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The valorization of industrial waste streams generated in vast quantities is becoming an increa-singly prominent priority in line with the principles of circular economy. One potential avenue for utilizing food industry waste streams lies in the production of microbial agents with biocontrol and PGP (plant-growth promotion) properties. Bacillus species, given their broad spectrum of bioactive metabolites, exhibit significant potential in the production of such bioagents. The aim of this study was to investigate the circular economy approach by utilizing whey from dairy industry, meat processing wastewater and digestate obtained from biogas production using solid meat industry effluents, as potential bases for media used to cultivate Bacillus sp. BioSol021 and to investigate their biocontrol activity against pepper black spot causal agent, Xanthomonas euvesicatoria, as well as their PGP effects in the pepper seed germination phase. The highest antimicrobial activity, tested using the disc diffusion method, was observed in the whey-based cultivation broth sample after 96 hours of cultivation. Pepper seeds treated with cultivation broth of Bacillus sp. BioSol021 based on meat industry wastewater exhibited the best results in terms of germination rate (80%), root length (10.40 mm) and shoot length (6.20 mm). The results of this study confirm the suitability of whey, meat industry waste-water, and biogas production digestate as the potential cultivation media components for producing Bacillus-based biocontrol and PGP agents for a more sustainable agricultural practice.

Winery wastewater arising from different wine production phases poses a significant environmental threat and economic burden for wine producers considering the legislative requirements regarding the obligatory wastewater treatment. Taking into account the high amount of organic and inorganic nutrients suitable for microbial growth being present in the winery wastewater, the aim of this study was to investigate a possible valorisation route for barrel washing winery wastewater through production of microbial biocontrol agents based on Bacillus sp. The produced biocontrol agents were tested against bacterial and fungal plant pathogens, including Xanthomonas campestris, Xanthomonas euvesicatoria and Aspergillus flavus. The results of in vitro antimicrobial activity testing have shown the high potential of barrel washing winery wastewater to be used as substrate for Bacillus sp. growth, considering that inhibition zone diameters of biocontrol agents based on waste substrate were even higher compared to commercial synthetic medium in case of Aspergillus flavus suppression. This study opens a possibility to further optimize bioprocess conditions including valorisation of barrel washing winery wastewater to maximize antimicrobial activity of the produced biocontrol agents and contribute to the increase of cost-effectiveness of both wine and biocontrol agent’s production.

In this study, the influence of cultivation time on xanthan biosynthesis by different Xanthomonas strains, reference strain and crucifers’ and pepper leaves’ isolates, was examined. Biopolymer was produced by submerged cultivation of fourteen producing strains on medium with glycerol as a sole carbon source. Each experiment was performed at a laboratory level under aerobic conditions at 30°C and 150 rpm for 168 h and 240 h. Bioprocess efficacy was estimated based on the xanthan quantity and its average molecular weight that was selected as quality parameter. According to the obtained results, it can be concluded that all applied strains have a statistically significant effect on xanthan concentration in medium and on its average molecular weight, while cultivation time significantly affect the bioprocess efficacy only when biosynthesis is performed by Xanthomonas strains isolated from crucifers. Further, when only Xanthomonas strains isolated from crucifers are observed, statistically obtained data suggest that the largest amount of the best quality xanthan in applied experimental conditions can be accomplished by the cultivation of CB strain for 240 h. On the other hand, when it comes to Xanthomonas strains isolated from pepper leaves, the highest productivity is shown by PL 2, PL 4 and PL 5 strains regardless of the cultivation time, while the PL 3 strain was responsible for the synthesis of biopolymers with the highest average molecular weight. The results obtained in this study represent valuable information for development of biotechnological process for xanthan production on glycerol containing media using new producing strain.

Apple fruit diseases caused by phytopathogenic species of the genus Alternaria have become current in recent years in Serbia as well as in other parts of the world. Due to the fact that pesticides have a number of side effects on the environment and human health, scientists around the world are concerned with finding alternative ways to control this important food. Usage of microorganisms, optimization of the medium and process conditions for their cultivation and production of biofungicides are the actual research direction. The effect of aeration on biofungicide production by Streptomyces hygroscopicus was studied in a 3 l stirred tank bioreactor using a previously optimized cultivation medium with glycerol as a carbon source. Aeration rates of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 vvm with constant agita­tion speed of 100 rpm were studied. It was found that the greatest production of antifungal metabolites effective against two Alternaria alternata isolates occurred with an aeration of 1.5 vvm and an agitation speed of 100 rpm. Statistical analysis showed that the largest inhi­bition zone diameters of A. alternata KA10 (78 mm) and T1Jg3 (78.67 mm) mycelial growth were achieved under the indicated conditions in 96 h of cultivation.

