Mucor Hiemalis Wehmer Research Articles

Biosorption of heavy metals by dead biomass of Mucor hiemalis Wehmer and Trichoderma viride Pers. in separate and consortium systems.

Biosorption of heavy metals by dead biomass of Mucor hiemalis Wehmer and Trichoderma viride Pers. in separate and consortium systems.

Evaluation of In-Vitro Antioxidant Potential and Antimicrobial Activity of Nephrolepis biserrata (sw.) Schott. Leaf Extracts

Objective: This study aims to determine the in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Nephrolepis biserrata (Sw.) Schott leaf extracts against different microbial strains, including 4 gram-positive bacteria, 4 gram-negative bacteria, 3 yeast, and 4 mould. Methods: The agar well diffusion method examined the antimicrobial activity of Nephrolepis biserrata leaf extracts against test micro-organisms. Additionally, TPC (total phenolic content), TFC (total flavonoid content), and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical assay of extracts were determined. Results: Preliminary phytochemical screening of all three extracts revealed the presence of tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponin glycosides, and flavonoids. Results obtained were compared with the antibiotics Amphotericin B, Fluconazole, and Gentamicin used as standards. The mean zones of inhibition of methanol extract varied from 7 to 25 mm. However, with petroleum ether extract, the range varied from 9 to 12 mm and with acetone extract, the range was from 8 to 13 mm at two different concentrations of 250 and 500μg/disc. All extracts possessed significant antimicrobial activity against bacterial strains including Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermis, Pseudomonas aeuginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus Vulgaris, and Klebsiella pneumonia compared to fungal microbes such as Cryptococcus luteolus, Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, Aspergillus candidus, A. niger, and Mucor hiemalis wehmer, respectively. However, amongst all the three extracts, methanol leaf extract showed maximum antimicrobial activity. Conclusion: From the present study, it has been summarized that the antimicrobial activity of plants might be due to the presence of flavonoids and tannin components. In conclusion, still advanced research is required to isolate the active principles from plant extracts, showing antimicrobial activity that may lead to the development of a phytomedicine.

Symptomatology of fungal competitors on oyster mushroom’s spawn packets and in vitro evaluation using phytoextracts and a fungicide

An experiment was conducted to find out the fungal competitors and symptom studies in damaged Oyster Mushroom spawn packets at National Mushroom Development and Extension Center, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of nine fungal competitors of oyster mushroom were isolated and identified namely- Trichoderma harzianum Rifai, T. viride Pers. (Green strain), T. viride Pers. (Yellow strain), T. koningii Oudem, Mucor hiemalis Wehmer, Papulaspora byssina Hotson, Neurospora sp. Shear and B.O. Dodge., Aspergillus flavus Link., and Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat. on the basis of microscopic, morphological and cultural characteristics. To produce oyster mushroom in an eco-friendly manner and to find out their antifungal potency, 23 plant species belonging to 19 families were screened out against isolated nine fungal competitors of oyster mushroom. Among 23 extracts, the maximum (44%) mycelial inhibition of T. harzianum was found due to Aegle marmelos whereas Eclipta alba showed the highest mycelial inhibition (62%) of T. viride (Green strain); in case of T. viride (Yellow strain), Cassia tora exhibited the highest mycelial inhibition (39%); Diospyros cordifolia showed the maximum mycelial inhibition (48%) of T. koningii; Curcuma longa (rhizome) gave the maximum mycelial inhibition (90%) of Neurospora sp. There were no significant effects found to control of P. byssina, B. theobromae, M. hiemalis and A. flavus due to 23 different types of botanicals tested. Trichoderma harzianum, T. viride (Green strain), T. viride (Yellow strain), T. koningii, A. flavus, Neurospora sp. and P. byssina was successfully inhibited by 30, 50 and 70 ppm of fungicide-Bavistin 50 WP but B. theobromae and M. hiemalis were not affected by Bavistin at mentioned concentration.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 6 (2): 24-30, December, 2016

