Biomass Production Research Articles

Biological effects of culture medium on Tetraselmis chuii and Dunaliella tertiolecta: Implications for emerging pollutants degradation

In this study, laboratory-scale cultivation of T. chuii and D. tertiolecta was conducted using Conway, F/2, and TMRL media to evaluate their biochemical composition and economic costs. The highest cell density (30.36 × 106 cells/mL) and dry weight (0.65 g/L) for T. chuii were achieved with Conway medium. This medium also produced biomass with maximum lipid content (25.65%), proteins (27.84%), and total carbohydrates (8.45%) compared with F/2 and TMRL media. D. tertiolecta reached a maximum cell density of 17.50 × 106 cells/mL in F/2 medium, which was notably lower than that of T. chuii. Furthermore, the media cost varied from US$0.23 to US$0.74 for each 1 L of media, primarily due to the addition of Na3PO4, KNO3, and cyanocobalamin. Thus, biomass production rates varied between US$38.81 and US$128.80 per kg on a dry weight basis. These findings comprehensively compare laboratory conditions and the costs associated with biomass production in different media. Additionally, this study explored the potential of T. chuii and D. tertiolecta strains, as well as their consortia with bacteria, for the degradation of various emerging pollutants (EPs), including caffeine, salicylic acid, DEET, imidacloprid, MBT, cimetidine, venlafaxine, methylparaben, thiabendazole, and paracetamol. Both microalgal strains demonstrated effective degradation of EPs, with enhanced degradation observed in microalgae-bacterial consortia. These results suggest that the symbiotic relationship between microalgae and bacteria can be harnessed for the bioremediation of EPs, thereby offering valuable insights into the environmental applications of microalgal cultivation.

Effects of soil moisture and an AC-electric field on the phytoremediation of the Cd-contaminated soil

ABSTRACT Phytoremediation enhanced by electric field has been considered a green and low-cost technology for remediating heavy metal-contaminated soils. Soil moisture is a main environmental factor that affects Cd availability in the soil. However, the effects of soil moisture and AC-electric field on the remediation efficiency of willow (Salix spp.) and S. Alfredii interplanted together remain unclear. In the present study, we designed four treatments (60% soil field capacity, 60% soil field capacity + 0.5 V·cm−1 AC, 100% soil field capacity, 100% soil field capacity + 0.5 V·cm−1 AC) to explore the impacts of soil moisture and AC-electric field on soil Cd availability and Cd accumulation in plants. The results showed that the application of an AC-electric field significantly increased soil Cd availability by 20.9% and 10.8% under both 60% and 100% soil field capacity, respectively. Both high water with and without AC-electric field treatments reduced the proportion of acid-extractable and reducible Cd of soil but increased the proportion of residual Cd. Compared with the control, an AC-electric field with 60% soil field capacity significantly enhanced the biomass of S. Alfredii shoots by 31.2% and increased Cd accumulation in willow leaves and S. Alfredii shoots by 14.6% and 32.3%, respectively. In addition, the biomass production of willow was significantly enhanced but the uptake of Cd by willow was dramatically decreased under an AC-electric field with high water treatment. Therefore, these results suggest that the AC-electric field combined with 60% soil field capacity may be a more promising remediation technique to clean up the Cd-contaminated soil.

Cultivation of a naturally resilient Chlorella sp.: A bioenergetic strategy for valorization of cheese whey for high nutritional biomass production

