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BackgroundFungal pathogens significantly impact the quality of fruits and vegetables at different stages of the supply chain, leading to substantial food losses. Understanding how these persistent fungal infections occur and progress in postharvest conditions is essential to developing effective control strategies.ResultsIn this study, we developed a reliable and consistent inoculation protocol to simulate disease spread from infected fruits to adjacent healthy fruits during postharvest storage. We tested different combinations of relevant fruit commodities, including oranges, tomatoes, and apples, against impactful postharvest pathogens such as Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum, Botrytis cinerea, and Penicillium expansum. We assessed the efficacy of this protocol using fruits treated with various postharvest methods and multiple isolates for each pathogen. We optimized the source of infected tissue and incubation conditions for each fruit-pathogen combination. Disease incidence and severity were quantitatively evaluated to study infection success and progression. At the final evaluation point, 80% or higher disease incidence rates were observed in all trials except for the fungicide-treated oranges inoculated with fungicide-susceptible Penicillium spp. isolates. Although disease incidence was lower in that particular scenario, it is noteworthy that the pathogen was still able to establish itself under unfavorable conditions, indicating the robustness of our methodology. Finally, we used multispectral imaging to detect early P. digitatum infections in oranges before the disease became visible to the naked eye but after the pathogen was established.ConclusionsWe developed a non-invasive inoculation strategy that can be used to recreate infections caused by contact or nesting in postharvest. The observed high disease incidence and severity values across fruit commodities and fungal pathogens demonstrate the robustness, efficacy, and reproducibility of the developed methodology. The protocol has the potential to be tailored for other pathosystems. Additionally, this approach can facilitate the study of fruit-pathogen interactions and the assessment of innovative control strategies.

One new 2,5-DKP derivative O-dihydroxycyclopenol (1) and seven known congeners 2–8 were isolated from the marine fungus Penicillium sp. ZJUT-34 cultured on rice medium. The planar structure of 1 was established by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D, 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS, while the relative configuration of 1 was determined by quantum chemical calculation. In the QS inhibitory assay, 1 significantly inhibited the production of violacein in Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC12472 (20.65%) at a concentration of 6.25 μg/mL without affecting the growth of the strain, as compared with norharmane (22.14%), a quorum sensing inhibitor (QSI) identified in our previous study. It represented the first report on the QS inhibitory activity of the seven-membered 2,5-DKPs. In addition, compounds 1–8 were subjected to antibacterial assay against six pathogenic bacteria Compound 8 exhibited comparable antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis FA2-2 (MIC = 96 μg/mL) with the positive control gentamicin (MIC = 80 μg/mL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lichens are symbiotic organisms comprised of mycobionts and photobiont partners. They are known to produce bioactive secondary metabolites and most of these are biosynthesized by mycobionts. Investigations of cultures of isolated lichen-associated fungi have shown promise for the discovery of cytotoxic compounds. Thus, the lichen-associated fungus Penicillium aurantiacobrunneum was studied for its potential to produce novel compounds and the new sterols (20 S *)-hydroxy-24(28)-dehydrocampesterol (1), 7α-methoxy-8β-hydroxypaxisterol (2), 14- nor -epicoccarine A (3) and 14- nor -epicoccarine B (4), as well as the known compound PF1140 (5), were isolated. The structures of these compounds were elucidated using methods including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS). Following cytotoxicity assays, compound 1 demonstrated activity against the pancreatic adenocarcinoma epithelial HPAC cell line at 17.76 ± 5.35 μM. Since the structures of compounds 3 and 4 were very similar to tetramic acid derivatives that were reported to be biosynthesized from a polyketide synthase- non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (PKS-NRPS) hybrid pathway, a plausible biosynthetic route for production in P. aurantiacobrunneum is proposed herein. [Display omitted] • Two new sterols (1 and 2) and two new epicoccarine derivatives (3 and 4) are described. • These were produced by Penicillium aurantiacobrunneum, of the lichen Niebla homalea. • (20 S *)-Hydroxy-24(28)-dehydrocampesterol (1) was weakly cytotoxic against the HPAC pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line. • A plausible biogenetic route was proposed for the formation of the epicoccarine derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Griseofulvin (GF), which is mainly extracted from Penicillium griseofulvum, is a heat-resistant, chlorine-containing non-polyene antifungal antibiotic. Previous research shows that GF has a variety of pharmacological effects, such as antiinflammatory, antifungal, antiviral, and antitumor effects. In recent years, GF has received extensive attention for its antitumor effects as a natural compound, offering a low price, a wide range of uses, and other beneficial characteristics. However, no comprehensive review of GF pharmacological