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Hybrid composites armors made of closed-cell aluminum foam are developed for intended use in ballistic protective plates. The manufacturing process involved impregnation of shear thickening containing different micro and nano-fillers into aluminum foam panels which are subsequently bonded two AA 5086-H32 aluminum sheets that surrounded the targets, by using compression molding techniques. The effects of the addition of different nano-fillers as colloidal silica, gamma alumina, silica carbide, and Kevlar micro-fibers to the aluminum foam plates on the ballistic response of the hybrid composites armors were investigated. Scanning electron micrographs were used to investigate the interfacial interaction between specimen layers, and the influence of the nanoparticles impregnated within closed aluminum foam cells before and after high-velocity impacts. The ballistic impact resistance of the produced hybrid composite cell aluminum foam laminates was tested according to NATO standards using a semiautomatic 9 mm Beretta Cx4 Storm Rifle Luger. The results indicated that the performance of the hybrid composite armors made of aluminum foam were enhanced by the deposition of micro and nano-fillers into the surface of the closed-cell aluminum foam.Therefore, the ballistic impact resistance and energy absorption of the specimens were improved. The highest impact energy absorption capacity was achieved by the deposition of Kevlar micro-fibers, but the resulting plates have the highest target weight and thickness. Silica carbide powder followed by gamma alumina, and colloidal silica powder in that order, enhanced the impact energy absorption capability with the least target weight and thickness average. These findings indicate that introduction of micro and nano-fillers coating on closed-cell aluminum foam, improved a range from 4.9 to 30.9 J in comparison with untreated samples, therefore, it could be a promising method for strengthening interfacial bonding between layers of the aluminum foam composites.

The mechanical behavior of chonta palm wood (Bactris gasipaes) microparticles reinforced high density polyethylene (HDPE) under high strain-rate compressive and ballistic impact loading were investigated. The palm wood microparticles were introduced into the HDPE via an extrusion process using parallel twin screw extruder to produce biocomposite containing 10, 20, 25, and 30 wt % chonta wood microparticles. In addition to mechanical tests, fractographic analysis was done to understand the failure mechanism in the biocomposites under dynamic and ballistic impact loads. The results indicate that both quasi-static and dynamic mechanical properties of HDPE are enhanced by reinforcement with chonta palm wood particles. The biocomposites containing 25 wt % wood microparticles exhibited the highest strength, stiffness, ballistic impact resistance and impact energy absorption capability. Introduction of microparticles of chonta palm wood as reinforcement into a polymeric matrix such as HDPE is therefore a promising method to develop biocomposites with enhanced capacity to withstand dynamic impact loading and absorb impact energy. Keywords: Biocomposite armors, High density polyethylene, Chonta palm wood microparticles, Split hopkinson pressure bar, Ballistic impact

Citizen science is a research collaboration between scientists and volunteers who provide data for education, conservation, and environmental protection. Volunteers, often the locals in the area, provide data on species occurrence while researchers perform distribution mapping or other data analysis. Social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr can be used as platforms for the public to share their photos of species and for scientists to aid in identification. In this article, we show how social media groups can be used to generate data on species distribution of myxomycetes.

