Highest Biological Efficiency Research Articles

Valorization of Green Biomass: Alfalfa Pulp as a Substrate for Oyster Mushroom Cultivation.

In this study, the potential of alfalfa pulp as an alternative substrate to wheat straw for the cultivation of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) was investigated. The major components associated with different mushroom stages were evaluated, as well as changes in lignocellulolytic enzyme activities in substrates composed of alfalfa pulp, wheat straw or a combination of both. Based on the results, alfalfa pulp was demonstrated to be a better substrate than wheat straw for the production of oyster mushrooms, with a high biological efficiency of 166.3 ± 25.4%. Compared to the cultivation period on commercial straw (31 days), a shorter lifecycle for oyster mushroom was found on alfalfa pulp (24 days), which could help to reduce the risk of contamination during industrial production. Study of the spent substrate as well as the harvested mushrooms revealed that the biological efficiency was related to the higher protein content (17.42%) in the alfalfa pulp compared to wheat straw, as well as greater degradation of cellulose (57.58%) and hemicellulose (56.60%). This was, by and large, due to greater extracellular hydrolytic and oxidative enzyme activity from the mushroom growth in the alfalfa pulp. The quality and safety of the fruiting bodies produced on alfalfa pulp was evaluated, which showed that the protein content was 20.4%, of which 46.3% was essential amino acids, and levels of trace elements and heavy metals were below acceptable limits. Hence, oyster mushroom cultivation using alfalfa pulp provides an alternative method to produce a value-added product, while reducing the biomass wastes in the green protein bio-refinery, and may contribute to sustainable growth in the agricultural industry.

Prospects for Using Phosphate-Solubilizing Microorganisms as Natural Fertilizers in Agriculture.

Phosphates are known to be essential for plant growth and development, with phosphorus compounds being involved in various physiological and biochemical reactions. Phosphates are known as one of the most important factors limiting crop yields. The problem of phosphorus deficiency in the soil has traditionally been solved by applying phosphate fertilizers. However, chemical phosphate fertilizers are considered ineffective compared to the organic fertilizers manure and compost. Therefore, increasing the bioavailability of phosphates for plants is one of the primary goals of sustainable agriculture. Phosphate-solubilizing soil microorganisms can make soil-insoluble phosphate bioavailable for plants through solubilization and mineralization. These microorganisms are currently in the focus of interest due to their advantages, such as environmental friendliness, low cost, and high biological efficiency. In this regard, the solubilization of phosphates by soil microorganisms holds strong potential in research, and inoculation of soils or crops with phosphate-solubilizing bacteria is a promising strategy to improve plant phosphate uptake. In this review, we analyze all the species of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria described in the literature to date. We discuss key mechanisms of solubilization of mineral phosphates and mineralization of organic phosphate-containing compounds: organic acids secreted by bacteria for the mobilization of insoluble inorganic phosphates, and the enzymes hydrolyzing phosphorus-containing organic compounds. We demonstrate that phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms have enormous potency as biofertilizers since they increase phosphorus bioavailability for the plant, promote sustainable agriculture, improve soil fertility, and raise crop yields. The use of phosphate-solubilizing microbes is regarded as a new frontier in increasing plant productivity.

Isolation, Morphological and Molecular Identification of the Pathogenic and Competitors Fungi Associated with the Edible Mushroom Pleurotus sp. and Control Them