activity in tumors has been published so far. In order to fully elucidate the antitumor activities of GF, this review focuses on the antitumor potential and toxicity of GF and its derivatives, based on a literature search using PubMed, Web of Science, and other databases, to lay a good foundation for further research of GF and the development of new drugs for antitumor activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have reported the functional role, biochemical features and synthesis pathway of podophyllotoxin (PTOX) in plants. In this study, we employed combined morphological and molecular techniques to identify an endophytic fungus and extract PTOX derivatives. Based on the analysis of ITS sequences and the phylogenetic tree, the isolate was classified as Penicillium herquei HGN12.1C, with a sequence identity of 98.58%. Morphologically, the HGN12.1C strain exhibits white colonies, short‐branched mycelia and densely packed hyphae. Using PacBio sequencing at an average read depth of 195×, we obtained a high‐quality genome for the HGN12.1C strain, which is 34.9 Mb in size, containing eight chromosomes, one mitochondrial genome and a GC content of 46.5%. Genome analysis revealed 10 genes potentially involved in PTOX biosynthesis. These genes include VdtD, Pinoresinollariciresinol reductase (PLR), Secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase (SDH), CYP719A23, CYP71BE54, O‐methyltransferase 1 (OMT1), O‐methyltransferase 3 (OMT3), 2‐ODD, CYP71CU and CYP82D61. Notably, the VdtD gene in fungi shares functional similarities with the DIR gene found in plants. Additionally, we identified peltatin, a PTOX derivative, in the HGN12.1C extract. Docking analysis suggests a potential role for the 2‐ODD enzyme in converting yatein to deoxypodophyllotoxin. These findings offer invaluable insights into the synthesis mechanism of PTOX in fungi, shedding light on the relationship between host plants and endophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high cost of cellulolytic enzyme complexes (CECs) has been a significant impediment to the commercial production of bioproducts from lignocellulose biomass. This study aimed to develop a cost‐effective CEC derived from Penicillium ucsense (former Penicillium echinulatum), utilizing diverse forms of pretreated sugarcane bagasse as the primary carbon/inductor source. Among the different pretreatments used, the hydrothermal pretreatment followed by NaOH delignification (BHD) produced higher FPase and xylanase activities (4.5 FPU mL–1 and 120 IU mL–1) in bioreactor experiments at 20 g BHD L–1 initial concentration. A batch‐mode assay conducted across a range of initial carbon source (5 to 60 g L–1) confirmed the highest FPase activity (4.0 to 5.0 FPU mL–1 at 120 h), in the range of 20–40 g BHD L–1. During these assays the agitation rate, controlled by dissolved O2, tended to stabilize at lower levels, indicating substrate limitation. Conversely, higher initial carbon source concentrations led to an excess of glucose, likely triggering carbon catabolite repression and inhibiting cellulase production. This insight prompted the development of a controlled pulsed fed‐batch strategy, resulting in FPase activity of 11 FPU mL–1 at 220 h using 90 g L–1 BHD controlled fed into the bioreactor. An enzymatic hydrolysis procedure using the generated CEC was also optimized using a central composite rotational design (CCRD). The optimized enzyme hydrolysis conditions achieved a reducing sugar concentration of 80.9 g L–1 in 48 h using 170 g L–1 of BHD as the substrate at a ratio of 15 FPU of enzyme substrate per g of BHD. A preliminary economic assessment demonstrated that, for a first‐ and second‐generation (1G + 2G) ethanol biorefinery, the cost contribution of enzymes would be about US$0.2/L of biofuel. In conclusion, an efficient and highly productive procedure was developed successfully for the production of a CEC. It was particularly effective for the enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated sugarcane bagasse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Fresh ginseng is typically accompanied by soil after harvest, leading to contamination with harmful fungi during storage and distribution. In this study, we investigated the incidence of fungal contamination in fresh ginseng (5–6 years old) purchased from 22 different stores in Geumsan, Korea. RESULTS: The incidence of fungal contamination in the samples was 67.4–111.5%. Fusarium solani was the most abundant species in the head (38.5%) and fine root (19.3%) parts of the ginseng samples, whereas F. oxysporum was the most abundant in the main root (22.0%) part. We isolated Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium spp. (total number of isolates: 395) from the ginseng samples, and 138 isolates were identified using phylogenetic analysis. Polymerase chain reaction‐based screening of 65 mycotoxin‐producing species revealed that two P. expansum isolates were positive for citrinin and/or patulin, and five F. oxysporum isolates were positive for fumonisin biosynthesis gene. One P. expansum isolate produced 738.0 mg kg−1 patulin, and the other produced 10.4 mg kg−1 citrinin and 12.0 mg kg−1 patulin on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. Among the 47 representative F. oxysporum isolates, 43 (91.5%) produced beauvericin (0.1–15.4 mg kg−1) and four of them (8.5%) produced enniatin B and enniatin B1 (0.1–1.8 mg kg−1) as well. However, none of these toxins was detected in fresh ginseng samples. CONCLUSION: Fusarium solani and F. oxysporum were the most abundant species in fresh ginseng samples. Most F. oxysporum (43) and P. expansum (2) strains isolated from fresh ginseng produced beauvericin and enniatins (B and B1), and patulin or citrinin, respectively, on PDA medium. This is the first report of the mycotoxigenic potential of P. expansum and F. oxysporum strains isolated from fresh ginseng. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new C23-steroids derivatives, cyclocitrinoic acid A (1) and cyclocitrinoic acid B (2), and a new isocoumarin metabolite, (3R,4S)-6,8-dihydroxy-3,4,5-trimethyl-7-carboxamidelisocoumarin (10), together with 12 known compounds (3–9, 11–15) were isolated from the mangrove-sediment fungus Penicillium sp. SCSIO 41429. The structures of the new compounds were comprehensively characterized by 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS and ECD calculation. All isolates were evaluated for pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibitory and antioxidant activities. The biological evaluation results revealed that compounds 2, 14 and 15 displayed weak or moderate inhibition against PL, with IC50 values of 32.77, 5.15 and 2.42 µM, respectively. In addition, compounds 7, 12 and 13 showed radical scavenging activities against DPPH, with IC50 values of 64.70, 48.13, and 75.54 µM, respectively. In addition, molecular docking results indicated that these compounds had potential for PL inhibitory and antioxidant activities, which provided screening candidates for antioxidants and a reduction in obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new α-pyrone derivatives, annularins L–N (1–3), were isolated from the EtOAc extract of Penicillium herquei MA-370, a fungus obtained from the rhizospheric soil of the mangrove plant Rhizophora mucronata. The planar structures of compounds 1–3 were determined based on comprehensive spectral interpretation of the NMR and MS data. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by X-ray crystallographic data and that of 2 was assigned by TDDFT calculations of its ECD spectrum and cotton effects comparison with those of 1. The antimicrobial activity of compounds 1–3 was evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of biopesticides in many industries can be hampered due to their high volatility, susceptibility to degradation when exposed to light or microbial activity, and reduced activity when exposed to stressful environmental conditions. Microencapsulation of biopesticides is a promising technique to solve and address such problems. This study aimed to encapsulate and characterize the extracts produced by Penicillium chrysogenum R1 and evaluate their antifungal activity in the plant assay. The capsules were prepared with a chitosan (0.5 mg/mL) and sodium alginate solution (2% w/v), and 20% (v/v) cell‐free extract recovered from the P. chrysogenum R1 fermentation. The capsules were synthesized in a 2.5% CaCl2 solution at room temperature. The capsules were characterized by DLS and SEM. To determine the efficiency of the free and encapsulated extract, they were applied to tomato plants infected with Fusarium oxysporum. Once the symptoms were observed, the severity and incidence of the disease, as well as the morphological parameters were evaluated. such as dry weight of aerial and root biomass, plant height, root length, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, and number of leaflets. The extract produced by P. chrysogenum R1 was encapsulated in chitosan/alginate capsules with a size range of around 300 nm. The free and encapsulated extracts allowed to efficiently control the disease caused by F. oxysporum and the development of the plants. Therefore, the extract produced by P. chrysogenum R1 encapsulated in chitosan/alginate can effectively control tomato vascular wilt caused by F. oxysporum under greenhouse conditions, promoting plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue mold, caused by Penicillium italicum, is one of the main postharvest diseases of citrus fruits during storage and marketing. The pathogenic mechanism remains largely unclear. To explore the potential pathogenesis-related genes of this pathogen, a T-DNA insertion library of P. italicum PI5 was established via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT). The system yielded 200–250 transformants per million conidia, and the transformants were genetically stable after five generations of successive subcultures on hygromycin-free media. 2700 transformants were obtained to generate a T-DNA insertion library of P. italicum. Only a few of the 200 randomly selected mutants exhibited significantly weakened virulence on citrus fruits, with two mutants displaying attenuated sporulation. The T-DNA in the two mutants existed as a single copy. Moreover, the mutant genes PiBla (PITC_048370) and PiFTF1 (PITC_077280) identified may be involved in conidia production by regulating expressions of the key regulatory components for conidiogenesis. These results demonstrated that the ATMT system is useful to obtain mutants of P. italicum for further investigation of the molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity and the obtained two pathogenesis-related genes might be novel loci associated with pathogenesis and conidia production. Highlights: •The ATMT approach has been optimised to construct mutant library of P. italcum. •Two mutants deficient in conidia production with reduced pathogenicity on citrus. •The corresponding mutant genes were identified as PiBla and PiFTF1, respectively. •The expression of three key regulators of conidiogenesis was altered in the mutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Penicillium oxalicum is an important fungal agent in the composting of cattle manure, but the changes that occur in the microbial community, physicochemical factors, and potential functions of microorganisms at different time points are still unclear. To this end, the dynamic changes occurring in the microbial community and physicochemical factors and their correlations during the composting of cattle manure with Penicillium oxalicum were analysed. Results: The results showed that the main phyla observed throughout the study period were Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Halanaerobiaeota, Apicomplexa and Ascomycota. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) illustrated that Chitinophagales and Eurotiomycetes were biomarker species of bacteria and eukaryote in samples from Days 40 and 35, respectively. Bacterial community composition was significantly correlated with temperature and pH, and eukaryotic microorganism community composition was significantly correlated with moisture content and NH4+-N according to redundancy analysis (RDA). The diversity of the microbial communities changed significantly, especially that of the main pathogenic microorganisms, which showed a decreasing trend or even disappeared after composting. Conclusions: In conclusion, a combination of high-throughput sequencing and physicochemical analysis was used to identify the drivers of microbial community succession and the composition of functional microbiota during cattle manure composting with Penicillium oxalicum. The results offer a theoretical framework for explaining microecological assembly during cattle manure composting with Penicillium oxalicum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment aimed to study the screening, identification, and degradation efficiency of efficient lignindegrading strain in rape straw. A highly efficient lignin degrading strain MS25 was screened from the returned soil of rapeseed straw and identified as a Penicillium fungus. Based on single factor experiments and response surface methodology, the enzyme production characteristics was invstigated and the conditions of MS25 strain was optimized, and the lignin degradation ability was tested. The results showed that the optimal time for the strain to produce laccase (Lac) was 5 days, and the time to produce peroxidase (Lip) and manganese peroxidase (MnP) was 7 days. The best temperature was 50 ℃, the shaking table speed was 140 r/min, the carbon to nitrogen ratio was 15, and the most suitable pH value for producing MnP was 5, while the most suitable pH values for producing Lip and Lac were 6. The optimal enzyme production conditions after optimization were temperature of 50.22 ℃, carbon to nitrogen ratio of 12.29, and pH value of 6.21. Under these conditions, the activities of Lip, MnP, and Lac enzymes were 1 984.89, 774.87, and 291.74 U/L, respectively, which were 33.97%, 33.28%, and 40.35% higher than before optimization. Under optimal conditions, the lignin degradation rates of straw and fungal bran of the strains were 44.67% and 43.29%, respectively. The study indicates that strain MS25 can effectively degrade lignin and can be used as a high-quality microorganism for rape straw fermentation, and can be specifically applied in the field of feed production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites harmful to humans and animals. Patulin (PAT) is a toxin found in different food products but especially in apples and their derivative products. The most common fungi producers of this compound are Aspergillus clavatus and Penicillium expansum. The production of patulin, as other mycotoxins, can be impacted by diverse phenomena such as water and nutrient availability, UV exposure, and the presence of antagonistic organisms. Consequently, gaining a comprehensive understanding of climate and environmental conditions is a crucial step in combating patulin contamination. In this study, moulds were isolated from 40 apple samples collected from seven locations across Hungary: Csenger, Damak, Pallag, Lövőpetri, Nagykálló, and Újfehértó. A total of 183 moulds were morphologically identified, with 67 isolates belonging to the Alternaria, 45 to the Aspergillus, and 13 to the Penicillium groups. The location possessed a higher influence than farming method on the distribution of mould genera. Despite the requirement of higher temperature, Aspergillus species dominated only for the region of Újfehértó with approximately 50% of the isolates belonging to the genus. Four of the seven locations assessed: Csenger, Debrecen-Pallag, Nyírtass and Nagykálló, were dominated by Alternaria species. All isolates belonging to the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium were tested for the presence of the isoepoxidone dehydrogenase (idh) gene, a key player in the patulin metabolic pathway. To guarantee patulin production, this ability was confirmed with TLC assays. The only Aspergillus strain that presented a positive result was the strain Aspergillus clavatus B9/6, originated from the apple cultivar Golden Reinders grown in Debrecen-Pallag by integrated farming. Of the Penicillium isolates only one strain, B10/6, presented a band of the right size (500-600 bp) for the idh gene. Further sequencing of the ITS gene showed that this strain should be classified as Talaromyces pinophilus. The TLC tests confirmed this microorganism as the only patulin producer under the studied conditions for its cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarbeets are largely produced without irrigation, making drought stress inevitable when rainfall is insufficient. Whether drought stress impacts root storage, however, is currently unknown. Research was conducted to determine the effect of preharvest water stress on postharvest sugarbeet root respiration rate and susceptibility to storage rots as these traits are the primary