Identification and Characterizations of Pathogenic Fungal Species Associated with Symptoms of Cassava Anthracnose in Ivory Coast

Cassava anthracnose is a plant disease that affects cassava stems, petioles and fruits. The aim of this study was to analyze the diversity of cassava anthracnose symptoms in Ivory Coast and then to identify and characterize the associated fungal genera. Surveys were carried out in all agricultural zones of the country from July to November, in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Infected samples consisting of stems cut with a small number of superficial cankers (0.3%), distorted stems (25.77%), and necrotic stems and petioles (65.18%) were collected. Also, withered and dried apical buds (8.76%) were harvested. Fungal pathogens derived from samples were Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (35.08%), Fusarium sp. (27.19%) and Botrytis sp. (19.73%) genera and undetermined strains (17.98%). Genera were characterized by morphological and microscopic characteristics. Parasitic pressure increased to 80 and 100% respectively for Botrytis sp. genus and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Fusarium sp genera. Fungal genera have caused lesions on stem and petioles in green house with diameters sizes 46, 71 and 72 mm respectively for genera Botrytis sp, Fusarium sp and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Aggressiveness index of Botrytis sp. genus was 3 and 4 respectively for Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Fusarium sp. genera. The mycoflora of cassava aerial organs alteration, linked to the symptoms of anthracnose, is composed of genera of great economic importance and scientific interest.

Endophytic Mycoflora as a Source of Biotherapeutic Compounds for Disease Treatment.

Endophytic mycoflora are ubiquitous organisms residing in the internal tissues of the plants, at least for a portion of their lives without causing apparent symptoms of infection. Endophytes serve as rich sources of novel natural compounds with a wide-spectrum of biologically active agents. This review reveals the significance of endophytic mycoflora from plants as sources of bioactive organic compounds. The bioactive compounds produced by endophytic fungi originate by various biosynthetic pathways like PKS/NRPS. These compounds belong to diverse structural groups such as alkaloids, benzopyranones, chinones, cytochalasines, depsipeptides, enniatines, flavonoids, furandiones, isocumarines, peptides, polyketones, phenols, quinols, terpenoids, tetralones and xanthones were characterized by NMR, mass spectrometry, X-ray crystallography etc. Therefore, endophytes, represent a chemical reservoir for array of new compounds which are anti-cancerous, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-parasitical, anti-viral, anti-mycobacterium, anti-insecticidal, anti-malarial, anti-biotic, immunosuppressive & immunomodulatory agents, also in addition, other compounds were used in pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. This paper mainly focuses on the exploration of novel and useful compounds from endophytic mycoflora, and study of their roles in cure of diseases, the recent scenario of screening approach for novel drugs and their pharmacological interest.

Studies on the Mycoflora of Oil Cakes And characterization of Amylase.

The role of oil cakes in maintaining soil beneficial biota and suppressing harmful pathogens is also widely recognized in different soil as well as different ecosystems. Annual growth in oil cake production is projected to average 2.3% annually over the decade to 2010. Oil cakes especially non-edible in nature are more viable option to meet this demand significantlyas edible oil cakes cannot be utilized for agriculture purposes . Utility of oil seed cakes are recognized in different spheres.In this studies concentrate the isolation and identification of mycoflora of Neem, Illupai, Coconut, Sesame and Groundnut oil cake and which biomass and amylase production characteristic features were carried out. Keywords: Mycoflora, Amylase.

A Study on the Prevalence of Indoor Mycoflora in Air Conditioned Buses.

