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KAVAKA 58 (4): 1-9 (2022) DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/4/2022/1-9 

Understanding onychomycosis - a neglected form of cutaneous mycosis 

Geeta Sumbali* and Anjali Sharma 

Department of Botany, University of Jammu, BR Ambedkar Road, Jammu-180006 (India) *Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on May 27, 2022; Accepted on October 03, 2022) 

ABSTRACT 

Onychomycosis refers to the chronic fungal infection of toenails and fingernails that may involve any component of the nail unit. It is the most common nail disorder experienced worldwide and is usually caused by different species of dermatophytes, saprophytic moulds, yeast and yeast-like fungi. Approximately 50-70 per cent of the nail disorders are caused by fungal pathogens, which affect the quality of life by causing pain, discomfort and physical impairment. Moreover, onychomycosis cause psychological and social limitations, which can undermine work and social life of a person. Onychomycosis is mostly caused by keratinophilic fungi, which have the unique ability of degrading keratin that forms the nail apparatus. Structurally, the nail apparatus has certain protective layers, such as, the cuticle and the distal solehorn but it is exposed to the harsh environments and is thus prone to damage and invasion by various keratinophiles through the distal and proximal nail folds. Management of onychomycosis is quite challenging since the infection is embedded within the nail and is difficult to reach. Synthetic antifungal agents are commonly used to control them but they are non-biodegradable, have various side effects due to residual toxicity, long duration of treatment, recurrence of infection and development of resistance to fungal pathogens. All these reasons have led to the exploration of some naturally occurring fungitoxicants like essential oils of higher plants for the management of onychomycotic pathogens 

Keywords: Onychomycosis, Nail dystrophies, Dermatophytes, Non-dermatophytic filamentous fungi, Yeast-like fungi 

KAVAKA 58 (4): 10-17 (2022) DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/4/2022/10-17 

Eco-fabrication of anti-proliferative fluorescent silver nanoparticles using neem endophytic fungus
Ejaz Ahmad Siddiqui1, Shadab Khan1, Sahrish Arfin1, Shruti Satpute1, Pooja Salunkhe1, Iqbal Siddiqui1, Sk Najrul Islam2, Renuka Bhor3, Jyoti Otageri3, Kalpana Pai3, Narendra Kadoo3, Vidya Gupta3 and Absar Ahmad1,2* 

1Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune-411008, India 2Interdisciplinary Nanotechnolcogy Centre (INC), Z.H. College of Engineering and Technology, Aligarh Muslim University, AMU, Aligarh, UP-202002, India.
3Department of Zoology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune -411007, India. *Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

(Submitted on September 22, 2022; Accepted on December 14, 2022) 

ABSTRACT 

Ever since scientists uncovered that plant-associated endophytic fungi have the ability to autonomously generate the same plant-based drugs/bioactive molecules; a multitude of endophytes have been utilized for the same. Extending the above aspect, our group directed it towards employing endophytes instead of plants in the 'eco-fabrication of nanoparticles'. The present manuscript demonstrates one such simple, reliable and ecological approach to the synthesis of biomedically and technologically prized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using an endophytic fungus isolated from neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) leaves. Wet mycelial mass of the fungus when added to aqueous precursor silver nitrate (AgNO3) led to the synthesis of profuse amounts of extracellular dispersed, fluorescent, quasi-spherical AgNPs of 20-60 nm having 20 nm average size. The nanoparticles were utterly characterized using recognized standard techniques. Cytotoxic activity of these nanoparticles was examined against human lung cancer cells (A549) and normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and it was observed that our AgNPs are anti-proliferative against cancer cells but safe toward normal cells. Furthermore, assessment of toxicity toward human RBCs (erythrocytes) revealed a mere 7% hemolysis in comparison to Triton X-100, consequently confirming the safe nature of our nanoparticles on human cells. Also, we scrutinized the anti-microbial potency of our biofabricated AgNPs and found them to be anti-microbial against different fungal (Aspergillus niger) and bacterial [Gram positive (Bacillus subtilis & Staphylococcus aureus), Gram negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa)] strains. These multi-faceted nanoparticles will find broad spectrum applications in fields like drug/targeted delivery, therapeutics, theranostics, anti- microbial coatings, and so on 

Keywords: Anti-microbial, Anti-proliferative, Eco-fabrication, Endophyte, Neem, Silver nanoparticles 

KAVAKA 58 (4): 18-23 (2022) DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/4/2022/18-23 

Morphological and phylogenetic characterisation of two species of family Russulaceae from Jammu and Kashmir, India
Komal Verma1, Faisal Mushtaq2, Anil Kumar1 and Yash Pal Sharma1*
1Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India. 2Department of Botany, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, 144001, India. *Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

(Submitted on August 17, 2022; Accepted on November 03, 2022) 

ABSTRACT 

In the present paper two species of family Russulaceae i.e., Lactarius abieticola and Russula lakhanpalii are reported for the first time from Jammu and Kashmir, India. Russula lakhanpalii belongs to subgenus Heterophyllidia of genus Russula and Lactarius abieticola belongs to subg. Lactarius of genus Lactarius. A detailed macro- and micromorphological descriptions coupled with the illustrations and nrITS-based molecular analyses are presented here.

Keywords: Macrofungi, nrITS, Phylogeny, Regional records 

KAVAKA 58 (4): 24-27 (2022) DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/4/2022/24-27 

Effect of native rice specific isolates of Trichoderma and ecological fitness against aggregated sheath spot of rice caused by Ceratorhiza oryzae-sativae
Konjengbam Sarda Devi1*, Kota Chakrapani1, Wangkhem Tampakleima Chanu1, Bijeeta Thangjam1, Bireswar Sinha1, Laikangbam Nongdrenkhomba1, Ph. Sobita Devi1 and Akoijam Ratankumar Singh2 

1Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Iroisemba- 795 004, Imphal West, Manipur, India
2ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat, Imphal West-795 004, Manipur, India 

*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

(Submitted on October 05, 2022; Accepted on December 06, 2022) 

ABSTRACT 

Trichoderma is a free-living fungus that interacts heavily with its surroundings found in the root, soil, and foliar regions of plants as well. It is an important biocontrol agent due to its abilities, such as mycoparasitism, production of antibiotic, hydrolytic enzymes, competition for nutrients, as well as induced plant resistance; production of numerous secondary metabolites inhibiting the growth of several plant pathogens. Antagonistic potential of fourteen (n=14) native rice specific Trichoderma isolates was evaluated against aggregated sheath spot of rice caused by Ceratorhiza oryzae-sativae. It revealed that all native Trichoderma isolates significantly inhibited the mycelial growth of the pathogen of C. oryzae-sativae with ranges from 71.50% to 97.50% with the highest per cent inhibition by T. harzianum (MH257323), and the least percent inhibition by T. koningiopsis (MN080228). Bell's scale studied showed that class III category by T. koningiopsis (MN080228) and class II showed by T. harzianum (MH257323) against C. oryzae-sativae. Among isolates of native rice specific T. harzianum, MH257323 is found to be the most effective in reducing the rapid growth of pathogen and having high potential ecological fitness. 