This study investigated Chlorella's capacity to treat cheese whey (CW) effluent and produce a high-nutritional value biomass, by using a systematic sequential experimental design. Physicochemical analysis of CW revealed its high pollution load, characterized by elevated levels of lactose, phosphorus, and nitrogen, as well as high turbidity due to the presence of whey solids. Screening experiments demonstrated that trace mineral addition and continuous air supply are essential factors for Chlorella biomass production in CW (>800 mg·mL−1). Furthermore, whey solids did not hinder Chlorella growth, with notable biomass production observed even in undiluted CW, demonstrating this microalga's ability to adapt metabolically to the complex environment. Laboratory-scale photobioreactor experiments confirmed Chlorella's ability to produce biomass in CW, outperforming controls (>800 mg·mL−1). Bioremediation potential assessment exhibited significant reductions in organic pollutants (>14 g·L−1 COD), nitrogen (>400 mg·L−1), phosphorus (>140 mg·L−1) and sodium (>650 mg·L−1). CW solids were also removed with Chlorella harvesting (>99 %). Harvested algal biomass was enriched with proteins (>40 g·100 g−1), polyunsaturated fatty acids (>9 % TFA) and pigments, offering potential applications in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. Overall, this study highlights Chlorella's efficacy in CW treatment and biomass valorization, offering a sustainable solution for dairy wastewater management while producing valuable resources.

Sustainable synergistic approach to chemolithotrophs—supported bioremediation of wastewater and flue gas

Flue gas emissions are the waste gases produced during the combustion of fuel in industrial processes, which are released into the atmosphere. These identical processes also produce a significant amount of wastewater that is released into the environment. The current investigation aims to assess the viability of simultaneously mitigating flue gas emissions and remediating wastewater in a bubble column bioreactor utilizing bacterial consortia. A comparative study was done on different growth media prepared using wastewater. The highest biomass yield of 3.66 g L−1 was achieved with the highest removal efficiencies of 89.80, 77.30, and 80.77% for CO2, SO2, and NO, respectively. The study investigated pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and biochemical and chemical oxygen demand to assess their influence on the process. The nutrient balance validated the ability of bacteria to utilize compounds in flue gas and wastewater for biomass production. The Fourier Transform–Infrared Spectrometry (FT–IR) and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) analyses detected commercial-use long-chain hydrocarbons, fatty alcohols, carboxylic acids, and esters in the biomass samples. The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics detected the potential mechanism pathways followed by the bacteria for mitigation. The techno-economic assessment determined a feasible total capital investment of 245.74$ to operate the reactor for 288 h. The bioreactor’s practicability was determined by mass transfer and thermodynamics assessment. Therefore, this study introduces a novel approach that utilizes bacteria and a bioreactor to mitigate flue gas and remediate wastewater.

Tailoring defoliation and nitrogen management for large canopy radiation use and biomass production of perennial systems destined for biorefinery

Perennial leafy grasses and legumes are promising for extraction of proteins with a green biorefinery amid increasing demand for local production. However, which defoliation strategy increases radiation-use efficiency and biomass production still needs to be determined. A multi-year field experiment started in 2019 in Denmark with fertilized grasses (perennial ryegrass, tall fescue), unfertilized legumes (alfalfa, red clover) and their fertilized mixture (grass-legume), each defoliated at 2-, 4- or 8- weeks interval, at either 7-9 or 12-14 cm defoliation height. The main aim was to quantify effects of species, defoliation height and frequency, and nitrogen application rate on canopy radiation interception, aboveground biomass and crude protein production, as well as aboveground radiation use efficiency (RUEA).The results showed that accumulated intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (AIpar) increased with increasing defoliation height and decreasing frequency for most systems, with the largest AIpar obtained seasonally by red clover (730-815 MJ m−2) and grass-legume mixture (790-826 MJ m−2) defoliated at medium to low frequency. Tall fescue defoliated at medium to low frequency yielded the highest aboveground biomass (10-14 Mg ha−1) and red clover defoliated at medium to high frequency yielded the most crude protein (2.5-2.9 Mg ha−1) compared to all other systems annually. RUEA decreased with increasing defoliation height and maximum values were achieved at medium frequency, with tall fescue having significantly higher RUEA (1.6-2.1 g MJ−1) than the other systems. Seasonally, RUEA was variable at high defoliation frequency, being consistently higher at the start and the end of the season for ryegrass and the mixture systems.This study pinpoints tall fescue and red clover as perennial crops with high agronomic productivity among tested species for green biorefinery and also concluded that red clover in temperate humid climate maximize productivity and sustainability for biorefining with defoliation at low height and medium frequency.

