Publications (22)51.46 Total impact
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Article: Dissipation of pure and broccoli-released glucosinolates in soil under high and low moisture content
European Journal of Soil Biology 05/2013; 56:49-55. · 1.58 Impact Factor -
Article: Suppression of soil-borne pathogens of tomato by composts derived from agro-industrial wastes abundant in Mediterranean regions
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ABSTRACT: We studied nine composts derived from wastes and by-products of the olive oil, wine, and Agaricus mushroom agro-industries. They were mixed with peat at 1:3 w w −1 ratios and comparatively evaluated in pot experiments to assess suppressiveness against soil-borne and foliar pathogens of tomato. All compost amendments demonstrated high levels of suppressiveness against Phytophthora nicotianae Breda de Haan in tomato, when they were applied directly after curing (T0) indicating the occurrence of a “general suppression phenomenon” (81–100% decrease in plant disease incidence). They were, however, relatively less effective when applied 9months after curing (T1, 55–100% disease decrease). Suppressiveness against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici Jarvis & Shoemaker was relatively lower and varied widely among composts (8–95% and 22–87% decrease in plant disease incidence for T0 and T1, respectively). Three of the composts conferred induced systemic resistance against the foliar pathogen Septoria lycopersici Speg. Biotic properties were determined, including respiration, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, and β-glucosidase activity of composts. The comparative evaluation of the nine composts revealed no shared critical biotic or abiotic characteristics indicative of their suppressive effects on the soil-borne and foliar pathogens. The complex origin of compost suppressiveness is discussed and the implementation of individual evaluation of each compost product for a specific use is advocated.Biology and Fertility of Soils 04/2012; 44(8):1081-1090. · 2.32 Impact Factor -
Article: Antagonistic bacteria of composted agro-industrial residues exhibit antibiosis against soil-borne fungal plant pathogens and protection of tomato plants from Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici
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ABSTRACT: Rhizospheric and root-associated/endophytic (RAE) bacteria were isolated from tomato plants grown in three suppressive compost-based plant growth media derived from the olive mill, winery and Agaricus bisporus production agro-industries. Forty-four (35 rhizospheric and 9 RAE) out of 329 bacterial strains showed in vitro antagonistic activity against at least one of the soil-borne fungal pathogens, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL), F. oxysporum f.sp. raphani, Phytophthora cinnamomi, P. nicotianae and Rhizoctonia solani. The high percentage of total isolates showing antagonistic properties (13%) and their common chitinase and β-glucanase activities indicate that the cell wall constituents of yeasts and macrofungi that proliferate in these compost media may have become a substrate that favours the establishment of antagonistic bacteria to soil-borne fungal pathogens. The selected bacterial strains were further evaluated for their suppressiveness to tomato crown and root rot disease caused by FORL. A total of six rhizospheric isolates, related to known members of the genera Bacillus, Lysinibacillus, Enterobacter and Serratia and one RAE associated with Alcaligenes faecalis subsp. were selected, showing statistically significant decrease of plant disease incidence. Inhibitory effects of extracellular products of the most effective rhizospheric biocontrol agent, Enterobacter sp. AR1.22, but not of the RAE Alcaligenes sp. AE1.16 were observed on the growth pattern of FORL. Furthermore, application of cell-free culture extracts, produced by Enterobacter sp. AR1.22, to tomato roots led to plant protection against FORL, indicating a mode of biological control action through antibiosis. KeywordsRhizosphere-Suppressive compost-Endophytic-Chitinase-Fungal antagonist- Enterobacter -AntibiosisPlant and Soil 04/2012; 333(1):233-247. · 2.73 Impact Factor -
Article: Application of respiration and FDA hydrolysis measurements for estimating microbial activity during composting processes
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ABSTRACT: Olive-tree leaves (OL) were mixed with olive press cake (OPC) and extracted olive press cake (EPC) at 1:1dw/dw ratios to prepare two composting mixtures (OL+OPC and OL+EPC). Both CO2–C evolution and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis, determined as estimates of the microbial activity during composting, were related to temperature fluctuations in the compost piles, showing greater values at the temperature peaks, compared to the end, of each thermophilic phase. This, however, was only shown after handling and incubating samples at the temperatures of the compost mixtures at the sampling times and not at a low standard temperature. Incubating samples from thermophilic phases at low standard temperatures resulted in underestimation of the microbial activity occurring during composting. The effect of incubation temperature was less dramatic for FDA hydrolysis compared to CO2–C evolution measurements, probably reflecting the reduced dependence of enzymes involved in FDA hydrolysis on the respective temperatures. However, FDA hydrolysis was a less sensitive indicator of microbial activity, probably due to extracellular cleavage of fluorescein by persistent esterases, at lowered microbial activity phases. Total microbial biomass, estimated by the fumigation–extraction method, was not consistently related to temperature fluctuations during composting and showed a clear increase at the end of composting, probably resulting from a large slow-growing mycelial community colonising the end products. Since high temperatures did not induce significant non-microbial CO2–C release and FDA degradation, we propose the performance of microbial activity measurements during thermophilic composting phases at the actual temperatures evolving in the composts.Biology and Fertility of Soils 04/2012; 42(4):330-337. · 2.32 Impact Factor -
Article: Biodegradation and detoxification of olive mill wastewater by selected strains of the mushroom genera Ganoderma and Pleurotus.