Keywords: Aggregated sheath spot, Biocontrol agent, Ecological fitness, Mycoparasitism, Rice, Trichoderma 

KAVAKA 58 (4): 28-35 (2022) DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/4/2022/28-35 

Effect of AM fungus on phosphorus nutrition of maize and pigeon pea in alfisols as influenced by different phosphorus amendments of North Carolina Rock Phosphate (NCRP)
R. Mythra*, G.S. Srikanth., U. Jagadeesh, K.B. Bhagyashree and A. Manjunath 

Department of Agricultural Microbiology, GKVK, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on September 19, 2022; Accepted on November 30, 2022) 

ABSTRACT 

A greenhouse investigation was conducted to determine the effect of AM fungus on phosphorus nutrition of maize and pigeon pea in alfisols as influenced by different phosphorus amendments of North Carolina Rock Phosphate (NCRP). This experiment consisted of 24 treatments resulting from factorial combination of two plant species, two levels of AM fungal (Glomus aggregatum) inoculation and six levels of phosphorus amendments. The extent of mycorrhizal fungal colonization in roots of pigeon pea was higher than that of maize. Inoculation of soil with AM mycorrhizal fungus caused significant increase in total phosphorus uptake of pigeon pea as well as maize. The extent of increase in total phosphorus uptake due to mycorrhizal inoculation in pigeon pea was higher than maize. The phosphorus uptake efficiency of maize was lower than pigeon pea. Mycorrhizal colonization significantly reduced phosphorus utilization efficiency of both plant species. The results of this study suggest that application of NCRP bio-acidulated with Bacillus sp. and Penicillium sp. improves phosphorus nutrition of maize and pigeon pea and inoculation of soil with AM fungus increase that effect.

Keywords: AM fungi, NCRP, Glomus aggregatum, Bacillus sp., Penicillium sp., Phosphorus nutrition. 

KAVAKA 58 (4): 36-39 (2022) DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/4/2022/36-39 

Efficacy of fungicides and endophytic bacteria against Fusarium wilt of chickpea caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris under in vitro conditions
Kailash Patel1*, R.K. Tombisana Devi1, A. Ratankumar Singh2, Kennedy Ningthoujam1, Veronica Kadam1 and Sushanti Thokchom1 

1School of Crop Protection, College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, CAU(I), Umiam-793103, Meghalaya, India
2Division of Crop Science, ICAR Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam-793 103, Meghalaya, India 

*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

(Submitted on October 08, 2022; Accepted on December 09, 2022) 

ABSTRACT 

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important leguminous crop originated from Southwestern Asia region and Fusarium wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (Foc) is limiting factor in chickpea cultivation. Efficacy of fungicides and endophytic beneficial bacteria were tested in vitro against chickpea wilt pathogen. Four different fungicides namely, carbendazim 50% WP (bavistin), hexaconazole 5% EC (contaf plus), propiconazole 25% EC (Tilt) and thiophanate methyl 70% WP (Roko) at 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20% were evaluated in vitro against Fusarium wilt of chickpea. Carbendazim and propiconazole proved the most effective exhibiting mean mycelial growth inhibition of 100% at all concentrations followed by hexaconazole and thiophanate methyl inhibit mycelial growth of 78.35 and 77.25% at 0.20% respectively. Four endophytic bacterial strains of Bacillus designated as ECP1 (Bacillus cereus), ECP5 (Bacillus subtilis), ECP8 (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) and ECP10 (Bacillus cereus) were also evaluated against the Foc. The endophytic Bacillus strains revealed that ECP1 is the most efficacious resulted in 69.62 % mean inhibition of mycelial growth followed by ECP5 with 67.03%. ECP8 (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) and ECP10 (Bacillus cereus) showed 65.18% growth reduction over control respectively. 

Keywords: Bacillus, Chickpea, Endophytes, Fungicides, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris 

KAVAKA 58 (4): 40-46 (2022) DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/4/2022/40-46 

Fungal pathogens as potential mycoherbicides to control water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
K.R. Aneja
Department of Microbiology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana 136 119, India Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

(Submitted on July 12, 2022; Accepted on October 18, 2022) 

ABSTRACT 

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), a free-floating aquatic weed and native of Amazon River, is one of the fastest growing plants whose seeds can remains viable for more than 28 years in the mud. Controlling methods for water hyacinth include physical, chemical and biological, but biological using fungal pathogens and/or insects or both as a consortium is effective and eco-friendly. The world of fungi provides a fascinating and almost endless source of biological diversity, which is a rich source for exploitation. Studies conducted on fungal diversity of water hyacinth yielded 21 fungal pathogens, of these two: Fusarium chlamydosporum and Bipolaris sorokiniana recorded for the first time on this weed globally and 7 fungal pathogens [Alternaria alternata isolate-1 and isolate-2 (AL-14), Cercospora rodmanii, Phoma sorghina, Epicoccum nigrum, Acremonium sp., Alternaria sp. and Stemphylium sp.] identified as new records for the country. Biocontrol studies conducted on seven fungal pathogens showed maximum biocontrol efficacy in Cercospora rodmanii (95.3%), followed by Alternaria eichhorniae (80%) and A. alternata (45-72%), revealing all the desired characteristics, such as: can be easily cultured and maintained on natural host, host -specific, easily disseminated and can be mass produced in a short span of time. Moreover, the phylloplane microflora is not antagonistic to these pathogens, thus the biocontrol efficacy would not be affected by the surface microflora. They have the potential to be developed as a mycoherbicide/s either alone or as a consortium to manage water hyacinth worldwide either used alone or in combination with insects and or herbicide. 

Keywords: Water hyacinth, Bioherbicides, Alternaria alternata, A. eichhorniae, Fusarium chlamydosporum, Epicoccum nigrum, Cercospora rodmanii 

KAVAKA 58 (4): 47-50 (2022) DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/4/2022/47-50 

New records of lichens (Lichenized Ascomycota) from India with novel habitat preferences
Rajesh Bajpai1,2*, Ramya Ranjan Paul2, Chandra Prakash Singh3, Anzar A. Khuroo4 and Dalip Kumar Upreti2 

1Environment, Agriculture and Education Society, Bareilly-234001, India
2Plant Diversity Systematics and Herbarium Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow-226001, Uttar Pradesh, India.
3AED//BPSG/EPSA, Space Applications Centre-ISRO, Ahmedabad, India
4Centre for Biodiversity & Taxonomy, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar- 190006, India
*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on September 12, 2022; Accepted on November 05, 2022) 

ABSTRACT 

The present paper reports seven species of lichens for the first time from India. These include Cryptothecia aleurinoides Aptroot & Wolseley, Cryptothecia genuflexa (Müll. Arg.) R. Sant., Cryptothecia scriblitella (Nyl.) Makhija & Patw., Dioryogma upretii Sipman, Distothelia rubrostoma (Aptroot) Aptroot & Lücking, Umbilicaria leiocarpa DC., and Verrucaria adelminienii Zschacke. The species are appended here with brief description, distribution, ecology and specimen examined details. Most of the species prefer to grow on tree bark.