Virulence pathways in pathogenic bacteria are regulated by quorum sensing mechanisms, particularly biofilm formation through autoinducer (AI) production and sensing. In this study, the culture filtrate extracted from an edible mushroom, Agaricus subrutilescens , was fractionated to isolate a compound that inhibits biofilm formation. Four gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis , and Enterobacter cloacae) and two gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus) were used for the bioassay. The bioassay-guided chromatographic separations of the culture filtrate extract resulted in the isolation of the compound. Further, spectroscopic analyses revealed the identity of the compound as 2,2′-azoxybisbenzyl alcohol (ABA). The minimum inhibitory and sub-inhibitory concentrations of the compound were also determined. Azoxybisbenzyl alcohol was significantly effective in inhibiting biofilm formation in all tested bacteria, with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of 3–11 µg/mL. Additionally, the bioactivity of ABA was confirmed through the bioassays for the inhibition of exopolysaccharide matrixes and AI activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum species is one of the most devastating diseases of fruits and crops. We isolated and identified an antifungal compound from the mushroom Coprinus comatus and investigated its inhibitory potential against anthracnose disease-causing fungi with the goal of discovering natural products that can suppress anthracnose-caused plant disease. Methods and results The culture filtrate of C. comatus was subjected to a bioassay-guided isolation of antifungal compounds. The active compound was identified as orsellinaldehyde (2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzaldehyde) based on mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. Orsellinaldehyde displayed broad-spectrum inhibitory activity against different plant pathogenic fungi. Among the tested Colletotrichum species, it exhibited the lowest IC50 values on conidial germination and germ tube elongation of Colletotrichum orbiculare. The compound also showed remarkable inhibitory activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporiodes. The staining of Colletotrichum conidia with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide demonstrated that the compound is fungicidal. The postharvest in - vivo detached fruit assay indicated that orsellinaldehyde suppressed anthracnose lesion symptoms on mango and cucumber fruits caused by C. gloeosporioides and C. orbiculare , respectively. Conclusions Orsellinaldehyde was identified as a potent antifungal compound from the culture filtrate of C. comatus. The inhibitory and fungicidal activities of orsellinaldehyde against different Colletotrichum species indicate its potential as a fungicide for protecting various fruits against anthracnose disease-causing fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial compounds were purified from culture filtrates from 2 edible Pleurotus species. Using a bioassay-guided fractionation of the culture filtrate extracts, 3 compounds (1-3) were obtained from Pleurotus ostreatus, and another compound (4) was obtained from Pleurotus pulmonarius . Spectroscopic analysis revealed that 1-3 was identified as 5,7-dimethoxyphthalide, 4,6-dimethoxyphthalide, and cheimonophyllon E, respectively, while 4 were identified as pleuroton A. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of these compounds were determined against 6 pathogenic bacterial species, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter cloacae. Compounds 2 and 4 were inhibitory against all tested bacteria, while 1 and 4 were inhibitory against 3 and 2 species, respectively. In addition, 1-4 inhibited tyrosinase, with IC50 values of 0.10-0.30 mg/mL, and α-glucosidase, with IC50 values of 0.12-0.54 mg/mL. However, their antioxidant capacities were marginal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of water quality, specifically elevated phosphate and zinc content, on the diversity and functional properties of mangrove fungal endophytes in two distinct mangrove forests. Mangrove plant performance is directly related to the presence of fungal leaf endophytes as these fungi could enhance plant health, resilience, and adaptability under stressed environmental conditions. Two distinct mangrove forest sites, one non-disturbed (ND) and one disturbed by aquaculture practices (D), were assessed for differences in water quality parameters. We further analyzed the fungal endophyte diversity associated with the leaves of a target host mangrove, Rhizophora mucronata Lamk., with the aim to elucidate whether fungal diversity and functional traits are linked to disturbances brought about by aquaculture practices and to characterize functional traits of selected fungal isolates with respect to phosphate (PO4) and zinc (Zn) solubilization. Contrary to expectations, the disturbed site exhibited a higher fungal diversity, challenging assumptions about the relationship between contamination and fungal community dynamics. Water quality, as determined by nutrient and mineral levels, emerged as a crucial factor in shaping both microbial community compositions in the phyllosphere of mangroves. From both sites, we isolated 188 fungal endophytes, with the ND site hosting a higher number of isolates and a greater colonization rate. While taxonomic diversity marginally differed (ND: 28 species, D: 29 species), the Shannon (H' = 3.19) and FAI (FA = 20.86) indices revealed a statistically significant increase in species diversity for fungal endophytes in the disturbed mangrove site as compared to the non-disturbed area (H' = 3.10, FAI = 13.08). Our chosen mangrove fungal endophytes exhibited remarkable phosphate solubilization capabilities even at elevated concentrations, particularly those derived from the disturbed site. Despite their proficiency in solubilizing zinc across a wide range of concentrations, a significant impact on their mycelial growth was noted, underscoring a crucial aspect of their functional dynamics. Our findings revealed a nuanced trade-off between mycelial growth and enzymatic production in fungal endophytes from ostensibly less contaminated sites, highlighting the relationship between nutrient availability and microbial activities. These insights provide a foundation for understanding the impact of anthropogenic pressures, specifically nutrient pollution, on mangrove-associated