Enhancing Microalgal Biomass and Chemical Composition for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment

The research explores enhancing microalgal biomass production and its chemical composition for sustainable wastewater treatment. By using the Central Composite Design (CCD) methodology, nutrient concentrations and microbial components in the growth medium were optimized. Adjustments to light exposure, particularly with red and blue frequencies, significantly improved biomass yield, carbon sequestration, and protein content. Optimal light intensity further enhanced these parameters. A process incorporating on-demand CO2 supply and controlled pH levels showed potential for increasing biomass concentrations and nutrient utilization efficiency. Results demonstrated a 28% increase in biomass fixation and a 27% increase in biomass production compared to unoptimized conditions. The study emphasizes the effectiveness of integrated approaches in boosting biomass production and optimizing wastewater treatment, offering promising avenues for sustainable bio-based solutions

An Overview on Bioeconomy in Agricultural Sector, Biomass Production, Recycling Methods, and Circular Economy Considerations

This review examines the essential components of a circular economy (CE) in relation to the agricultural sector. The bioeconomy and circular economy are crucial for sustainable global industrial growth, focusing on closed-loop systems. The sustainability debate centers on intergenerational equity and natural capital. The CE requires new environmental technologies and global coordination in order to combat climate change and biodiversity loss. In addition, efficient food production and waste reduction are essential due to population growth. However, biomass is vital for a bio-based economy, impacting food waste and climate change. Grasslands support sustainable dairy production and carbon sequestration. Thus, effective waste and wastewater management are critical, with biomass energy providing renewable alternatives. Nonetheless, biofuels remain key for sustainability, focusing on pollution control and Green Chemistry. It is well known that sustainable transportation relies on bioenergy, with ongoing research improving processes and discovering new fuels. One notable challenge is managing heavy metals in biofuel production, and this underscores the need for eco-friendly energy solutions. The main purpose for this review paper is to create a connection between circular economy aspects and the agricultural system, with focus on the following: bioeconomy research, biomass utilities, and biofuel production. Extensive research was performed on the specialized literature by putting in common the main problems. Key subjects in this paper include the use of biomass in agriculture, the problems of plastic recycling, and the function of the CE in mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss. Efficient food production and waste minimization are highlighted due to their relevance in a growing population. The study’s detailed research and discussion aim to give important insights into how these practices might promote economic development and sustainability. Furthermore, the study covers important waste management issues such as food waste, plant composting, and chemical waste neutralization. These topics are critical to understanding the circular economy’s broader implications for minimizing environmental damage and implementing sustainable waste management strategies.

Influence of Ultrasonic Cavitation on Botryococcus Braunii Growth

This study investigates ultrasonic energy’s impact on enhancing the growth of Botryococcus braunii (B. braunii) microalgae. Microalgae, known for their advantages in greenhouse gas mitigation and biomass conversion, were subjected to various stressors, including ultrasonic waves, to optimize productivity. Ultrasonic waves induce acoustic cavitation, increasing membrane permeability and substrate conversion. The study examined the impact of energy and maximum pressure resulting from bubble collapse on the relative specific growth rate of B. braunii microalgae. It was observed that reproduction showed a promotive trend until the energy surpassed 30 kJ. However, when ultrasonic energy reached 18.2 kJ, reproduction was inhibited due to the maximum pressure generated during bubble bursting, which reached 5.7 µN/µm2, leading to the suppression of reproduction upon encountering bubble collapse events. Under specific ultrasonic conditions (15.1 kJ energy, maximum pressure of 45.5 × 105 Pa), a maximum specific growth rate of 0.329 ± 0.020 day−1 in a two-day interval boosted B. braunii microalgae biomass productivity. These findings advance our understanding of ultrasonic wave effects on microalgae reproduction and underscore the potential for optimizing ultrasonic parameters to enhance biomass production.