Keywords: Ascomycota, Biodiversity, Lichenized fungi, Taxonomy, India 

KAVAKA 58 (4): 51-55 (2022) DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/4/2022/51-55 

Eco-friendly management of sheath blight in rice under organic conditions 

R. Gopi1*, R.K. Avasthe2, C. Kapoor3, H. Kalita4 and S.K. Das5 

1ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Research Centre, Kannur, Kerala-670002
2National Rainfed Area Authority, Ministry of Agriculture &Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India, PUSA, New Delhi-110012
3Indian Agricultural Research Institute, PUSA, New Delhi- New Delhi-110012
4ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Arunachal Pradesh Centre, Basar-791101
5ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok- 737 102 *Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on September 27, 2022; Accepted on December 06, 2022) 

ABSTRACT 

Sheath blight is the most important diseases in rice. In the study, various eco-friendly treatments were attempted to manage sheath blight in rice both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Among the various Trichoderma isolates tested, the isolate T2 collected from Pangthang (27.73° N, 88.63° E) was very effective in inhibiting the growth of sheath blight pathogen with 78.88 per cent inhibition over control and among the plant extracts fern leaves (5%)+garlic bulb (5%)+neem leaves (5%) extract combination @ 15% showed maximum percent inhibition (74.44%) over control. All the fungicides tested under field conditions performed well and better than biocontrol agents and botanicals. Among treatments, copper oxychloride @ 0.25%, was effective in the variety PD 10 with no incidence of disease. Similar result was also observed in the variety TN 1 in which copper oxychloride @ 0.25% registered lowest PDI of 7.41 per cent. Among the biocontrol agents Pseudomonas fluorescens recorded less PDI i.e 27.77 per cent and 26.65 per cent, respectively in PD 10 and TN 1. 

Keywords: Disease, Eco-friendly, Rice, Sikkim, Rhizoctonia solani 

KAVAKA 58 (4): 56-59 (2022) DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/4/2022/56-59 

New record of Choanephora cucurbitarum (Berk & Ravenel) Thaxt. infecting Colocasia esculenta ‘Fontanesii’ and other hosts from Chhattisgarh
Harvinder Kumar Singh1*, Pradeep Kumar Badhai1, Anurag Kerketta2, A. S. Kotasthane1 and C.S. Shukla1 

1Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, IGKV, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India 492012
2College of Horticulture and Research Station, Jagdalpur, IGKV, Chhattisgarh, India 494001 *Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

(Submitted October 07, 2022; Accepted on November 29, 2022) 

ABSTRACT 

Choanephora cucurbitarum is a facultative saprophyte fungus belongs to phylum Zygomycota and causes fruit rot, flower rot and leaf blight disease in several host plants. During the rainy season of 2017-18, infections were observed from different locations in Chhattisgarh in Colocasia esculenta, Brassica olearcea var. botrytis, Lablab purpureus, Abelmoschus esculentus, Solanum melongena, Lagenaria siceraria, Capsicum annum and Solanum lycopersicum. Water-soaked necrotic spots on leaves later necrotic spots coalescing and blighting on leaves. On severe infection leaf lamina reduced to rotten pulpy mass. Silvery spine or whiskers like sporangiophore bearing dark spores (superficial sporangia) on spadix coupled with black rot and dieback of the flower of colocasia, black rot in fruits of brinjal, necrosis in cauliflower, necrosis on fruits of hyacinth Bean, flowers of okra, flowers of bottlegourd, fruits of chili and fruits of tomato. Sporangium was terminal and usually pendent on the recurved end of an erect sporangiophore with a definite columella which was globose in shape. Aseptate branches further swell to form young ampulla bearing spores. The disease was symptomatically and microscopically confirmed with earlier published standard monographs and literature.

Keywords: Choanephora, Colocasia, Flower rot, Wet rot. 

KAVAKA 58 (4): 60-75 (2022) DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/4/2022/60-75 

Antifungal proteins: An ecofriendly approach for sustainable alternative of biocontrol against the disease-causing agents in plants
Praveen Gehlot1*, Dilip Singh Solanki1, Alkesh Tak1, Kamna Sharma1 and Sunil Choudhary2 1Department of Botany, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, India-342 001. 

2SBRM Government PG College, Nagaur, India- 341001 *Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on September 29, 2022; Accepted on December 03, 2022) 

ABSTRACT 

The chemical fungicides applied to counter the diseases associated with annual and perennial crops are creating a major concern by affecting the environment adversely. Furthermore, improper and inadequate application of these fungicides leads to a process of co-evolution that develops resistance in fungal pathogens against these compounds. This current scenario has aggravated the search for alternative disease management strategies and/or safer antifungal agents that could substitute the current fungicides with bio-fungicides. Fungicides of biological origin are the botanicals proteins remain present in different plant parts and seems to be involved in either constitutive or induced resistance to pathogenic fungal attack and thus play a vital role in plant defense system against pathogenic fungi through controlling their spread. A great number of antifungal peptides and proteins have already been reported, with more are being discovered almost daily. Till now, 17 families of antifungal proteins have been identified that have a high potential for therapeutic applications in agriculture for biocontrol of pathogenic microbes that protect plants against diseases. 

Keywords: Antifungal proteins, Bio-pesticides, Biological control, Fungicide 

KAVAKA 58 (4): 76-85 (2022) DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/4/2022/76-85 

Rationally designed peptide for rapid detection of ochratoxin in paper-based dot-blot assay and mitigation of toxicity
Shraddha Rahi and Vandana Ghormade*
Nanobioscience Group, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune-411004 

*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

(Submitted on September 07, 2022; Accepted on December 04, 2022) 

ABSTRACT 

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a secondary metabolite produced by the Aspergillus spp. that contaminates a variety of food and feed. OTA is a nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic and carcinogenic mycotoxin. Here we developed a dot-blot assay for OTA detection using a specific 9-mer N- KSGSFNHPK-C peptide designed by rational strategy and computational modelling. The peptide binding to OTA was confirmed by fluorescence quenching (1.1 – 1.5-fold). The 9-mer peptide was conjugated to gold nanoparticles as labels for use as a detection agent in the dot- blot assay. The limit of detection for the developed dot-blot assay was 0.19 μg/kg. Further, OTA recovery from spiked wheat sample by dot-blot assay (90-96 %) was comparable to HPLC method (97 – 99 %). Furthermore, evaluation of developed assay with 146 samples of food and feed along with certified reference material demonstrated good sensitivity (74 %) and specificity (99 %), respectively. The assay displayed 94 % assay accuracy with correlation of 0.75 with HPLC. Moreover, the addition of peptide reduced OTA toxicity (21 – 60 %) to HepG2 cells. Therefore, an easy-to-use, rapid, and portable dot- blot assay can contribute in the sensitive detection of OTA and has potential for reducing the toxicity of OTA and ensures safe and healthy food. 