fungal endophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid emergence of resistant bacteria is occurring worldwide, endangering the efficacy of antibiotics. Hence, there is a need to search for new sources of antibiotics that either exhibit novel structures or express a new mechanism of action. The lichen Usnea, with its wide range of unique, biologically potent secondary metabolites, may solve this problem. In this study, Usnea species were collected in the Northern Philippines, identified through combined morphological and biochemical characterization, and tested for antimicrobial activities against the multidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens, i.e., Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter cloacae, two standard antibiotic-sensitive test bacteria, and a yeast. A total of 46 lichen specimens were collected and later identified as Usnea baileyi (10), U. diffracta (10), U. glabrata (12), U. longissima (4), and U. rubicunda (10). The results show that the crude extracts of the Usnea species exhibited promising in vitro inhibitory activities against standard antibiotic-sensitive (E. faecalis ATCC 29212) and multidrug-resistant (methicillin-resistant S. aureus and E. faecalis) Gram-positive bacteria. Additionally, lichen compounds of representative specimens per species were identified and profiled using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The detection of lichen acids (LA) via HPLC showed the presence of 24 peaks of lichen acids. TLC-bioautography identified the bioactive lichen acids as alectronic acid, connorstictic acid, consalazinic acid, diffractaic acid, echinocarpic acid, erythrin acid, galbinic acid, hypoconstictic acid, hyposalazinic acid, hypostictic acid, lobaric acid, menegazzaic acid, micareic acid, pannarin, salazinic acid, stictic acid, and usnic acid. Our study highlighted the wide spectrum of opportunities for using lichens for the discovery of potential antimicrobial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterocyte-forming cyanobacteria form symbiotic relationships with several lineages of plants. Here, twenty (20) strains of endosymbiotic cyanobacteria (cyanobionts) with Nostoc-like morphologies were isolated from the highly specialized coralloid roots of five host species in Cycadales—Cycas debaoensis, C. fairylakea, C. elongata, Ceratozamia robusta, and Macrozamia moorei. Molecular phylogeny based on the 16S rRNA gene placed these strains into seven different taxa within the Nostocaceae, specifically under the genera Desmonostoc and Dendronalium. The percent dissimilarity and unique patterns in the secondary structures of the D1-D1′, Box-B, V2, and V3 helices, which were based on the 16S–23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, supported three distinct species in Desmonostoc. These three morphologically distinct novel species are described in this report: Desmonostoc debaoense sp. nov., Desmonostoc meilinense sp. nov., and Desmonostoc xianhuense sp. nov. Other investigated strains were phylogenetically identified as members of the recently discovered genus Dendronalium and represent the first report of association of that genus with cycads. Our findings suggest that the order Cycadales hosts diverse species of cyanobionts in their coralloid roots and that many potential unreported or novel taxa are present in cycads occurring in their natural habitat and await discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The persistence of beneficial microorganisms in the rhizosphere or surrounding soil following their application is a prerequisite for the effective interaction with the plant or indigenous microbial communities in the respective habitats. The goal of the study was to analyze the establishment and persistence of the applied beneficial Trichoderma harzianum (OMG16) strain in the maize root-associated soil depending on agricultural practice (soil management practice, N-fertilizer intensity) in a field experiment. A rapid identification of the inoculated strain OMG16 is essential for its monitoring. We used a culture-based approach coupled to matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis for the rapid identification of the inoculated Trichoderma strain as part of the beneficial microbe consortium (BMc). We isolated 428 fungal isolates from eight treatments of the field experiment. Forty eight percent of the isolated fungi equivalent to 205 fungal isolates were identified as Trichoderma, of which 87% (=179 isolates) were obtained from the fields inoculated with BMc. Gene sequence analysis showed a high similarity of the MALDI-TOF MS-identified Trichoderma, with that of the inoculated Trichoderma harzianum OMG16 confirming the re-isolation of the added beneficial fungus. This study highlighted the use of MALDI-TOF MS analysis as a quick, cost-effective detection and efficient monitoring tool for microbial-based bioinoculants in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The environmental contamination by extremophile Aspergillus species, i.e., Aflatoxin B1, is hardly controllable in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, which lack handling resources and controlled storage facilities. Acute aflatoxicosis poisoning from aflatoxin-prone dietary staples could cause acute hepatic necrosis, acute liver failure, and death. Here, as the cheaper, more straightforward, and facile on-site diagnostic kit is needed, we report an ultraviolet-excitable optical aptasensor based on a fluorinated ethylene propylene film strip. Molecular dynamics on the aptamer.AFB1 complex revealed that the AFB1 to the aptamer increases the overall structural stability, suggesting that the aptamer design is suitable for the intended application. Under various influencing factors, the proposed label-free strategy offers a fast 20-min on-site fabrication simplicity and 19-day shelf-life. The one-pot incubation provides an alternative to catalytic detection and exhibited 4 times reusability. The recovery of crude brown sugar, processed peanuts, and long-grain rice were 102.74 ± 0.41 (n = 3), 86.90 ± 3.38 (n = 3), and 98.50 ± 0.42 (n = 3), comparable to High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Photodiode Array Detector results. This study is novel owing to the peculiar UV-active spectrum fingerprint and the convenient use of hydrophobic film strips that could promote breakthrough innovations and new frontiers for on-site/forensic detection of environmental pollutants.

