Removal of organic matter and nitrogen from dairy effluents in a structured bed reactor operated with intermittent aeration.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the performance of a structured bed reactor (SBRIA), carried out with intermittent aeration (IA), in the removal of organic matter and nitrogen from dairy effluent, when run with different organic loading rates (OLR). The SBRIA was operated for 227 days, with 2:1 AI cycles (2 h with aeration on and 1 h off) and Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) of 16 h. Three phases, with different OLR, were evaluated: phases A (1000 gCOD m-3 day-1 - 63 days), B (1400 gCOD m-3 day-1 - 94 days), and C (1800 gCOD m-3 day-1 - 70 days). The percentage of COD, NH4+-N removal, and nitrogen removal, respectively, were above 85 ± 7%, 73 ± 27%, and 83 ± 5, in all phases. There was no accumulation of the oxidized forms of nitrogen in the reactor. The kinetic test, performed to evaluate the nitrification and denitrification in the system, indicated that even in dissolved oxygen concentrations of 4.5 mg L-1, it was possible to obtain the denitrification process in the system. The results demonstrate that the reactor under study has positive characteristics to be used as an alternative for removing the removal of organic material and nitrogen in the biological treatment of dairy effluents.

Inoculation with Oidiodendron maius BP Improves Nitrogen Absorption from Fertilizer and Growth of Vaccinium corymbosum during the Early Nursery Stage.

Blueberry roots are inefficient in taking up water and nutrients, a fact partially related to their scarcity of root hairs, but they improve nutrient uptake by associating with ericoid mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi. However, the benefits of this association are both cultivar- and fungus-dependent. Our objective was to assess the effect of inoculation with three native fungal strains (Oidiodendron maius A, O. maius BP, and Acanthomyces lecanii BC) on plantlet growth, plantlet survival, and nitrogen (N) absorption of the southern highbush blueberry (SHB) cultivars Biloxi and Misty. The fungal strains were inoculated into the peat-based substrate for growing blueberry cultivars, and plantlets produced by micropropagation were transplanted and grown for four months. The three inoculated strains positively affected the survival percentage in at least one of the cultivars tested, whereas O. maius BP positively affected plant biomass, N derived from fertilizer absorption, N content, and plant N recovery (%) in both Biloxi and Misty. Our results show that the O. maius BP strain may prove useful as a bio-inoculant to improve blueberry production during the nursery stage.

Phosphate-solubilizing fungi co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium promote cowpea growth under varying N and P fertilization conditions

We evaluated the compatibility between two nitrogen-fixing Bradyrhizobium inoculant strains and phosphate-solubilizing fungal strains and the effect of co-inoculation of these bacterial and fungal strains on cowpea growth under different N and P conditions. First, the compatibility between Bradyrhizobium strains UFLA03-84 and INPA03-11B and fungi Haematonectria ipomoeae FSA381, Eleutherascus lectardii FSA257a, Pochonia chlamydosporia var. catenulata FSA109, and Acremonium polychromum FSA115 was tested in both solid and liquid media. Cowpea growth and nodulation promotion under two mineral N doses and two P conditions (a low dose of soluble P plus a high dose of Ca3(PO4)2 and another condition with a high dose of soluble P) were tested with two N2 fixing Bradyrhizobium strains co-inoculated with each of the P-solubilizing fungal strains FSA109, FSA115, and FSA381. There was compatibility between each fungal strain and the two Bradyrhizobium strains, except for FSA257a with either of the bacterial strains in liquid medium. When both mineral N and P were limiting, plants were able to grow and accumulate N and P based on biological N2 fixation and solubilization of calcium phosphate in the same amount as the mineral N and soluble phosphate. Even when both nutrients were fully available, the type of co-inoculation promoted plant growth and nutrient accumulation. The responses varied in accordance with the co-inoculated strains, the N source, and the P source, reflecting the enormous complexity of the biological interactions between plants and microorganisms, and the nutrient conditions provided by the environment.

Synthesis, characterization and in vitro antimicrobial screening studies of some pyridyl-coumarin compounds / Síntesis, caracterización y evaluación antimicrobiana in vitro de algunos derivados de piridil-coumarina

SUMMARY In vitro antimicrobial screening of some pyridyl-coumarin compounds were done against some bacterial and fungal strains in DMF and DMSO. These pyridyl-coumarin compounds were synthesized in the laboratory and their structure was confirmed by different spectroscopic techniques such as IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass. Some of these compounds exhibited excellent antibacterial activity in both the solvents.

RESUMEN La actividad antimicrobiana in vitro de algunos compuestos derivados de piridil-coumarina se evaluó frente a algunas cepas bacterianas y fúngicas en DMF y DMSO. Las piridil-cumarinas se sintetizaron en el laboratorio y sus estructuras se confirmaron por diferentes técnicas espectroscópicas, tales como IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR y masas. Algunos de los compuestos que se obtuvieron presentaron buena actividad antibacteriana en ambos solventes.

