Introduction. Ecologically Meaningful Germination Studies. Types of Seed Dormancy. Germination Ecology of Seeds with Nondeep Physiological Dormancy. Germination Ecology of Seeds with Morphophysiological Dormancy. Germination Ecology of Seeds with Physical Dormancy. Germination Ecology of Seeds in the Persistent Seed Bank. Causes of Within-Species Variations in Seed Dormancy and Germination Characteristics. A Geographical Perspective on Germination Ecology: Tropical and Subtropical Zones. A Geographical Perspective on Germination Ecology: Temperate and Arctic Zones. Germination Ecology of Plants with Specialized Life Cycles and/or Habitats. Biogeographical and Evolutionary Aspects of Seed Dormancy. Subject Index.

A Definitive Book on Seed Ecology@@@Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination

The plant-Trichoderma-pathogen triangle is a complicated web of numerous processes Trichoderma spp are avirulent opportunistic plant symbionts In addition to being successful plant symbiotic organisms, Trichoderma spp also behave as a low cost, effective and ecofriendly biocontrol agent They can set themselves up in various patho-systems, have minimal impact on the soil equilibrium and do not impair useful organisms that contribute to the control of pathogens This symbiotic association in plants leads to the acquisition of plant resistance to pathogens, improves developmental processes and yields and promotes absorption of nutrient and fertilizer use efficiency Among other biocontrol mechanisms, antibiosis, competition and mycoparasitism are among the main features through which microorganisms, including Thrichoderma, react to the presence of other competitive pathogenic organisms, thereby preventing or obstructing their development Stimulation of every process involves the biosynthesis of targeted metabolites like plant growth regulators, enzymes, siderophores, antibiotics, etc This review summarizes the biological control activity exerted by Trichoderma spp and sheds light on the recent progress in pinpointing the ecological significance of Trichoderma at the biochemical and molecular level in the rhizosphere as well as the benefits of symbiosis to the plant host in terms of physiological and biochemical mechanisms From an applicative point of view, the evidence provided herein strongly supports the possibility to use Trichoderma as a safe, ecofriendly and effective biocontrol agent for different crop species

https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/6/762/pdf

Trichoderma: The “Secrets” of a Multitalented Biocontrol Agent

Solid state fermentation for production of microbial cellulases: Recent advances and improvement strategies.

Pancreatic α-amylase inhibitors offer an effective strategy to lower the levels of post prandial hyperglycemia via control of starch breakdown. Eleven Ayurvedic Indian medicinal plants with known hypoglycemic properties were subjected to sequential solvent extraction and tested for α-amylase inhibition, in order to assess and evaluate their inhibitory potential on pancreatic α-amylase. Analysis of 91 extracts, showed that 10 exhibited strong Human Pancreatic Amylase (HPA) inhibitory potential. Of these, 6 extracts showed concentration dependent inhibition with IC50 values, namely, cold and hot water extracts from Ficus bengalensis bark (4.4 and 125 μgmL-1), Syzygium cumini seeds (42.1 and 4.1 μgmL-1), isopropanol extracts of Cinnamomum verum leaves (1.0 μgmL-1) and Curcuma longa rhizome (0.16 μgmL-1). The other 4 extracts exhibited concentration independent inhibition, namely, methanol extract of Bixa orellana leaves (49 μgmL-1), isopropanol extract from Murraya koenigii leaves (127 μgmL-1), acetone extracts from C. longa rhizome (7.4 μgmL-1) and Tribulus terrestris seeds (511 μgmL-1). Thus, the probable mechanism of action of the above fractions is due to their inhibitory action on HPA, thereby reducing the rate of starch hydrolysis leading to lowered glucose levels. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, proteins, tannins, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, saponins and steroids as probable inhibitory compounds.