Aim: To study the presence of indoor mycoflora in A/c Buses to know the commuters risk of exposure to fungal spores. Place and Duration: Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT), Koyambedu, Chennai, India. Study was conducted from November 2011 to April 2012. Methodology: Airborne fungi from 50 A/c buses were studied using Reuter Centrifugal Sampler (Biotest, Germany), fungi from the surfaces of air vents through swab sample and bus seats by rubbing sterile petridishes on the seats. Sabourauds Dextrose Agar (SDA) was used for the isolation of fungi from different buses. The collected data were statistically analyzed. Results: A total of 38 species classified in 21 genera were recorded. Among which, Zygomycetes was represented by 4 species, Ascomycetes and Coelomycetes by single species each and the remaining belongs to Hyphomycetes. The genus, Aspergillus was represented by maximum number of species (11 species) followed by Penicillium (5 species). A total average of 713 CFU/m3 of air was recorded within the buses. Aspergillus niger was the first dominant fungi in the order of dominance followed by Chrysonilia sitophila, Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus flavus in that order. From the surface of bus seats, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Rhizopus stolonifer and A. japonicus were recorded as dominant. However, different mycofloral composition was recorded from air vents. Cladosporium chlorocephalum and Curvularia lunata dominated the surface of air vents. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the presence of potential fungal species which pose exposure risk to the immune compromised commuters.

Fungal Flora and Ochratoxin A Associated with Coffee in Cameroon.

Aims: 104 samples were collected from the west region and the coastal plain of Cameroon during two coffee campaigns, 2009 and 2010. Two coffee processes were evaluated (wet and dry processes) at different stages from harvesting to storage. Study Design: Food contaminants. Place and Duration of Study: Food Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Food Science and Nutrition (ENSAI) University of Ngaoundere; UMR 95 Qualisud, CIRAD of Montpellier, between May 2009 and September 2012. Methodology: Fungi profile was evaluated by direct plating techniques and identified using morphological and molecular tools. OTA levels were analyzed using HPLC technique after extraction and filtration using an immunoaffinity column. Results: Results obtained revealed an overall percentage of fungal contamination between 60-92% in 2009 and 70-90% in 2010. There was no ecological difference in the composition of ochratoxigenic species present in five sites. Coffee beans sampled in 2009 had a colonization incidence of 18-40% A. carbonarius, 12-22% A. niger, 3-15% A. ochraceus while those of 2010 had a colonization incidence of 15-30% A. carbonarius, 35- 40% A. niger, and 2-7% A. ochraceus. Fungal diversity was not correlated with the geographical origin, coffee cultivar and processing method. There was no difference between the processes studied in terms of occurrence of ochratoxigenic fungi. OTA levels were mostly below the recommended standards although some isolated cases of extreme contamination were observed in 2009. A higher level of OTA was detected in the presence of A. niger, A. carbonarius and A. ochraceus than when only A. niger was present. Conclusion: The important fungi with the potential to produce OTA in Cameroonian coffee beans are A. carbonarius and A. niger. These two species were predominant on each type of coffee beans. It was also observed that once a toxigenic strain was isolated from a coffee sample, the sample contained OTA.

Mycoflora and Enzymatic Characterization of Fungal Isolates in Commercial Meju, Starter for a Korean Traditional Fermented Soybean Product

Mycoflora was assessed in the commercial meju from four well-separated geographic origins. A total of 112 fungal isolates were identified by phenotypic characteristics and molecular taxonomy using sequencing the internal transcribed spacer of the rDNA and revealed 19 species from 13 genera. Enzymatic characteristics of protease and amylase, and mycotoxin production were analyzed.

Mycoflora study in a wheat flour mill of Argentina

The mycoflora of the environment: wheat conditioning, milling and screening, and filling zone, as well as, raw material -wheat-, intermediate product -grits- and end product -flour- on day 1, and after cleaning improvements -days 45 and 90- were studied in an Argentine wheat mill. Samples were incubated at 28°C for 5-7 days on Malt Extract Agar with chloramphenicol (100 mg L-1) and the results were expressed in colony forming units per cubic meter of air (CFU m-3) or per gram of sample (CFU g-1), respectively. Fungal genera and species were isolated and identified and the potential toxicogenic capacity of the Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium graminearum isolated was studied. Time-Place and Time-Product multifactorial ANOVA were carried out. After cleaning improvements, CFU m-3 of air decreased as a function of time. Cladosporium and Alternaria were abundant in every zone, Aspergillus predominated in the wheat conditioning zone and Penicillium and Eurotium decreased with time. Wheat was more contaminated than grits and flour; Aspergillus, Eurotium and Mucoraceae family were the most abundant. Deoxynivalenol was above the levels allowed in wheat, being acceptable in grits and flour. Aflatoxin and Zearalenone showed acceptable levels. When studied in vitro, 53% of Aspergillus flavus and 100% of Fusarium graminearum isolates, produced Total Aflatoxins, and Deoxynivalenol and Zearalenone, respectively.

