Microbial Numbers Research Articles

Comparative characteristics of the microbiological composition of soils of the K.A. Timiryazev Garden of the Lipetsk region

The work is devoted to a comparative analysis of the quantitative and qualitative microbiological composition of soils on the territory of the former Timiryazev gardens in the Dolgorukovsky district of the Lipetsk region. The samples were taken from sites where old apple trees and recultivated soils grow, differing in their properties and composition of microorganisms. The article presents the results of identification of such groups of microorganisms as ammonifying bacteria (total microbial number), microscopic fungi, actinomycetes, nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, cellulolytics.

Determining the efficiency of using led sources of ultraviolet radiation for ionization and disinfection of room air

This paper reports a study into the possibility of using LED systems of ultraviolet radiation for air ionization and disinfection of air and indoor surfaces in the presence of people. It has been established that UV LED lamps with 120° opening angles have parameters under which radiation intensity does not exceed 30 J/m2 at distances of 2 meters. Based on experimental data, a methodology for designing the placement of lamps in the room was devised, which meets the requirements of the SBM-2015 standard and the European Directive 2006/25/EU. The use of LED emitters with a total intensity of up to 25 J/m2 increases the concentration of aero ions. The background concentrations were 140‒180 cm-3 (positive) and 160‒190 cm-3 (negative). The minimum permissible level is 500 cm-3. As a result of irradiation, the concentrations were 1100‒1460 cm-3 (positive) and 1260‒1470 cm-3 (negative). The influence of the recirculator-air purifier on the concentration of aero ions has not been established. The ionization process began immediately after turning on the irradiation systems in the entire volume of the premises (4‒5 meters from the source). The dynamic equilibrium of aero ion concentrations was established within 10‒15 minutes after the irradiation was switched on. The presence of a large number of people (up to 0.97 m2 per person) did not affect the concentration of aero ions. Under the combined effect of ultraviolet radiation and a recirculator-air purifier, the number of mold fungi colonies decreased by 20 times. Under the influence of only ultraviolet radiation – by 2.3 times. The decrease in the number of microbes under the combined effect was 1.6 times, and under the effect of only ultraviolet radiation – 2.8 times

Plant selection and ecological microhabitat drive the shrub-associated microbiome selection in revegetated shrub ecosystems

Shrubs are commonly used for revegetation in degraded dryland ecosystems worldwide, and their introduction can recruit a large number of microbes from the soil. However, the assembly of plant-associated microbiomes and the effect of the introduction of plants on soil and plant-associated microbiomes remain unclear. In this study, we investigated shrub-associated microbes from five ecological microhabitats, including the leaves, litter, roots, rhizosphere, and root zone, across four xeric shrub plantations (Artemisia ordosica, Caragana korshinskii, Hedysarum mongolicum, and Salix psammophila), using 16S and internal transcribed spacer2 rRNA gene sequencing. We found that the changes in the bacterial and fungal communities were more influenced by the microhabitats than by the plant species, with distinct niche differentiation. Microbial source tracking and nestedness analysis showed that the shrub-associated bacteria primarily originated from the bulk soils and were slightly selected in the different microhabitats; this similar pattern was not observed in the shrub-associated fungi. Furthermore, the surrounding zone of roots was a hot spot for microbial recruitment in revegetated shrubs. Null model analysis indicated that the deterministic and stochastic process dominated the assembly of bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. Our findings suggest that ecological microhabitats of revegetated shrublands strongly influence the bacterial and fungal compositions of the plant microbiome. This study enhances our understanding of the mechanism underlying the plant-soil microbiome feedback during the initial plant-establishment period in dryland ecosystems. Furthermore, our insights can assist in the development of effective strategies for establishing and managing vegetation sustainably in drylands.

