O. Santamaría

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• PhD
• Professor (Full) at University of Valladolid

The relentless growth of the global population, coupled with increasing biotic and abiotic stresses on crops, poses a major challenge: enhancing agricultural productivity while mitigating these stresses and reducing chemical inputs. Insect farming has led to the large-scale production of insect frass, a nutrient-rich by-product with biofertilizer a...

Endophytic fungi have garnered interest as biocontrol agents and plant growth promoters. In this study, we investigated the biocontrol potential of Purpureocillium lilacinum against Botrytis cinerea in chickpea seeds and plants. Molecular analysis confirmed the strain identity and its potential as a biocon-trol agent was supported by inhibitory eff...

Agriculture currently faces two major challenges: feeding a continuously growing population and developing in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. In this context, mycorrhizal fungi (MF) can serve as a promising biotechnological strategy to enhance agricultural productivity while reducing the reliance on chemical fertilizers and...

World population is projected to reach almost ten billion by 2050, approximately 24% more than today. This situation leads to a pressing need to increase crop production and yields, but not at any cost: it must be done minimizing environmental damage and, consequently, also harms to human health. Trying to achieve this goal, the European Union (EU)...

This book delves into the fascinating world of fungal metabolites and their biotechnological potential for sustainable agriculture. Through this book, readers will learn about the production and characterization of metabolites by endophytic and rhizospheric fungi, including filamentous fungi like Trichoderma, Penicillium, and Aspergillus, as well a...

Weeds are one of the main problems causing losses in agricultural crops, which are nowadays mainly combated by the massive use of chemical herbicides. The development of new effective, sustainable, environmentally and health-friendly bioherbicides is a fundamental need worldwide. In this work, hydrolates and lavandin distilled straws produced durin...

Endophytic fungi offer promising opportunities for a sustainable disease management in agricultural systems, often related to their secondary metabolites. In this study, the potential of the metabolites produced in vitro by Pseudopithomyces chartarum to protect the forage crop Lupinus luteus against the soil-borne pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi wa...

Endophytic fungi offer promising alternatives for sustainable plant disease management strategies, often through the production of bioactive secondary metabolites. This study investigated the biocontrol potential of filtrates and extracts, produced under controlled conditions, from Alternaria leptinellae E138 against Pseudomonas syringae in tomato...

Corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereals worldwide. To maintain crop productivity, it is important to eliminate weeds that compete for nutrients and other resources. The eradication of these causes environmental problems through the use of agrochemicals. The implementation of technology to mitigate this impact is also a challenge. In...

There are 5 million fungal species. However, the discovery and classification of fungi are in high flux. Modern concepts indicate that the three kingdoms of “fungi” are Chromista, Fungi and Protozoa. Strong support for the wrong phylogeny can occur without correct analytical methods. In the current Collection we envisaged fungi representing extreme...

Corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereals worldwide, to maintain crop productivity it is important to eliminate weeds that compete for nutrients and other resources, the eradication of these causes environmental problems through the use of agrochemicals, so the implementation of technology to mitigate this impact is a challenge. In th...

Purpose of Review Gremmeniella abietina is a destructive forest pathogen responsible for Scleroderris canker, shoot dieback, defoliation, and tree death in forests and tree nurseries. This review is aimed at providing a complete description of the fungus, its distribution, the conditions for its spread, and the impact of climate change and at summa...

Ectomycorrhizal fungi are considered to play an essential role in the development of forest ecosystems and can protect plant against pathogenic infections. Among other factors, soil pH may affect the successful inoculation of forest seedlings in nurseries. The effect of pH on the growth rate of strains of nine species of edible ectomycorrhizal (ECM...

Endophytic fungi have been demonstrated to produce bioactive secondary metabolites, some of which promote plant growth. Three endophytic fungi isolated from healthy plants living in dehesas of Extremadura (Spain) were identified and evaluated for their ability to produce phytohormone-like substances, antioxidant activity, total polyphenol content,...

Endophytic fungi have been found to produce a wide range of extracellular enzymes, which are increasingly in demand for their industrial applications. Different by-products from the agrifood industry could be used as fungal growth substrates for the massive production of these enzymes, specifically as a way to revalorize them. However, such by-prod...

Fungal endophytes have been found to protect their hosts against multiple fungal pathogens. Frequently, the secondary metabolites produced by the endophyte are responsible for antifungal activity. To develop new bio-products that are more environmentally friendly than synthetic pesticides against Phytophthora cinnamomi, a serious pathogen of many p...