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ABSTRACT: Thirty-nine white-rot fungi belonging to nine species of Agaricomycotina (Basidiomycota) were initially screened for their ability to decrease olive-mill wastewater (OMW) phenolics. Four strains of Ganoderma australe, Ganoderma carnosum, Pleurotus eryngii and Pleurotus ostreatus, were selected and further examined for key-aspects of the OMW biodegradation process. Fungal growth in OMW-containing batch cultures resulted in significant decolorization (by 40-46% and 60-65% for Ganoderma and Pleurotus spp. respectively) and reduction of phenolics (by 64-67% and 74-81% for Ganoderma and Pleurotus spp. respectively). COD decrease was less pronounced (12-29%). Cress-seeds germination increased by 30-40% when OMW was treated by Pleurotus strains. Toxicity expressed as inhibition of Aliivibrio fischeri luminescence was reduced in fungal-treated OMW samples by approximately 5-15 times compared to the control. As regards the pertinent enzyme activities, laccase and Mn-independent peroxidase were detected for Ganoderma spp. during the entire incubation period. In contrast, Pleurotus spp. did not exhibit any enzyme activities at early growth stages; instead, high laccase (five times greater than those of Ganoderma spp.) and Mn peroxidases activities were determined at the end of treatment. OMW decolorization by Ganoderma strains was strongly correlated to the reduction of phenolics, whereas P. eryngii laccase activity was correlated with the effluent's decolorization.Chemosphere 04/2012; 88(5):620-6. · 3.21 Impact Factor -
Article: Relationships between nitrogen, dry matter accumulation and glucosinolates in Eruca sativa Mills. The applicability of the critical NO<sub>3</sub>-N levels approach
Plant and Soil. 01/2012; 354(1):347-358. -
Article: Impact of a beneficial and of a pathogenic Fusarium strain on the fingerprinting- based structure of microbial communities in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Milll.) rhizosphere
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ABSTRACT: a b s t r a c t Fusarium solani strain FsK (FsK), isolated from a plant pathogen-suppressive compost, grows endo-phytically in tomato roots and controls infestations by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL). The effect of root colonization by the two fungi on the diversity of rhizosphere microbial community was studied. Tomato plants were inoculated with FsK and/or FORL and rhizosphere soil was collected 8, 15 and 30 days post inoculation (dpi) and analyzed by denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of PCR-amplified internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of fungi and 16S rRNA gene sequences of common rhizosphere bacterial guilds like alpha-proteobacteria and pseudomonads. Cluster analysis of DGGE fingerprints showed that FsK had a transient impact on the fungal and alpha-proteobacterial community only during its endophytic stage (15 dpi), while FORL had a readily distinguished and persistent effect on the fungal community. The changes observed in the rhizosphere fungal and bacterial communities may depict the interactions of the two fungal inocula with the plant. Cloning of selected DGGE bands stimulated by FsK showed that the responsive bacteria were closely related to species known to include biological control agents (BCA). Overall, the inoculation of FsK in tomato rhizosphere did not appear to have a significant impact on the diversity of non-target microbial groups inhabiting plant rhizosphere.European Journal of Soil Biology 11/2011; 47(6):400-408. · 1.58 Impact Factor -
Article: Potential for bioremediation of agro-industrial effluents with high loads of pesticides by selected fungi.