The Effect of Seed-borne Mycoflora from Sorghum and Foxtail Millet Seeds on Germination and Disease Transmission

The seed-borne mycoflora of sorghum and foxtail millet collected from different growing areas in South Korea were isolated and taxonomically identified using dry inspection, standard blotter and the agar plate method. We investigated the in vitro and in vivo germination rates of disinfected and non-disinfected seeds of sorghum and foxtail millet using sterilized and unsterilized soil. The percent recovery of seed-borne mycoflora from the seed components of sorghum and foxtail millet seeds was determined and an infection experiment using the dominant species was evaluated for seedling emergence and mortality. A higher number of seed-borne fungi was observed in sorghum compared to that of foxtail millet. Eighteen fungal genera with 34 fungal species were identified from the seeds of sorghum and 13 genera with 22 species were identified from the seeds of foxtail millet. Five dominant species such as Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium moniliforme and Phoma sp. were recorded as seed-borne mycoflora in sorghum and 4 dominant species (Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium moniliforme) were observed in foxtail millet. The in vitro and in vivo germination rates were higher using disinfected seeds and sterilized soil. More seed-borne fungi were recovered from the pericarp compared to the endosperm and seed embryo. The percent recovery of seed-borne fungi ranged from 2.22% to 60.0%, and Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata and 4 species of Fusarium were isolated from the endosperm and embryo of sorghum and foxtail millet. Inoculation of the dominant seed-borne fungi showed considerable mortality of seedlings. All the transmitted seed-borne fungi might well be a primary source of infection of sorghum and foxtail millet crops.

Fungos veiculados por sementes comerciais de braquiária / Fungi associated to commercial seed of braquiaria grass

Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a qualidade sanitária de 50 lotes comerciais de sementes de braquiária, produzidos em diferentes regiões nas safras de 2004-2005 e 2005-2006. Sementes de Brachiaria brizantha cvs. Marandu e Xaraés, B. decumbens cv. Basilisk, B. humidicola cv. Humidicola e B. ruziziensis cv. Ruziziensis, destinadas ao comércio interno, foram submetidas ao teste de sanidade pelo método de papel de filtro. Adicionalmente, avaliou-se a sanidade de sementes de 'Marandu' (2 lotes) e 'Basilisk' (1 lote) destinadas à exportação. As sementes foram distribuídas sobre papel de filtro acondicionado em gerbox e incubadas a 20º C, com fotoperíodo de 12h, durante sete dias. Os fungos secundários ou de armazenamento (FSA) mais frequentemente detectados nos lotes de braquiária foram Aspergillus sp. e Rhizopus sp. Quanto aos fungos potencialmente patogênicos (FP), constatou-se elevada frequência dos gêneros Bipolaris. Curvularia. Fusarium e Phoma. Em geral, foi elevada a incidência de Bipolaris sp., Fusarium sp. e Phoma sp. nas sementes. A ocorrência de Phoma sp. foi crítica, pois 42% dos lotes registraram índices superiores a 70%. Bipolaris sp., Fusarium sp. e Phoma sp. também foram associados às sementes de braquiária tipo exportação, em alguns casos, com incidência considerável. Os resultados revelaram que as sementes comerciais de braquiária apresentam baixa qualidade sanitária e que, em todas as regiões produtoras, existe pelo menos um fator afetando a sanidade dessas sementes.