Mycoremediation—a prospective environmental friendly technique of bioseparation and dewatering of domestic wastewater sludge

Environmental safe and friendly management and disposal of wastewater sludge is a problem of every treatment plant throughout the world. Bioseparation and dewaterability of raw domestic wastewater sludge were evaluated for proper management and disposal by mycoremediation, i.e., using prior grown 2% (v/v) spore suspension of filamentous fungal (Mucor hiemalis Wehmer) broth inoculation, which were grown in 2% (w/v) solution of malt extract and wheat flour for 48-60 h in orbital shaker. Within 2-3 days of treatment application, encouraging results were achieved in total dry solids (TDS), total suspended solid (TSS), turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), specific resistance to filtration (SRF), and pH due to fungal treatment in recognition of bioseparation and dewaterability of wastewater sludge compared to control. The significant reduction of TDS was remarked at fungal biomass (FB) in wheat flour (WF) treatment. The removal of TSS, turbidity, COD, and SRF were observed 96.0%, 99.4%, 92.6%, and 97.6%, respectively, in supernatant at 5 days by FB in WF. The SRF measuring the dewaterability was decreased with maximum (0.26 × 10(-12) mg/kg) equivalent to 95.5% at 2 days in FB in WF also. FB in WF broth is a potential, environmental friendly, comparatively low-cost biological technique which might play the significant role for bioremediation and bioseparation of domestic wastewater sludge. The present technique may bring a dynamic change in treatment of wastewater in future.

Purification and characterisation of an acid phosphatase with phytase activity from Mucor hiemalis Wehmer

An acid phosphatase with phytase activity, produced by Mucor hiemalis Wehmer, was purified to homogeneity by a combination of anion exchange, gel filtration and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The monomeric, glycosylated enzyme displayed maximum activity at 55 °C and pH 5.0–5.5. When compared to commercialised products, the enzyme is more thermostable (80 °C, 5 min), displays a broader pH versus activity profile and greater stability under simulated digestive tract conditions. Unlike commercial phytases, the Mucor enzyme should retain some activity in the small intestine as well as in the stomach, facilitating a longer duration of action and hence more extensive substrate hydrolysis. Substrate specificity studies and protein database similarity searching using mass spectrometry-derived sequence data indicate that the enzyme is an acid phosphatase with activity on phytate. Cocktails containing acid phosphatases in combination with true phytases have been shown to promote more extensive phytate degradation than do true phytases alone. This, coupled to the enzyme's functionally relevant physicochemical characteristics, suggests its likely suitability for inclusion in second generation phytase cocktails for application in animal feed.

In-vitro compatibility evaluation of fungal mixed culture for bioconversion of domestic wastewater sludge

Six different fungal strains/isolates were selected after conducting a series of experiments of isolation and screening to evaluate their successful adaptation and growth to domestic wastewater sludge and its efficient bioconversion into compost. Two different fungi were grown in the same petri dish 4 cm apart in two culture media, potato dextrose agar (PDA) and malt extract agar (MEA). Fifteen different in-vitro interactions were studied and summarized according to five possible outcomes, i.e., mutual intermingling, partial mutual intermingling, inhibition at contact point, inhibition at a distance and replacement. The interaction of Trichoderma hazianums Rifai with Phanerochaete chrysosporium 2094 was identified as mutual intermingling. The partial mutual intermingling of T. hazianums with Mucor hiemalis Wehmer suggested compatibility of the two strains without showing any abnormal effects. Perhaps these two combinations may interact mutually in any mixed culture programme. The fungal strain Aspergillus versicolor Vuill performed as a strong repellent and all interactions exhibited deadlock/inhibition at a certain distance. The isolate RW-Pl 512 from the gill of a basidiomycete from a rotten wood stub actively replaced the strain M. hiemalis in in-vitro culture.