Keywords: Ochratoxin, Gold nanoparticles, Rational design peptide, Dot-blot assay 

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KAVAKA 58 (3): 1-10 (2022)

Immunodetection of Rhizophagus fasciculatus and Gigaspora gigantea in soil and root tissues in Citrus reticulata, their exploitation as bioinoculants and cellular localization of defense enzymes following induced immunity developed against Fusarium solani

B.N. Chakraborty^1* and Sanjita Allay²

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Aliah University, New Town, Kolkata 700 016

²Department of Botany, Sambhu Nath College, Labpur 731303

^*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on July 15, 2022; Accepted on September 05, 2022)

ABSTRACT

Two dominant arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Rhizophagus fasciculatus and Gigaspora gigantea, their colonization with root tissues in Citrus reticulata along with their scanning electron microscopic views have been presented. Immunological formats for the detection of these two AM fungi were developed. IgG raised against R. fasciculatus and Gi. gigantea were used for immunodetection of AM fungal spores in soil labeled with FITC conjugates following an indirect immunofluorescence test. AM fungal spores showed a bright apple green fluorescence which was distributed throughout the spore wall. Subtending hyphae also gave apple green fluorescence. Spores with their hyphae were more prominent in the rhizosphere. Ultrathin sections of AM fungal colonized root stained with toluidine blue confirmed the presence of fine arbuscule branches within the root cells. Immunogold localization of AM fungi in mandarin roots was demonstrated. The gold particles were mostly concentrated near the cell wall. R. fasciculatus and Gi. gigantea were tested singly and in combination for their effect in inhibiting root rot of mandarin seedlings caused by F. solani in field conditions. Joint inoculation with AMF could effectively reduce disease incidence, correlated with increased accumulation of defense enzymes such as chitinase, b-1,3-glucanase, peroxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. Cellular localization of chitinase in mandarin root and leaf tissues have been demonstrated following indirect immunofluorescence test using PAb raised against chitinase and labeled with FITC. Immunogold localization of chitinase following immunity induced by AM fungi in mandarin plants against F. solani confirmed the immunofluorescence results. It precisely showed the sites of chitinase expression as intense black gold particles distributed throughout the cell structure in mandarin roots.

Keywords:  Plant immunity, Mandarin, AM fungi, Defense enzymes  

KAVAKA 58 (3): 11-15 (2022)

Dual inoculation with AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae and PGPR Bacillus sonorensis enhances growth of brinjal seedlings raised in pro trays

P. Chandini¹, R. Ashwin² and D.J. Bagyaraj^2*

¹Department of Agronomy, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Odisha -761211

²Centre for Natural Biological Resources and Community Development (CNBRCD), 41 RBI Colony, Anand Nagar, Bangalore, Karnataka-560024, India.

^*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on June 27, 2022; Accepted on August 19, 2022)

ABSTRACT

Investigation was conducted in pro trays to evaluate the effect of dual inoculation with the AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae + PGPR Bacillus sonorensis in enhancing the growth of brinjal seedlings. Different growth parameters like shoot and root length, total seedling length, stem diameter, fresh and dry weight of seedlings, biovolume index, plant strength, vigour index, NPK uptake and mycorrhizal root colonization were monitored. The results brought out that the seedlings treated with the microbial consortium showed significantly improved growth compared to uninoculated seedlings. The increase in biovolume index and dry weight of inoculated seedlings was 110% and 300% more, respectively, compared to uninoculated seedlings. The NPK uptake in inoculated seedlings were 98, 83 and 10% more, respectively, than the uninoculated seedlings

Keywords:  Bacillus sonorensis, Dual inoculation, Funneliformis mosseae, Nursery Technology

KAVAKA 58 (3): 16-20 (2022)

New record of Ascorhizoctonia praecox (Tricharina praecox) from India

Aroosa Jan Mattoo and Skarma  Nonzom^*

Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu, J&K, India-180006

^*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on May 13, 2022; Accepted on August 21, 2022)

ABSTRACT

Tricharina, an interesting genus among the most complex genera of order Pezizales in class Pezizomycetes is known for its cup-shaped fruiting bodies. However, interspecific distinctions and correct identifications are difficult on the basis of morphological features. So far, single species of the genus Tricharina has been recorded from India. However, we recovered Ascorhizoctonia praecox (Tricharina praecox) while exploring the endophytic mycobiome of Ephedra gerardiana. This study highlights the first authentic report of the species being recorded for India. A comprehensive analysis of morphological, molecular, and phylogenetic details is carried out

Keywords:  Pezizomycetes, Endophyte, Phylogeny, Ladakh, New record

KAVAKA 58 (3): 21-28 (2022)

Seasonal variations in diversity and distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in mangrove species of Indian East and the West coast

Sankrita Gaonkar^1* and B.F. Rodrigues²

¹Department of Botany, Govt. College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Quepem, Goa - 403 705

²Department of Botany, Goa University, Teleigao Plateau, Panjim, Goa - 403 206

^*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on June 21, 2022; Accepted on August 08, 2022)

ABSTRACT

The impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the diversity and successional pattern of the plant population have stimulated the necessity to identify the factors maintaining their diversity and abundance. The present study investigated AM fungal communities colonizing the roots of three plant species, Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh., Bruguiera cylindrica (L.) Blume and Excoecaria agallocha L. in two different Indian coasts, Chorao Island, Goa, and Pichavaram Forest, Tamil Nadu, to varying seasons. The results of the present study revealed that root colonization, spore density, and relative abundance varied among the three plant species in all seasons. The highest root colonization and spore density were detected in pre-monsoon and monsoon, respectively. The two coastal habitats hosted different AM fungal communities. Chorao Island presented the dominance of AM fungal species belonging to the family Acaulosporaceae, while there was the dominance of Glomeraceae at Pichavaram Forest. The study revealed that the season, host plant, and soil properties influence AM fungal symbiosis. The CCA indicated that the soil attributes such as OC, N, Mn, Zn, and Fe significantly influenced the abundance of Acaulospora, Funneliformis, Gigaspora, and Sclerocystis. In contrast, EC affected the Rhizophagus, Glomus, and Entrophospora species.