Filamentous fungi and agro-industrial residues selection for enzyme production of biotechnological interest / Seleção de fungos filamentosos e de resíduos agroindustriais para a produção de enzimas de interesse biotecnológico

Many fungal enzymes have relevant applications in different industrial areas. The objective of this work was to select fungi producing hydrolytic enzymes, as well as establish agro-industrial wastes capable of inducing higher production levels. Xylanase, endoglucanase, amylase and poligalacturonase activities were determined by incubating the culture filtrates with their respective substrates. Subsequently, the reducing sugars determination was carried out using 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid reagent.The protein determination was performed according the modified Bradford method. Among the fungal strains evaluated, Aspergillus niger J4 showed higher levels of xylanase production (8.73 ± 0.34 U/ml) and this was greatest when brewers spent grain was used as substrate (9.80 ± 0.02 U/ml). Penicillium miczynskii produced the highest levels of endoglucanasic activity (0.13 ± 0.03 U/ml), which, in turn, was favored in the pineapple peel presence (0.18 ± 0.02 U/ml). In relation to amylase, A. niger J26 was selected as the best producer strain (6.10 ± 0.30 U/ml) with wheat bran as the best substrate for their production (7.32 ± 0.14 U/ml). Penicillium verruculosum exhibited the highest level of poligalacturonase activity (8.65 ± 0.12 U/ml)), especially when grown in orange peel presence (10.32 ± 0.10 U/ml). These wastes use in these enzymes production may not only reduce their production cos

Muitas enzimas produzidas por fungos têm relevantes aplicações em diferentes áreas industriais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi selecionar fungos filamentosos produtores de enzimas hidrolíticas, bem como estabelecer os resíduos agroindustriais capazes de induzir maiores níveis de produção. As atividades xilanásica, endoglucanásica, amilásica e poligalacturonásica foram determinadas incubandose os filtrados de cultura com seus respectivos substratos. Posteriormente, a determinação de açúcares redutores foi realizada utilizando-se o reagente ácido 3,5-dinitrosalicílico. A determinação de proteínas foi realizada segundo o método de Bradford modificado. Dentre as linhagens fúngicas avaliadas, Aspergillus niger J4 apresentou maiores níveis de produção de xilanases (8,73 ± 0,34 U/mL) e esta foi maior quando o bagaço de malte foi utilizado como substrato (9,80 ± 0,02 U/mL). Penicillium miczynskii produziu os índices mais elevados de atividade endoglucanásica (0,13 ± 0,03 U/mL), sendo está última favorecida na presença de casca de abacaxi (0,18 ± 0,02 U/mL). Em relação à amilase, A. niger J26 foi selecionada como a melhor linhagem produtora (6,10 ± 0,30 U/mL), sendo o farelo de trigo estabelecido como o melhor substrato indutor de sua produção (7,32 ± 0,14 U/mL). Penicillium verruculosum exibiu os maiores níveis de atividade poligalacturonásica (8,65 ± 0,12 U/mL), especialmente quando cu

Filamentous fungi and agro-industrial residues selection for enzyme production of biotechnological interest / Seleção de fungos filamentosos e de resíduos agroindustriais para a produção de enzimas de interesse biotecnológico

Many fungal enzymes have relevant applications in different industrial areas. The objective of this work was to select fungi producing hydrolytic enzymes, as well as establish agro-industrial wastes capable of inducing higher production levels. Xylanase, endoglucanase, amylase and poligalacturonase activities were determined by incubating the culture filtrates with their respective substrates. Subsequently, the reducing sugars determination was carried out using 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid reagent.The protein determination was performed according the modified Bradford method. Among the fungal strains evaluated, Aspergillus niger J4 showed higher levels of xylanase production (8.73 ± 0.34 U/ml) and this was greatest when brewers spent grain was used as substrate (9.80 ± 0.02 U/ml). Penicillium miczynskii produced the highest levels of endoglucanasic activity (0.13 ± 0.03 U/ml), which, in turn, was favored in the pineapple peel presence (0.18 ± 0.02 U/ml). In relation to amylase, A. niger J26 was selected as the best producer strain (6.10 ± 0.30 U/ml) with wheat bran as the best substrate for their production (7.32 ± 0.14 U/ml). Penicillium verruculosum exhibited the highest level of poligalacturonase activity (8.65 ± 0.12 U/ml)), especially when grown in orange peel presence (10.32 ± 0.10 U/ml). These wastes use in these enzymes production may not only reduce their production cos

Muitas enzimas produzidas por fungos têm relevantes aplicações em diferentes áreas industriais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi selecionar fungos filamentosos produtores de enzimas hidrolíticas, bem como estabelecer os resíduos agroindustriais capazes de induzir maiores níveis de produção. As atividades xilanásica, endoglucanásica, amilásica e poligalacturonásica foram determinadas incubandose os filtrados de cultura com seus respectivos substratos. Posteriormente, a determinação de açúcares redutores foi realizada utilizando-se o reagente ácido 3,5-dinitrosalicílico. A determinação de proteínas foi realizada segundo o método de Bradford modificado. Dentre as linhagens fúngicas avaliadas, Aspergillus niger J4 apresentou maiores níveis de produção de xilanases (8,73 ± 0,34 U/mL) e esta foi maior quando o bagaço de malte foi utilizado como substrato (9,80 ± 0,02 U/mL). Penicillium miczynskii produziu os índices mais elevados de atividade endoglucanásica (0,13 ± 0,03 U/mL), sendo está última favorecida na presença de casca de abacaxi (0,18 ± 0,02 U/mL). Em relação à amilase, A. niger J26 foi selecionada como a melhor linhagem produtora (6,10 ± 0,30 U/mL), sendo o farelo de trigo estabelecido como o melhor substrato indutor de sua produção (7,32 ± 0,14 U/mL). Penicillium verruculosum exibiu os maiores níveis de atividade poligalacturonásica (8,65 ± 0,12 U/mL), especialmente quando cu