P-067 Characterization of seminal microbiota in patients with asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic using next-generation sequencing

Abstract Study question How are the semen microbiota compositions of patients with asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic different, According to data from 16S rRNA gene-specific Next-generation sequencing (NGS)? Summary answer Large numbers of microbes can be present in seminal fluid, and there are differences in the semen microbiota between asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic semen samples. What is known already Male factor is attributable in up to 50% of cases of infertility. Most studies on normal and abnormal sperm microbiota are based on 16S rRNA gene-specific next-generation sequencing (NGS). Microbiome analysis based on subunit 16S rRNA sequencing is a fast tool that can enable the identification of all the pathogenic microorganisms associated with semen in clinical pathology. Studies on the impact of semen micro-biomes in asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic samples could improve the results of assisted reproductive technologies. The major bacterial diversity in asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic samples belongs to the genera Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Staphylococcus, and Anaerococcus. Study design, size, duration Two eighty patients with their own semen samples were included in the study. The study population consists of patients attending to the “Pacific IVF Center” Pacific Medical University and Hospital (Udaipur, India) from November 2020 to October 2022. Depending on the spermiogram results, they were divided into two groups. Group 1 (n = 127) was asthenozoospermic, and Group 2 (n = 153) had normozoospermic semen samples, Patients were aged between (20-45 years). Ethical approval was obtained from the institute. Participants/materials, setting, methods Genomic DNA was extracted from samples using commercially available (Qiagen, DNeasy Power Soil kit). The amount of extracted DNA was measured using a Nanodrop spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific). The microbiota of semen was analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplification (MinION) Oxford Nanopore Ltd. Bioinformatics analysis was performed using QIIME2 and Microbiome Analyst packages. Alpha, beta diversity, and taxonomic characterization were compared for the seminal microbiome in asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic semen samples. Main results and the role of chance Different bacterial communities were detected when asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic semen samples were analyzed. In patients with asthenozoospermic parameters, a higher alpha diversity index tendency was found. In normozoospermic semen samples, a p-value of bacterial diversity was non-significant (p = 0.14 for the Shannon index), and significant differences in asthenozoospermic semen samples (p = 0.01 for the Shannon index). In the beta diversity analysis, no significant differences were observed between both groups Relative abundance analysis identified the bacterial communities, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Ureaplasma in normozoospermic semen samples, and Anaerococcus and Gardnerella in asthenozoospermic samples, Comparison of asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic samples with alpha diversity (p = 0.06 for the Shannon index and p = 0.08 for the Simpson index) and beta diversity (p < 0.001) showed significant differences. Relative abundance in normozoospermic semen samples identified the bacterial communities, Lactobacillus (p = 3.70E-4), Prevotella (p = 8.11E-4), and in asthenozoospermic semen samples Anaerococcus (p = 0.004) and Gardnerella (p = 0.004). Limitations, reasons for caution The limited sample size is the primary constraint of this study. Larger studies with a larger sample size are needed to confirm the distinct microbiome patterns identified in asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic samples in connection to male infertility. Wider implications of the findings Further research could determine the detection rate of the described bacterial diversity in semen with other pathologies. Determining the relationship between sperm microbiota characteristics and infertility could enable the development of new algorithms for treating patients with reproductive disorders, An abnormal seminal microbiome appears to be strongly correlated with infertility. Trial registration number N/A

DAYA SIMPAN SERUNDENG AMPAS KELAPA SEBAGAI PRODUK PENANGGULANGAN ANEMIA GIZI BESI

Coconut pulp serundeng is a potential product with an iron (Fe) content comparable to vegetable food recommended for people with iron deficiency anemia. This study aims to determine the shelf life of coconut pulp serundeng packed with polyethylene ziplock plastic for two months. Product quality determine by analyze the number of microbes by knowing the Total Plate Number (TPN) and rancidity test by knowing the peroxide value. The results showed that no changes in physical properties were detected for aspects of color, taste, aroma, and texture during storage. The TPN test results showed that the total number of bacteria in each storage period ranges from 101 colonies/gr in accordance with the requirements listed in SNI 01-3715-2000 about dry shredded coconut (desiccated coconut). The results of the rancidity test showed that there was no detected peroxide (Peroxide Value / PV) so it could be concluded that it met the requirements listed in SNI. 3741-2013 on cooking oil. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that coconut pulp serundeng can be stored for up to two months using food-grade polyethylene plastic packaging with a ziplock. However, there is still a need for further research to find out, among others, the acceptability of shavings after storage, and the use of another food-grade packaging that is cheaper and more practical and extends the shelf life by more than two months

