Abstract: Endophytic fungi represent a wide diversity of microbial adaptations that have evolved in special and unusual environments, making them a great source of study and research for new drugs for medical, industrial, and agriculture uses.The present study was undertaken to investigate antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of endophytic fungalextracts ofkoseret leaf and seeds.The leaf and seed samples collected from the home gardens were used for endophyte fungal extraction.Endophytes ...
Abstract: Pectinase is a heterogeneous group of enzyme which hydrolyzes pectin. Fungi and actinomycetes have ability to produce a large amount of industrial enzymes. Therefore the present study was undertaken production of pectinolytic enzymes from barley (Hordeum vulgare Von. Bothmer) and wheat (Triticum turgidum L.Von) locally called (Garbu or Qamadi) hulls. Wheat and Barley Hulls samples were collected from homes. Isolation of the fungal species was done on czapek-dox-agar media. Fungal i...
Abstract: Marula (Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.)Hochst.)is often referred to as the “tree of life “since its leaves, stem barks, roots, and fruits are used as food and traditional medicine. The present study is undertaken to investigate antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of S. birrea leaf and seed extracts. Qualitative analysis of major secondary metabolites including alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins and terpenoids of the S. b...
Abstract: Alkaline proteases are one of the classes of protease enzymes which are extensively used in detergent and tanning industries. Currently, there is an increasing demand for biocatalysts from extreme environments that are important sources of microorganisms routinely used in novel industrial enzyme production. In this research attempts were made to isolate and screen for an alternative alkaline protease producing fungal species from abattoir and food wastes. Hence, fungal species were...
Abstract: The fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a devastating pest of maize which has recently invaded the African continent. Since its first reports in Africa in 2016, it has spread rapidly in Zambia and it is causing extensive damage to maize and other cereal crops. The efficacy of the integration of botanical pesticides with entomopathogenic fungi and synthetic pesticide, on FAW were tested under field conditions. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block des...
Abstract: Laccase (EC 1.10.3.2, benzenediol oxygen, oxidoreductases) is typically extracellular monomeric glycoproteins that belong to the multicopper oxidase family. Laccase is widely distributed in higher plants, bacteria, fungi, and insects. Laccase play an important role in different industrial sectors, soil bioremediation and biodegradation of environmental phenolic pollutant and removal of endocrine disruptors. Laccase has been efficiently applied to nanobiotechnology due to their abil...
Abstract: Nanomaterials have been used recently in food packaging as antibacterial coatings because of their desirable antibacterial and antifungal properties. The use of antimicrobial packaging is to deter the growth of microorganisms responsible for spoilage or diseases in packaged foods, therefore prolonging their shelf life. In this study, potato peel starch and ZnO-starch nanocomposite paper (ZnO-starch NC paper) were developed and evaluated for antibacterial activity against Esche...
Abstract: Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides;CZ) is a well-known grass that can both remediate various heavy metals in soil as well as producing essential oil that is commonly used in premier perfumery, food and pharmaceutical industries. Due to this versatility property, this study was aimed at extracting essential oil from Chrysopogon zizanioides roots cultivated in SelibePhikwe mine tailings and study the quality and quantity (chemical composition and yield) of the Chrysopogon ziza...
Abstract: The incorporation of entomopathogenic fungi as biocontrol agents into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs without doubt, has been highly effective. The ability of these fungal pathogens such as Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae to exist as endophytes in plants and protect their colonized host plants against the primary herbivore pests has widely been reported. Aside this sole role of pest management that has been traditionally ascribed to fungal endophytes, recent...
Abstract: The performance of entomopathogenic fungi in pest control is usually affected by both biotic and abiotic factors. This study aimed to determine the effects of various temperatures (15, 20, 25 and 30 ◦C) on conidial germination, mycelial growth and conidial density and virulence to the melon fly Zeugodacus cucurbitae of three selected isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae. The three isolates, ICIPE 18, ICIPE 30 and ICIPE 69, had previously been selected in laboratory bioassays. Perce...
Abstract: Stem borers have been reported as the most injurious insect pests of rice among the insects that attack rice crop globally. Management of stem borers has been relied on the us e of synthetic insecticides but has been ineffective due to the cryptic nature of the attack, disruption of environment and unaffordability to purchase insecticides by small- scale farmers. The attempts to control insects have changed over time from chemicals to natural control methods. Among the various natu...
Abstract: The inoculation methods, the fungal strains, and several other factors are known to influent the success of fungal entomopathogens colonization in plants. The physiological status of the plant could also be another determinant. In the present study, the ability of three strains of Beauveria bassiana and one strain of Metarhizium anisopliae to successfully colonize Citrus limon plants and the influence of seedling age on endophytic colonization success was examined. Three, 4, and 6 ...
Abstract: Entomopathogenic fungi are commonly applied as inundative sprays to protect plants against insect pests. Their artificial establishment as fungal endophytes to provide other benefits to the host plants aside mere protection against the primary pests has also been widely demonstrated. In the present study, two fungal strains of Beauveria bassiana and one strain of Isaria fumosorosea were assessed in a pathogenicity test against adults of Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) and f...
Abstract: Endophytic fungi are important in diverse plant functions but knowledge of the factors that shape assemblages of these symbionts is lacking. Here, using a culture-dependent approach, we report 4,178 endophytic fungal isolates representing 16 orders isolated from stems, roots and leaves of three cruciferous plant species, Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and white cabbage (B. olerocea L.), collected from 21 focal fields with different landscape contex...
Abstract: Push–pull involves intercropping of cereals with Desmodium as a “push” crop and planting Napier grass/Brachiaria as the “pull” crop at the border. The technology has been reported to effectively control stemborers, striga weed, and fall armyworm (FAW), and to improve soil nutrition, resulting in increased grain yield. This study evaluated the impact of stemborer and FAW management using this technology on incidence of maize ear rots and preharvest contamination of grains ...