Benefits of Canavalia ensiformis, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and mineral fertilizer management in tobacco production

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) has long been vital to Cuban agriculture, with its products renowned for their quality. Cuban tobacco is grown in soils with a long history of continuous farming using traditional fertilization methods characterized by recommended doses of mineral fertilizers. This study aims to improve the nutrition resource strategy in tobacco cultivation to ensure high yields of superior-grade tobacco leaves with adequate quality and increase fertilization efficiency. With this goal, a field experiment evaluated the traditional method of fallow with alternatives of nutrient supply systems for the production of black tobacco in Ultic Paleustalf soils. The experiment utilized Canavalia ensiformis (Can) treated with a mycorrhizal inoculum (AMF) based on the Glomus cubense strain (INCAM-4) as a preceding green manure, combined with successive mineral fertilizations for tobacco during four growing seasons in a randomized block design with factorial arrangement. Canavalia presented a positive response to mycorrhizal inoculation, significantly increasing dry biomass production (87.34%, 129.96%), mycorrhizal colonization (26.90%, 103.66%), and spore production (26.79%, 52.52%) for Can and Can+AMF treatments respectively. A biplot analysis established a strong relationship between the biomass and mycorrhizal performance of Canavalia and the growth, yield, and mycorrhizal colonization of tobacco. The results indicate that inoculated Canavalia enhances mycorrhizal performance in successional tobacco, with Can+AMF significantly increasing mycorrhization of tobacco roots by (110.06%). Moreover, the combination of Can inoculate with AMF and 75% of the recommended mineral fertilization dose consistently produced the highest tobacco yields (42.06%), growth, and mycorrhizal activity across the four years while maintaining satisfactory combustibility. In this nutrition supply system, variations of the recommended fertilizer dose significantly decreased the percentage of mycorrhizal colonization. After four growing seasons using Can + AMF and Canavalia without inoculations, soil organic matter, and availability of exchangeable calcium, magnesium, and pH increased slightly without decreasing available phosphorus and potassium contents. Consequently, we conclude that Canavalia ensiformis, with an inoculum based on the Glomus cubense strain and 75% of the recommended dose of mineral fertilizers, provides an enhanced nutrition alternative system for black tobacco production.

Cover Crop Species Selection, Seeding Rate, and Termination Timing Impacts on Semi-Arid Cotton Production

By improving soil properties, cover crops can reduce wind erosion and sand damage to emerging cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants. However, on the Texas High Plains, questions regarding cover crop water use and management factors that affect cotton lint yield are common and limit conservation adoption by regional producers. Studies were conducted near Lamesa, Texas, USA, in 2017–2020 to evaluate cover crop species selection, seeding rate, and termination timing on cover crop biomass production and cotton yield in conventional and no-tillage systems. The no-till systems included two cover crop species, rye (Secale cereale L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and were compared to a conventional tillage system. The cover crops were planted at two seeding rates, 34 and 68 kg ha−1, and each plot was split into two termination timings: optimum, six to eight weeks prior to the planting of cotton, and late, which was two weeks after the optimum termination. Herbage mass was greater in the rye than the wheat cover crop in three of the four years tested, while the 68 kg ha−1 seeding rate was greater than the low seeding rate in only one of four years for both rye and wheat. The later termination timing produced more herbage mass than the optimum in all four years. Treatments did not affect cotton plant populations and had a variable effect on yield. In general, cover crop biomass production did not reduce lint production compared to the conventional system.

Crop functional structure predicts the provision of Nature´s material Contribution to People in diversified agroforestry