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ABSTRACT: Wastewaters from the fruit packaging industry contain a high pesticide load and require treatment before their environmental discharge. We provide first evidence for the potential bioremediation of these wastewaters. Three white rot fungi (WRF) (Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trametes versicolor, Pleurotus ostreatus) and an Aspergillus niger strain were tested in straw extract medium (StEM) and soil extract medium (SEM) for degrading the pesticides thiabendazole (TBZ), imazalil (IMZ), thiophanate methyl (TM), ortho-phenylphenol (OPP), diphenylamine (DPA) and chlorpyrifos (CHL). Peroxidase (LiP, MnP) and laccase (Lac) activity was also determined to investigate their involvement in pesticide degradation. T. versicolor and P. ostreatus were the most efficient degraders and degraded all pesticides (10 mg l⁻¹) except TBZ, with maximum efficiency in StEM. The phenolic pesticides OPP and DPA were rapidly degraded by these two fungi with a concurrent increase in MnP and Lac activity. In contrast, these enzymes were not associated with the degradation of CHL, IMZ and TM implying the involvement of other enzymes. T. versicolor degraded spillage-level pesticide concentrations (50 mg l⁻¹) either fully (DPA, OPP) or partially (TBZ, IMZ). The fungus was also able to rapidly degrade a mixture of TM/DPA (50 mg l⁻¹), whereas it failed to degrade IMZ and TBZ when supplied in a mixture with OPP. Overall, T. versicolor and P. ostreatus showed great potential for the bioremediation of wastewaters from the fruit packaging industry. However, degradation of TBZ should be also achieved before further scaling up.Biodegradation 02/2011; 22(1):215-28. · 2.02 Impact Factor -
Article: The impact of biofumigation and chemical fumigation methods on the structure and function of the soil microbial community.
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ABSTRACT: Biofumigation (BIOF) is carried out mainly by the incorporation of brassica plant parts into the soil, and this fumigation activity has been linked to their high glucosinolate (GSL) content. GSLs are hydrolyzed by the endogenous enzyme myrosinase to release isothiocyanates (ITCs). A microcosm study was conducted to investigate the effects induced on the soil microbial community by the incorporation of broccoli residues into soil either with (BM) or without (B) added myrosinase and of chemical fumigation, either as soil application of 2-phenylethyl ITC (PITC) or metham sodium (MS). Soil microbial activity was evaluated by measuring fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis and soil respiration. Effects on the structure of the total microbial community were assessed by phospholipid fatty acid analysis, while the impact on important fungal (ascomycetes (ASC)) and bacterial (ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB)) guilds was evaluated by denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Overall, B, and to a lesser extent BM, stimulated microbial activity and biomass. The diminished effect of BM compared to B was particularly evident in fungi and Gram-negative bacteria and was attributed to rapid ITC release following the myrosinase treatment. PITC did not have a significant effect, whereas an inhibitory effect was observed in the MS-treated soil. DGGE analysis showed that the ASC community was temporarily altered by BIOF treatments and more persistently by the MS treatment, while the structure of the AOB community was not affected by the treatments. Cloning of the ASC community showed that MS application had a deleterious effect on potential plant pathogens like Fusarium, Nectria, and Cladosporium compared to BIOF treatments which did not appear to inhibit them. Our findings indicate that BIOF induces changes on the structure and function of the soil microbial community that are mostly related to microbial substrate availability changes derived from the soil amendment with fresh organic materials.Microbial Ecology 01/2011; 61(1):201-13. · 2.91 Impact Factor -
Article: Degradation and Adsorption of Pesticides in Compost-Based Biomixtures as Potential Substrates for Biobeds in Southern Europe.