Abstract: Karst forest represents a distinct landscape with highly alkaline soil and limestone rocks. This specialized topography supports many unique species of plants and animals. Thus, documenting species in this [...]

Una de las estructuras con mayor incidencia en cuanto a su lesión es el ligamento cruzado anterior. Estas lesiones son más frecuentes en deportistas que a menudo realizan deportes que involucran movimientos de desaceleración, freno, salto y torsión. La reconstrucción del ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA) es uno de los procedimientos más realizados en las cirugías de la rodilla. La investigación fue de tipo retrospectivo, de corte transversal y descriptivo y se realizó en el CMDT durante el período desde enero del año 2017 hasta octubre del año 2024 El 61,9% de los pacientes tuvo evolución satisfactoria, un 38,1% presentó inestabilidad residual o fallo de la reconstrucción ALL. La edad predominante fue de 31 a 50 años con un 27,3%. El género que predominó fue el masculino con 66,7%, el lado más afectado fue el izquierdo con 58,3%. La escala funcional de Lyshoml alcanzó un valor de 0,895 pero no fue tan significativa con respecto al valor anterior. La escala Eva obtuvo un valor postoperatorio de 0,501 que aunque está por encima del valor esperado, no es tan significativa con respecto al valor anterior. Se concluye que el mayor porcentaje de pacientes sometidos a reconstrucción del ligamento anterolateral de la rodilla, evolucionaron satisfactoriamente, la funcionalidad se midió con la escala Lyshoml y la intensidad del dolor con la escala EVA, ambas rportaron variaciones pero no fueron significativas como se esperaba. No se observaron pacientes que fueran reintervenidos por inestabilidad residual o fallo de la reconstrucción del ligamento anterolateral de la rodilla.

Collagenase enzyme is a type of protease enzyme. The activity of an enzyme is affected by substrate, temperature, inhibitor, and pH. One of the sources of enzymes is the internal organs of fish, namely the gut. This study aims to determine the activity of the collagenase enzyme at different temperatures. The experimental design used was randomized and full non-factorial. The treatments used were different incubation temperatures (50, 55, and 60oC) with three replications. Parameter analysis comprised fish proportion, enzyme activity, and dissolved protein. The results showed that the parts of the yellow pike conger fish were meat (64.25%), bones (19.98%), internal organs (including intestines) (4.50%), and skin (6.30%). Collagenase enzyme activity at temperatures 50, 55, and 60oC was 1.154, 1.702, and 0.667 U/mL, respectively. The dissolved proteins content was 12.89 mg/mL. The optimum temperature of the collagenase enzyme from the fish gut was 55oC with an enzyme activity of 1,702 U/mL. The dissolved protein content of the gut yellow pike conger extract was 12.89 mg/mL Purification of the collagenase enzyme from of the gut yellow pike conger was needed to obtain a higher enzyme activity value.

Foundation: cervical cancer emerges as a relevant concern, given its high incidence and impact on women's health, on a global scale. In recent years, in Ecuador, there has been an increase in new cases of cervical cancer. Objective: identify the relationship between some risk factors for cervical cancer according to the degrees of aggressiveness. Method: an observational, analytical and cross-sectional study was carried out. The population was made up of 224 patients from a hospital in the Amazon region of Ecuador. To identify the relationship between the variables age and body mass index, the analysis of variance test was used, while the X2 test was used for the variables: family history and smoking. Results: 3 patients with grade 1 of cervical cancer; 97 patients with grade 2 and 124 with grade 3, were identified. 62,05 % were 35 years old or older, 69,64 % of the patients were overweight or obese, 49,11 % had a family history of cervical cancer and 51,34 %, smoking. An association was found between the degree of aggressiveness of cervical cancer and body mass index (F = 3,440; p = 0,034), family history of cervical cancer (X2 = 10,618; p < 0,005) and smoking (X2 = 18,109; p < 0,001). Conclusions: a higher incidence of cervical cancer was found in women over 35 years of age. Factors such as body mass index, family history of cervical cancer and smoking showed a relationship with the grade of cancer.

