Sugar In Medium Research Articles

A novel cost-effective methodology for the screening of nanocellulose producing micro-organisms.

In this paper, the work has been done to develop a cost-effective methodology, for the isolation of the potential producer of bacterial nanocellulose. No report is available in the literature, on the use of gram flour and table sugar for the screening of nanocellulose-producing isolates. Since commercially used, Hestrin-Schramm medium is expensive for the isolation of nanocellulose-producing micro-organisms, the possibility of using gram flour-table sugar medium was investigated in this work. Qualitative screening of micro-organisms was done using cost-effective medium, i.e., gram flour-table sugar medium. Qualitative analysis of various nanocellulose-producing bacteria depicted that cellulose layer production occurred on both HS medium and gram flour-table sugar medium. The yield of nanocellulose was also better on air-liquid surface in case of gram flour-table sugar medium as compared to HS medium. 16S rRNA was used for molecular characterization of bacterial strain and the best nanocellulose producer was identified as Novacetimonas hansenii BMK-3_NC240423 (isolated from rotten banana). FTIR and FE-SEM studies of nanocellulose pellicle produced on HS medium and gram flour-table sugar medium demonstrated equivalent structural, morphological, and chemical properties. The cost of newly designed medium (0.01967$/L) is nearly 90 times lower than the Hestrin-Schramm medium (1.748$/L), which makes the screening of nanocellulose producers very cost-effective. A strategy of using gram flour extract-table sugar medium for the screening of nanocellulose-producing micro-organisms is a novel approach, which will drastically reduce the screening associated cost of cellulose-producing micro-organisms and also motivate the researchers/industries for comprehensive screening programme for getting high cellulose-producing microbes.

Exploiting tropical fruit processing coproducts as circular resources to promote the growth and maintain the culturability and functionality of probiotic lactobacilli

This study evaluated the use of acerola (Malpighia glabra L., CACE), cashew (Anacardium occidentale L., CCAS), and guava (Psidium guayaba L., CGUA) fruit processing coproducts as substrates to promote the growth, metabolite production, and maintenance of the viability/metabolic activity of the probiotics Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-05 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei L-10 during cultivation, freeze-drying, storage, and exposure to simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Probiotic lactobacilli presented high viable counts (≥8.8 log colony-forming units (CFU)/mL) and a short lag phase during 24 h of cultivation in CACE, CCAS, and CGUA. Cultivation of probiotic lactobacilli in fruit coproducts promoted sugar consumption, medium acidification, and production of organic acids over time, besides increasing the of several phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. Probiotic lactobacilli cultivated in fruit coproducts had increased survival percentages after freeze-drying and during 120 days of refrigerated storage. Moreover, probiotic lactobacilli cultivated and freeze-dried in fruit coproducts had larger subpopulations of live and metabolically active cells when exposed to simulated gastrointestinal digestion. The results showed that fruit coproducts not only improved the growth and helped to maintain the viability and metabolic activity of probiotic strains but also enriched the final fermented products with bioactive compounds, being an innovative circular strategy for producing high-quality probiotic cultures.

Efficient production of ginsenoside Rh2 from xylose by remodeling metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ginsenoside Rh2, a promising candidate for cancer prevention and therapy, has applications in the fields of health products and pharmaceuticals. However, the current production of Rh2 through the extraction of Panax ginseng is not sustainable and cannot meet the increasing market demand. Here, we increased the Rh2 production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by engineering the heterologous xylose metabolic pathway. The Candida tropicalis derived xylose reductase-xylitol dehydrogenase pathway was successfully constructed in in the previously engineered protopanaxadiol (PPD)-producing strain. A PPD high-yield strain with strong xylose utilization capacity was optimized to reduce the generation of byproduct xylitol with the expression of a soluble pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase. The new yeast chassis produced 494.0 mg/L PPD in xylose medium, which could provide sufficient precursors for Rh2. The Rh2 production strain was then constructed by integrating the glycosyltransferases UGTPg45 overexpression module and further optimized through systematic enhancement of its mevalonic acid (MVA) pathway, resulting in a Rh2 titer of 209.5 mg/L in xylose medium. In addition, we confirmed that the engineered strain also exhibited good fermentation performance in the lignocellulose hydrolysate mimic glucose-xylose mixed medium, and we further elucidated the reasons of higher Rh2 production in xylose fermentation stage through transcriptomic and metabolic analysis. Taken all strategies together, the resulting strain produced 1.47 g/L Rh2 in a 5 L bioreactor with mixed sugar medium, making it possible for a green and sustainable biotechnology to produce ginsenoside Rh2 using xylose efficiently. This is the first report on the use of xylose for high-value chemical ginsenoside Rh2 production, which will pave the way for the future industrial production of ginsenoside Rh2 from a renewable carbon source such as lignocellulose.