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ABSTRACT: Biobeds have been used in northern Europe for minimizing point source contamination of water resources by pesticides. However, little is known regarding their use in southern Europe where edaphoclimatic conditions and agriculture practices significantly differ. A first step toward their adaptation in southern Europe is the use of low-cost and easily available substrates as biomixture components. This study investigated the possibility of replacing peat with agricultural composts in the biomixture. Five composts from local substrates including olive leaves, cotton crop residues, cotton seeds, spent mushroom substrate, and commercial sea wrack were mixed with topsoil and straw (1:1:2). Degradation of a mixture of pesticides (dimethoate, indoxacarb, buprofezin, terbuthylazine, metribuzin, metalaxyl-M, iprodione, azoxystrobin) at two dose rates was tested in the compost biomixtures (BX), in corresponding peat biomixtures (OBX), and in soil. Adsorption-desorption of selected pesticides were also studied. Pesticide residues were determined by gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detector, except indoxacarb, which was determined with a microelectron capture detector. Overall, BX degraded the studied pesticides at rates markedly higher than those observed in soil and OBX, in which the slowest degradation rates were evident. Overall, the olive leaf compost biomixture showed the highest degradation capacity. Adsorption studies showed that OBX and BX had higher adsorption affinity compared to soil. Desorption experiments revealed that pesticide adsorption in biomixtures was not entirely reversible. The results suggest that substitution of peat with local composts will lead to optimization of the biobed system for use in Mediterranean countries.Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 07/2010; · 2.82 Impact Factor -
Article: Characterization of cultivated fungi isolated from grape marc wastes through the use of amplified rDNA restriction analysis and sequencing.
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ABSTRACT: Microbial assessment of grape marc wastes, the residual solid by-product of the wine-industry, was performed by identifying phylogenetically the fungal culturable diversity in order to evaluate environmental and disposal safety issues and to discuss ecological considerations of applications on agricultural land. Fungal spores in grape marc were estimated to 4.7 x 10(6) per g dry weight. Fifty six fungal isolates were classified into eight operational taxonomic units (OTUs) following amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and colony morphology. Based on 18S rRNA gene and 5.8S rRNA gene-ITS sequencing, the isolates representing OTUs #1, #2, #3, and #4, which comprised 44.6%, 26.8%, 12.5%, and 5.3%, respectively, of the number of the total isolates, were identified as Aspergillus fumigatus, Bionectria ochroleuca, Haematonectria haematococca, and Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans. The isolates of OTU#5 demonstrated high phylogenetic affinity with Penicillium spp., while members of OTUs #6 and #7 were closer linked with Geotrichum candidum var. citri-aurantii and Mycocladus corymbifer, respectively (95.4 and 97.9% similarities in respect to their 5.8S rRNA gene-ITS sequences). The OTU#8 with a single isolate was related with Aspergillus strains. It appears that most of the fungal isolates are associated with the initial raw material. Despite the fact that some of the species identified may potentially act as pathogens, measures such as the avoidance of maintaining large and unprocessed quantities of grape marc wastes in premises without adequate aeration, together with its suitable biological treatment (e.g., composting) prior to any agriculture-related application, could eliminate any pertinent health risks.The Journal of Microbiology 06/2010; 48(3):297-306. · 1.10 Impact Factor -
Article: Impact of nitrogen and sulfur fertilization on the composition of glucosinolates in relation to sulfur assimilation in different plant organs of broccoli.
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ABSTRACT: Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is one of the most important winter season vegetables and a rich source of chemoprotective molecules, including glucosinolates (GSL). The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) fertilization on GSL concentration and composition in different parts of broccoli plants. A greenhouse experiment was performed, with four different treatments of sulfur (10, 30, 70, and 150 kg/ha) and three treatments of nitrogen (50, 250, and 600 kg/ha). GSL concentrations and plant growth responded to the N supply, but this was not observed above the 250 kg N/ha dose. On the contrary, plant growth did not respond to the S supply, whereas GSL concentrations showed a sharp response to the whole range of S applications (from 10 to 150 kg/ha). Glucosinolate composition was altered differentially in the examined plant parts. Aliphatic GSL were more abundant in the florets and leaves, whereas indolyl GSLs were dominant in roots, in which aromatic GSL were also observed. High nitrogen fertilization had a higher impact on indolyl compared to aliphatic GSLs concentration. More importantly, a high concentration of aliphatic GSL, >2.4 micromol/g dry weight (dw), and high S assimilation into aliphatic GSL were consistently observed in the florets compared to other broccoli parts, indicating adaptable processes for nitrogen and sulfur regarding synthesis and transport of aliphatic GSL for these organs.Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 09/2009; 57(20):9408-17. · 2.82 Impact Factor -
Article: Effect of continuous olive mill wastewater applications, in the presence and absence of nitrogen fertilization, on the structure of rhizosphere-soil fungal communities.
