamento (R=5.329-60,51I; R=4.238-798,1S) e florescimento (R=5.604-32,83I; R=4.680-588,5S). A produção na cultivar 'UPFA 22' foi mais afetada pela ocorrência das doenças, e a intensidade das doenças no estádio de florescimento apresentou maior relação com o rendimento de grãos. As funções geradas permitem obter o coeficiente de dano para uso no cálculo do LDE em patossistema múltiplo ferrugem da folha e helmintosporiose.

The leaf rust and helminthosporium blight are the main foliar diseases of white oat. The chemical control in susceptible cultivars does not consider the economic damage threshold (EDT). The objective of this research was to obtain the damage functions by critical-point models to relate damage by simultaneous occurrence of white oat leaf rust and helminthosporium blight with yield grains during 2006/07 crop seasons in Lages, SC, Brazil. The gradient of diseases intensity was generated by number of applications and rates fungicides on cultivars 'UPFA 20' and 'UPFA 22'. The trials consisted by 10 treatments distributed in randomly blocks with four replications. Diseases evaluations were done in the elongation, booting and flowering stages. The critical-point models were obtained by linear regression between grain yield and leaf diseases incidence and severity. In 2006, significant function was obtained for 'UPFA 20' in booting stage (R=6.345-22.07I), with 'UPFA 22'. The significant functions were obtained in elongation (R=5.726-17.96I and R=5.160-541.5S), booting (R=5.961-21.85I; R=5.433-966.8S) and flowering stages (R=6.217-36.41I; R=5.539-1.185S). In 2007, the significant functions were obtained in all growth stages evaluated. To 'UPFA 20', the significant functions were in the elongation (R=6.369-55.61I; R=4.965-2.911S), booting (R=6.620-49.91I; R=5.181-1.702S) and flowering (R=6.129-32.34I; R=5.252-638.6S), while in the 'UPFA 22', were in the elongation (R=5.201-41.96I; R=4.977-657.8S), booting (R=5.329-60.51I; R=4.238-798.1S) and flowering (R=5.604-32.83I; R=4.680-588.5S). The 'UPFA 22' cultivar production was more affected by diseases occurrence and the diseases intensity in the flowering stage showed greater relation with the yield grain. The generated functions allowed obtaining the damage coefficient to use in the EDT in the multiple pathosystem leaf rust and helminthosporium.

A Case of Primary Subcutaneous Phaeohyphomycosis Caused by Drechslera Dematioidea / 대한피부과학회지

Phaeohyphomycosis refers to subcutaneous and systemic fungal infections characterized by dematiacious septate mycerial elements in tissue, We are discribing the first report of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis by Drechslera dematioidea in a 9-year-old boy who presented a slow-growing 4x5.5cm erythematous plaque with somewhat verrucous and eczematous lesion on the dorsal aspect of his right foot after receiving a burn by boiling liquid at 2 years of age. Biopsy of the lesion revealed granulomatous inflammation, brownish spores in chain and planate-deviding sclerotic bodies in the epidermis and upper dermis. Findings by microscopic examination and consecutive cultures of scales and biopsy specimen were consistent with Drechslera dematioidea. The lesion was successfully treated with itraconazole.