determinants for sucrose loss and quality deterioration. Greenhouse‐grown plants were subjected to four levels of water deficit by discontinuing watering for 0, 7, 14 or 21 days prior to harvest. Plants receiving water‐restrictive treatments displayed physiological stress by leaf epinasty, reductions in net photosynthetic rate and leaf relative water content and increases in leaf temperature, whereas the water content of roots harvested from these plants progressively decreased with the severity of the preharvest water‐deficit treatment. Harvested roots from all watering treatments were stored at 10°C and 95% relative humidity for up to 12 weeks and evaluated for respiration rate and susceptibility to storage rot. Root respiration rate during storage was inversely related to root water content at harvest by second‐order equations, such that respiration was not significantly affected by minor reductions in root water content but increased exponentially for roots obtained from severely drought‐stressed plants with water contents at harvest of ≤75%. Similarly, roots with water contents ≤75% had elevated levels of electrolyte leakage, a measure of cellular membrane damage, and were more susceptible to dehydration and fungal infection during storage. In separate experiments, roots harvested from water‐stressed plants were inoculated with Botrytis cinerea or Penicillium vulpinum, two causal agents for storage rots. In these experiments, preharvest water stress quantitatively increased root rot and qualitatively altered symptoms of their infection. Overall, these results demonstrate that severe preharvest drought stress is likely to significantly increase sugarbeet root storage losses caused by root respiration and storage rots and that storage losses are likely to accelerate with time in storage. However, mild‐to‐moderate drought conditions prior to harvest are expected to have no or minimal effect on storage losses from root respiration or storage rots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that commonly occurring mold fungi have the ability to develop very quickly on the surface of wood chips and the ongoing studies on finding the ways to use degraded wood, the conducted research was aimed at determining the physical and mechanical properties of chipboards containing various amounts (0%, 30%, 50%, and 70%) of pine chips inoculated with Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi, varying in a degree of infestation. The inoculation did not cause significant changes in the chemical composition of chips; however, it caused a decrease in the pH of their surface after nine-week incubation. While using them, lowered pH caused a deterioration in the mechanical characteristics of the boards and increased their thickness swelling and water absorption. Moreover, no changes in density, formaldehyde content and decomposition by brown-rot fungi were found. Overall, it was concluded that the addition of partially infested chips did not significantly affect any properties of the board; however, in the case of complete overgrowth, the amount of degraded chips should be less than 30%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two pairs of new isobenzofuranone derivative enantiomers, (±)-penicifurans E (1) and (±)-penicifurans F (2), together with four know compounds (3–6) were isolated from the solid fermentation of Penicillium canescens DWS225. The structures of these enantiomers were elucidated by extensive NMR spectroscopic data, and their absolute configurations were assigned by the experimental and calculated ECD data. The neuroprotective effects of all the isolates against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion injury in pheochromocytoma-12 cells (PC12) were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Staphylococcus, Candida and Penicillium that had been isolated and purified from commercial salmon, chicken breast and citrus in our laboratory were used as target microorganisms to explore the sterilization effect and mechanism of applying negative ions in the 4 ℃ cold storage room of a refrigerator. The results showed that negative ion treatment was effective in killing Staphylococcus, Candida and Penicillium in the cold storage room, and this effect increased with sterilization time (when the sterilization time was extended from 0.5 to 2 h, the sterilization efficiency of negative ions on Staphylococcus increased from 92.61% to 99.29%, and the sterilization efficiency on Candida from 61.45% to 98.26%; when the sterilization time was 1 h, the colony growth of Penicillium could be completely inhibited). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation showed that negative ion treatment disrupted the structure of Staphylococcus, Candida and Penicillium cells, resulting in leakage of intracellular contents. After this treatment, the conductivity and absorbance values at 260 and 280 nm of the suspensions of Staphylococcus, Candida and Penicillium increased significantly, indicating that their cell integrity was damaged, resulting in leakage of intracellular nucleic acids and proteins. Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) staining showed that negative ion treatment significantly decreased the cell vitality of Candida and Penicillium. In addition, it completely inhibited the spore germination and germ tube formation of Penicillium. Therefore, negative ion treatment in the cold storage room of a refrigerator can destroy the cell integrity of Staphylococcus, Candida and Penicillium, reduce the cell vitality of Candida and Penicillium, and inhibit the spore germination and germ tube formation of Penicillium, thereby effectively killing these target microorganisms.