Applying concepts from natural ecosystem ecology, particularly through diversified cropping systems that integrate woody crops with other crops, can enhance agrobiodiversity and significantly contribute to multifunctional agriculture. The ecological and, more recently, the agronomic literature have indicated that functional trait aspects of diversity offer a more comprehensive explanation for ecosystem functions compared to species richness alone. In this study, we apply the trait-based approach during experimental agroforest succession in subtropical Southern Brazil to investigate the main factors of crop functional structure, differentiating the effects of functional diversity (FD) from functional identity (CWM - community weighted mean), on Nature's Contributions to People (NCP). The experiment was designed varying crop FD, based on leaf nitrogen concentration, while maintaining crop species richness constant across all treatments. To assess FD and CWM, we measured six crop traits; maximum plant height, leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf nitrogen content, leaf dry-matter content, and stem-specific density. Additionally, we evaluated four material NCP (green manure, forage, germplasm, and food) based on data collected during the initial four years of the experiment (2017–2020). To analyze the data, we employed principal component analysis to reduce the number of variables and subsequently fitted linear mixed-effect models. Our findings provide support for the hypothesis that crop functional structure, particularly in relation to leaf traits (leaf area and leaf nitrogen content) and vegetative height, significantly influences material outputs and predicts above-ground biomass production that can be utilized as green manure and animal feed in agroforestry and silvopastoral systems. Both FD and CWM were important drivers of NCPs, showing that both niche complementarity and selection effects contribute to explain agroecosystem functioning. By utilizing functional traits, we reached valuable insights for generating agronomical recommendations and enhancing cropping system diversification through effective trait-based management.

NITROGEN LIMITATION AND CHANGES IN SALINITY AFFECTS CHEMICAL-PROXIMATE-COMPOSITION OF Thalassiosira weissflogii

Microalgae are a crucial factor in aquaculture activities, since they are used as live food in the larvae stage of shrimp, mollusks, and fish. Nevertheless, just a few microalga species are produce. In this study we evaluate the effect of salinity at 25, 35, 45 and 55 practical salinity unit (psu), in F/2 media as control group and two nitrogen (NaNO3) limited media, F/4 and F/8 on the diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii. To value the development of the diatom, kinetic growth curves, pH, biomass production and chemical-proximate composition were estimated. The highest growth rate and organic matter values were in media F/4 and 35 psu. Meanwhile, media F/8 at 55 psu presented the highest amount of ash and a very low growth rate. T. weissflogii is affected by high salinity concentration, however the limitation of nitrogen with 25 and 35 psu did not affect growth considerably. Concerning the chemical-proximate composition of T. weissflogii, media F/4 at 25 psu, presented the highest percentages of carbohydrates and proteins. In the same way, medium F2 at 25 psu, reported the highest amounts of carotenes. The results showed that high salinity was the variable that major affected the cell density, biomass production and chemical-proximate composition of T. weissflogii.

Hydrogel-based photobioreactor for Solid-State cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris

Solid-state cultivation is a promising technology for algal biomass production, achieving high productivities without the need for dewatering. However, such systems have suffered from high evaporation, and capital costs. Here is described a hydrogel photobioreactor (hPBR) with the aim of reducing water demand in solid-state cultivations. Two designs are described with “Design A” offering better humidity control overgrowth conditions. A biomass productivity of 2.41gm-2d-1, and 2.87gm-2d-1 when using physically crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) (pPVA) and chemically crosslinked PVA (cPVA) respectively were achieved with Chlorella vulgaris with a water demand around 0.44 kg g−1 of biomass. Over the 23 days of growth, the lipid content increased from 18.9 % to 56.6 % and 13.8 % to 43.2 % for pPVA and cPVA respectively, and the chlorophyll content decreased by more than 81 %. However, cell viability stayed high at over 98 % and surface coverage analysis showed good coverage of the gel surface.

Cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris in wastewater: biodiesel potential and wastewater remediation.

The present investigation has evaluated the use of effluents from a secondary municipal wastewater treatment plant for biomass production and potential of the biomass for biodiesel production. Cultivations of Chlorella vulgaris using wastewater, wastewater with supplementation, and WC medium were carried out. Effect of wastewater collected in different months on biomass productivity (BP) and lipid composition was studied. Methods based on NMR and GC-MS techniques were applied for determining the composition of the lipids and their fatty acid profile including poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Lipids extracted are comprised of both neutral (tri acyl glycerides, TAG; free fatty acids, FFA) and polar (glyco glycero/phospho) lipids. The TAG content of the extracted lipids was determined in the range of 22.5-41.3% w/w. The NMR and GC-MS compositional results of microalgal lipids of biomasses cultivated in wastewater without nutrient supplementation, collected in different months, showed potential for biodiesel production. The fatty acid profiles of neutral and polar lipids, which are mainly comprised of saturated and unsaturated long alkyl chain (C16-C22) fatty acids, are potential sources for the biodiesel and food industry. The concentration of nitrates (45-78mg L-1) in wastewater without supplementation, collected in different months, was found to be optimum to enable cultivation of biomasses with reasonably good BP of 21.5-28.1mg L-1day-1. Similar results have been obtained in the present work as well as reported in the literature in the case of WC medium (nitrate, 69mg L-1) with BP of 25.5-28.2mg L-1day-1, thus highlighted the significance of the presented work.