When Does Milk Spoil? The Use of Rejection Threshold Methodology to Investigate the Influence of Total Microbial Numbers on the Acceptability of Fresh Chilled Pasteurised Milk

The consumer rejection threshold (RjT) method was applied to determine the total microbial numbers (TMNs) where consumers find that the quality of whole fresh chilled pasteurised milk (WFCPM) and skim milk (Trim) stored at 4.5 ± 0.5 °C is no longer acceptable. Food spoilage progression was supported by measurements of VOCs and the terms consumers used to describe the ageing fresh chilled pasteurised milk (FCPM). RjTs for TMN of 7.43 and 7.34 log10 CFU.mL−1 for WFCPM and Trim, respectively were derived using Hill’s equation from a series of paired preference tests comparing fresh and aged milks (3–26 days) assessed by consumers (WFCPM, n = 55; Trim, n = 52). A poor relationship between storage time and TMN was found, owing mainly to batch-to-batch and within-batch variation in the milk’s post-pasteurization contamination (PPC) levels. At the RjT, there was a significant change in the signal intensities for a number of spoilage-related VOCs that occurred in the FCPM headspace (p ≤ 0.05), which were measured using proton transfer reaction–mass spectrometry (PTR-MS), including m/z 33, 45, 47, 61, 63, 69, 71, 87, and 89, tentatively identified as methanol; acetaldehyde; ethanol; acetate (acetic acid and acetate esters); dimethyl sulphide (DMS); isoprene, furan, and aldehydes; 2-butanone; and pentanal and butyrates (butyric acid and butyrate esters), respectively. Consumers described the milks at TMN greater than the RjTs using terms like off, expired, sour, spoilt or rancid. This multidisciplinary study has provided data on the importance of PPC and subsequent increases in TMN on VOCs associated with FCPM and consumer’s preferences and highlighted the value of measuring a range of variables when investigating consumer’s perception of food quality and shelf-life.

CARBON MATERIALS FROM WASTE BIOMASS AS ANTI-BACTERIAL AIR FILTERS

Carbon materials from almond shells were developed for the adsorption of microorganisms from air. Samples were processed by means of a one-step process – high-temperature hydro-pyrolysis. Studies were carried out in a wide temperature range of 600-900 °C. As a result, carbonates with predominant micro- and mesopores were obtained. The samples were impregnated with zinc, silver, iron and copper 5% by weight. The obtained samples were characterized by XDR, BET, scanning electron spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The final products are distinguished by a moderate surface and the presence of nanosized metal particles. The antibacterial properties of the activated carbon composites were examined using standard methodology under dynamic contact conditions and Escherichia coli K12 as test microorganism. All tested composite materials exhibit strong antibacterial properties after 48 h of contact with microbial cells. Thus the application of these materials in filtering system will be possible solution for successful reduction of microbial cell number. It is assumed that a similar effect can be achieved in an air environment.

Towards an Appraisal of Biodiversity in Bangladesh

In this paper, the concept of biodiversity has been presented on a historical perspective keeping the visions on Bangladesh via mentioning the primary supporting climatological and physiographic factors of the ecosystems along with their species composition. The total number of microbes, plant, and animal species has been estimated in the range of 10,606-14,913. The varieties of ecosystems present in Bangladesh belong to the broad categories, namely forest, agro-terrestrial, freshwater aquatic, as well as estuarine and marine. Forests cover nearly 17.5% of the total land of Bangladesh having specific categories like tropical wet evergreen and semi-evergreen, tropical moist deciduous, mangrove, freshwater swamp, and homestead forests. Dominant species belonging to those ecosystems were mentioned. The dimension of crop diversity in Bangladesh is very large, but the most common staple food comes from Oryza sativa, Triticum aestivum and Zea mays. The sources of biodiversity for the supply of vegetable and protein have been highlighted. Unique biodiversity in cases of freshwater phytoplankton and aquatic plants has been provided. Results from a case study on butterfly as their qualitative and quantitative biological population dynamics in 34 forest ecosystems of Bangladesh were presented and discussed. The establishment of an open ‘Butterfly Park’ in a National Park reveals that with due course of time the plant-butterfly-wildlife vertebrate species interaction increases with a concomitant increase in the biodiversity. Dominant plant and animal species together with their status as endemic, endangered, threatened, etc. in variously defined ecosystems of Bangladesh were highlighted. Besides, the ways of biodiversity conservation currently in practice in Bangladesh has been mentioned along with the future plans and programs to be implemented. Bangladesh holds a rich history in the starting of biodiversity teaching via developing curricular activities in different teaching institutions throughout the country. The origin and background of this activity was also highlighted. This review will help researchers to address biodiversity related questions on a scientific perspective. J. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2023, 9(1): 79-100