The intake of zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se), two essential micronutrients, is deficient worldwide both in humans and in livestock. This deficiency could be alleviated through agronomic biofortification, a practice that increases their concentrations in edible parts through mineral application. The aim of the present study was to evaluate in a 2-year...

Many fungi, especially endophytes, have been found to produce multiple benefits in their plant hosts, with many of these benefits associated with the protection of plants against fungal diseases. This fact could be used in the development of new bio-products that could gradually reduce the need for chemical fungicides, which have been associated wi...

Millions of people have inadequate Se and Zn intakes, but agronomic biofortification could prevent this. This study evaluated the effect of the combined Zn and Se biofortification on the quality parameters of grain, and on the composition of minerals (Zn, Se, Mg, Ca and Fe) and their availability in bread-making wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) product...

The introduction of well-adapted species, such as Trifolium subterraneum (subclover) and Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass), might enhance the forage yield and quality of dehesa pastures for feeding livestock. However, the climatic hardness and poor soils in these agrosystems may limit plant establishment and development. Since fungal endophytes ha...

Purpose The aim of this paper is to determine chemical and sensory differences of between craft and industrial/or commercial beers. Beer market is nowadays booming and consumers are in the search of new and healthier products. Design/smethodology/approach Here, commercial and craft beers were chemically analyzed and sensory evaluated. Chemical ana...

Millions of people worldwide have an inadequate intake of selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn), and agronomic biofortification may minimise these problems. To evaluate the efficacy of combined foliar Se and Zn fertilisation in bread making wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a two-year field experiment was established in southern Spain under semi-arid Mediterrane...

Millions of people worldwide have an inadequate intake of selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn), and agronomic biofortification may minimise these problems. To evaluate the efficacy of combined foliar Se and Zn fertilisation in bread making wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), foliar Se (as NaSeO4) and soil and foliar Zn applications (as ZnSO4·7H2O) were tested ind...

The introduction of well-adapted species, such as Trifolium subterraneum and Poa pratensis , might enhance the forage yield and quality of dehesas pastures for feeding livestock. However, the climatic hardness and poor soils in these agrosystems may limit plant establishment and development. Since fungal endophytes have been found to alleviate the...

The introduction of well-adapted species, such as Trifolium subterraneum and Poa pratensis , might enhance the forage yield and quality of dehesas pastures for feeding livestock. However, the climatic hardness and poor soils in these agrosystems may limit plant establishment and development. Since fungal endophytes have been found to alleviate the...

Endophytic fungiEndophytic fungi, while living asymptomatically within plants, may confer competitive advantages such as resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. Among them, the improvement in plant nutrient uptake is a phenomenon that has been explored for its potential use in agriculture, especially considering the need for a more sustaina...

Agronomic biofortification can be used to alleviate the deficient intake of selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) by livestock. These two essential micronutrients for human and animals play an important role in many physiological functions and biological processes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the suitability of forage peas, crop with an incr...

About 3 billion people may suffer from micronutrient deficiency such as Ca, Fe, Mg or Zn, caused not only by a mineral deficiency in staple food but also by a high content of phytates which bind those minerals and inhibit their absorption. With the aim of evaluating the potential of new cultivars of bread‐making wheat to accumulate those minerals a...

Background: Ornithopus compressus is an important pasture legume of Mediterranean origin that is frequently used for sown pastures under dryland conditions. Aims: To determine the composition and genetic variability of fungal endophytes associated with this pasture species and analyse the effects of environmental variables and tissue type on fungal...

Yellow serradella (Ornithopus compressus), a valuable pasture species in Mediterranean areas, presents a high diversity of endophytic mycoflora. In the present work, the hypothesis of a significant effect of fungal endophytic species on the parameters of forage production, nutritive value and mineral status of herbage was tested. O. compressus plan...

Fungal endophytes can be part of the defensive system of plants against multiple pathogens by competing for resources, hyperparasitism or producing bioactive compounds with antimicrobial properties. There is an ever-increasing interest for obtaining new and environmentally friendly products to use in the fight against pathogens. With this purpose,...

Gremmeniella abietina es un hongo patógeno que produce daños severos en bosques de coníferas en el hemisferio norte. En España, se aisló en 2001 de pies sintomáticos de pino carrasco. En ese año, se evaluaron 37 masas en los alrededores de la zona de detección para conocer la distribución del patógeno. Se encontraron cuerpos de fructificación en 5...