Keywords:  Canonical correspondence analysis, Dominant species, Relative abundance, Root colonization, Spore density

KAVAKA 58 (3): 29-33 (2022)

Co-cultivation of Aspergillus nidulans with Actinoplanes utahensis for the production of echinocandin B nucleus, a precursor of an antifungal agent anidulafungin

M.C. Shivakumar and J. Savitha^*

Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Bangalore University, Bangalore - 560056.

^*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on February18, 2022; Accepted on June 29, 2022)

ABSTRACT

Anidulafungin is a potent antifungal compound derived from echinocandin B, a cyclic hexapeptide with a linoleoyl side chain having antifungal activity. However, echinocandin B is known to exhibit red blood cell haemolysis which was a major concern. This was addressed through an enzymatic deacylation of the linoleoyl side chain with acylase derived from the fermentation broth of Actinoplanes utahensis (NRRL 12052). The acylase is a membrane bound enzyme which catalyses the cleavage of the linoleoyl group of echinocandin B, a key step in the anidulafungin production. Purification of echinocandin B produced by Aspergillus nidulans is a time consuming and also loss of product is more during recovery process. The bioconversion of echinocandin B to echinocandin B nucleus by Actinoplanes utahensis is the additional and limiting factor in the production of anidulafungin. An attempt is made in the present study to resolve this by using the concept of co-culture technique which has reduced the two-step purification process to single step process. Aspergillus nidulans and Actinoplanes utahensis are cultured separately in submerged medium and then pooled together to continue the fermentation process for a fixed time. This resulted in the formation of echinocandin B nucleus, thereby reducing the purification process for echinocandin B. The co-cultivation strategy of fungi and actinomycetes has proved to be a novel method of producing natural products with various biological activities. This work focuses on the significant co-cultivation fermentation process which enhances the production of echinocandin B nucleus.

Keywords:  Aspergilllus nidulans, Actinoplanes utahensis, Co-culture, Acylase, Bioconversion

KAVAKA 58 (3): 34-38 (2022)

Symbiotic response of fodder cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) and field bean (Lablab purpureus L.) with different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

P. Ranadev¹, R. Ashwin¹, N. Anuroopa² and D.J. Bagyaraj^1*

¹Center for Natural Biological Resources and Community Development (CNBRCD), Bengaluru 560 024 

²Department of Microbiology, Nrupathunga University, Nrupathunga Road, Bengaluru 560 001

^*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on June 12, 2022; Accepted on August 25, 2022)

ABSTRACT

Fodder cowpea and field bean are the minor legumes cultivated mainly in arid and semi-arid tracts of India. Species of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi known to improve plant growth may not have the same effect on all the plants due to host preference. Hence, screening and selecting the efficient AM fungus for each crop is important for maximum symbiotic response. The information available on the response of fodder legumes to AM fungal inoculation is meager. Hence a pot culture experiment was conducted to screen and select the efficient AM fungi for inoculating cowpea and field bean. The screening was done with ten different species of AM fungi (Acaulospora laevis, Gigaspora margarita, Glomus bagyarajii, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, Rhizophagus fasciculatus, Rhizophagus intraradices, Ambispora leptoticha, Glomus macrocarpum, Funneliformis caledonius and Funneliformis mosseae). Plant parameters like height, stem girth, bio-volume index, the biomass of shoot and root, and the percent mycorrhizal root colonization were recorded according to the standard procedures. In the present study, the two legumes differed slightly in their response to inoculation with different AM fungi. Giving weightage to shoot biomass, being fodder legumes, it was concluded that Funneliformis caledonius is the best AM fungus for inoculating cowpea and field bean.

Keywords:  AM fungi, Mycorrhizae, Glomus, Fodder legumes, Symbiosis

KAVAKA 58 (3): 39-47 (2022)

Aging increases arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity in iron ore mine sites

M.J. Bukhari^1* and B.F. Rodrigues²

¹Department of Botany, Govt. College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Quepem 403 705 Goa.

²Department of Botany, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau, 403 206, Goa.

^*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on June 28, 2022; Accepted on August 10, 2022)

ABSTRACT

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal colonization, spore density, and AM fungal richness were assessed with mine age. Iron ore mines with ages ranging from 10 to 50 years located in the state of Goa constituted the study sites. Most of the selected plant species assessed from recently mined areas also had higher colonization levels. However, AM fungal spore density increased with the increase in the age of mines. Spores of a total of 39 AM fungal species were isolated and characterized from various mine sites. Among the AM fungal species Acaulospora spinosa was most dominant (30-90%) followed by Glomus macrocarpum (20-80%), Acaulospora scrobiculata (60%), Racocetra gregaria (20-60%), Cetraspora pellucida (30-50%), and Gigaspora margarita (10-40%).  Shannon's diversity index was highest at the oldest mine site and least at the recently mined site. In contrast, Simpson's dominance index was highest in the recently mined area and least at the oldest site. Diversity indices were more significant in the well-established mine than in the recently degraded mine. The study indicates that the severity of disturbance, the harshness of the site, low inoculum levels, edaphic characteristics, and time are known to influence the rate of AM fungi. Thus, revegetation of any disturbed site can occur over time with high species richness and diversity of AM fungi. They are essential in establishing a healthy plant community and facilitating plant succession.

Keywords:  Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Disturbance, Diversity, Mine spoils

KAVAKA 58 (3): 48-53 (2022)

Fine root endophyte association in widely cultivated palms of southern India

Balachandar Mayakrishnan, Koshila Ravi Ravichandran and Muthukumar Thangavelu^*

Root and Soil Biology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore-641046, Tamilnadu, India

^*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on July 08, 2022; Accepted on September 06, 2022)

ABSTRACT

The palm family represents one of the largest plant families of monocotyledons with mycorrhizal symbiosis. However, palms were never examined for the mycorrhizal symbiosis formed by fine root endophyte (FRE) fungi. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to examine the prevalence and intensity of FRE symbiosis in Borassus flabellifer, Caryota urens, Cocos nucifera, Cyrtostachys renda, Dypsis lutescens, and Roystonea regia cultivated in Tamilnadu. Further, the physicochemical properties of soils of these palm species were analyzed. The results of the present study revealed the presence of FRE colonization in all the examined palm species. There was a significant variation in the soil characteristics and the percentage of root length with different FRE fungal structures except for FRE hyphal coils among the palm species. The percentage of total root length colonization (%TRLC) by FRE fungi ranged from 24.32% (R. regia) to 47.18% (C. nucifera). Soil pH was significantly and negatively correlated to the percentage root length containing hyphae, arbuscules, and % TRLC of FRE fungi. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the prevalence of FRE fungal colonization in the studied palm species. This FRE fungal association may aid the growth of the cultivated palms as the endophytic fungal symbiosis

Keywords:  Arecaceae, Cocos nucifera, Fine Hyphae, FRE Colonization, Planticonsortium tenue

KAVAKA 58 (3): 54-60 (2022)

Diversity and bioactive potential of fungal endophytes associated with Ocimum tenuiflorum L. grown under different shade net conditions

K. Yuvarani¹, V. Prabhakar¹, T. Janaki¹, T.S. Murali² and V. Kumaresan^1*

¹Department of Botany, Kanchi Mamunivar Govt. Institute for Postgraduate Studies and Research (Autonomous). Lawspet, Puducherry 605 008, India.