Identifikasi Cemaran Mikroba pada Jajanan Bakso di Kota Majene

High microbial contamination in food is an indicator of hygiene that determines the health of food for consumption. Meatballs are a very popular snack in Majene City. Apart from their delicious taste, meatballs also have a relatively cheap price, so they have always been a popular snack alternative. The high nutritional content in meatballs can be a medium for the growth of bacteria so meatballs can be carriers of disease. The aims of this study were to determine the total number of bacterial contaminants and identify the coliform in meatballs at Majene City. The study used a quantitative descriptive method with a sample of 10 traders. The test carried out was culturing bacteria on NA (Nutrient Agar) media to calculate the total number of microbes in meatballs using the Total Plate Count (TPC) method and EMBA (Eosin Methylene Blue Agar) media to determine the presence of coliform bacteria in the sample then continued with gram staining test. The results of the study showed that 3 samples were found on NA media which had microbial contamination levels exceeding the threshold specified in SNI (Indonesian National Standard) 3818:2014 where the highest amount allowed was 1 × 105 cfu/g. Samples that exceeded the threshold namely sample A was 1.33 × 106 cfu/g; sample C was 1.06 × 105 cfu/g; and sample G was 5.8 × 106 cfu/g. There were 5 samples that tested positive for coliform, namely samples A, B, C, D, and G

Microbiota members from body sites of dairy cows are largely shared within individual hosts throughout lactation but sharing is limited in the herd

BackgroundHost-associated microbes are major determinants of the host phenotypes. In the present study, we used dairy cows with different scores of susceptibility to mastitis with the aim to explore the relationships between microbiota composition and different factors in various body sites throughout lactation as well as the intra- and inter-animal microbial sharing.ResultsMicrobiotas from the mouth, nose, vagina and milk of 45 lactating dairy cows were characterized by metataxonomics at four time points during the first lactation, from 1-week pre-partum to 7 months post-partum. Each site harbored a specific community that changed with time, likely reflecting physiological changes in the transition period and changes in diet and housing. Importantly, we found a significant number of microbes shared among different anatomical sites within each animal. This was between nearby anatomic sites, with up to 32% of the total number of Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) of the oral microbiota shared with the nasal microbiota but also between distant ones (e.g. milk with nasal and vaginal microbiotas). In contrast, the share of microbes between animals was limited (< 7% of ASVs shared by more than 50% of the herd for a given site and time point). The latter widely shared ASVs were mainly found in the oral and nasal microbiotas. These results thus indicate that despite a common environment and diet, each animal hosted a specific set of bacteria, supporting a tight interplay between each animal and its microbiota. The score of susceptibility to mastitis was slightly but significantly related to the microbiota associated to milk suggesting a link between host genetics and microbiota.ConclusionsThis work highlights an important sharing of microbes between relevant microbiotas involved in health and production at the animal level, whereas the presence of common microbes was limited between animals of the herd. This suggests a host regulation of body-associated microbiotas that seems to be differently expressed depending on the body site, as suggested by changes in the milk microbiota that were associated to genotypes of susceptibility to mastitis.