Eleven fungal isolates were isolated from oyster mushroom culture media. 10 isolates showed antagonistic activity against P. pulmonarius, while two fungal isolates did not show any antagonistic activity. the highest pathogenic fungi were identified as T. longibrachiatum, T. pleuroticola, R. arrhizus, M. hiemalis and P. glabrum according to the morphological and molecular methods and were registered in the World Genetic Bank at NCBI with the accession numbers OM438162.1, OM438163.1, OM438161.1, OM453951.1 and OM438160.1, respectively, the species T. pleuroticola, R. arrhizus and M. hiemalis were recorded for the first time in Iraq at the molecular level. The effect of some oils on the growth of the oyster mushroom P. pulmonarius and its pathogenic fungi was studied, the results showed that the highest effect of jojoba oil, olive oil, almond oil, sesame oil and coconut oil at 5% was recorded the highest inhibition of the all tested pathogenic fungi, while no inhibitory effect was recorded for the oyster mushroom P. pulmonarius. Sodium bicarbonate at 3 and 5% showed complete inhibition of the growth of all pathogenic fungi. The results showed that 5% of acetic acid inhibits the pathogenic fungi T. longibrachiatum, R. arrhizus and T. pleuroticola, where the diameters of the colonies reached 2.5, 2.7 and 3.1 cm. respectively. The highest biological efficiency was recorded in P. eryngii growing in the medium treated with the pathogenic fungus P. glabrum in presence of sodium bicarbonate, which reached to 69.58%. In the interaction between oyster mushroom species and the media, the results showed that the highest infection rate was in P. eryngii in the medium treated with T. longibrachiatum, which reached to 39.56%, while the lowest infection rate was with P. pulmonarius grown in the medium treated with sodium bicarbonate and the pathogenic fungus P. glabrum, which was 13.15%. Under the pathogens infection, the highest protein content was found in P. eryngii grown in the treated medium with sodium bicarbonate and P. glabrum resulting in 31.22%, while the lowest protein was12.07%. in P. ostreatus grown in the medium infected with T. longibrachiatum.

Fatty acid composition of seeds of pumpkin (Cucurbita) varieties cultivated mechanized in the conditions of the Nonchernozem zone of the Russian Federation

One of the most important factors for maintaining human health is a good nutrition of macro and micronutrients. Insufficient nutrition of essential nutrients leads to various disorders of the body. In recent years, more and more malnutrition has been observed, especially a deficiency of polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Of great interest is pumpkin seed oil, which is rich in linoleic acid. Linoleic acid belongs to the polyunsaturated fatty acids of the omega-6 family, which is not formed in the body and must be constantly supplied with food. Cultivation of pumpkin in the temperate zone is very important. This will provide the population with vegetable oil with high biological efficiency due to the content of linoleic acid. The fatty acid composition of pumpkin seeds is influenced by many factors: climatic data, varieties, agricultural practices, etc. Mechanized industrial crops of pumpkin are located mainly in the southern regions, due to the fact that this crop is thermophilic. In recent years, there has been a change in climate, in the temperate zone, the growing season has increased due to the earlier onset of spring and later autumn, the sum of active temperatures, etc. There is a certain tendency to increase the area occupied by this crop in the temperate zone. The correct selection of varieties and variety samples for mechanized cultivation becomes an urgent task. The experiments were carried out in the Moscow region. 16 varieties and variety samples were studied according to the standard method. A high oil content in the studied samples was revealed - The studied varieties and variety samples have a high oil content: from 33.6 to 54.6%. When studying the fatty acid composition, the highest content is represented by the essential polyunsaturated fatty linoleic acid up to 68.55% - in the Pivdenny variety.

PRODUCTION OF Pleurotus ostreatus CULTIVATED IN SUBSTRATES MADE FROM TWO INVASIVE WEEDS