²Department of Biotechnology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka 576 104, India

^*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on May 25, 2022; Accepted on August 28, 2022)

ABSTRACT

Fungal endophytes were screened from tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) grown under different shade net conditions. One hundred different isolates of endophytes (belonging to 31 species) were obtained from tulsi from all the three treatments viz., 75% shade, 35% shade and open conditions (no shade). Most number of isolates and species were recorded from tulsi grown under 75% shade net condition. Phyllosticta capitalensis was found to be a dominant endophyte. A comparison of endophyte assemblage across different treatments showed that maximum coefficient of similarity between any two treatments was 0.51. Alternaria sp. (isolates OTE2 and OTE4) showed activity against both bacterial pathogens with both the isolates inhibiting both Gram +ve and Gram -ve bacteria.  Morphological and phylogenetic analysis using Internal Transcribed Spacer Sequence revealed that isolates OTE2 and OTE4 were A. burnsii.

Keywords:  Medicinal plants, Endophytes, Ocimum, Shade net

KAVAKA 58 (3): 61-74 (2022)

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and host-plant relationship with respect to heavy metal remediation of soil

Saloni Gulati¹ Anita Narang², Anupama Shukla², Roma Katya¹, Rashmi Mathur³ and Jasleen Kaur^1*

¹Department of Botany, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi, India

²Department of Botany, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, India

³Department of Botany Sri Aurobindo College, University of Delhi, India

^*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on July 19, 2022; Accepted on September 20, 2022)

ABSTRACT

A multitude of contaminants have entered the environment and are harmful to living beings. Agricultural plantations growing in unfavourable environments undergo various abiotic stresses due to heavy metals. These factors reduce plant growth and pose a threat to the plant population. Various traditional techniques are used to remove contaminants from the contaminated soil, like incineration, soil washing, chemical precipitation, soil excavation, detonation, and many more. Recently, phytoremediation is proving to be very effective as a green method of soil remediation and involves using plants to extract, sequester and detoxify pollutants. Many recent studies have shown that using hyperaccumulators associated with efficient endophytic or rhizosphere microbial communities is efficient in enhancing phytoremediation. In this context, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may be a highly suitable contender because they are an indispensable member of rhizosphere microflora. Their application to hyperaccumulators is important. The combined effect of both can improve the efficiency of the remediation process by shortening the mitigation cycle and can help maintain the stability and persistence of remediation. This review will explain two main aspects of AM fungal-plant relationship with respect to HM remediation of soil.

Keywords:  Heavy metals, Soil remediation, Phytoextraction, Phytostabilization

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KAVAKA 58 (2): 1-4 (2022)DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/2/2022/1-4

Plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal interaction: Insight into sustainable agroecosystems

B.F. Rodrigues

Department of Botany, Goa University, Goa 403 206, India

Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sustainable agriculture is based on the understanding of ecosystem services. It includes environment-friendly methods of farming that allow the production of crops or livestock without damaging human or natural systems. Among the micro-organisms, the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a vital role in increasing the crop yield without compromising the soil fertility and thus assist in sustainable agriculture. As President of the Mycological Society of India (MSI), I express my deep sense of gratitude to the esteemed members of MSI for their continued efforts over the years to promote the growth of mycology in our country and raise our Society to greater heights in the coming years.

This review focuses on plant-AM fungal interaction as well as provides an insight into sustainable agroecosystems. The rhizosphere microbiome comprises functionally diverse microorganisms ranging from plant pathogens to mutualists. Among the latter are AM fungi, which are considered the most prominent examples of interactions between plants and microorganisms. This plant-AM fungal interaction significantly affects the competence of the host plant's roots to absorb several nutrients, especially phosphorus (P), from the soil. Production and application of AM fungal inoculum are most easily recognized as an AM fungal technology. However, there is a need to determine the mechanism of plant-AM fungal interaction within given socio-economic constraints for the sustainable functioning of agroecosystems.

KAVAKA 58 (2): 5-10 (2022)DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/2/2022/5-10

Antifungal efficacy of mycosynthesized silver-selenide nanoparticles against Aspergillus niger and their antioxidant activity evaluation

Sk Najrul Islam, Sadia Parveen, Syed Mohd Adnan Naqvi, Azam Raza and Absar Ahmad*

Interdisciplinary Nanotechnology Centre (INC), Z. H. College of Engineering and Technology, Aligarh Muslim University, AMU, Aligarh, UP-202 002, India

*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on March 29, 2022; Accepted on May 18, 2022)

ABSTRACT

The green approaches of nanoparticle synthesis using microorganisms have become a subject of great interest as microbial synthesis is highly reproducible, reliable, cheap, and can be easily up-scaled, resulting in the production of highly stable, water-dispersible nanoparticles in abundant quantities. Recently, our group has synthesized gold selenide (AuSe) nanoparticles (NPs) and studied their antisporulant activity against Aspergillus niger.  AuSe NPs inhibit sporulation only, and not the mycelial growth of the fungus. In order to inhibit both, sporulation and mycelial growth of the A. niger, and find a cost-effective alternative to the much more expensive gold raw material, we concentrated our efforts on synthesizing Silver Selenide (Ag₂Se) NPs. Herein, the chalcogenide semiconducting Ag₂Se NPs have been successfully mycosynthesized through a two-step sequential reaction using the endophytic fungus Fusarium oxysporum. These mycosynthesized Ag₂Se NPs with an average particle size of 11 nm have been fully characterized using TEM, XRD, UV-Vis-NIR, FTIR, and Fluorescence Spectrometer, while the optical bandgap energy (2.3 eV) of Ag₂Se NPs was determined by the tauc plot method. Additionally, the disc diffusion method tested the antifungal activity of these mycosynthesized NPs, and the spotted inhibition zone across the sterile discs confirmed their antifungal potency against Aspergillus niger. The antioxidant activity of Ag₂Se NPs was evaluated using the DPPH scavenging assay with 83.3% scavenging efficiency.

Keywords:  Ag₂Se NPs, Antifungal, Antioxidant, Endophyte, Mycosynthesis

KAVAKA 58 (2): 11-16 (2022)DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/2/2022/11-16

Characterization of chemical constituents of Coprinopsis cinerea (KX468975), a coprophilous mushroom

S. Mohankumar^1* and J.  Savitha²

¹St. Joseph's College (Autonomous), Langford Road, Shantinagar, Bengaluru- 560027. Karnataka, India

²Department of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Technology, Bangalore University, Jnanabharathi campus, Bangalore- 560056, Karnataka, India.