Relevance. Eating a natural product of seedlings can completely replenish the body with missing vitamins, but there are problems in obtaining seedlings – damage to seeds by a complex of phytopathogens. Obtaining high-quality soy seedlings is an urgent task.The purpose of the research is to identify the main problems associated with the manifestation and removal of pathogenic microbiota in the production of vegetable soybean seedlings.Material and Methods. The seeds of domestic and foreign soybean varieties served as the material. Patent No. 2349098 of the Russian Federation. The determination of germination and infection of seeds was carried out according to GOST 12038-84 in 4 repetitions. Methods of disinfection of seeds: ultraviolet radiation and ozonation.Results and Discussion. It was revealed that the Hidaka variety has a high seed contamination of 48.7%, and low germination. The varieties Sibiryachka and Lydia have high germination, pathogen infestation is 6 and 8%, respectively. The contamination of the seeds of the Bar variety was a minimum of 2.7%, this variety was taken into further work. Pathogens from the genera Mucor spp., Fusarium spp., Alternaria spp., Pythium spp., Penicillium have been isolated. The phases of water consumption of vegetable soybeans have been determined, which makes it possible to determine the weight of the seed in a specific period of time and use the data for pre-sowing seed treatment. Ecological methods of disinfection of seed material have been tested – treatment with ultraviolet radiation, the use of ozone washing and ozonation of water. An analysis of the percentage of the yield of healthy and affected seedlings, depending on the method of seed treatment, showed that the untreated option has the lowest number of healthy seedlings – 10.76%. UV treatment of dry seeds and treatment in an ozone sink allowed to increase the yield of healthy seedlings to 14.24 and 14.30%, respectively. UV treatment of soaked seeds allowed to increase the yield of healthy products by 62%, and the option of using an ozone sink with further use of ozonated water allowed to obtain the maximum yield of healthy seedlings – 20.04%, which is 2 times higher relative to the control.

Abstract Background Fungal pathogens significantly impact the quality of fruits and vegetables at different stages of the supply chain, leading to substantial food losses. Understanding how these persistent fungal infections occur and progress in postharvest conditions is essential to developing effective control strategies. Results In this study, we developed a reliable and consistent inoculation protocol to simulate disease spread from infected fruits to adjacent healthy fruits during postharvest storage. We tested different combinations of relevant fruit commodities, including oranges, tomatoes, and apples, against impactful postharvest pathogens such as Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum, Botrytis cinerea, and Penicillium expansum. We assessed the efficacy of this protocol using fruits treated with various postharvest methods and multiple isolates for each pathogen. We optimized the source of infected tissue and incubation conditions for each fruit-pathogen combination. Disease incidence and severity were quantitatively evaluated to study infection success and progression. At the final evaluation point, 80% or higher disease incidence rates were observed in all trials except for the fungicide-treated oranges inoculated with fungicide-susceptible Penicillium spp. isolates. Although disease incidence was lower in that particular scenario, it is noteworthy that the pathogen was still able to establish itself under unfavorable conditions, indicating the robustness of our methodology. Finally, we used multispectral imaging to detect early P. digitatum infections in oranges before the disease became visible to the naked eye but after the pathogen was established. Conclusions We developed a non-invasive inoculation strategy that can be used to recreate infections caused by contact or nesting in postharvest. The observed high disease incidence and severity values across fruit commodities and fungal pathogens demonstrate the robustness, efficacy, and reproducibility of the developed methodology. The protocol has the potential to be tailored for other pathosystems. Additionally, this approach can facilitate the study of fruit-pathogen interactions and the assessment of innovative control strategies.