Domestic Solid Waste Management, Bio remedial Approach: A Review

As quantum of waste generation is raising around the world it has become a challenge for many developing countries to establish proper waste management system. The present status of waste management and the prospects of introducing improved means of disposing municipal solid waste (MSW) in India is the theme of study created. Bioremediation is the most effective management tool to manage the polluted environment and recover contaminated soil. Bioremediation, both in situ and ex-situ have strong scientific growth in SWM. Microbes are very helpful to remediate the contaminated environment. Number of microbes including aerobes, anaerobes and fungi are involved in bioremediation process. This review concludes with some simple and effective trends in waste management, with a vision of refining in current Indian systems. Key words: Municipal Solid waste, Bioremediation, Waste Management strategies.

A targeted liquid cultivation method for previously uncultured non-colony forming microbes

A large number of microbes are not able to form colonies using agar-plating methods, which is one of the reasons that cultivation based on solid media leaves the majority of microbial diversity in the environment inaccessible. We developed a new Non-Colony-Forming Liquid Cultivation method (NCFLC) that can selectively isolate non-colony-forming microbes that exclusively grow in liquid culture. The NCFLC method involves physically separating cells using dilution-to-extinction (DTE) cultivation and then selecting those that could not grow on a solid medium. The NCFLC was applied to marine samples from a coastal intertidal zone and soil samples from a forest area, and the results were compared with those from the standard direct plating method (SDP). The NCFLC yielded fastidious bacteria from marine samples such as Acidobacteriota, Epsilonproteobacteria, Oligoflexia , and Verrucomicrobiota . Furthermore, 62% of the isolated strains were potential new species, whereas only 10% were novel species from SDP. From soil samples, isolates belonging to Acidobacteriota and Armatimonadota (which are known as rare species among identified isolates) were exclusively isolated by NCFLC. Colony formation capabilities of isolates cultivated by NCFLC were tested using solid agar plates, among which approximately one-third of the isolates were non-colony-forming, approximately half-formed micro-colonies, and only a minority could form ordinary size colonies. This indicates that the majority of the strains cultivated by NCFLC were previously uncultured microbial species unavailable using the SDP method. The NCFCL method described here can serve as a new approach to accessing the hidden microbial dark matter.

Emerging paradigms in exploring the interactions among diet, probiotics, and cancer immunotherapeutic response

Emerging paradigms in exploring the interactions among diet, probiotics, and cancer immunotherapeutic response

Isolasi dan Karakterisasi Bakteri Asam Laktat dari Fermentasi Tape Ketan yang Beredar di Pasar Citra Niaga Jombang

Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) are bacteria that are widely found in traditional fermented products from Indonesia. Processed Indonesian products containing LAB are made by involving the process of fermenting foodstuffs with starch-based ingredients such as glutinous tape. Processed tape made from glutinous rice fermented by yeast. This study aims to determine the number of isolates contained in fermented sticky rice and find out how the characteristics of LAB isolates in fermented sticky rice are circulating in Citra Niaga Market, Jombang. This research is expected to be the basis for further research to determine the potential of LAB and diversity in glutinous tape. In this study, BAL was isolated from 3 brands of sticky tape circulating in the Legi Jombang Market using the isolation method with a multilevel dilution technique and showed a different number of microbes in each sample. In sample 1 there were 1.7 × 106 CFU/ml, in sample 2 there were 3.0 × 107 CFU/ml while in sample 3 there were microbes with a total of 1.14 × 105 CFU/ml. In this study it was suspected that the isolates obtained belonged to the genus Streptococcus.

Host-diet-gut microbiome interactions influence human energy balance: a randomized clinical trial