Efficient enzymatic saccharification of agricultural wastes for the production of bioethanol, D-allulose and lactic acid

The demand for renewable resources to replace fossil fuels has increased. Fruit and agricultural wastes can be fermented to yield biofuels and biochemicals. However, the high cost of the feedstock and limitations of the catalytic process hinder the application of such wastes. Therefore, we aimed to develop an efficient enzymatic saccharification process, without pretreatment, for fruit and agricultural wastes. The conversion rate of the mixed agricultural wastes (MAW) to fermentable sugars was approximately 91 % after 24 h. The ethanol yield increased by 4.5 % after limonene removal. The D-allulose yield in the hydrolysate was 4.6 mg/mL at 4 °C and 3.3 mg/mL at 50 °C, whereas the fructose yield in the sugar medium was 13.2 mg/mL at 4°C, demonstrating a high conversion yield of 73.2 %. Lactic acid was produced at a conversion rate of approximately 67.4 %. Therefore, this study presents a novel approach of the biosynthesis of functional sugars and chemicals from waste biomass, introducing a cost-effective enzymatic saccharification process that bypasses pretreatment, thereby enabling the production of biofuels, biochemicals, and functional sugars and opening up a promising economic opportunity in the field.

Effects of the Culture Medium, pH Level, and Type of Sugar on the Growth of Sphagnum cuspidatulum Müll. Hal.

Effects of the Culture Medium, pH Level, and Type of Sugar on the Growth of Sphagnum cuspidatulum Müll. Hal.

Infeksi Parasit Gastrointestinal pada Kambing (Capra aegagrus hircus) di Desa Rajabasa Lama Kabupaten Lampung Timur

In developing countries such as Indonesia, the health of small ruminants such as goats is not given much attention because the medical costs are very high, it causing a farmer to prefer to sell their livestock, even though at relatively low prices if there are signs of infection, one of which is due to parasitic diseases. This research was carried out in the village of Rajabasa Lama. The study was conducted using a descriptive method by collecting feces from the goat pens in that area using native methode and sugar floatation method Furthermore, the examination was carried out using a native test and fecal floating examination using a fluid sugar medium. The results of the examination of gastrointestinal tract parasites that were found included parasites from the protozoan Entamoeba sp. and Eimeria sp. and also parasites from the Trematoda family, the eggs of the worm Fasciola sp.. Eimeria sp. is a parasite that quite often infects ruminants, including goats. This study showed that goats in Rajabasa Lama Village had gastrointestinal parasite infections including Eimeria sp., Entamoeba sp., Fasciola sp. worm eggs, and Trichuris sp. eggs.

Adaptive evolution of Kluyveromyces marxianus MTCC1389 for high ethanol tolerance

Kluyveromyces marxianus has several benefits over Saccharomyces cerevisiae with respect to thermotolerance and the capacity to convert lactose to ethanol and several sugars. Currently, K. marxianus vulnerable ethanol tolerance makes it unsuitable for commercial use, and further research is needed to augment its ethanol resistance and its pivotal mechanisms. To date, very few studies have been done to improve its ethanol tolerance. The present study is aimed to improve K. marxianus ethanol tolerance using adaptive evolutionary engineering. Presently, ethanol tolerance of the parent K. marxianus MTCC1389 strain was only 8% (v/v), therefore, adaptive evolution, a sequential transfer with an increase in stress, was performed to increase its tolerance towards ethanol. It took 110 days to improve its ethanol tolerance to 12% (v/v). With this, ethanol production was 110.51 ± 0.87 g L−1 in 46 h which was 42.9% higher than the parent strain (78.33 ± 0.88 g L−1). The specific growth rate was also enhanced from 0.043 h−1 to 0.049 h−1 in the ethanol adapted strain. In 5 cycles of serial re-pitching there was insignificant reduction in ethanol production from 1st cycle (110.47 ± 0.12) to 5 cycle (105.59 ± 0.25). The stability of the strain was up to 10 cycles of subculturing in low sugar medium and ethanol production was 109.05 ± 0.26 g L−1. Hence, adaptation was able to improve K. marxianus MTCC1389 ethanol tolerance and its ethanol production significantly.

