Potencial de mineralización de nitrógeno en suelos con aplicación de cáscara de semilla de girasol / Potential nitrogen mineralization in soils with sunflower seed husk application

Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el potencial de mineralización de nitrógeno (N) de suelos contrastantes luego del aporte de diferentes dosis de cascaras de semillas de girasol (CG) (Helianthus annuus L.), residuo abundante del sudoeste bonaerense (SOB). Se realizaron incubaciones aeróbicas de largo plazo (37 semanas), utilizando tres suelos diferentes (0-20 cm) y distintas dosis de CG calculadas con base en su contenido de N orgánico: 100 (D1), 200 (D2) y 400 (D3) kg N ha-1. Los suelos contrastaron en el contenido de fracciones granulométricas (S1: arena 509 g kg-1; limo 320 g kg-1 y arcilla 171 g kg-1; S2: arena 351 g kg-1; limo 448 g kg-1 y arcilla 201 g kg-1; S3: arena 827 g kg-1, limo 107 g kg-1 y arcilla 66 g kg-1). Las características químicas de CG: conductividad eléctrica= 1,6 dS m-1; pH= 5,6; materia orgánica (MO) = 958 g kg-1; N total= 7,8 g kg-1, relación C:N= 79. Los suelos demostraron diferencias significativas en el N potencialmente mineralizable (N0) con valores que fueron S1>S2>S3, al igual que en la tasa de mineralización (k) (S1 y S3= 0,0036 semana-1, S2=0,0056 semana-1). Se halló una interacción significativa en los aportes de CG y suelos, por lo que se analizó la incorporación en cada suelo. Cuando se aplicó CG, se observó una respuesta positiva sobre S3 con D1 y D2. Para S1 y S2, la aplicación de CG no aumentó el N0, aunque tampoco produjo un detrimento. La dinámica de la mineralización de N acumulada demostró efectos diferentes al aporte de CG con respecto al tipo de suelo. El aporte de CG al suelo incrementó el potencial de mineralización de N en el suelo arenoso-franco, sin disminuir el potencial en los suelos restantes, por lo que podría ser utilizada como enmienda orgánica bajo estas condiciones.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential nitrogen (N) mineralization of contrasting soils after the addition of different sunflower seed hulls (CG) (Helianthus annuus L.) doses, an abundant residue of the southwest of Buenos Aires Province (SOB). Long-term aerobic incubations (37 weeks) were performed, using three different soils (0-20 cm) and various CG levels based on their organic N content: 100 (D1), 200 (D2) and 400 (D3) kg N ha-1. Soils differs in granulometric fractions (S1: sand 509 g kg-1; silt 320 g kg-1 and clay 171 g kg-1; S2: sand 351 g kg-1; silt 448 g kg-1 and clay 201 g kg-1; S3: sand 827 g kg-1, silt 107 g kg-1 and clay 66 g kg-1). The CG chemical characteristics: electrical conductivity= 1.6 dS m-1; pH= 5.6; organic matter (MO) = 958 g kg-1; total N= 7.8 g kg-1, C:N ratio = 79. Significant differences were found in potentially mineralizable N (N0) for three soils, whose values were S1>S2>S3; as well as in the mineralization rate (k) (S1 and S3= 0.0036 week-1, S2=0.0056 week-1). Significant interaction was found with the CG contribution and soils, so the contribution was analyzed for each soil. When GC was applied, a positive response was observed on S3 with D1 and D2. For S1 and S2, the application of GC did not increase the potential for N mineralization, however, it had not a detrimental effect on the potential. Dynamics of accumulated N mineralization showed different effects of CG addition with respect to soil type. The CG addition to soil increased the potential N mineralization in the sandy-loam soil, without reducing the potential in the remaining soils, which is why it could be used as an organic amendment under these conditions.

Mushroom Production in the Southern Cone of South America: Bioeconomy, Sustainable Development and Its Current Bloom.

A Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) based analysis is presented here for business development of the production of edible and medicinal mushrooms using agro-wastes in the Southern Cone of South America. This circular economy approach using edible and medicinal mushroom production on lignocellulosic residues is discussed by analysing both its advantages and drawbacks. Among its main benefits, it is notable that mushroom cultivation using lignocellulosic residues promotes innovation aimed at environmental sustainability, facilitating diversification of the labour supply and the transfer of science to the socio-cultural sphere, which also increases the availability of healthy foods. However, there are some bottlenecks in the process, such as the continuous supply chain of substrates for fungal growth, the lack of equipment and infrastructure for the implementation of cultivation systems in extreme habitats, as well as authorization requirements and other limitations related to a non-fungiphilic culture society. Therefore, this chapter tries to provide key tools for establishing sustainable guidelines for the procurement of local healthy food and other products derived from mushroom cultivation using agricultural residues in the region, which might bloom due to an SDGs-based circular economy approach.