The gut microbiome is emerging as a key modulator of human energy balance. Prior studies in humans lacked the environmental and dietary controls and precision required to quantitatively evaluate the contributions of the gut microbiome. Using a Microbiome Enhancer Diet (MBD) designed to deliver more dietary substrates to the colon and therefore modulate the gut microbiome, we quantified microbial and host contributions to human energy balance in a controlled feeding study with a randomized crossover design in young, healthy, weight stable males and females (NCT02939703). In a metabolic ward where the environment was strictly controlled, we measured energy intake, energy expenditure, and energy output (fecal and urinary). The primary endpoint was the within-participant difference in host metabolizable energy between experimental conditions [Control, Western Diet (WD) vs. MBD]. The secondary endpoints were enteroendocrine hormones, hunger/satiety, and food intake. Here we show that, compared to the WD, the MBD leads to an additional 116 ± 56 kcals (P < 0.0001) lost in feces daily and thus, lower metabolizable energy for the host (89.5 ± 0.73%; range 84.2-96.1% on the MBD vs. 95.4 ± 0.21%; range 94.1-97.0% on the WD; P < 0.0001) without changes in energy expenditure, hunger/satiety or food intake (P > 0.05). Microbial 16S rRNA gene copy number (a surrogate of biomass) increases (P < 0.0001), beta-diversity changes (whole genome shotgun sequencing; P = 0.02), and fermentation products increase (P < 0.01) on an MBD as compared to a WD along with significant changes in the host enteroendocrine system (P < 0.0001). The substantial interindividual variability in metabolizable energy on the MBD is explained in part by fecal SCFAs and biomass. Our results reveal the complex host-diet-microbiome interplay that modulates energy balance.

Investigating the Effect of Using Glyphosate on Microbial Soil in Sweet Corn Cultivation

Glyphosate affects the activity of certain soil microbial. Depending on the soil type and concentration, Glyphosate will have different effects. The study determined the effect of Glyphosate on the microbial population and the effect of its different volumes on β-Glucosidase activity on Ultisol used in corn cultivation. The study used a completely randomized design (CRD), two factors with three replicates. The first factor was liming. The second element was Glyphosate at a dosage of 0, 5, 6, 7 L/ha. The study was conducted at the Department of Greenhouse Agriculture, Andalas University, from July to November 2022. The results showed that although there was no interaction and statistically significant between treatments for the total bacteria population. However, the treatment used lime and low volumes of Glyphosate gave the total bacteria population high density. β-Glucosidase, an enzyme produced from a specific type of bacteria in soil, decreased activity while combining lime treatment and Glyphosate, especially from the dosage at 6 L/ha, and had a statistically significant interaction between lime factor and herbicide after the second spray (p&lt;0.05). In conclusion, Glyphosate and lime can alter and reduce microbial soil activity and number, particularly at high 6 and 7 L/ha volumes.

Application of Selenocysteine Increased Soil Nitrogen Content, Enzyme Activity, and Microbial Quantity in Camellia oleifera Abel. Forests

The effect mechanism of inorganic selenium on soil fertility has been effectively explained, but the effect of selenocysteine as organic selenium on the soil of Camellia oleifera Abel. forests has not been reported. In this study, the soil of a C. oleifera forests under natural conditions was taken as the control, and four treatments, namely selenocysteine (SeCys), cysteine + sodium selenite (Cys + Se), urea + sodium selenite (Ur + Se), and cysteine (Cys), were set up through a pot experiment to analyze the effects of different treatments on the physicochemical properties and biological characteristics of soil in C. oleifera forests. The results showed that SeCys significantly increased the soil total nitrogen content, nitrate nitrogen, and ammonium nitrogen contents compared with the treatment with inorganic selenium. In addition, the application of SeCys improved the activities of soil urease, soil acid phosphatase, soil nitrate reductase, and soil nitrite reductase on day 24 of culture, while under Cys + Se treatment, the activities of these four enzymes showed significant effects on day 32. The effect of SeCys on increasing the number of soil bacteria and fungi was significantly higher than that of other treatments and increased by 800% and 217%, respectively, compared with the control. SeCys also had significant effects on selenium and nitrogen content of Camellia oleifera seedlings. Correlation analysis showed that soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were significantly correlated with soil enzyme activity, suggesting that SeCys could promote enzyme activity in C. oleifera forests by increasing the microbial number and improving microbial metabolism. The results indicated that SeCys could be used as an ingredient in new high-efficiency fertilizers.