The species Pleurotus ostreatus is an edible mushroom with a high commercial value, cultivated for its ease and adaptability in substrates based on agro-industrial waste. The plant species Solanum elaeagnifolium and Salsola kali are two invasive weeds that spread rapidly in crops, ruderal or urban areas, representing high-cost agricultural losses and environmental impact. The hypothesis of this research was that at least one of the weeds would increase the production and quality of P. ostreatus. The objective was to evaluate the biological efficiency and carpophore productivity of P. ostreatus with the use of substrates elaborated and combined from S. elaeagnifolim and S. kali. The fungal cultures were carried out with substrates generated from mixtures of weeds and using wheat straw as a control; from these combinations, seven treatments and four replicates were obtained in a completely randomized design. The carpophores obtained were measured for the width and length of the pileus and stipe, total production (g), biological efficiency (%), and proximate analysis of the harvested mushrooms was performed. Maximum production was 23.30 mushrooms, with minimum of 3.67 carpophores. The width and length of the pileus were 8.30-11.70 cm and 8.40-11.40 cm, respectively. The stipe length variable showed widths of 1.40-2.30 cm and lengths of 2.80-6.20 cm. The weights obtained were up to 358.33 g, with a minimum of 95.10 g. Proximate analysis showed carpophores with the following composition: 82.25-91.37 % moisture; 1.71 to 13.66 % ash; 15.70 to 20.93 % protein; 0.40 to 1.55 % lipids and 8.60-17.7 % dry matter. The variables evaluated showed differences (p ≤ 0.05), being the substrates made with 100 % S. elaeagnifolium the ones with the highest biological efficiency, carpophore production, harvest weight and nutritional value. The species P. ostreatus proved to be efficient in providing substrate for two weeds, as well as producing carpophores with high protein content.

Fine Mapping and Functional Analysis of the Gene PcTYR, Involved in Control of Cap Color of Pleurotus cornucopiae.

Oyster mushrooms have a high biological efficiency and are easy to cultivate, which is why they are produced all over the world. Cap color is an important commercial trait for oyster mushrooms. Little is known about the genetic mechanism of the cap color trait in oyster mushrooms, which limits molecular breeding for the improvement of cap color-type cultivars. In this study, a 0.8-Mb major quantitative trait locus (QTL) region controlling cap color in the oyster mushroom Pleurotus cornucopiae was mapped on chromosome 7 through bulked-segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-seq) and extreme-phenotype genome-wide association studies (XP-GWAS). Candidate genes were further selected by comparative transcriptome analysis, and a tyrosinase gene (PcTYR) was identified as the highest-confidence candidate gene. Overexpression of PcTYR resulted in a significantly darker cap color, while the cap color of RNA interference (RNAi) strains for this gene was significantly lighter than that of the wild-type (WT) strains, suggesting that PcTYR plays an essential role in cap color formation. This is the first report about fine mapping and functional verification of a gene controlling cap color in oyster mushrooms. This will enhance our understanding of the genetic basis for cap color formation in oyster mushrooms and will facilitate molecular breeding for cap color. IMPORTANCE Oyster mushrooms are widely cultivated and consumed over the world for their easy cultivation and high biological efficiency (mushroom fresh weight/substrate dry weight × 100%). Fruiting bodies with dark caps are more and more popular according to consumer preferences, but dark varieties are rarely seen on the market. Little is known about the genetic mechanism of the cap color trait in oyster mushrooms, which limits molecular breeding for the improvement of cap color-type cultivars. A major QTL of cap color in oyster mushroom P. cornucopiae was fine mapped by using bulked-segregant analysis (BSA) and extreme-phenotype genome-wide association study (XP-GWAS) analysis. A candidate gene PcTYR coding tyrosinase was further identified with the help of comparative transcriptome analysis. qPCR analysis and genetic transformation tests proved that PcTYR played an essential role in cap color formation. This study will contribute to revealing the genetic mechanism of cap color formation in mushrooms, thereby facilitating molecular breeding for cap color trait.

Selection and evaluation of environmentally friendly pesticides, biological preparations and resistant varieties against harmful objects of melons and gourds in the conditions of the South-East of Kazakhstan