This work aimed to evaluate the sanitary quality of 50 commercial lots of seeds of braquiaria grass, produced in different regions in the crop of 2004­2005 and 2005­2006. The lots consisted of seeds of the cultivars Brachiaria brizantha cvs. Marandu and Xaraes, B. decumbens cv. Basilisk, B. humidicola cv. Humidicola and B. ruziziensis cv. Ruziziensis. Additionally, seeds of 'Marandu' (2 lots) and 'Basilisk' (1 lot) for exportation were analyzed. The blotter test was used, at 20º C under alternating light and darkness in a 12h photoperiod, for 7 days. Aspergillus sp. and Rhizopus sp. were the secondary or storage fungi with greatest frequency in lots of seeds. High frequency of potential pathogenic fungi, specifically of the Bipolaris. Curvularia. Fusarium and Phoma genera, was observed. In general, there was a high incidence of Bipolaris sp., Fusarium sp. and Phoma sp. in braquiaria grass seeds. The occurrence of Phoma sp. was severe, because 42% of the lots showed incidence superior to 70%. Bipolaris sp., Fusarium sp. and Phoma sp. were associated to braquiaria grass seeds for exportation, in some cases, with significant incidence. The results evidenced the low sanitary quality of commercial seeds of braquiaria grass, and demonstrated that in all producer regions there is at least one factor affecting the sanitary quality of these seeds.

Mycoflora and Mycotoxins of Cereal Grains in Delta, Egypt

Five cereal grains (wheat, barley, rice, maize and sorghum) were collected from three Egyptian provinces known to be grain producers (Daqahlia, Gharbia and Kafer el-Sheikh). Two species of Alternaria (A. raphani and A. tenusinae); two species of Aspergillus (A. flavus and A. niger); one species of Cunninghamella (C. elegans); one Dreschslera species (D. myaki); three Fusarium species (F. graminearum, F. moniliform and F. solani); one Rhizopus species (R. stolonifer) and two species of Penicillium (P. digitatum and P. notatum) were isolated from the grains. The densities of these fungi and their frequencies of occurrence have been investigated. All the fungal isolates were tested for the production of toxic metabolites in culture media and the percentages of toxigenic isolates were calculated. The biological assay of the toxigenic fungal isolates showed significant variations in toxigenic activity. Thin layer chromatography revealed that the most active isolate produces moniliformin in culture media. The effect of culture conditions on the production of moniliformin was studied.

Morphometric Studies on the Genus Septoria in Korea (I)

The mycoflora of Korea was rather poorly studied in the past and the fungi belonging to the genus Septoria are no exception. For this reason, taxonomic studies on Septoria have been initiated, with the eventual aim of producing a monograph of the Septoria species present in Korea. The present study circumscribes 10 species; viz., Septoria artemisiae, S. callistephi, S. chrysanthemella, S. erigerontis, S. lycopersici, S. lysimachiae, S. oenotherae, S. phlogis, S. rohlenae, and S. sonchi. Distinguishing morphological characters are described and illustrated for each species.

ANALYSIS ON MYCOFLORA IN BOTTLED PURIFIED DRINKING WATER / 微生物学通报

The study on mycoflora in bottled purified d rinking water was carried out.91 Samples of products were colleted from 59 bottl ing factories in Fujian Province and were examined and identified.461 Strains of fungi were isolated from 58(63 74%)different samples.Fungi imperfecti was the e umycetes isolated most frequently.These fungi were not closely related to the ae robic bacterial count and coliform of the studied waters but was clearly associa ted with the packaging of the products.The result confirmed that the cross conta minations on the process of post-purification were the main source of fungi in the final products.

Ecological Study on Mycoflora in Soil of Suburban Villages of Zhangzhou, Fujian / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To study the ecological characteristics of toxigenic fungi in soil of the suburban villages of Zhangzhou, Fujian. Methods 48 soil samples were collected from 24 natural villages in Zhangzhou and cultured in bengal rose agar plate, then the fungal count and species identification were carried out. Results The numbers of fungi in unit area in 48 soil samples were in the normal rang. 3357 strains of 34 fungal genera were found in sampled soil samples. Fusarium and Penicillium were the dominant genera, as well as Trichoderma, Parcilomyces, Cladosporium which were commonly detectable. 4 strains of Aspergillus flavas were found, 2 of them were toxigenic. Aflatoxin B 1 production were 6?7 ng/g respectively and they didnt produce AFB 2? AFG 1? AFG 2. 2 strains of A. versicolor both produced sterigmatocystin. Conclusion Aspergillus flavus showed lower proportion in mycoflora and weaker capability for producing aflatoxins in soil of suburban villages of Zhangzhou. This data obtained could be used as the basis for agriculture areal programme.