Biorefining via solid-state fermentation of rice and sunflower by-products employing novel monosporic strains from Pleurotus sapidus.

Pleurotus sapidus monokaryotic strains (Mk) were screened as a novel source of mycelia to valorize rice straw (RS), rice husks (RH) and sunflower seed hulls (SSH) into value-added products through solid-state fermentation (SSF). P. sapidus Dk3174 basidiospores were cultured in the presence of Remazol Brillant Blue R for strain selection, revealing the ligninolytic ability of emerging colonies. Further screening demonstrated the intraspecific variability in dye degradation and enzyme production of 63 strains. Growth rate, biomass and enzyme production in plates containing RS, RH or SSH pointed at MkP6 as a suitable strain for pilot-scale SSF. MkP6 presented a similar laccase profile as the parental Dk3174, being greater in pasteurized substrates (300-1200 U/Kg) than in sterilized substrates (30-250 U/Kg). Peroxidase represented 25% of the total ligninolytic activity measured. The SSH fermented biomass with MkP6 obtained good yields of nanocellulose (67%) and the saccharide release for ethanol production increased by 3-4 times.

From agro-waste to tool: biotechnological characterization and application of Ganoderma lucidum E47 laccase in dye decolorization.

The culture of fungal species from agro-waste allows for the sustainable preparation of valuable biotechnological products and contributes to establish the Circular Economy concept. The Ganoderma lucidum species is well known as producer of laccases (EC 1.10.3.2), which serves as a tool to oxidize chemicals. When producing G. lucidum E47 basidiomes with edible purposes out of rice crop residues, its laccase remains as by-product. In this work, we report the biotechnological characterization and application of the laccase recovered from spent cultures of the G. lucidum E47 strain. We detected at least one polypeptide (ca. 59 kDa) which displays attractive activity and stability values when used in the range of 18-45 °C in mildly acidic environment (pH 4.8-5.8). These parameters can be enhanced in the presence of organic cosolvents such as butyl acetate and methyl iso-butyl ketone, but the opposite effect is observed with solvents of lower log P. The best activity-stability performance is reached when the biocatalyst is used in pH 4.8 buffer with 5% (v/v) butyl acetate at 37 °C. The laccase was capable of decolorizing xanthene, azo and triarylmethane dyes, exhibiting excellent selectivity on bromocresol green and bromocresol purple. Furthermore, the biocatalyst displayed an attractive activity when assessed for the decolorization of bromocresol green in a proof-of-concept effluent biotreatment.

Conditions Affecting Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes) Basidiome Quality, Morphogenesis, and Biodegradation of Wood By-products in Argentina.

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) with the medicinal higher Basidiomycete Ganoderma lucidum was studied as a strategy to use pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) and poplar (Populus nigra L.) wood chips and sawdust. Fruiting bodies were produced and the value of the biotransformed substrate was assessed. The highest mushroom yield (63 g dry weight per kilogram of dry substrate) was obtained with poplar sawdust and wood chips. Immersion of the bioreactors was a simple watering method that obtained suitable yields. Two morphological types were induced using 2 different incandescent light intensities. High light irradiation induced the highest valued mushroom morphology (as a whole product). Time course study of substrate biodegradation and mycelial growth dynamics indicated that the trophophase lasted 20 days and presented laccase activity of 0.01-0.03 units · g-1. The activity at idiophase was 10 times higher. Aqueous and alkali extracts, as well as carbohydrase enzyme profile activity, revealed differences in the properties of the residual substrate; some related to the substrate source are considered to be of concern for further use of this pretreated biomass. In view of the results obtained, we propose use of SSF of pine and poplar with G. lucidum to profitably recycle softwood by-products from the timber industry.

In Vitro Studies of Secondary Metabolite-Related Responses in Some Species of Genus Grifola (Agaricomycetes) from Argentina.