Exploring the link between Parkinson's disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Drosophila.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by high levels of glucose in blood. Recent epidemiological studies have highlighted the link between both diseases; it is even considered that DM might be a risk factor for PD. To further investigate the likely relation of these diseases, we have used a Drosophila PD model based on inactivation of the DJ-1β gene (ortholog of human DJ-1), and diet-induced Drosophila and mouse type 2 DM (T2DM) models, together with human neuron-like cells. T2DM models were obtained by feeding flies with a high sugar-containing medium, and mice with a high fat diet. Our results showed that both fly models exhibit common phenotypes such as alterations in carbohydrate homeostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction or motor defects, among others. In addition, we demonstrated that T2DM might be a risk factor of developing PD since our diet-induced fly and mouse T2DM models present DA neuron dysfunction, a hallmark of PD. We also confirmed that neurodegeneration is caused by increased glucose levels, which has detrimental effects in human neuron-like cells by triggering apoptosis and leading to cell death. Besides, the observed phenotypes were exacerbated in DJ-1β mutants cultured in the high sugar medium, indicating that DJ-1 might have a role in carbohydrate homeostasis. Finally, we have confirmed that metformin, an antidiabetic drug, is a potential candidate for PD treatment and that it could prevent PD onset in T2DM model flies. This result supports antidiabetic compounds as promising PD therapeutics.

Nutrient Availability Shifts the Biosynthetic Potential of Soil-Derived Microbial Communities.

Secondary metabolites produced by microorganisms are the main source of antimicrobials and other pharmaceutical drugs. Soil microbes have been the primary discovery source for these secondary metabolites, often producing complex organic compounds with specific biological activities. Research suggests that secondary metabolism broadly shapes microbial ecological interactions, but little is known about the factors that shape the abundance, distribution, and diversity of biosynthetic gene clusters in the context of microbial communities. In this study, we investigate the role of nutrient availability on the abundance of biosynthetic gene clusters in soil-derived microbial consortia. Soil microbial consortia enriched in high sugar medium (150mg/L of glucose and 200mg/L of trehalose) had more biosynthetic gene clusters and higher inhibitory activity than those enriched in low sugar medium (15mg/L of glucose + 20mg/L of trehalose). Our results demonstrate that experimental microbial communities are a promising tool to study the ecology of specialized metabolites.

Development of herbal juice from Centella asiatica: antioxidant property, nutritional value and shelf life of product

Centella asiatica, Bua Bog, has been widely used in Thailand for more than a hundred years as an important medicinal herb. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of blanching time of C. asiatica on antioxidant activity. Developed-pasteurized C. asiatica juice was also evaluated for sensory evaluation, nutrition values, and shelf life. Fresh leaves were blanched in hot water for 0, 1, and 2 minutes, before taking to make a juice and the filtrates were determined total extractable phenolic content (TPC), total extractable flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activities. The juice was divided to add with sugar at 1.2, 2.5 and 5% as low sugar (LS), medium sugar (MS), and high sugar (HS). All treatments were evaluated for sensory quality. Selected samples were pasteurized at 85 ± 1 °C for 15 seconds then microbial and sensory evaluation were conducted during storage at 8 °C and 25 °C. The results indicated that the juice obtaining from blanching time for 2 minutes showed the highest value of TPC and TFC, including antioxidant activity. The LS was selected to produce pasteurized juice product that could be stored at 8 °C for 10 days. Therefore, C. asiatica can be pasteurized as juice and used as functional drink.

Effect of liquid biological fertilizer on dwarf coconut embryo culture

Organic or biological fertilizer liquid is generally used to improve crop quality in plants grown in-vivo. Liquid organic and inorganic fertilizers have been used as in vitro culture media for orchids and patchouli; it is suspected that liquid biological fertilizers can also be used as in vitro growth medium. The research was conducted to determine the effect of liquid biological fertilizer (LBF) on the growth medium and development of dwarf coconut embryo culture. The study was conducted in laboratory tissue culture Palma Crops Research Institute, December 2020 - May 2021. The study used live combinations of culture mediums, and each used ten explants of dwarf coconut embryos. The results showed that on Eeuwens Y3 100% + 100% sugar medium, all experienced browning, three green shoots (live), and seven brown shoots (dead), the average shoot length was 2.9 cm. Medium LBF 100% without sugar does not undergo browning, and the embryo does not develop. LBF 50% + Eeuwens Y3 50% + 50 % sugar best medium: a minor browning, the highest number of green shoots (8 shoots), average shoot length was 4.1 cm.