Xanthomonas euvesicatoria is a worldwide causer of pepper bacterial spot, a bacterial plant disease responsible for massive losses of fresh pepper fruits. Considering the current problems in management of bacterial plant diseases, biological control using antagonistic microbial strains with high potential for plant pathogens suppression emerges as a possible solution. The aim of this study was to select suitable antagonists for suppression of X. euvesicatoria among the bacteria, yeast and fungi from the genera Pseudomonas, Lactobacillus, Saccharomyces and Trichoderma, based on in vitro antimicrobial activity testing using the diffusion disc method. The results of this study have revealed that cultivation broth samples of the antagonists Lactobacillus MK3 and Trichoderma reseii QM 9414, as well as supernatant samples of the antagonist Pseudomonas aeruginosa I128, have showed significant potential to be applied in biological control of X. euvesicatoria. Further research would be required to formulate suitable cultivation medium and optimize bioprocess conditions for production of the proposed pepper bacterial spot biocontrol agents.

Xanthan is the most important microbial exopolysaccharide used in different branches of food and non-food industry. Due to high consumption of glucose and sucrose, usually utilized carbon sources in many bioprocesses, the most prominent research in xanthan production is related to the isolation of new xanthan producing strains capable to metabolize other carbon sources and to produce xanthan with characteristics appropriate for usage in food industry. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of variation of carbon sources in cultivation media on xanthan production by reference strain Xanthomonas campestris ATCC 13951 and five Xanthomonas strains isolated from infected pepper leaves. Bioprocess efficacy was estimated based on the quantity and quality of biosynthesized xanthan. The obtained results show that both, the selection of the carbon source and selection of producing strain have a statistically significant effect on bioprocess efficacy whereby the influence of carbon sources on the analyzed parameters is more pronounced. It was confirmed that Xanthomonas strains responsible for the production of a large amount of xanthan are not suitable for biosynthesis of good-quality biopolymer. Taking into account all results it can be concluded that the greatest potential in biotechnological xanthan production has strain PFNS PL4 and glucose or starch containing media which is the basis for further research.

Effect of fungicide treatments on Fusarium head blight (FHB) and grain yield of wheat depending on application technique i.e. use of different nozzle types, was evaluated in the study. Nozzles types TJ 11004, Albuz ATR 8004 and Arag TFA 11004 were used for application of systemic fungicide Duett Ultra (0.5 l/ha). FHB intensity (%) was determined on the basis of a visual assessment of the number of infected heads and the perecentage of the disease symptoms on the individual head. Differences in grain yield between the treated variants, as well as between the treated and untreated variants, were determined after hand threshing. The lowest percentage of FHB development in wheat and the highest yield were recorded in variants where fungicides were applied by nozzle type ATR 8004. Application technique directly affects the reduction of fusarium head blight in wheat and indirectly it also reduces yield loss.

Biotechnologically produced antifungal compounds for control of plant diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi represent a promising alternative to synthetic pesticides. Fungi from the genera Alternaria and Fusarium are listed among important storage pathogens of apple fruits. A. alternata causes significant annual losses of apple fruit. Also, F. avenaceum is one of the most commonly encountered Fusarium species identified as the causal agent of a wet apple core rot. Species of the Streptomyces genera are soil bacteria that produce significant quantities of bioactive compounds in appropriate media. Defining the culture medium composition is the basis of bioprocesses development. Nitrogen source is critical component of cultivation medium and also the most useful tool for stimulation of the antifungal metabolites production. The aim of this study was to select the best nitrogen sources in medium for the production of antifungal compounds effective against A. alternata and F. avenaceum by S. hygroscopicus. Activity of the cultivation liquids on A. alternata and F. avenaceum isolates was tested in vitro using well diffusion method. The results in­dicate that maximum inhibition zone was reached in medium with soybean meal as nitrogen source with inhibition diameter more than 35 mm for both tested fungi. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. TR-31002]

The application of antifungal compounds produced by microorganisms in the control of plant diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi is a promising alternative to synthetic pesticides. Among phytopathogenic fungi, Alternaria alternata and Fusarium avenaceum are significant pathogens responsible for the storage rot of apple fruits. During storage, transport and marketing A. alternata and F. avenaceum can cause significant losses of apple fruits and their control is of great importance for the producers and consumers. In the present study, the effects of agitation rate on the production of antifungal methabolite( s) by Streptomyces hygroscopicus in a 3-L lab-scale bioreactor (Biostat® Aplus, Sartorius AG, Germany) against two isolates of A. alternata and two isolates of F. avenaceum were investigated. The cultivation of S. hygroscopicus was carried out at 27°C with agitation rates of 100 rpm and 200 rpm during 7 days. The aim was to analyze the bioprocess parameters of biofungicide production in a medium containing glycerol as a carbon source, and examine the effect of agitation rate on the production of antifungal metabolite(s). The in vitro antifungal activity of the produced metabolites against fungi from the genera Alternaria and Fusarium grown on potato dextrose agar medium was determined every 24 h using wells technique. In the experiments conducted in the bioreactor at different stirring speeds, it was found that the maximum production of antifungal metabolites occurred after 96 hours of cultivation. A higher consumption of nutrients and a larger inhibition zone diameter was registered in the experiment with an agitation rate of 200 rpm. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. TR-31002]