Foundation: sexual life disorders can negatively affect self-esteem and social relationships, especially in patients undergoing gynecological surgery and oncological treatment. Objective: to evaluate sexuality in women diagnosed with ovarian cancer, with central interest in changes in sexual function, sexual desire, sexual satisfaction and sexual problems related to the disease and its treatment. Method: a descriptive and correlational, longitudinal and retrospective study was carried out that covered the period from 2018 to 2021. The population under study were female patients from the gynecological outpatient clinics of a private hospital. A total of 187 patients were included as study objects. The sample corresponded to the universe. The fundamental technique for data collection was the questionnaire. Several anonymous and voluntary instruments were applied: Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire, Beck Depression Scale and Sense of Quality of Life Questionnaire. Nominal qualitative variables were defined to establish sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, marital status, educational level, race and occupational level) and quantitative variables to define the attributes of the members according to their situation before treatment (time elapsed since diagnosis and amount according to type of treatment). The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis, including correlation calculations using Cramer's V coefficient. Results: a relationship was found between sexual satisfaction and all areas of quality of life in patients undergoing oncological treatment. The strongest relationship was with the subjective sphere of the patients. A significant association was also observed between the absence of depressive symptoms and sexual satisfaction, in addition, a significant deterioration in sexual satisfaction in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Conclusions: the significant impact of depression on sexual satisfaction supports the need to address depressive symptoms to improve patients' sexual sphere. The inclusion of a psycho-oncologist in the healthcare system could contribute to a faster recovery of patients in their normal sexual life.

This study delves into the attitudes of educators toward online teaching, their technological proficiency, and access to technology, with a particular emphasis on examining potential gender distinctions. Employing a quantitative-descriptive-correlational research design, this research meticulously examines the intricate relationships among these variables. The primary objectives of this investigation involve scrutinizing teachers' attitudes toward online instruction, evaluating their technological competency, and gauging their accessibility to technology. The results reveal that, by and large, teachers exhibit a moderately favorable disposition toward online teaching, signifying their eagerness to embrace this pedagogical approach. Furthermore, these educators demonstrate a commendable level of technological competence, showcasing their adeptness in harnessing technology for instructional purposes. In the context of technological accessibility, most teachers report encountering minimal impediments; however, science teachers disclose relatively restricted access.A gender-based analysis of the data suggested a notable absence of significant disparities in attitudes, technological proficiency, and access between male and female educators. This finding substantiates the assertion that gender exerts a negligible influence on shaping teachers' perspectives regarding online teaching and their technological adeptness. Moreover, this research revealed a substantial positive correlation between teachers' attitudes toward online teaching and their technological competence, as well as their access to technology. This implies that educators endowed with enhanced technological proficiency and enhanced access are more likely to harbor favorable attitudes toward online teaching.The implications of these findings underscore the paramount significance of supporting teachers in augmenting their technological competence while simultaneously ensuring equitable access to technology resources. These two factors emerge as pivotal catalysts for facilitating the seamless integration of online teaching into contemporary education. In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, where online instruction has become indispensable, the imperative for ongoing professional development and support has become unmistakably evident. This study calls for a sustained commitment to nurturing and further enhancing teachers' affirmative attitudes toward online teaching to effectively navigate the ever-evolving landscape of education.