Production and effects of green tea Kombucha with blueberry and orange blossom honey without caffeine as probiotic inhibitor of pathogenic bacteria

Kombucha is a probiotic drink of Asian origin, whose symbiotic relationship between acetic bacteria and yeasts provides a wide range of compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial power (against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria); thus, improving digestion and preventing chronic diseases. Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) of the Ericaceae family is one of the most studied and used fruits due to its high antioxidant benefits. In turn, orange blossom honey is one of several products rich in flavonoids obtained from the Citrus sinensis plant. Due to the high amount of phenolic compounds in these products, a homemade kombucha based on blueberry and orange blossom honey was developed to increase the beneficial properties of this probiotic, generating a value-added product. First, the tea fungus (SCOBY) was obtained in a caffeine-free medium of green tea and white sugar, through a process called "First fermentation". Then we performed a "Second fermentation" by adding the fruit and honey, giving it flavor and increasing its antioxidant properties. Finally, we tested it pleasant taste by means of a sensory evaluation of 30 people, which was statistically analyzed.

Pudrición blanda en el pseudotallo de banano orgánico (Musa sp): sintomatología, caracterización cultural y bioquímica, patogenicidad y alternativas de manejo

The banana (Musa sp.) is a very important crop in the socioeconomic development of Peru. The soft rot disease has been causing economic losses. The objective was to isolate and identify the causal agent of soft rot in banana and to implement management alternatives. Bacteria were isolated from pseudostem with soft rot symptoms from 11 producing areas in the Chira Valley. The pathogenicity tests were carried on pseudostem segments and banana shoots. The eight isolates were culturally, morphologically and biochemically characterized: All isolates were Gram negative, rod-shaped, with peritrichous flagella and colonies formed deep cavities on crystal violet pectate (CVP) medium. Biochemical tests showed a positive catalase reaction, gelatin hydrolysis, glucose and lactose fermentation, and tolerance to NaCl 5%. However, on TSI (Triple Iron Sugar) medium and erythromycin sensitivity only isolates A2M, A3Ma, A5Mall, A7VF, A9Sa and A10 reacted positively and isolates A6Q and A11Sal negatively. Growth at 28, 30, 36, 36, 37 and 45 °C was positive for all eight isolates, with the exception A6Q and A11Sal which did not develop at 45 °C. Cultural characteristics, biochemical and pathogenicity tests allowed to identify six isolates as Pectobacterium chrysanthemi and two as P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum. Disease management is based on the use of certified suckers, adequate fertilization, organic matter applications, biocontrol agents and weevil insect control.

The impact of carbon source on cell growth and the production of bioactive compounds in cell suspensions of Hancornia speciosa Gomes

Belonging to the Brazilian flora, the species Hancornia speciosa (Gomes), known as mangabeira, has bioactive compounds of interest, such as flavonoids, xanthones, and proanthocyanidins. The objective of this study was to determine how the supplementation of sugars in culture medium affects the osmotic potential of the medium, as well as its influence on cell growth and on the concentration of phenolic compounds. For this purpose, after 90 days of subculture, 20 mL aliquots of the cultures were added to flasks containing 20 mL of medium with different sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose, mannitol, and sorbitol) under a 16-h photoperiod with a spectral range between 400 and 700 nm of photosynthetically active radiation (45–55 μmol m−2 s−1) in a shaker at 110 rpm. After 30 days, the pH, electrical conductivity, osmotic potential, biomass accumulation, and concentrations of phenolic compounds were evaluated. Regardless of their concentration in the medium, the sugars sorbitol and mannitol provided more unfavorable conditions for water absorption at the cellular level, reducing the water potential of the medium. Sucrose favored greater water absorption and biomass accumulation. Among the various sugar concentrations, 3% (30 g/L) sucrose or glucose improved the accumulation of fresh and dry cell weight and the production of polyphenols such as chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, rosmarinic acid, hesperidin, rutin, and quercetin. In addition, they resulted in a higher osmotic potential of the medium and larger cells than other carbon sources. Despite the differences in cell size, no culture conditions compromised cell survival.