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ABSTRACT: Olive mill wastewater (OMW) is rich in potentially toxic organics precluding its disposal into water receptors. However, land application of diluted OMW may result in safe disposal and fertilization. In order to investigate the effects of OMW on the structure of soil fungal groups, OMW was applied daily to pepper plants growing in a loamy sand and a sandy loam at two doses for a period of 3 months (total OMW equivalents 900 and 1800 m(3) ha(-1)). Nitrogen (N) fertilization alleviated N scarcity and considerably enhanced plant biomass production; however, when applied in combination with the high OMW dose, it induced plant stress. OMW applications resulted in marked changes in the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis patterns of soil basidiomycete communities, while concurrent N fertilization reduced these effects. In contrast, the ascomycete communities required N fertilization to respond to OMW addition. Cloning libraries for the basidiomycete communities showed that Cryptococcus yeasts and Ceratobasidium spp. dominated in the samples treated with OMW. In contrast, certain plant pathogenic basidiomycetes such as Thanatephorus cucumeris and Athelia rolfsii were suppressed. The observed changes may be reasonably explained by the capacity of OMW to enrich soils in organic substrates, to induce N immobilization and to directly introduce OMW-derived basidiomycetous yeasts.FEMS Microbiology Ecology 09/2009; 70(3):388-401. · 3.41 Impact Factor -
Article: Role of ethylene in the protection of tomato plants against soil-borne fungal pathogens conferred by an endophytic Fusarium solani strain.
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ABSTRACT: An endophytic fungal isolate (Fs-K), identified as a Fusarium solani strain, was obtained from root tissues of tomato plants grown on a compost which suppressed soil and foliar pathogens. Strain Fs-K was able to colonize root tissues and subsequently protect plants against the root pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL), and elicit induced systemic resistance against the tomato foliar pathogen Septoria lycopersici. Interestingly, attenuated expression of certain pathogenesis-related genes, i.e. PR5 and PR7, was detected in tomato roots inoculated with strain Fs-K compared with non-inoculated plants. The expression pattern of PR genes was either not affected or aberrant in leaves. A genetic approach, using mutant tomato plant lines, was used to determine the role of ethylene and jasmonic acid in the plant's response to infection by the soil-borne pathogen F. oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL), in the presence or absence of isolate Fs-K. Mutant tomato lines Never ripe (Nr) and epinastic (epi1), both impaired in ethylene-mediated plant responses, inoculated with FORL are not protected by isolate Fs-K, indicating that the ethylene signalling pathway is required for the mode of action used by the endophyte to confer resistance. On the contrary, def1 mutants, affected in jasmonate biosynthesis, show reduced susceptibility to FORL, in the presence Fs-K, which suggests that jasmonic acid is not essential for the mediation of biocontrol activity of isolate Fs-K.Journal of Experimental Botany 02/2007; 58(14):3853-64. · 5.36 Impact Factor -
Article: Cytological and other aspects of pathogenesis-related gene expression in tomato plants grown on a suppressive compost.
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ABSTRACT: Recent studies have shown that certain composts may trigger indirect defence mechanisms by sensitizing the plant to create an increased state of resistance, similar to systemic acquired resistance. In this study, the capacity of a disease-suppressive compost to alter the expression pattern of certain pathogenesis-related (PR) genes in the root system of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) provided the opportunity to study their cellular expression pattern and to investigate putative roles of these genes in the mechanisms of plant defence. Employing the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ RNA:RNA hybridization techniques, the accumulation and distribution of the transcripts of the differentially expressed PR genes were examined in plants grown on compost and compared with those of control plants grown on peat. Elevated levels of expression of the pathogenesis-related genes PR-1, PR-5 and P69/PR-7 were detected in the roots of tomato plants grown on the compost. A clearly distinguished spatial induction pattern was observed for these PR genes: PR-1 transcripts were almost exclusively detected in the pericycle cells surrounding the root stele of the main and lateral roots; PR-5 transcripts were present in the phloem of the root and stem tissues; and the accumulation and distribution of PR-7 transcripts was detected in discrete groups of cells that appeared sporadically in both the parenchyma and vascular system of the root, suggesting that the gene is not expressed in a tissue-specific manner. In addition, a novel cDNA clone was isolated (P69G), which probably encodes a new tomato P69 isoform. This study provides evidence that a suppressive compost is able to elicit consistent and increased expression of certain PR genes in the roots of tomato plants, even in the absence of any pathogen. The in situ localization studies reveal expression patterns which are in accordance with the presence of protein or with the putative roles of the respective encoded proteins. The expression of the PR genes may be triggered by the microflora of the compost or could be associated with abiotic factors of the compost.Annals of Botany 10/2006; 98(3):555-64. · 4.03 Impact Factor -
Article: Ecophysiology and molecular phylogeny of bacteria isolated from alkaline two-phase olive mill wastes.