Suppression of hyphal growth of soil‐borne fungi by dune soils from vigorous and declining stands of Ammophila arenaria

A study was carried out to determine whether expansion of marram‐grass stands (Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link) on acidic inner Dutch coastal dunes was caused by suppressiveness of soils from these stands against three potential pathogenic fungi of marram grass, namely Fusarium culmorum (W. G. Sm.) Sacc., Phoma exigua Desm. and a Ulocladium sp. The suppressiveness of the acidic inner dune soils was compared with that of lime‐rich dune soils from vigorous and declining marram‐grass stands. Suppressiveness of the dune soils against the saprotrophic fungi Chaetomium globosum Kunze: Fr, Mucor hiemalis Wehmer and Trichoderma harzianum Rifai was also determined. All fungi had been isolated from marram‐grass roots. Suppressiveness was determined by comparing the formation of hyphae from potato–dextrose agar discs into (layer method) or on top of (surface method) dune soils with that of controls consisting of sterile, acid‐washed beach sand. The growth of the three root‐infecting fungi was strongly inhibited in all soils regardless of the method used. Hence, there were no indications that the potential pathogenic fungi were selectively suppressed by the acidic dune soils and, consequently, the results did not give any indication for the involvement of a fungal component in the decline of marram grass. Growth of the saprotrophs C. globosum and M. hiemalis was much less inhibited than that of the root‐infecting fungi. Growth of T. harzianum was strongly inhibited in alkaline soils but not in the acid ones. The suppression of fungal growth could be partly or completely eliminated by a microwave treatment, indicating that biological components of the soil were essential to suppressiveness. The suppression of the fungi by colonies of dune soil micro‐organisms on water‐agar differed considerably from soil alone. Yet, all methods indicated the occurrence of general suppressiveness against fungi by dune soils, irrespective of the origin of the soil samples. This suppressiveness was probably not due to direct competition with other soil micro‐organisms for nutrients but to inhibiting compounds produced by the soil micro‐organisms.

Fate of some fungal spores associated with wheat straw decomposition on passage through the guts of Lumbricus terrestris and Aporrectodea longa

The effect of passage through the earthworm gut on the viability of spores of saprotrophic fungi was found to vary depending on fungal and earthworm species. Of 5 fungal species fed to Lumbricus terrestris L., the spores of two ( Fusarium lateritium Nees, and Agrocybe temulenta (Fries)) failed to germinate after gut passage, while germination of Trichoderma sp. and Mucor hiemalis Wehmer was significantly reduced. A similar fate was recorded for F. lateritium and M. hiemalis spores on passage through the gut of Aporrectodea longa (Ude), however in the case of Chaetomium globosum Kunze there was a significant increase in spore germination after transit through A. longa. The germination of spores of M. hiemalis increased after abrasion by soil particles in a peristaltic pump simulating the mechanical action of the earthworm gut. In contrast germination of this species was significantly reduced when spores were exposed to intestinal fluids from L. terrestris.

Water-facilitated transport of a pimaricin-resistant strain of Mucor hiemalis in the rhizosphere of groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) in a Malawian ferric luvisol

A pimaricin-resistant strain of Mucor hiemalis Wehmer was applied as spores to the hypocotyls of groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) and to non-planted soil 12 days after sowing in field conditions in Malawi. Its subsequent distribution in the root zone was followed by selective reisolation over 51 days and related to measured rainfall and soil physical characteristics. The fungus spread to a maximum recorded depth of 58cm on the tap root, much further than any previous reported distance for water-infiltration of fungal spores in soil. Transport in soil adjacent to tap roots and detection at depth on root laterals was much less (max. 22 and 9 cm, respectively) and detectable movement was negligible in non-planted soil. Mechanisms of spore transport on roots are suggested and some previously proposed factors are reinterpreted. The findings indicate considerable potential to manipulate the rhizosphere microbial populations by seed inoculation under tropical climatic conditions.