In the Republic of Kazakhstan, melons are produced mainly by the traditional method, that is, by using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The production of environmentally friendly melons is at the initial stage of its development. There is no organic melon growing at all. Considering the huge export potential of melons among other crops cultivated in the country (the total supply of melons and melons on the domestic market is 472%), the great economic and social importance of the direction of melons and gourds to organic production is growing. In the future, Kazakhstan may be in the center of attention of the world community as a producer and supplier of environmentally friendly (organic) melons, and environmentally friendly, natural melons may well become a brand of our sovereign state. To do this, it is necessary to make fundamental changes in the melon industry of the country.In general, the direction of agricultural products to organic production will contribute to the use of the safest and most useful products by the local population. Here, one should also take into account the decrease in the immunity of the human body due to various diseases, including those associated with the coronavirus pandemic.It should also be taken into account that only a limited number of pesticides used against harmful objects in agriculture act as intended, and the main part of toxic substances is distributed into the envi-ronment. The use of disinfectants without scientific support has a negative impact on flora and fauna, be-ing deposited on the soil and in the irrigation system of fields for a long time, thereby causing enormous damage to the environment.Considering the above facts, our scientific research was aimed at the selection of pesticides and biological preparations with high biological and economic efficiency, low rates and frequency of treat-ments, as well as varieties with high resistance to fungal diseases of gourds (watermelon, melon).Research work was carried out on the experimental plots of the Regional Branch «Kainar» of the LLP «Kazakh Research Institute of Horticulture» in the period 2020-2021. In the studies, classical methods generally accepted in melon growing were used. The results obtained are new and relevant, and in the future they will contribute to the transition from traditional melon growing to the biological direction. Key words: gourds, pesticides, biological preparations, pests, fungal diseases, tolerant varieties.

Factors affecting the level of Fusarium mycotoxins in grain. Vestsі Natsyyanal’nay akademіі navuk Belarusі

Mycotoxins accumulation in grain is one of the most widely analyzed problem nowadays, as soon as these metabolites are of high danger to health of warm-blooded animals and humans. Producing mycotoxins with Fusarium fungi beaing causal agents of Fusarium head blight, depends on range of factors, and among measures for their accumulation decrease, chemical method is one of the most effective ones. The paper presents the results of study on factors affecting mycotoxins accumulation under the field conditions. During the experiment with artificial inoculation of winter wheat heads by F. culmorum fungi, the influence of triazole fungicides on Fusarium head blight and mycotoxins content had been estimated. Higher biological efficiency (83,2-79,2 %) for disease severity decrease was higher with fungicide Osiris, EC. Use of fungicides led to increase in indicators of economic efficiency in comparison with the option with no treatment, including the yield, by 12.3-12.8%. In the variants with head protection, the DON content was 2.0-2.1 times lower than in the control. Under conditions of natural damage to various varieties of grain crops (winter wheat and triticale, spring barley) by Fusarium head blight, its depressive manifestation had been determined. It had been determined that spring barley, regardless of the variety, was more resistant to accumulation of mycotoxins, in particular ZEN. Level of mycotoxins in winter wheat and triticale grain varied depending on variety and storage duration. The data obtained will serve as the basis for substantiating measures to reduce the level of mycotoxins in grain. Acknowledgments. The research was carried out with the financial support of the Belarusian Republican Foundation for Fundamental Research as a part of the scientific research project “Comprehensive assessment of mycotoxins accumulation during foodstuff storage” (treaty N Б19МЛДГ-009).

ДВУХКОМПОНЕНТНЫЙ ГЕРБИЦИД ХОРС Д, КС ДЛЯ ЗАЩИТЫ ПОСЕВОВ КУКУРУЗЫ

The research was carried out to assess the biological and economic effectiveness of the new two-component herbicide Hors D, KS (220 g/l dicamba (sodium salt) and 50 g/l nicosulfuron) of LLC “Agro Expert Group” on corn crops in Krasnodar Krai. The experiments were carried out in the field conditions of All-Russian Research Institute of Biological Plant Protection in 2018-2019 according to the methodological guidelines for registration tests of herbicides in agriculture. The soil is leached chernozem. The area of the plots is 25 m2, the repetition rate is 4 times, the flow rate of the working fluid is 200 l/ha. The experimental scheme included the use of the tested herbicide Hors D, KS in the application rates of 0.6; 0.8 and 1.2 l/ha. Carleone preparation was used as a standard, EC (0.3 and 0.6 l/ha) and control (without herbicides). The treatment was carried out in the phase of 3...5 leaves of the culture. The contamination of corn crops averaged 83 copies/m2. The herbicidal effect of the drugs was assessed by reducing the number and weight of weeds, as well as by the crop yield in comparison with the control. Weeds: common hedgehog, glaucous bristle, ragweed wormwood, tilted backward and Californian cocklebur showed a high sensitivity to drugs. The use of 0.6...1.2 l/ha of Hors D, KS led to an 80 ... 100% herbicidal effect. There was no negative effect of the drug for corn plants, crop yield increases were obtained, which amounted to 62.0...74.7% of the control. The obtained data for two years showed high biological and economic efficiency of the herbicide Hors D, KS against annual dicotyledonous and cereal weeds in corn crops