Creating info-posters or infographics on science themes, topics, or issues can be used to teach skills that develop students' creativity and ability to communicate science to the public. The ability to transmit scientific data to a generalist audience or a certain target group is one of the soft skills that need to be cultivated among our students. This article presents simple assessment tasks to create info-posters or infographics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel contamination is a serious environmental issue that requires immediate action. In this study, 23 strains of Trichoderma were isolated from terrestrial and marine environments and identified using a polyphasic approach of morphological characterization and ITS gene sequence analysis. The Trichoderma strains were tested for their tolerance and biosorption of nickel. Our results showed the growth of all Trichoderma strains on Trichoderma Selective Medium (TSM) with 50-1200-ppm nickel, indicating their tolerance of this heavy metal even at a relatively high concentration. Six Trichoderma strains (three isolated from terrestrial substrates and three from marine substates) had the highest radial growth on TSM with 50-ppm Ni. Among these fungal isolates, Trichoderma asperellum (S03) isolated from soil exhibited the best growth after 2 days of incubation. For the biosorption of nickel, the accumulation or uptake efficiency by the six selected Trichoderma was determined in Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB) supplemented with 50-ppm Ni using a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The percent uptake efficiency of the three strains of T. asperellum (S03, S08, and LL14) was computed to be up to 66%, while Trichoderma virens (SG18 and SF22) and Trichoderma inhamatum (MW25) achieved up to 68% uptake efficiency. Observation of the Trichoderma strains with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) before and after the absorption of nickel showed very minimal damage on the hyphal and conidial surface morphology, but changes in the colonial characteristics were observed. Our study highlighted the potential of terrestrial and marine strains of Trichoderma for the bioremediation of nickel pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The culture-based approach was used to characterize the fungal endophytes associated with the coralloid roots of the endemic Cycas debaoensis and Cycas fairylakea from various population sites in China. We aim to determine if the assemblages of fungal endophytes inside these endemic plant hosts are distinct and could be explored for bioprospecting. The isolation method yielded a total of 284 culturable fungal strains. Identification based on the analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA showed that they belonged to two phyla, five classes, eight orders and 22 families. At least 33 known genera and 62 different species were confirmed based on >97% ITS sequence similarity. The most frequent and observed core taxa in the two host species regardless of their population origin were Talaromyces, Penicillium, Fusarium, Pochonia and Gliocladiopsis. Seventy percent was a rare component of the fungal communities with only one or two recorded isolates. Contrary to common notions, diversity and fungal richness were significantly higher in C. debaoensis and C. fairylakea collected from a botanical garden, while the lowest was observed in C. debaoensis from a natural habitat; this provides evidence that garden management, and to a minor extent, ex-situ conservation practice, could influence fungal endophyte communities. We further selected nineteen fungal isolates and screened for their antagonistic activities via a co-cultivation approach against the phytopathogens, Diaporthe sp. and Colletotrichum sp. Among these, five isolates with high ITS similarity matches with Hypoxylon vinosupulvinatum (GD019, 99.61%), Penicillium sp. (BD022, 100%), Penicillifer diparietisporus (GD008, 99.46%), Clonostachys rogersoniana (BF024, 99.46%) and C. rosea (BF011, 99.1%), which showed exceptional antagonistic activities against the phytopathogenic fungi with a significant inhibition rate of 70–80%. Taken together, our data presented the first and most comprehensive molecular work on culturable fungal endophytes associated with the coralloid roots of cycads. Our study also demonstrated that about 5% of fungal endophytes were not detected by the high-throughput sequencing approach, implying the equal importance of a culture-dependent approach to study fungal communities of cycads. We further highlighted the potential role of endemic and rare plants to discover and isolate unique plant-associated fungal taxa with excellent biocontrol properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cycads have developed a complex root system categorized either as normal or coralloid roots. Past literatures revealed that a great diversity of key microbes is associated with these roots. This recent study aims to comprehensively determine the diversity and community structure of bacteria and fungi associated with the roots of two Cycas spp. endemic to China, Cycas debaoensis Zhong & Chen and Cycas fairylakea D.Y. Wang using high-throughput amplicon sequencing of the full-length 16S rRNA (V1-V9 hypervariable) and short fragment ITS region. The total DNA from 12 root samples were extracted, amplified, sequenced, and analyzed. Resulting sequences were clustered into 61 bacteria and 2128 fungal OTUs. Analysis of community structure revealed that the coralloid roots were dominated mostly by the nitrogen-fixer Nostocaceae but also contain other non-diazotrophic bacteria. The sequencing of entire 16S rRNA gene identified four different strains of cyanobacteria under the heterocystous genera Nostoc and Desmonostoc. Meanwhile, the top bacterial families in normal roots were Xanthobacteraceae, Burkholderiaceae, and Bacillaceae. Moreover, a diverse fungal community was also found in the roots of cycads and the predominating families were Ophiocordycipitaceae, Nectriaceae, Bionectriaceae, and Trichocomaceae. Our results demonstrated that bacterial diversity in normal roots of C. fairylakea is higher in richness and abundance than C. debaoensis. On the other hand, a slight difference, albeit insignificant, was noted for the diversity of fungi among root types and host species as the number of shared taxa is relatively high (67%). Our results suggested that diverse microbes are present in roots of cycads which potentially interact together to support cycads survival. Our study provided additional knowledge on the microbial diversity and composition in cycads and thus expanding our current knowledge on cycad-microbe association. Our study also considered the possible impact of ex situ conservation on cyanobiont community of cycads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]