Primary cutaneous mucormycosis in a healthy young girl: Report of a case caused by Mucor hiemalis Wehmer

We report an unusual case of primary cutaneous mucormycosis caused by Mucor hiemalis Wehmer that occurred in a healthy young girl after an insect bite. The patient had a slowly extending, indurated, erythematous, and scaling eruption on the right cheek. Histologic examination revealed granulomatous dermatitis and characteristic broad, nonseptate, pale-staining hyphae. This is the first report of an infection in a human being caused by Mucor hiemalis Wehmer. The infection was cured with intravenous amphotericin B.

Methods used to study Pythium oligandrum, an aggressive parasite of other fungi

ABSTRACTIsolates of Pythium oligandrum Drechsler and P. acanthicum Drechsler behaved similarly in a range of experiments and in a manner consistent with mycoparasitism. They grew on cellulose in association with some fungi ‐ notably Botryotrichum pilulferum Sacc. & March. and Phialophora radicicola Cain var. radicicola (IMI 187786) ‐ and markedly reduced cellulolysis by these species; however, they had little effect on cellulolysis by Gaeumannomyces graminis (Sacc.) Arx & Olivier var. graminis and made little growth on cellulose in the presence or absence of this fungus.Pythium oligandrum and P. acanthicum also grew rapidly across plates of potato‐dextrose agar precolonised by Phialophora radicicola var. radicicola, whereas isolates of P. echinulatum Matthews, P. mamillatum Meurs, P. megalacanthum de Bary, P. spinosum Sawada and P. ultimum Trow did not grow under these conditions. Precolonised agar plates were therefore used as a selective medium to isolate Pythium oligandrum and similar fungi from soils. For this, small pieces of soil organic matter were transferred to precolonised agar plates and incubated for 4–6 (‐12) days, when the presence of P. oligandrum or similar fungi was assessed by their production of spiny oogonia across the host colony. The technique proved successful in isolating these fungi from a wide range of cultivated soils, even if the soils had been stored air‐dry. However, boiled hemp seeds buried in soil and subsequently transferred to precolonised agar plates usually gave rise to phytopathogenic rather than mycoparasitic pythia.Pieces of wheat straw precolonised by P. oligandrum decomposed at the same rate as virgin straws or straws precolonised by P. ultimum or Mucor hiemalis Wehmer, when all were buried in nitrogen‐supplemented soil. However, different cellulolytic fungi appeared to colonise straws in these respective treatments, Fusarium spp. being less common and Stachybotrys atra Corda more common in the presence of P. oligandrum than in its absence. When subsequently opposed to P. oligandrum on agar plates, Fusarium spp. appeared to be parasitised by this fungus and made very little growth across the agar, whereas S. atra grew through the colony of P. oligandrum and was clearly unaffected by the presence of this fungus.Our results demonstrate the widespread occurrence of P. oligandrum in cultivated soils in Britain and also suggest that this species might influence the activities of other soil fungi.

Über die Biosynthese des β‐Carotins bei Mucor hiemalis Wehmer. Die Beteiligung der Essigsäure am Aufbau der Carotinmolekel, insbesondere in den Jonongruppierungen, untersucht mit Hilfe von 14C‐markierter Essigsäure. II. Mitteilung

AbstractThe cleavage of radioactive β‐carotene, synthesized by the fungus Mucor hiemalis Wehmer from labeled sodium acetate (14CH3 · COONa and CH3 · 14COONa) with chromic acid leads to acetic acid. This acetic acid was decarboxylated by the Schmidt reaction. The radioactivity of methylamine and carbone dioxide (BaCO3) obtained from the Schmidt reaction has been examinated. These experiments indicate that (1) the methyl‐groups of the labeled acetic acid form the methylgroups of the chain between the two β‐jonone rings of the β‐carotene and the methyl‐groups in the position 5 and 5′ of the β‐jonone rings; (2) the carboxylic groups of the acetic acid on the other hand form the neighbouring C‐atoms of the methyl‐groups in the chain and the β‐jonone rings.