Grifola gargal Singer and Grifola sordulenta (Mont.) Singer mushrooms are related to Grifola frondosa (Dicks.) Gray, which is well known for its medicinal properties. In vitro studies were performed to find a useful guide for optimizing the environmental parameters through biotransformation of lignocellulosic materials and basidiome development, also considering secondary metabolism-related responses (SMRRs) associated with these processes and the variability among species and strains; this optimization is necessary to make the mushroom's industrial cultivation profitable. Morphological features of mycelial cultures revealed that intraspecific variability was of taxonomic relevance. A low ligninolytic capacity in studied Grifola species was observed when compared with 2 control species: G. frondosa and Ganoderma lucidum. Experiments with nutrient media containing different carbohydrate sources indicated that G. gargal mycelia grew better in xylulose and G. sordulenta, in xylulose or cellulose; in addition, the latter species presented cellobiose dehydrogenase activity. An additional study of SMRRs under different light conditions (aroma, pigmentation, and morphogenic manifestations) showed that white light was better than blue, green, or red-filtered light at inducing advanced SMRRs. The results of SMRR stimulation are proposed as useful guidance for optimizing the environmental parameters for bioprocesses aimed at metabolite production.

Submerged Culture of Grifola gargal and G. sordulenta (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Argentina as a Source of Mycelia with Antioxidant Activity.

Submerged culture is an alternative mycelium source for Grifola gargal and G. sordulenta, two rare edible mushrooms related to Grifola frondosa. This work studies their mycelia as a source of antioxidants. The efficient concentrations of methanolic extracts in both radical scavenging (RS) and reducing power (RP) abilities in G. gargal and in G. sordulenta showed a high antioxidant activity. In the experimental design used, the antioxidant activity mainly depended on the culture conditions rather than on the media composition. Irrespective of the basal culture medium, mycelium methanolic extracts of G. sordulenta obtained from culture in Erlenmeyer flasks showed equivalents to ascorbic acid (EQ(AA)) RS-EQ(AA) and RP-EQ(AA) contents higher than the corresponding values obtained with jar cultures. Under stationary cultivation, G. sordulenta produced approximately 50% higher content in both RS-EQ(AA) and RP-EQ(AA) than the medicinal mushroom G. frondosa. Phenolics correlated with RS-EQ(AA) and RP-EQ(AA) in G. gargal and with RP-EQ(AA) in G. sordulenta; besides, thin-layer chromatography showed these compounds to be at least in part related to the RS capacity. It is concluded that G. gargal and G. sordulenta mycelia are excellent sources of antioxidant metabolites.

Enhancement of wheat grain antioxidant activity by solid state fermentation with Grifola spp.

Grifola frondosa, Grifola gargal, and Grifola sordulenta are edible and medicinal mushrooms with antioxidant properties. To obtain wheat flour (Wf ) with a higher antioxidant activity than the one exhibited by regular Wf, solid state fermentation (SSF) of wheat grains with mycelia of those Grifola spp. was used to obtain biotransformed wheat grain (BWG) flour. The methanolic extract of control Wf and BWG flour of G. gargal, G. sordulenta, and G. frondosa (GfWG, GgWG, and GsWG, respectively) were studied for their radical scavenging (RS) activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydracyl (DPPH) and their Fe(III) reducing power (RP). The values for RS-EC50 decreased in BWG flour, therefore presenting a higher antioxidant activity: GgWG (0.56 mg/mL), GfWG (0.81 mg/mL), and GsWG (5.80 mg/mL) in comparison to Wf (57.60 mg/mL). The antioxidant content for this RS activity in terms of ascorbic acid content (RS-EQAA) was highest in GfWG, followed by GgWG and GsWG (71.73, 14.46, and 3.02 mg/g, respectively) and lowest in Wf (0.25 mg/g). The RP-EC50 values in GgWG, GfWG, and GsWG were low (0.55, 0.64, and 4.20 mg/mL, respectively) with respect to Wf (55.00 mg/mL). Compared with Wf (0.56 mg/g), the RP capacity in terms of ascorbic acid content (RP-EQAA) was very high in GfWG (193.67 mg/g) followed by GgWG and GsWG (31.42 and 8.74 mg/g, respectively). The high content in gallic acid equivalents was consistent with RS-EQ(AA) and RP-EQ(AA) contents. TLC revealed that antioxidant activity in BWG could be related to the presence of phenolic compounds. Thus, a valuable food alternative can easily be obtained with wheat grains, that is, by markedly increasing their antioxidant value through SSF with Grifola spp.