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ABSTRACT: The use of two-phase centrifugal decanters has been widely adopted in the olive oil extraction industry in order to reduce the huge quantities of wastewaters produced during the traditional three-phase extraction process. The resulting sludge-like byproduct, widely known as "alpeorujo", has a pH of 4-6, low water activity (a(w)) and high phytotoxicity. Addition of Ca(OH)(2) to alpeorujo, which is commonly performed at the olive oil mill to handle disposal problems related to acidic pH and odor emissions, creates an alkaline secondary waste (alkaline alpeorujo). Bacteria isolated from alkaline alpeorujo were cultured in order to investigate their physiological and phylogenetic characteristics. The bacterial population at neutral pH was estimated to be 6.0+/-0.4 x 10(7) cells g(-1) dw, while the bacterial population at pH 11 reached 2.1+/-0.3 x 10(5) cells g(-1) dw. Fourteen strains isolated from alkaline pH were halotolerant alkaliphiles, while seven isolates from neutral pH were moderate to extreme halotolerant or/and alkalitolerant bacteria. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, four of the halotolerant alkaliphilic isolates showed 98.4-99.2% similarity to known sequences of Bacillus alcalophilus and Nesterenkonia lacusekhoensis, whereas ten isolates demonstrated low percentage similarities (94.4-96.9%) to the genera Idiomarina, Halomonas and Nesterenkonia. As concerns bacteria isolated from neutral pH, four isolates were associated with Corynebacterium, Novosphingobium, Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (98.3-99.9% similarities), while three isolates presented 96.5-97.2% sequence similarities to Rhodobacter, Pseudomonas and Ochrobactrum. At least six groups of isolates represent novel phylogenetic linkages among Bacteria.Research in Microbiology 06/2006; 157(4):376-85. · 2.76 Impact Factor -
Article: Bacterial diversity in spent mushroom compost assessed by amplified rDNA restriction analysis and sequencing of cultivated isolates.
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ABSTRACT: Spent mushroom compost (SMC) is the residual by-product of commercial Agaricus spp. cultivation, and it is mainly composed of a thermally treated cereal straw/animal manure mixture colonized by the fungal biomass. Research on the valorization of this material is mainly focusing on its use as soil conditioner and plant fertilizer. An investigation of the bacterial diversity in SMC was performed using molecular techniques in order to reveal the origin of SMC microflora and its potential effect on soil microbial communities after incorporation into agricultural soils. The bacterial population was estimated by the plate count method to a mean of 2.7 10(9) colony forming units (cfu) per g of dry weight, while the numbers of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were 1.9 10(9) and 4.9 10(8) cfu per g dw respectively as estimated by enumeration on semi-selective media. Fifty bacterial isolates were classified into 14 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) following ARDRA-PCR of the 16S rDNA gene. Sequencing of the 16S rDNA amplicon assigned 12 of the 14 OTUs to Gram-positive bacteria, associated with the genera Bacillus, Paenibacillus, Exiguobacterium, Staphylococcus, Desemzia, Carnobacterium, Brevibacterium, Arthrobacter and Microbacterium of the bacterial divisions Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. Two bacterial groups have phylogenetic links with the genera Comamonas and Sphingobacterium, which belong to beta-Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes respectively. Two potentially novel bacteria are reported, which are associated with the genera Bacillus and Microbacterium. Most of the bacteria identified are of environmental origin, while strains related to species usually isolated from insects, animal and clinical sources were also detected. It appears that bacterial diversity in SMC is greatly affected by the origin of the initial material, its thermal pasteurization treatment and the potential unintended colonization of the mushroom substrate during the cultivation process.Systematic and Applied Microbiology 12/2004; 27(6):746-54. · 3.37 Impact Factor -
Article: Respiration profiles in monitoring the composting of by-products from the olive oil agro-industry.