Effect of calcium alginate coating on the cell retention and fermentation of a fungus-yeast immobilization system

Yeast cell leakage from the matrix is one of the reoccurring inconveniences of most yeast immobilization systems. Yeast biocapsules are a cost-effective, spontaneous immobilization system whereby yeast cells are attached to the hyphae of a filamentous fungus, creating hollow spheres that allow recovery and reutilization. In an attempt to prevent yeast cell leakage from the fungal matrix, we coated the yeast biocapsules with a 0.2% (w/v) alginate layer and evaluated yeast cell immobilization and the potential to ferment synthetic high sugar medium and grape must. We concluded that alginate coating prevents cell leakage from yeast biocapsules but hinders alcoholic fermentation. In grape must fermentations, alginate coating does not affect wine acidity but impacts concentrations of some volatile compounds.

The optimization conditions of establishing an H9c2 cardiomyocyte hypoxia/reoxygenation injury model based on an AnaeroPack System.

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major cause of cardiomyocyte apoptosis after vascular recanalization, which was mimicked by a hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury model of cardiomyocytes in vitro. In this study, we explored an optimal H/R duration procedure using the AnaeroPack System. To study the H/R procedure, cardiomyocytes were exposed to the AnaeroPack System with sugar and serum-free medium, followed by reoxygenation under normal conditions. Cell injury was detected through lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cardiac troponin (c-Tn) release, morphological changes, cell apoptosis, and expression of apoptosis-related proteins. The results showed that the damage to H9c2 cells increased with prolonged hypoxia time, as demonstrated by increased apoptosis rate, LDH and c-Tn release, HIF-1α expression, as well as decreased expression of Bcl-2. Furthermore, hypoxia for 10 h and reoxygenation for 6 h exhibited the highest apoptosis rate and damage and cytokine release; in addition, cells were deformed, small, and visibly round. After 12 h of hypoxia, the majority of the cells were dead. Taken together, this study showed that subjecting H9c2 cells to the AnaeroPack System for 10 h and reoxygenation for 6 h can achieve a practicable and repeatable H/R injury model.

Nutritional Analysis of Foods and Beverages Depicted in Top-Grossing US Movies, 1994-2018

Many countries now restrict advertisements for unhealthy foods. However, movies depict foods and beverages with nutritional quality that is unknown, unregulated, and underappreciated as a source of dietary influence. To compare nutritional content depicted in top-grossing US movies with established nutrition rating systems, dietary recommendations, and US individuals' actual consumption. In this qualitative study, a content analysis was performed from April 2019 to May 2020 of the 250 top-grossing US movies released from 1994 to 2018. The proportion of movies with less healthy nutrition ratings using the Nutrient Profile Index, the proportion of movies with medium or high food nutrition ratings according to the United Kingdom's "traffic light" guidelines (in which green is low and indicates the healthiest foods; amber, medium; and red is high and indicates the least healthy foods), and how the movie-depicted nutritional content compared with US Food and Drug Administration-recommended daily levels and US individuals' actual consumption according to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-2016 data. Secondary outcomes compared branded and nonbranded items and tested whether outcomes changed over time or for movies targeting youths. Across 9198 foods and 5748 beverages, snacks and sweets (2173 [23.6%]) and alcoholic beverages (2303 [40.1%]) were most commonly depicted. Alcohol comprised 23 of 127 beverages (18.1%) in G-rated movies, 268 of 992 beverages (27.0%) in PG-rated movies, 1503 of 3592 beverages (41.8%) in PG-13-rated movies, and 509 of 1037 beverages (49.1%) in R-rated movies. Overall, 178 of 245 movies (72.7%) earned less healthy Nutrient Profile Index food ratings and 222 of 246 movies (90.2%) earned less healthy beverage ratings, which would be unhealthy enough to fail legal limits for advertising to youths in the United Kingdom. Among foods, most movies depicted medium or high (amber or red traffic light) levels of sugar (229 of 245 [93.5%]), saturated fat (208 of 245 [84.9%]), total fat (228 of 245 [93.1%]), and, to a lesser extent, sodium (123 of 245 [50.2%]). Only 1721 foods and beverages (11.5%) were visibly branded, but branded items received less healthy nutrition ratings than nonbranded items. Overall, movies failed recommended levels of saturated fat per 2000 kcal by 25.0% (95% CI, 20.6%-29.9%), sodium per 2000 kcal by 3.9% (95% CI, 0.2%-7.9%), and fiber per 2000 kcal by 45.1% (95% CI, 42.9%-47.0%). Movies also depicted 16.5% (95% CI, 12.3%-21.0%) higher total sugar content per 2000 kcal and 313% (95% CI, 298%-329%) higher alcohol content per 2000 kcal than US individuals consume. Neither food nor beverage nutrition scores improved over time or among movies targeting youths. This study suggests that popular US movies depict an unhealthy diet that fails national dietary recommendations, akin to US individuals' actual diets. Depicting unhealthy consumption in media is a sociocultural problem that extends beyond advertisements and branded product placements.