Enhanced biomass and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production in Enterobacter sp. for growth stimulation and nitrogen removal in a Nile tilapia cultivation system

Enhanced biomass and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production in Enterobacter sp. for growth stimulation and nitrogen removal in a Nile tilapia cultivation system

The effects of monoculture and intercropping on photosynthesis performance correlated with growth of garlic and perennial ryegrass response to different heavy metals

BackgroundThe potential of phytoremediation using garlic monoculture (MC) and intercropping (IC) system with perennial ryegrass to enhance the uptake of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) were investigated.ResultsPositive correlations were found between MC and IC systems, with varying biomass. Production of perennial ryegrass was affected differently depending on the type of toxic metal present in the soil. Root growth inhibition was more affected than shoot growth inhibition. The total biomass of shoot and root in IC was higher than MC, increasing approximately 3.7 and 2.9 fold compared to MC, attributed to advantages in root IC crop systems. Photosystem II efficiency showed less sensitivity to metal toxicity compared to the control, with a decrease between 10.07–12.03%. Among gas exchange parameters, only Cr significantly affected physiological responses by reducing transpiration by 69.24%, likely due to leaf chlorosis and necrosis.ConclusionThis study exhibited the potential of garlic MC and IC with perennial ryegrass in phytoremediation. Although the different metals affect plant growth differently, IC showed advantages over MC in term biomass production.

Combined use of digestate and inorganic fertilizer alleviates the burden of class 1 integrons in perennial ryegrass rhizosphere without compromising aerial biomass production.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the main global health challenges. Anaerobic digestion (AD) can significantly reduce the burden of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in animal manures. However, the reduction is often incomplete. The agronomic use of digestates requires assessments of their effects on soil ARGs. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of digestate on the abundance of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in the rhizosphere of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and to determine whether half-dose replacement of digestate with urea (combined fertilizer) can be implemented as a safer approach while maintaining a similar biomass production. A greenhouse assay was conducted during 190days under a completely randomized design with two experimental factors: fertilizer type (unfertilized control and fertilized treatments with equal N dose: digestate, urea and combined fertilizer) and sampling date (16 and 148days after the last application). The results indicated that the digestate significantly increased the abundance of clinical class 1 integrons (intI1 gene) relative to the unfertilized control at both sampling dates (P < 0.05), while the combined fertilizer only increased them at the first sampling. Sixteen days after completing the fertilization scheme only the combined fertilizer and urea significantly increased the biomass production relative to the control (P < 0.05). Additionally, by the end of the assay, the combined fertilizer showed significantly lower levels of the macrolide-resistance gene ermB than digestate and a cumulative biomass similar to urea or digestate. Overall, the combined fertilizer can alleviate the burden of integrons and ermB while simultaneously improving biomass production.

Pilot-scale microalgae cultivation and wastewater treatment using high-rate ponds: a meta-analysis.