*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on April 28, 2022; Accepted on June 11, 2022)

ABSTRACT

Exploration of coprophilous mushrooms as a source of biologically active compounds is gaining importance in recent years. The present study was designed to determine the mycochemicals present in the methanolic extracts of fruit bodies and mycelia of coprophilous fungus Coprinopsis cinerea (KX468975) by qualitative methods and evaluation of their volatile components by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy. The qualitative mycochemical analyses of fruit bodies and mycelia have shown the presence of important chemical constituents such asalkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, cardioglycosides, quinones, phenols and tannins. Further, GC-MS analysis of methanolic extracts of fruit bodies and mycelia have led to the identification of 16 types of organic compounds belonging to n-alkanes, 1-alkenes, 1-alkanols, free fatty acids, alkyl esters, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, sterols, triterpenes, mono and sesquiterpenes, 1-amines, aldehydes and amide groups. This provides baseline information about the bioactive constituents of Coprinopsis cinerea in providing valuable compounds of with significant medicinal values

Keywords:  Corpophilous fungus, Coprinopsis cinerea, Methanolic extract, Bioactive compounds, Mycochemicals, GC-MS analysis

KAVAKA 58 (2): 17-21 (2022)DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/2/2022/17-21

First record of Boletus himalayensis (Basidiomycota, Boletaceae) from Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh, India 

Dyutiparna Chakraborty 

Cryptogamic Unit, Central National Herbarium, Botanical Survey of India, 3rd MSO Building DF block, Sector 1, Salt Lake City, Kolkata 700064, India

Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on April 21, 2022; Accepted on June 19, 2022)

ABSTRACT

A member of porcini mushroom was collected from Western Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh and critical literature survey, taxonomic investigation along with nrITS based phylogenetic analysis establish that this is the first report of Boletus himalayensis from India. A detailed morphological description, illustration, molecular phylogeny and distribution map of the species, along with taxonomic note is given.

Keywords:  Macrofungi, nrITS, Phylogeny, Taxonomy

KAVAKA 58 (2): 22-28 (2022)DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/2/2022/22-28

Dematiaceous fungi as etiological agents of superficial mycosis in North India

Bharti Sharma and Skarma Nonzom^*

Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu-180006, Jammu and Kashmir, India

^*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on March 11, 2022; Accepted on June 06, 2022)

ABSTRACT

Superficial mycosis are common fungal infections of the skin, hair and nails which are responsible for causing morbidity and cosmetic disfigurement, affecting the patient's quality of life. In addition to dermatophytes, non-dermatophyte molds, which are usually regarded as contaminants are emerging as causal agents of such infections. In the present study, four dematiaceous fungi viz., Alternaria alternata, A. tenuissima, Curvularia brachyspora and Stemphylium sarciniforme were recovered from the human skin specimens. Direct microscopy, cultural, morphological and microscopic characteristics were taken into account for the identification of the recovered fungal causal agents. Of the recovered etiological agents of superficial skin mycosis, Stemphylium sarciniforme represents a new global report, A. tenuissima and Curvularia brachyspora new reports from India and A. alternata is a new report from Jammu and Kashmir.

Keywords:  Superficial mycosis, dematiaceous fungi, Alternaria alternata, A. tenuissima, Curvularia brachyspora, Stemphylium sarciniforme

KAVAKA 58 (2): 29-36 (2022)DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/2/2022/29-36

Bioprospecting of fungi from ecological niches of Assam for industrial biomolecules

Pradeep Verma^1*, Bikash Kumar^1,2, Nisha Bhardwaj^1,3 and Ansar Alam¹

¹Bioprocess and Bioenergy Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, 305 817, Rajasthan, India

²Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Surjyamukhi Road, North, Guwahati, 781 039, Assam, India

³Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, Nathalal Parekh Marg, Matunga, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400 019, India

^*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on April 11, 2022; Accepted on May 25, 2022)

ABSTRACT

Assam is situated in the northeast region of India and is unexplored for its fungal diversity. Fungi are capable of utilizing waste materials as their substrates. In order to do so, their metabolism is designed so that they generate several biomolecules of great value to humans. The climate and biomass availability in Assam provide optimal nutrient and environment for the growth of a wide variety of fungus. In the present study, soil and decaying leaf samples were collected from tea gardens, vegetable and rice fields located in the Cachar District of Assam. These samples were screened for fungal isolates on potato dextrose agar medium. A total of thirty-six (36) fungal isolates were obtained. The morphological and phenotypic characterization of these isolated fungal strains were performed and the majority of fungal isolates were identified from genus Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Schizophyllum, Trichoderma, etc. The isolated strains were screened for their antagonistic properties and four (4) isolate showed antagonist properties against Aspergillus suggesting its antifungal potential. Also, the isolated strains were subjected to qualitative plate assays for their enzyme production abilities critical for biorefinery industries such as xylanase, cellulase, and amylase. The isolates LC1 and COC showed high xylanase and cellulase activity, respectively. These high cellulases and xylanase-producing isolates were identified as Aspergillus oryzae (LC1) and Schizophyllum commune (COC) through molecular identification. These isolates were subjected to enhanced enzyme production and subjecting them to several biorefinery applications for the production of biofuel and value-added compounds (oligosaccharides). Similarly, the inherited properties of other isolates can be used for different industrial applications to solve the problem of mankind.

Keywords:  Fungi, Bioprospecting, Biomolecules, Enzymes, Industrial applications, Assam

KAVAKA 58 (2): 37-52 (2022)DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/2/2022/37-52

Fungal L-asparaginases- A mini review

Anil Kumar Meghavarnam¹, Ruchi Sahu² and Savitha Janakiraman^2*

¹Department of Life Science, Bangalore University-560056, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

²Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Bangalore University-560056, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

^*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on April 02, 2022; Accepted on June 13, 2022)

ABSTRACT

L-asparaginase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of L-asparagine to L-aspartic acid and ammonia. These enzymes are mainly produced by microbes. Microbial L-asparaginase has received much importance in the field of medicine for treating leukemia particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This enzyme is also used extensively in food industries for reducing the formation of acrylamide in starch-based foods. In this review we focus on the recent developments in the production (submerged and solid-state fermentation), purification and applications of fungal L-asparaginases in medicine and acrylamide mitigation. Additional research is however required for exploring novel fungal L-asparaginase for confirming their potentiality in leukemia treatment and acrylamide mitigation.