Lifestyle intervention for Latina cancer survivors and caregivers: the Nuestra Salud randomized pilot trial.

Assess feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an integrated symptom management and lifestyle intervention (SMLI) to improve adherence to the American Cancer Society's (ACS) Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity in Latina cancer survivors and their informal caregivers (dyads). Forty-five dyads were randomized to a 12-week telephone-delivered intervention or attention control. Intervention effects on nutrition, physical activity, symptom burden, and self-efficacy for symptom management were estimated using Cohen's ds. Mean age was 64 for survivors and 53 for caregivers. Feasibility was demonstrated by the 63% consent rate out of approached dyads. The SMLI was acceptable for 98% of dyads. Among survivors, medium-to-large effect sizes were found for increased servings of total fruits and vegetables (d= 0.55), vegetables (d= 0.72), and decreased sugar intake (d= - 0.51) and medium clinically significant effect sizes for total minutes of physical activity per week (d= 0.42) and grams of fiber intake per day (d= 0.40) for intervention versus attention control. Additionally, medium-to-large intervention effects were found for the reduction of symptom burden (d= 0.74). For caregivers, medium-to-large intervention effects were found for reduced total sugar intake (d= - 0.60) and sugar intake from sugar-sweetened beverages (d= - 0.65); vegetable intake was increased with a medium effect size (d= 0.41). SMLI was feasible and acceptable for both dyadic members. A larger, well-powered trial is needed to formally evaluate SMLI effectiveness. Integrating symptom management with lifestyle behavior interventions may increase adherence to the ACS guidelines on nutrition and physical activity to prevent new and recurrent cancers.

Optimal rearing medium for the population growth of the predatory mite, Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

BackgroundThe successful rearing of predators or parasitoids is one of the most important elements in biological control programs. The dried fruit mite, Carpoglyphus lactis (L.), can be used as an alternative prey for the phytoseiid predatory mite, Amblyseius swirs0kii (Athias-Henriot).Main bodyThis study aimed to evaluate the suitability of 3 different diets for C. lactis when rearing A. swirskii: brown sugar, baker’s yeast, and the mixture of brown sugar and baker’s yeast along with 3 initial predator:prey ratios (1:7, 1:12, and 1:20). After 30 days, both the baker’s yeast and the mixture of brown sugar + baker’s yeast diets resulted in the highest predator densities (40.5 times increase at an initial predator:prey ratio of 1:20, with the baker’s yeast diet), whereas the mixture diet produced the highest density of prey. The brown sugar resulted in the lowest number of predator and prey mites. This may be due to lower feeding and predation rates of the prey and the predator mites on the brown sugar medium since its relative moisture content and adhesiveness inhibits mite movement. The final predator:prey ratio was also highest on the baker’s yeast diet.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that the population growth of A. swirskii was the highest when C. lactis was reared on baker’s yeast.

The Role of Saccharides in the Mechanisms of Pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lupini in Yellow Lupine (Lupinus luteus L.)

The primary aim of this study was to determine the relationship between soluble sugar levels (sucrose, glucose, or fructose) in yellow lupine embryo axes and the pathogenicity of the hemibiotrophic fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Schlecht lupini. The first step of this study was to determine the effect of exogenous saccharides on the growth and sporulation of F. oxysporum. The second one focused on estimating the levels of ergosterol as a fungal growth indicator in infected embryo axes cultured in vitro on sugar containing-medium or without it. The third aim of this study was to record the levels of the mycotoxin moniliformin as the most characteristic secondary metabolite of F. oxysporum in the infected embryo axes with the high sugar medium and without it. Additionally, morphometric measurements, i.e., the length and fresh weight of embryo axes, were done. The levels of ergosterol were the highest in infected embryo axes with a sugar deficit. At the same time, significant accumulation of the mycotoxin moniliformin was recorded in those tissues. Furthermore, it was found that the presence of sugars in water agar medium inhibited the sporulation of the pathogenic fungus F. oxysporum in relation to the control (sporulation of the pathogen on medium without sugar), the strongest inhibiting effect was observed in the case of glucose. Infection caused by F. oxysporum significantly limited the growth of embryo axes, but this effect was more visible on infected axes cultured under sugar deficiency than on the ones cultured with soluble sugars. The obtained results thus showed that high sugar levels may lead to reduced production of mycotoxins by F. oxysporum, limiting infection development and fusariosis.