Cultivation of black poplar mushroom, Cyclocybe aegerita, on woody and non-woody lignocellulosic substrates with a high biological efficiency

The Black Poplar mushroom, Cyclocybe aegerita, is considered a high-quality mushroom due to its high nutritional value, delicious taste, and unique aroma. This fungus is commonly grown in East Asia and Europe. It has shown low biological efficiency (BE) on a majority of lignocellulosic substrates studied to date. This study aims to investigate the possibility of enhancing the BE of C. aegerita and to evaluate the effect of the carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio in the substrate. The performance of C. aegerita was determined using five woody and non-woody lignocellulosic substrates with a precisely determined C:N ratio. The result showed that the highest significant BE was 194%, obtained from a non-woody substrate composed of 78% wheat straw supplemented with 20% wheat bran (p ≤ 0.05), followed by a woody substrate composed of 73% of wood chips, 10% of wheat bran, 10% of cottonseed, and 5% of wheat seed, which generated 123% BE. The remaining substrates were unable to produce more than 100% BE (p ≤ 0.05). The mycelial growth of C. aegerita in the substrate as well as in the substrate-derived media was also significantly improved using a non-woody substrate consisting of 78% wheat straw supplemented with 20% wheat bran compared with other substrates (p ≤ 0.05). Further analyses also revealed that an increased level of the C:N ratio resulted in a decline in the total fresh yield that was obtained from the substrates, so that the optimal C:N ratio was found to be within the range of 48–56%. These findings may have implications for improving the BE of C. aegerita and removing one of its most important barriers in commercial production.

ՄԻՋԱՏԱՍՊԱՆՆԵՐԻ ԿԵՆՍԱԲԱՆԱԿԱՆ ԱՐԴՅՈՒՆԱՎԵՏՈՒԹՅՈՒՆԸ ԲԱՄԲԱԿԵՆՈՒ ԿՆԳՈՒՂԱԿԵՐԻ ԴԵՄ ՊԱՅՔԱՐՈՒՄ

Throughout 2020-2021, in the pepper fields of Khoronk community in the Armavir region, insecticides belonging to various chemical groups, namely Euphoria, Coragen, Decis Prophy, Belt, Decis F-Lux, Movento, Ampligo 150, Vertimec, Proclaim and Spintor, have been experimented for combating cotton bollworm. During the trials their biological efficiency was estimated 1, 5, 10 and 15 days after spraying. According to the research results, the highest biological efficiency against the cotton bollworm was provided by Euphoria, Belt, Ampligo 150 and Decis F-Lux insecticides.

The Domestication and Cultivation of Ganoderma (Agaricomycetes) Medicinal Mushroom Species from Nigeria.