Microalgae cultivation in wastewater has been widely researched under laboratory conditions as per its potential to couple treatment with biomass production. Currently, only a limited number of published articles consider outdoor and long-term microalgae-bacteria cultivations in real wastewater environmental systems. The scope of this work is to describe microalgal cultivation steps towards high-rate algal pond (HRAP) scalability and identify key parameters that play a major role for biomass productivity under outdoor conditions and long-term cultivations. Reviewed pilot-scale HRAP literature is analysed using multivariate analysis to highlight key productivity parameters within environmental and operational factors. Wastewater treatment analysis indicated that HRAP can effectively remove 90% of NH4+, 70% of COD, and 50% of PO43-. Mean reference values of 210 W m-2 for irradiation, 18°C for temperature, pH of 8.2, and HRT of 7.7 are derived from pilot-scale cultivations. Microalgae biomass productivity at a large scale is governed by solar radiation and NH4+ concentration, which are more important than retention time variations within investigated studies. Hence, selecting the correct type of location and a minimum of 70mg L-1 of NH4+ in wastewater will have the greatest effect in microalgae productivity. A high nutrient wastewater content increases final biomass concentrations but not necessarily biomass productivity. Pilot-scale growth rates (~ 0.54day-1) are half those observed in lab experiments, indicating a scaling-up bottleneck. Microalgae cultivation in wastewater enables a circular bioeconomy framework by unlocking microalgal biomass for the delivery of an array of products.

Stress tolerance activity and Diversification of Endophytic fungi from the medicinal plant Abutilon indicum

Abstract This study aimed to assess the diversity of endophytic fungi isolated from Abutilon indicum using morphological and molecular techniques. The isolates were exposed to various levels of salinity, temperatures, and heavy metals, including Ag2+ and Zn2+, at concentrations of 3.6 and 11.5 mM. Thirty root segments were isolated from each plant and cultured on potato dextrose agar plates. Four endophytic fungi were randomly isolated from infected root segments, belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Meyerozyma, and Penicillium. The phylogenetic analysis revealed significant diversity among the isolates of Aspergillus welwitschiae, Aspergillus indologenus, Meyerozyma carpophila, and Penicillium citrinum, with a 99% similarity in their sequences. Most isolates were able to thrive under salt stress conditions at NaCl concentrations of 200 mM (26%), 400 mM (24%), 600 mM (21%), 800 mM (13%), and 1000 mM (16%). Tolerant to temperature, endophytes could survive in the range of 25°C to 35°C but could not survive above 50°C. Heavy metals tolerance of 89% of these isolates led to a significant decrease in biomass production when exposed to Ag2+. Endophytic fungal isolates showed decreased sensitivity to Zn2+, but between 33% and 60% showed strong growth in conditions with high levels of Zn2+. These findings revealed that endophytic fungi of A. welwitschiae enhanced growth when exposed to various stress conditions. Our findings indicate that the presence of fungal endophytes in different stress conditions leads to significant growth, and this could be useful for phytoremediation purposes.

Upscaling miscanthus production in the United Kingdom: The benefits, challenges, and trade‐offs

AbstractThe UK sixth carbon budget has recommended domestic biomass supply should increase to meet growing demand, planting a minimum of 30,000 hectares of perennial energy crops a year by 2035, with a view to establishing 700,000 hectares by 2050 to meet the requirements of the balanced net zero pathway. Miscanthus is a key biomass crop to scale up domestic biomass production in the United Kingdom. A cohesive land management strategy, based on robust evidence, will be required to ensure upscaling of miscanthus cultivation maximizes the environmental and economic benefits and minimizes undesirable consequences. This review examines research into available land areas, environmental impacts, barriers to uptake, and the challenges, benefits, and trade‐offs required to upscale miscanthus production on arable land and grassland in the United Kingdom. Expansion of perennial biomass crops has been considered best restricted to marginal land, less suited to food production. The review identifies a trade‐off between avoiding competition with food production and a risk of encroaching on areas containing high‐biodiversity or high‐carbon stocks, such as semi‐natural grasslands. If areas of land suitable for food production are needed to produce the biomass required for emission reduction, the review indicates there are multiple strategies for miscanthus to complement long‐term food security rather than compete with it. On arable land, a miscanthus rotation with a cycle length of 10–20 years can be employed as fallow period for fields experiencing yield decline, soil fatigue, or persistent weed problems. On improved grassland areas, miscanthus presents an option for diversification, flood mitigation, and water quality improvement. Strategies need to be developed to integrate miscanthus into farming systems in a way that is profitable, sensitive to local demand, climate, and geography, and complements rather than competes with food production by increasing overall farm profitability and resilience.