There is a lack of information regarding the arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) concentrations in Spanish rice (Oryza sativa L.) fields and how soil conditions affect such concentration, especially those derived from the typical monoculture practiced in the studied area. To clarify these aspects, 76 soil samples and 95 grain samples were collected from...

Beer is one of the most consumed beverages all over the world, and recently, literature has attributed it a variety of health benefits. Among its beneficial characteristics, the presence of polyphenols and antioxidant compounds, are nowadays widely studied. On the other hand, nuts are known as a source of nutritious food with a potent free radical...

Endophytic fungi were isolated from leaves and stems of Trifolium subterraneum at 10 sites in Extremadura (southwestern Spain), with the aims of (a) determining the fungal composition and its genetic variability and (b) analysing the effect of sampling site and tissue type on fungal diversity, frequency and species distribution. A total of 773 endo...

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is a very common grass species with a wide distribution, including in Mediterranean areas. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of non-clavicipitaceous fungal endophytes on forage production by P. pratensis, and on the nutritive value and mineral status of its herbage. Plants were inoculat...

Background and aims: Trifolium subterraneum is a legume species which is valuable for feeding livestock and frequently used as a forage crop in countries with temperate or Mediterranean-like climates. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of six leaf fungal endophytes on biomass production, nutritive value and mineral status of T....

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for animals and humans. Between 500 and 1000 million people have an inadequate intake of Se. Se deficiency in humans is related to about 40 different diseases. Foodstuffs provide the principal route of Se intake for most of the population. Legumes are particularly relevant in Mediterranean areas because t...

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of P, Ca, S, and/or K and/or Mg application at different rates on the botanical composition, herbage yield and its nutritive value in dehesas developed on calcareous soils. In two growing seasons, 2009/10 and 2010/11, five surface-broadcast fertiliser treatments were applied once in autu...

Selenium (Se) biofortification of barley is a suitable strategy to increase the Se concentration in grain. In the present paper, the suitability of this Se-biofortified grain for making Se-enriched beer is analyzed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different Se fertilizer doses (0, 10, and 20 g of Se ha−1) and forms (sodiu...

The diet of millions of people around the world is deficient in selenium (Se). Bread-making wheat has been successfully used in Se biofortification programs under temperate climate to remedy Se deficiency. However, its suitability under Mediterranean conditions and its effect on the grain yield and quality parameters are not well known. In a wheat...

The diet of millions of people around the world is deficient in selenium (Se). Bread-making wheat has been successfully used in Se biofortification programs under temperate climate to remedy Se deficiency. However, its suitability under Mediterranean conditions and its effect on the grain yield and quality parameters are not well known. In a wheat...

Millions of people have Se-deficient diets and Se-biofortified crops could prevent such deficiency. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of chickpea to be used in Se fertilization programs in order to increase available Se. Two foliar Se fertilizers (sodium selenate and sodium selenite) at four rates (0-10-20-40 g ha(-1) ) wer...

To improve the nutritional value of durum wheat and derived products, two foliar Se fertilisers (sodium selenate and selenite) were tested at four rates (0-10-20-40gha(-1)) in 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 in southwestern Spain. There was a strong and linear relationship between total Se or selenomethionine (Se-Met) accumulation in grain and Se dose for...

Millions of people have an inadequate supply of selenium (Se) and Se-biofortified crops could prevent such deficiency. In order to establish an effective Se biofortification program under Mediterranean conditions on wheat, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the Se application timing on the Se accumulation in the grain,...

Zymoseptoria tritici is a major fungal pathogen which can cause serious loss in bread-making wheat. In this study, field experiments were conducted over two growing seasons to evaluate the effect of fungicide treatment (1- or 2-sprays of prothioconazole and tebuconazole) on Septoria leaf blotch (SLB) severity, wheat grain yield, hectolitre weight,...

In order to improve the nutritional value of two-rowed barley grain, two foliar selenium (Se) fertilizers (sodium selenate and sodium selenite) at four rates (0-10-20-40 g/ha) were applied during the growing seasons 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 in a field experiment conducted under semiarid Mediterranean conditions. The grain harvested in the 2010/2011...

Selenium (Se), which has antioxidant, anticancer, and antiviral properties, is an essential micronutrient for humans and animals. This micronutrient is found in high quantity in legumes. Peas have an ever-increasing importance in Spain, and to increase their nutritional value, two foliar Se fertilizers: sodium selenate and sodium selenite, at five...

Mitoviruses have been found in several forest pathogens (i.e. Cryphonectria parasitica, Gremmeniella abietina), and because they have been shown to reduce the virulence of host fungi there is a growing interest in studying their use as a biocontrol. This study was carried out to test the effect of temperature (5°C, 15°C, 25°C and 35°C), pH (4, 5, 7...