Commercial cultivation of Ganoderma species found in Nigeria does not exist. Four Ganoderma isolates (YCT-BKS, YCT-Q2, YCT-Q14, and YCT-Q18) collected in Lagos were tested for mycelia growth and cultivation in sawdust-based substrates. Internal transcribed spacer sequences (ITS1 and ITS4) from three isolates upon a GenBank BLAST search gave DNA sequence closest identities as YCT-BKS and YCT-Q14 = G. mbrekobenum and YCT-Q2 = G. enigmaticum. The mycelia growth rate was highest in YCT-BKS (1.2 cm/day), whereas the other three isolates averaged 0.7 cm/day. On substrate A (sawdust/water hyacinth, 7:3), the time to form primordia was 30 days for YCT-BKS, YCT-Q18, and YCT-Q14. YCT-Q2 and YCT-Q18 formed primordia (27 days) on substrate B (sawdust/sorghum, 3:2). YCT-BKS was the first to produce basidiocarp on substrate A (75 days after inoculation) and had the highest biological efficiency (BE) of 13.4%, followed by YCT-Q18 with BE of 12.1% on substrate B after 99 days. YCT-Q14 produced fruiting bodies after 92 days on substrate A, with a low BE of 7.0%. Results indicate the need to supplement sawdust (substrate C = 100% sawdust) to cultivate the Ganoderma spp. A mixture of sawdust and water hyacinth appears to be the best substrate among those tested. This is the first report on the domestication and cultivation of indigenous isolates of Ganoderma spp. from Nigeria on sawdust and water hyacinth. Water hyacinth is a noxious weed causing major problems in fresh waterways in Nigeria.

Performance evaluation of substrates for cultivation of blue oyster mushroom

The study was conducted to evaluate the best spawn, spawn dose and suitable growing substrates for the cultivation of blue oyster mushroom [Hypsizygus ulmarius (Bull.: Fr.) Redhead] under sub-tropical zones of Himachal Pradesh. Bajra grains were found as an excellent substrate for spawn preparation as it supports fast (11.00 days) and thick mycelial growth along with high yield (768.00 g/0.6 kg dry substrate) and biological efficiency (128.00%) on wheat straw. Spawn dose of bajra grains spawn @5.00 per cent (w/w basis) on wheat straw resulted in minimum spawn run period (12.62 days), maximum number of fruit bodies (42.33), high yield (794.00 g/0.6 kg dry substrate) and biological efficiency (132.33%). Locally available seven different substrates viz., wheat straw, maize straw, pine needles (Pinus roxburghii), lantana leaves (Lantana camara), curry leaves (Murraya koenigii), saw dust and wood chips were evaluated for different yield parameters, yield and biological efficiency. Highest yield (744.00 g/0.6 kg dry substrate and biological efficiency 124.00%) was obtained from wheat straw substrate followed by maize straw (679.50 g/0.6 kg dry substrate with 113.20%). Lowest yield (436.79 g/0.6 kg dry substrate) of mushroom was obtained in wood chips substrate with 72.80 per cent biological efficiency.

Բակտերիական և քիմիական միջատասպանների փորձարկումներ լեռնային օղակավոր մետաքսագործի թրթուրների դեմ

In 2019-2021 In laboratory conditions and in the apple orchards of the Aragatsotn region, strains of bacteria BTAM-1 and BTAM-2 were tested against caterpillars of younger ages of the mountain ringed silkworm, both individually and in separate combinations with the chemical drug Vayego in sub lethal doses. The tested variants against phytophagous caterpillars showed high biological efficiency.

THE EFFICIENCY OF APHIDIUS ROSAE HALIDAY (HYMENOPTERA: APHIDIIDAE) IN REGULATING THE NUMBERS OF MACROSIPHUM ROSAE (L.) (HEMIPTERA, APHIDIDAE) ON PLANTS OF THE GENUS ROSA L.