Effect of Carrier Materials, Coinoculation and Sterilization on Survival of Plant Growth Promoting Microbes

The study was conducted to investigate diverse carrier materials out of agricultural and environmental waste, that plays a role in maintaining the shelf life of plant growth promoting microbes (PGPM) at room temperature for locally produced inoculants in Malawi. Five different formulations divided into sterilized and unsterilized were prepared, using different carrier materials namely; rice bran plus plant extract (RBP), biochar plus plant extract (BP), Filter mud plus plant extract (FMP), rice bran, biochar and plant extracts (RBCP), filter mud, biochar and plant extracts (FMBP). Carrier materials were packed in polyethylene pack (six per each treatment), thereafter each treatment was divided into sterilized and unsterilized. Each treatment was inoculated with either single or multiple inoculants. Survival of PGPM, was based on colony forming units (CFU) on specific selective media namely: modified yeast extract mannitol, pikovskaya’s, Alexandria and basal media for nitrogen fixing microbes, phosphate, potassium and zinc solubilising media respectively. Results revealed that encapsulated formulation of based combination formulation of RBCP in both single and multiple inoculants exerted high stable numbers of PGRM along the storage compared to other formulations. The results also show that unsterilized formulations exert high numbers compared to sterilized which is as a result of hydrogen peroxide accumulation during sterilization. The study reveals that filter mud based formulations currently used in both single and multiple inoculants is not favorable for local environments because microbial numbers decrease after 20 days at room temperature. This makes filter mud formulations usage not favorable for rural smallholder farmers with no refrigeration facilities.

Maternal provisioning of an obligate symbiont in a sponge.

The transmission of microbes from mother to offspring is an ancient, advantageous, and widespread feature of metazoan life history. Despite this, little is known about the quantitative strategies taken to maintain symbioses across generations. The quantity of maternal microbes that is provided to each offspring through vertical transmission could theoretically be stochastic (no trend), consistent (an optimal range is allocated), or provisioned (a trade-off with fecundity). Examples currently come from animals that release free-living eggs (oviparous) and suggest that offspring are provided a consistent quantity of symbionts. The quantity of maternal microbes that is vertically transmitted in other major reproductive strategies has yet to be assessed. We used the brooding (viviparous) sponge Halichondria panicea to test whether offspring receive quantitatively similar numbers of maternal microbes. We observed that H. panicea has a maternal pool of the obligate symbiont Candidatus Halichondribacter symbioticus and that this maternal pool is provisioned proportionally to reproductive output and allometrically by offspring size. This pattern was not observed for the total bacterial community. Experimental perturbation by antibiotics could not reduce the abundance of Ca. H. symbioticus in larvae, while the total bacterial community could be reduced without affecting the ability of larvae to undergo metamorphosis. A trade-off between offspring size and number is, by definition, maternal provisioning and parallel differences in Ca. H. symbioticus abundance would suggest that this obligate symbiont is also provisioned.

Soil Amendments and Foliar Melatonin Reduced Pb Uptake, and Oxidative Stress, and Improved Spinach Quality in Pb-Contaminated Soil.

Amending Pb-affected soil with biochar (BH) and magnesium potassium phosphate cement (MKC) reduces Pb uptake in plants. Moreover, foliar applications of melatonin and proline are also known to reduce plant oxidative stress and Pb uptake. However, little is known about combining both techniques, i.e., adding a combo immobilizing dose (CIA = mixture of BH and MKC at 50:50 ratio) in Pb-polluted soil and foliar application of proline and melatonin for reducing Pb uptake and oxidative stress in spinach. Control, proline, melatonin, CIA, CIA+proline, and CIA+melatonin were the treatments utilized in this pot study to see their effects on reducing plant oxidative stress, Pb uptake, and improving spinach quality in Pb-polluted soil. Moreover, Pb bioavailability, enzymatic activities, and numbers of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes in the soil were also evaluated. The effect of CIA on reducing Pb in the soil-plant system and improving soil enzymes and microbial numbers was more pronounced than melatonin alone. The most effective treatment was CIA+melatonin reducing Pb availability in soil (77%), shoots (95%), and roots (84%), alleviating oxidative stress, and improving plant biomass (98%) and nutrients. Soil enzymatic activities and the number of microorganisms in the rhizosphere were also highest with CIA+melatonin. Results highlight the significance of CIA+melatonin, as an inexpensive approach, in remediating Pb-polluted soil and improving spinach quality. However, further research is needed to understand the significance of CIA+melatonin on different crops and various soil Pb concentrations before employing this technique commercially in agriculture and environment sectors.