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ABSTRACT: The composting of olive press cake (OPC) repeatedly mixed either with olive mill wastewater (OPC+OMW) or with tap water (OPC+W) was studied using the thermogradient respirometer, an apparatus that determines the respiration rates from a substrate over a wide range of different temperatures (respiratory profile). The composting processes took place over a period of five months during which nine moistenings of the OPC were performed with the respective liquids. The composting resulted in detoxification of the materials used in both treatments, as indicated by seed germination tests. However, the repeated applications of OMW resulted in recurring thermophilic phases (following each application) and in greater pH and conductivity increases in the final product, as compared to water applications. Respiration measurements performed at 35 degrees C were good indicators of the mean metabolic potential in the compost piles (the mean respiration derived from the whole respiration profile over a wide range of environmental temperatures). However, respiration measurements at higher temperatures (48.5 degrees C) were better indicators of the respiration activity occurring in situ. Following the initial thermophilic phase, the respiration potential of the composts at high temperatures (42-63 degrees C) increased drastically compared to their respiration potential at lower temperatures (17-42 degrees C) indicating the establishment of a thermophilic microflora. Subsequently, only the periodic new substrate-C applications in the form of OMW resulted in increased ratios of low temperature-to-high temperature respiration potential. These ratios decreased again following the respective thermophilic phase that each new OMW application had induced.Bioresource Technology 06/2003; 87(3):331-6. · 4.98 Impact Factor -
Article: Genetic relatedness among dioecious Ficus carica L. cultivars by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis, and evaluation of agronomic and morphological characters.
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ABSTRACT: A collection of 64 fig (Ficus carica L.) accessions was characterized through the use of RAPD markers, and results were evaluated in conjunction with morphological and agronomical characters, in order to determine the genetic relatedness of genotypes with diverse geographic origin. The results indicate that fig cultivars have a rather narrow genetic base. Nevertheless, RAPD markers could detect enough polymorphism to differentiate even closely related genotypes (i.e., clones of the same cultivar) and a unique fingerprint for each of the genotypes studied was obtained. No wasteful duplications were found in the collection. Cluster analysis allowed the identification of groups in accordance with geographic origin, phenotypic data and pedigree. Taking into account the limited information concerning fig cultivar development, the results of this study, which provide information on the genetic relationships of genetically distinct material, dramatically increase the fundamental and practical value of the collection and represent an invaluable tool for fig germplasm management.Genetica 04/2002; 114(2):183-94. · 2.15 Impact Factor -
Article: Local and systemic resistance against fungal pathogens of tomato plants elicited by a compost derived from agricultural residues
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ABSTRACT: A transgenic GUS-expressing strain of the root-infecting fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici was used to inoculate the roots of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) grown on a compost mix made from grape marc wastes and extracted olive press cake (GM-EPC). Plants exhibited an enhanced defensive capacity against the pathogen as compared with control plants grown on peat. Pathogen viability and growth in the potting mixes, as determined by GUS activity measurements and by colony forming unit enumeration, was not affected. Interestingly, the pathogen was not able to penetrate and colonize the root tissue. Moreover, the sterilized compost extract was also able to protect the plants. Induction of systemic resistance by the compost was assessed using the foliar pathogen Septoria lycopersici and by PR gene expression analysis carried out in leaves of tomato plants grown on the GM-EPC compost. Our data strongly indicate that induction of plant defence response is the main mechanism of biological control mediated by the GM-EPC compost.Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology.
Top co-authors
Top Journals
Institutions
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2009–2012
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Agricultural University of Athens
- Laboratory of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
Athens, Attiki, Greece
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2009–2010
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University of Thessaly
- • Τμήμα Γεωπονίας Φυτικής Παραγωγής και Αγροτικού περιβάλλοντος
- • Βιοχημείας και Βιοτεχνολογίας
Lárisa, Thessalia, Greece
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2004
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Environmental Research Foundation
New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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