This is a fist report on the results of studies on the effect of the natural entomophagous parasitoid Aphidius rosae on the population dynamics of Macrosiphum rosae (L.) on plants of the genus Rosa L. in the arboretum and collection nurseries of the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden located north of the Arctic Circle – in Kirovsk, in a protected area (67°39′05″N, 33°40′20″E, 387 m above sea level) and in Apatity, in an experimental site (67°56′41″N, 33°40′31″E, 175 meters above sea level). Average M. rosae numbers in the Kirovsk site varied in July and August from 5 to 60 individuals/leaf, and in Apatity in June, July, and August the population density of some colonies exceeded 90 individuals/leaf. In 2017, M. rosae mummies appeared in the Apatity experimental site in late May-early June on plants of Rosa amblyotis and R. rugosa. In the Kirovsk site, M. rosae mummies appeared only in August – September, mainly on R. rugosa and R. majalis. In 2018 and 2020, significant numbers of M. rosae mummies were observed from July to September in both sites. High biological efficiency (up to 90 %) was observed when the parasite : host ratio in the aphid colony was 1:30. However, the efficiency of A. rosae varies greatly among years, so constant monitoring is required for regulation and possible introduction to core infection areas. Our results evidence that the presence of natural entomophagous parasitoids A. rosae in M. rosae colonies on plants of the genus Rosa restrains the growth of the pest’s numbers to an environmentally safe level in the second half of the growing season and prevents mass outbreaks of the infection.

Energy Potential of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) Fiber from Subsequent Cultivation of Volvariella volvacea (Bull.) Singer

EFB and EFB-based mushroom compost (SMC) from Volvariella volvacea cultivation is a promising energy feedstock because it has adequate nutrient quality. The biochemical methane potential (BMP) and calorific value (CV) of this biomass are investigated. Other analyses such as proximate, compositional, and final analysis; thermogravimetric analysis (TGA); and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) are also performed. The biomass samples consist of two types of EFB, namely fibers (F) and pellets (P) and SMC from the subsequent cultivation of Volvariella volvacea, with samples FS and PS from the first cultivation and FS2 and PS2 from the second cultivation. P produces the highest biological efficiency (BE) of 28% compared to 9.83% for F. Subsequent cultivation with FS and PS then produces only 2.9 and 6.83% of BE. A higher amount of methane is measured in samples P and PS2, while better biodegradability is observed in PS2 and FS2, suggesting that subsequent cultivation is a good pretreatment of the substrate for anaerobic digestion (AD). CV is highest in F (20.57 MJ/kg), followed by P (19.06 MJ/kg), which is comparable to commercial wood pellet. Samples F, FS, and FS2 have higher ash content, which is due to higher mineral content. The cellulose composition is reduced to almost 50% during cultivation due to fungal metabolism, which is also evidenced by FTIR analysis. TGA analysis revealed that EFB-based SMC exhibits higher weight loss during combustion compared to EFB, which reduces its thermal properties. SMC of EFB is a high potential biomethane feedstock, but not recommended as a fuel pellet.

Optimization of a solid culture medium based on Monochamus alternatus for Cordyceps militaris fruiting body formation.

Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae; M. alternatus), popularly known as the Japanese pine sawyer, is a vector of pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) that causes pine wilt disease. A solid medium culture with M. alternatus produced Cordyceps militaris fruiting bodies with the longest strips and the highest biological efficiency. Supplementing the original form of M. alternatus with oats resulted in slightly enhanced fruiting body production. The original form of M. alternatus showed higher production than its powder form. The solid culture medium was optimized using a response surface methodology, and the optimal medium contained the following: 8·5g per bottle of M. alternatus and 11·5g per bottle of oats mixed with 22·4ml of water in a 300-ml cylindrical plastic bottle. The optimal culturing period for the fruiting body formation was 37·1days. Under these conditions, a fruiting body dry weight of 38·0g per bottle (actual value) was attained. The fruiting body produced using a solid culture medium based on M. alternatus had a cordycepin content of about 25µgg-1 . The solid culture medium containing M. alternatus is highly efficient and eco-friendly, and its effectiveness in large-scale fruiting body production from C. militaris has been demonstrated.