/pdf/evaluation-of-traditional-indian-antidiabetic-medicinal-460mekly1h.pdf

Evaluation of Traditional Indian Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants for Human Pancreatic Amylase Inhibitory Effect In Vitro

Plant Growth

Five fungal strains of each of the two filamentous fungi viz., Aspergillus niger Van Tieghem and A. flavus Link ex Gray, indigenous to Pakistan, were screened for their alpha-amylase activity. Different selected strains were grown on two growth media viz., Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Enzyme Production Medium (EPM), at three pH levels viz., 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5, in all the possible combinations. Performance of various strains was recorded in terms of hydrolyzing zone formation. Generally test strains exhibited their best performance on EPM at pH 4.5. On the basis of their best performance on solid media, strain 74 and strain 198 of A. niger and strain 209 and strain 231 of A. flavus were selected for periodic evaluation of their alpha-amylase activity in liquid medium, using shake flask technique. All the test strains exhibited their maximum alpha-amylase activity after 48 h incubation.

Screening of aspergillus niger and a. flavus strains for extra cellular alpha-amylase activity

In vitro studies were carried out to evaluate the antifungal activity of Aloe vera shoot extract in aqueous (polar) and organic (non-polar) solvents against few pathogenic species of genus Alternaria viz., A. alternata, A. citri and A. tenuissima. The assessments revealed that Aloe vera contained substantial antimicrobial efficacy. The shoot aqueous extracts caused significant inhibition in growth and biomass production of the three tested fungi. In case of n-hexane extraction the inhibitory effect was found to be variable with the applied concentration.

/pdf/appraisal-of-antifungal-activity-of-aloe-vera-2vxncgcyw1.pdf

Appraisal of antifungal activity of Aloe vera

Herbicidal effects of extracts and residue incorporation of Datura metel against parthenium weed

Enhanced yield of tomato has ever been an important issue due to its nutritional value and various dietary consumption forms. But, efficient yield increase can never be achieved without using environmentally safe means e.g. innate resistance. In present study, tomato innate antifungal resistance has been boosted up using Penicillium oxalicum, and then various aspects of resistance modulation have been explored in details. Two tomato varieties of differential antifungal resistance (Dinaar and Red Tara) were treated with six P. oxalicum strains which screened the best inducer strain (Pn 5); which remarkably controlled disease incidence (DI) of Alternaria alternata. Inducer was not only responsible for almost two times production of phenolics, alkaloids and terpenoids in Red Tara, but it also non-significantly triggered same biochemicals in Dinaar. Hemicellulose showed only 40 % increase in variety of least antifungal resistance. During quantification assays of peroxidase (POD), phenyl ammonia lyase and polyphenol oxidase, more or less the same doubling trend was recorded in susceptible variety, while only POD had significant enhancement in resistant variety under the influence of fungal inducer. It was also recorded that inducer not only modulated quantity of enzyme (glucanase), but its isozyme package was also altered. Colorimetric quantifications of lignin, cellulose and pectins proved that biotic inducer strengthened the physical structure of plant cells by increasing these contents from 30 to 120 %. The above investigation collectively comes with the recommendation of an efficient and environmentally safe inducer (P. oxalicum); which, can be used to control fungal pathogens.

Penicillium oxalicum directed systemic resistance in tomato against Alternaria alternata

The In vitro fungitoxic potential of Tagetes erectus L. was scrutinized against Ascochyta rabiei, the causal agent of chickpea blight disease. The pathogen was exposed to various concentrations (1, 2, 3 and 4% w/v) of aqueous and methanol extracts of flower and shoot of T. erectus using food poisoning technique. All the employed concentrations of both flower and shoot extracts significantly suppressed the growth of target fungal pathogen. There was 4-35% and 5573% reduction in colony diameter of A. rabiei due to different concentrations of aqueous flower and shoot extracts of T. erectus and 12-50% and 4-42% due to different concentrations of methanolic flower and shoot extracts of T. erectus, respectively.

Sobiya Shafique

Papers

Screening of aspergillus niger and a. flavus strains for extra cellular alpha-amylase activity

Appraisal of antifungal activity of Aloe vera

Herbicidal effects of extracts and residue incorporation of Datura metel against parthenium weed

Penicillium oxalicum directed systemic resistance in tomato against Alternaria alternata

Fungitoxic activity of aqueous and organic solvent extracts of tagetes erectus on phytopathogenic fungus-ascochyta rabiei