Keywords:  Fungi, Fermentation, L-asparaginase, Leukemia, Acrylamide

KAVAKA 58 (2): 53-56 (2022)DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/2/2022/53-56

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanoparticles using Pleurotus florida extract 

Kumar Manimaran^1,2 and Subban Murugesan^2*

¹Department of Chemical Engineering, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Kalavakkam, Chennai- 603110, Tamil Nadu, India.

²Department of Botany, School of Life Sciences, Periyar University, Periyar Palkalai Nagar, Salem-636 011, Tamil Nadu, India

^*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on March 03, 2022; Accepted on May 29, 2022)

ABSTRACT

In recent years, eco-friendly, simple, cost-effective synthesis of nanoparticles through green method is developing interest in the modern research. In this present work, the ZnO nanoparticle (ZnO NPs) was synthesized by the facile green process using Pleurotus florida extract. The structure, morphology, size, elemental properties of the synthesized ZnO NPs were characterized by UV visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) analyses. The XRD pattern show pure crystalline nature of the ZnO NPs and spherical shape morphology of NPs was noted by SEM image. The broad spectrum of antibacterial activity was observed in both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and maximum growth inhibitory zone was recorded in Klebsiella pneumoniae (14.36±0.41 mm) and Bacillus cereus (14.12±0.41 mm) followed by other tested organisms. Based on the findings of present study the biosynthesized ZnO NPs from P.  florida can be served as an alternative, eco-friendly nano medicine in the near future.

Keywords:  Pleurotus florida, Biosynthesis, ZnO NPs, Antibacterial activity

KAVAKA 58 (2): 57-65 (2022)DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/2/2022/57-65

Biosynthesis of fluorescent cadmium sulfide nanoparticles using neem endophytic fungus and evaluation of their anti-proliferative and anti-microbial activities

Ejaz Ahmad Siddiqui¹, Rashmi Sharma¹, Asad Syed¹, Shadab Khan¹, Ravindra Taware¹, Sk Najrul Islam³, Mahesh Kharat², Kalpana Pai², Narendra Kadoo¹, Vidya Gupta¹ and Absar Ahmad^*1,3

¹Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune - 411 008, India

²Department of Zoology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune - 411 007, India.

³Interdisciplinary Nanotechnolcogy Centre (INC), Z.H. College of Engineering and Technology, Aligarh Muslim University, AMU, Aligarh, UP - 202 002, India.

^*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on March 28, 2022; Accepted on June 11, 2022)

ABSTRACT

In the present manuscript, we demonstrate a reliable and eco-conscious approach for the fabrication of technologically important cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles using neem (Azadirachta indica) fungal endophyte, later identified as Fusarium oxysporum based on cultural and morphological characteristics. A 10^-3 M aqueous solution of precursor salt cadmium sulfate (CdSO₄) when reacted with endophytic fungus resulted in the bio-construction of copious amounts of well dispersed CdS nanoparticles of 10-40 nm with an average 20 nm size. These bio-constructed CdS NPs were characterized by standard analytical techniques like UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Fluorescence Spectroscopy (FS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) and Energy Dispersive Analysis of X-rays (EDAX). Cytotoxic activity of these nanoparticles was checked against three different cell types viz. human breast cancer (ZR-75-1), Daudi (Human Burkitt's lymphoma) and normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) where our CdS nanoparticles proved anti-proliferative against cancer cells but safe toward normal cells.  Moreover, toxicity assessment toward human RBC revealed less than 0.1 % hemolysis as compared to Triton X-100, thus implying safe nature of our biosynthesized CdS nanoparticles on human cells. Also, our nanoparticles exhibited significant anti-fungal (against Aspergillus niger) and anti-bacterial [against Gram positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa)] bacteria activity thus suggesting their good potential to be developed as novel therapeutic agents. The present investigation opens up avenues for eco-friendly and reliable fluorescent nanomaterials to be used in a wide variety of application such as in vivo imaging, cell labeling, cell tracking, drug delivery and so on.

Keywords:  Anti-microbial, Anti-proliferation, Cytotoxicity, CdS nanoparticles, Endophyte, Fusarium oxysporum

KAVAKA 58 (2): 66-72 (2022)DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/2/2022/66-72

Medicinal mushrooms of Kerala - a brief overview

K.B.Vrinda

Formerly, Mushroom Research Lab, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram 695 562, Kerala, India.

Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on January 29, 2022; Accepted on May 04, 2022)

ABSTRACT

Kerala is rich in its fungal biota. Mushrooms indigenous to Kerala have enormous potential as sources of bioactive agents for biopharmaceutical exploitation. A study which aimed to bring out a comprehensive account of the wide variety of medicinal mushrooms available in Kerala, revealed the presence of 34 species of medicinal mushrooms. Ecological survey, molecular identification and assessment of the medicinal potentials of these mushrooms are good research domain. This will ensure the full and sustainable exploitation of these mushrooms

Keywords:  Kerala, Medicinal properties, Mushrooms

KAVAKA 58 (2): 73-81 (2022)DOI: 10.36460/Kavaka/58/2/2022/73-81

Metagenomic analysis of active ectomycorrhizal zone of Astraeus using cloud computing approach from two seasons

Vineet Vishal^1,2, Geetanjali Singh¹ and Shalini Lal^1*

¹Department of Botany, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, Ranchi- 834008, Jharkhand

²Department of Botany, Bangabasi Evening College, Calcutta University, Kolkata-700009, West Bengal

^*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Submitted on May 04, 2022; Accepted on June 16, 2022)

ABSTRACT

Ectomycorrhizosphere is a hub where plant roots and soil microorganisms actively interact (ectomycorrhizal fungi and bacteria). However, the mechanisms that regulate interactions between mycorrhizal fungi, soil bacteria, and plant roots are poorly understood.  Here we use a cloud-based computing approach for the identification, diversity and functional roles of hidden uncultured microbial communities around the active ectomycorrhizal zone of wild edible mushroom of Astraeus from dry deciduous Sal Forest of Jharkhand, India by targeting 16S rRNA gene amplicons. The soil samples were collected during the monsoon (July) and winter (November) seasons of 2021. The monsoon and winter ectomycorrhizosphere were found to have a high richness of 161 and 251 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) at a >97% sequence identity. These two environments have markedly different bacterial community compositions. Across the seasons Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria and Nitrospirota were significantly abundant phylum, surprisingly in winter, the ectomycorrhizosphere had fewer Firmicutes, Bacteroidota and a higher Verruco-microbiota taxon. Sugar metabolism, amino acid metabolism, metabolism of cofactors and vitamins was the most abundant functional category in the ectomycorrhizosphere. The Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria were the most abundant classes of bacterial communities in the active ectomycorrhizal zone. Thus, the presence of nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria in the ectomycorrhizosphere soil may influence the plant-fungus symbiosis' functioning.

Keywords:  Astraeus, Ectomycorrhizosphere, Nephele, Metagenomics, PICRUSt