Different Agricultural Wastes as Substrates for Growth and Production of Pleurotus florida

Abstract: The present study was done impact of agricultural wastes on growth and production by oyster mushrooms i.e., Pleurotus florida which have a rich source of protein and also has important medicinal properties. The yield and Biological efficiency of different lignocellulosic agricultural wastes viz. Wheat straw, Maize leaves, Cob leaves, Jawar residue, Bajra residue, Bamboo leaves, Paddy straw, Sugarcane, Cotton, Soyabean, Safflower (Pods residue), Pigeon pea (Pods residue), Mung bean (Pods residue), Cowpea (Pods residue). the paddy straw showed the highest yield 892.25 gm with the highest biological efficiency 89.09 % followed by Cowpea pods residue gives 879.65 gm yield of Pleurotus florida and shows biological efficiency of 87.72%, followed by Wheat straw substrate showed 871.18 gm yields with 87.27 % biological efficiency. The Pigeon pea pod residue showed 865.85 gm yield during three harvestings having 86.36% biological efficiency. Similar result was seen Bajra residue and soybean pod residue in bajra residue showed 792.45gm yield during three harvestings having 79.245% biological efficiency, in soybean pod residue showed 791.63 gm yield during three harvestings having 79.163 % biological efficiency. The lowest yield was seen in Bamboo leaves and cotton residues. In cotton residue substrate 433.22 gm total yield along with 43.32% biological efficiency, Bamboo leaves substrate total yield were seen 438.12gm with 43.81 % biological efficacy. Keywords: Pleurotus florida, Agricultural waste, Substrates, Biological efficiency

Genetic Linkage and Physical Mapping for an Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus cornucopiae) and Quantitative Trait Locus Analysis for Cap Color.

Oyster mushrooms are grown commercially worldwide, especially in many developing countries, for their easy cultivation and high biological efficiency. Pleurotus cornucopiae is one of the main oyster mushroom species because of its gastronomic value and nutraceutical properties. Cap color is an important trait, since consumers prefer dark mushrooms, which are now represented by only a small portion of the commercial varieties. Breeding efforts are required to improve quality-related traits to satisfy various demands of consumers. Here, we present a saturated genetic linkage map of P. cornucopiae constructed by using a segregating population of 122 monokaryons and 3,449 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers generated by the 2b-RAD approach. The map contains 11 linkage groups covering 961.6 centimorgans (cM), with an average marker spacing of 0.27 cM. The genome of P. cornucopiae was de novo sequenced, resulting in 425 scaffolds (>1,000 bp) with a total genome size of 35.1 Mb. The scaffolds were assembled to the pseudochromosome level with the assistance of the genetic linkage map. A total of 97% SNP markers (3,357) were physically localized on 140 scaffolds that were assigned to 11 pseudochromosomes, with a total of 32.5 Mb, representing 92.5% of the whole genome. Six quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling cap color of P. cornucopiae were detected, accounting for a total phenotypic variation of 65.6%, with the highest value for the QTL on pseudochromosome 5 (18%). The results of our study provide a solid base for marker-assisted breeding for agronomic traits and especially for studies on biological mechanisms controlling cap color in oyster mushrooms. IMPORTANCE Oyster mushrooms are produced and consumed all over the world. Pleurotus cornucopiae is one of the main oyster mushroom species. Dark-cap oyster mushrooms are becoming more and more popular with consumers, but dark varieties are rare on the market. Prerequisites for efficient breeding programs are the availability of high-quality whole genomes and genetic linkage maps. Genetic studies to fulfill some of these prerequisites have hardly been done for P. cornucopiae. In this study, we de novo sequenced the genome and constructed a saturated genetic linkage map for P. cornucopiae. The genetic linkage map was effectively used to assist the genome assembly and identify QTL that genetically control the trait cap color. As well, the genome characteristics of P. cornucopiae were compared to the closely related species Pleurotus ostreatus. The results provided a basis for understanding the genetic background and marker-assisted breeding of this economically important mushroom species.

CHEMICAL FIGHTING AGAINST COLORADO BEETS ON POTATOES

The growth of the world's population requires the growing demand for food products, the expansion of agricultural lands and the uninterrupted supply of high quality products. The most dangerous pest of the Colorado potato beetle is the oligophagous insect. It causes serious damage to potatoes. The chemical method is the most effective method in the fight against this pest. The article states that high biological efficiency was achieved against the Colorado potato beetle using Deltasis 2.5% e.c., -0.2 l / ha.