Four endophytes isolated from healthy shoots of adult red pine (Pinus resinosa Aiton) or jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) trees were tested as potential biocontrol agents of the conifer shoot blight and canker pathogens Diplodia pinea (Desmaz.) J. Kickx fil. and Diplodia scrobiculata J. de Wet, B. Slippers & M.J. Wingfield. The effect of the endop...

Sphaeropsis sapinea sensu lato is a conifer fungal pathogen that causes shoot blight and stem cankers. Recently, the former S. sapinea has been divided into two species, Diplodia pinea and D. scrobiculata. The aims of the study were to determine the contribution of each species in disease development on red and jack pines by means of co-inoculation...

Fungal species richness and composition within needles and twigs in 55 stands of Pinus halepensis, spread out over the whole Iberian Peninsula, were determined. The aim was to evaluate the relationships of fungal communities with local environmental variables, in order to analyze the potential causes of the current decline of this pine species in S...

The fungal pathogen Pestalotiopsis funerea principally attacks conifer species, causing necrosis on infected tissues, and sometimes death of plants. The main objectives of this study were to determine optimal in vitro growth conditions for Spanish isolates of P. funerea and to evaluate the virulence of these isolates on Cupressus arizonica under fi...

The effect of eight fungicides and 15 endophytes isolated from twigs of healthy Pinus halepensis trees on the growth rate of four Spanish isolates of the pathogen Gremmeniella abietina was evaluated in vitro. In the fungicide experiments, four doses of each fungicide tested were added to the growth medium. In the endophyte experiments, dual culture...

Gremmeniella abietina, in its conidial state (Brunchorstia pinea), was recently reported in Palencia (north-west Spain) on Pinus halepensis in 1999. For that reason, the main aim of the present study was to determine the distribution of G. abietina in areas next to that where it was first recorded in order to evaluate there the current spread of th...

The interactions between Gremmeniella abietina and either Sclerophoma pythiophila or Cenangium ferruginosum, fungi frequently isolated from diseased twigs along with G. abietina, were studied under laboratory (dual cultures) and greenhouse conditions (double-inoculations). Virulence of each species was also evaluated in greenhouse experiments by me...

Inoculation experiments were performed in order to evaluate the virulence of Gremmeniella abietina isolates from Spain on the main pine species planted in the Iberian Peninsula, as well as the influence of seedling age on this virulence. Two different experiments were carried out with four isolates of G. abietina from Spain. The greenhouse experime...

The role of the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungus Laccaria laccata a biological control agent against pre-emergence, post-emergence and late damping-off caused by Fusarium moniliforme (Fo) and F. oxysporum (Fm) on Scots pine was studied in greenhouse experiments. The vegetative mycelium of L. laccata in a vermiculite/peat carrier was added to potting su...

The taxonomic placement of Spanish isolates of Gremmeniella abietina var. abietina (Gaa) (race and biotype) was determined, for the first time, using RAPD markers and comparison of RAPD patterns for Spanish isolates and those originating from different regions of Europe and North America. Fifteen Spanish isolates of Gaa were isolated from recently...

Fungal species were recorded from Populus tremula leaves, twigs and bark (trunk) at eight sites in the northern region of Spain, with the aim of evaluating the effect of sampling site, sampling tissue and isolation method on the frequency and species distribution of the fungi recovered from necrotic and healthy tissues. Two different isolation meth...

Gremmeniella abietina isolated from Pinus halepensis in Spain was characterized based on disease symptoms and conidia morphology. The disease symptoms, which became more evident in the spring, included drying up of needles and branches with some distortion of terminal twigs, resulting in dieback and sometimes to death of trees of all sizes. Variati...

south of Palencia, north-west Spain inlate 1999. The symptoms of the disease included drying upof needles and branches with some distortion of terminaltwigs, resulting in dieback and death of trees. Affectedtrees occurred in five out of a total of 43 stands that wereexamined. Around three to four dead trees were found inthree of these five stands.Twi...

RESUMEN. Desde finales de 1999 se vienen observando diversos daños sobre ramas y acículas de Pinus halepensis Miller en la comarca del Cerrato Palentino. En las muestras de ramas analizadas apareció frecuentemente Gremmeniella abietina (Lagerb.) Morelet, en su fase anamórfica Brunchorstia pinea (Karsten) Höhn, importante patógeno que se describe po...