Filamentous fungi are prolific producers of bioactive natural products and play a vital role in drug discovery. Yet, their potential cannot be fully exploited since many biosynthetic genes are silent or cryptic under laboratory culture conditions. Several strategies have been applied to activate these genes, with heterologous expression as one of the most promising approaches. However, successful expression and identification of new products are often hindered by host-dependent factors, such as low gene targeting efficiencies, a high metabolite background, or a lack of selection markers. To overcome these challenges, we have constructed a Penicillium crustosum expression host in a pyrG deficient strain by combining the split-marker strategy and CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Deletion of ligD and pcribo improved gene targeting efficiencies and enabled the use of an additional selection marker in P. crustosum. Furthermore, we reduced the secondary metabolite background by inactivation of two highly expressed gene clusters and abolished the formation of the reactive ortho-quinone methide. Finally, we replaced the P. crustosum pigment gene pcr4401 with the commonly used Aspergillus nidulans wA expression site for convenient use of constructs originally designed for A. nidulans in our P. crustosum host strain. As proof of concept, we successfully expressed a single polyketide synthase gene and an entire gene cluster at the P. crustosum wA locus. Resulting transformants were easily detected by their albino phenotype. With this study, we provide a highly efficient platform for heterologous expression of fungal genes. Key points: Construction of a highly efficient Penicillium crustosum heterologous expression host Reduction of secondary metabolite background by genetic dereplication strategy Integration of wA site to provide an alternative host besides Aspergillus nidulans [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four prenylated indole alkaloids (1−4) were targeted isolated from the mangrove rhizosphere soil-derived fungus Penicillium janthinellum HK1-6 by using molecular networking strategies. Among them, the planar structure and relative configuration of notoamide X (1) were elucidated by detailed analysis of the spectroscopic data especially the NOESY spectrum for the first time and its absolute configuration was determined by ECD spectrum. Furthermore, curated molecular networks of MS/MS data were generated with GNPS which allowed highlighting six prenylated indole alkaloids (5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12) that had not previously been identified in this fungus and two (7, 10) that had never been observed in any fungus. The MS/MS fragmentation pathway of these prenylated indole alkaloids was summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new phenyl 6,7-dihydroxygeranyl ether derivative, named (Z)-4-((6,7-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethyloct-2-en-1-yl)oxy)benzoic acid (1), and 8 known compounds (2–9) were characterized from a marine-derived fungus strain of Penicillium arabicum ZH3-9 isolated from a mud sample collected from the coast of Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China. The structure of 1 was elucidated by HRESIMS, 1 D and 2 D NMR. All compounds were evaluated antimicrobial activities against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Compounds 4–6 displayed antibacterial activity against S. aureus with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 50, 12.5, and 50 μg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Filamentous fungi produce polysaccharide-degrading enzymes, which is controlled by poorly understood transcriptional circuits. Here we show that a circuit comprising RsrC-RsrA-RsrB (Rsr: production of raw-starch-degrading enzyme regulator) that positively regulates production of raw starch-degrading enzymes in Penicillium oxalicum. Transcription factor (TF) RsrA is essential for biosynthesis of raw starch-degrading enzymes. RsrB and RsrC containing Zn2Cys6- and C2H2-zinc finger domains, act downstream and upstream of RsrA, respectively. RsrA activates rsrB transcription, and three nucleotides (G-286, G-287 and G-292) of rsrB promoter region are required for RsrA, in terms of TF, for binding. RsrB165−271 binds to DNA sequence 5'-TCGATCAGGCACGCC-3' in the promoter region of the gene encoding key raw-starch-degrading enzyme PoxGA15A. RsrC specifically binds rsrA promoter, but not amylase genes, to positively regulate the expression of rsrA and the production of raw starch-degrading enzymes. These findings expand complex regulatory network of fungal raw starch-degrading enzyme biosynthesis. A novel circuit comprising RsrC-RsrA-RsrB (Rsr: production of raw-starch-degrading enzyme regulator) was identified to positively regulate the production of raw starch-degrading enzymes in Penicillium oxalicum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: To investigate the mechanism of Penicillium inoculation on the flavour improvement of Jinhua ham, the microbial succession, free amino acid contents, volatile compound evolutions, sensory attributes and the relationship between key volatiles and sensory properties were investigated during the processing of Jinhua ham with P. aethiopicum (PA) or P. chrysogenum (PC) inoculation. The total counts of fungal communities in CK, PA and PC groups significantly increased from 2.74 log CFU*g−1 of raw ham to 5.18, 5.39 and 5.50 log CFU*g−1 from day 0 to day 28, and then decreased by 2.06, 1.94 and 1.86 log CFU*g−1 from day 28 to the final products (P < 0.001). The total contents of free amino acids significantly increased from 1584.22 mg/100 g of CK to 2117.20 mg/100 g of PA and 2174.05 mg/100 g of PC (P < 0.01); the contents of alanine, glutamic acid, lysine, valine, leucine and phenylalanine in PC were significantly higher than those of CK and PA (P < 0.05). Sensory scores of meaty aroma, nutty aroma and overall acceptance showed the largest values in PC among three groups. GC–MS results indicated that aromatic aldehydes and pyrazines in PC showed the largest increase, compared with CK and PA groups. PLS‐DA and correlation analysis demonstrated that benzaldehyde, benzeneacetaldehyde and 2,5‐dimethyl pyrazine contributed to the improvement of aroma attributes of Jinhua ham with Penicillium inoculation. The KEGG analysis further revealed that the metabolism of valine and phenylalanine was mainly involved in developing aromatic aldehydes and pyrazines of Jinhua ham with Penicillium inoculation. These results indicated that the inoculation of Penicillium could enhance the flavour quality of Jinhua ham. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The food enzyme α‐l‐rhamnosidase (α‐l‐rhamnoside rhamnohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.40) is produced with Penicillium adametzii strain AE‐HP by Amano Enzymes Inc. A safety evaluation of this food enzyme was made previously, in which EFSA concluded that this food enzyme did not give rise to safety concerns when used in two food manufacturing processes. Subsequently, the applicant has requested to extend its use to include two additional processes. In this assessment, EFSA updated the safety evaluation of this food enzyme when used in a total of four food manufacturing processes. Dietary exposure to the food enzyme–total organic solids (TOS) was calculated to be up to 0.022 mg TOS/kg body weight (bw) per day in European populations. Using the no observed adverse effect level reported in the previous opinion (300 mg TOS/kg bw per day, the highest dose tested), the Panel derived a margin of exposure of at least 13,636. Based on the data provided for the previous evaluation and the revised margin of exposure in the present evaluation, the Panel concluded that this food enzyme does not give rise to safety concerns under the revised intended conditions of use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the dynamic interaction between various fungal strains, substrates, and treatment durations to optimize the nutritional value of these by‐products. Six fungi, including Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium sp., Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Penicillium crustosum, and Cosmospora viridescens, were evaluated across three substrates: wheat straw (WS), cedar sawdust (CW), and olive pomace (OP) over treatment periods of 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The study discerned profound impacts of these fungi across multiple parameters, including cellulose variation (C.var), lignin variation (L.var), and in vitro true digestibility variation (IVTD.var). Our results demonstrated that the various fungi had a significant effect on all parameters (p <.001). Noteworthy, F. oxysporum and F. solani emerged as exemplars, displaying notable lignin degradation, cellulose liberation, and IVTD enhancement. Importantly, P. crustosum demonstrated substantial cellulose degradation, exhibiting optimal efficacy in just 4 weeks for all substrates. Notably, F. sp. excelled, yielding favorable results when treating WS. P. chrysogenum achieved optimal outcomes with 8‐week treatment for WS. Both Fusarium sp. and P. chrysogenum exhibited slight cellulose release, with remarkable reduction of WS lignin compared to other substrates. Especially, WS and OP displayed superior digestibility enhancements relative to CW. It should be noted that the treatment duration further shaped these outcomes, as prolonged treatment (12 weeks) fostered greater benefits in lignin degradation and digestibility, albeit with concomitant cellulose degradation. These findings underscore the intricate balance between fungal strains, substrates, and treatment durations in optimizing the nutritional value of lignocellulosic agro‐industrial by‐products. The outcomes of this study lead to the enhancement in the overall value of by‐products, promoting sustainable livestock feed and advancing agricultural sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Withanolides are steroidal lactones with diverse bioactive potential and their production from plant sources varies with genotype, age, culture conditions, and geographical region. Endophytic fungi serve as an alternative source to produce withanolides, like their host plant, Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. The present study aimed to isolate endophytic fungi capable of producing withanolides, characterization and investigation of biological activities of these molecules. The methanolic fungal crude extract of one of the fungal isolates WSE16 showed maximum withanolide production (219 mg/L). The fungal isolate WSE16 was identified as Penicillium oxalicum based on its morphological and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis and submitted in NCBI (accession number OR888725). The methanolic crude extract of P. oxalicum was further purified by column chromatography, and collected fractions were assessed for the presence of withanolides. Fractions F3 and F4 showed a higher content of withanolides (51.8 and 59.1 mg/L, respectively) than other fractions. Fractions F3 and F4 exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with an IC50 of 23.52 and 17.39 µg/ml, respectively. These fractions also showed antioxidant activity (DPPH assay with IC50 of 39.42 and 38.71 µg/ml, superoxide anion scavenging assay with IC50 of 41.10 and 38.84 µg/ml, and reducing power assay with IC50 of 42.61 and 41.40 µg/ml, respectively) and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity (IC50 of 30.34 and 22.05 µg/ml, respectively). The withanolides present in fraction 3 and fraction 4 were identified as (20S, 22R)-1a-Acetoxy-27-hydroxywitha-5, 24-dienolide-3b-(O-b-D-glucopyranoside) and withanamide A, respectively, using UV, FTIR, HRMS, and NMR analysis. These results suggest that P. oxalicum, an endophytic fungus isolated from W. somnifera, is a potential source for producing bioactive withanolides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum (Al), prevalent in the crust of the Earth, jeopardizes plant health in acidic soils, hindering root growth and overall development. In this study, we first analysed the Al- and pH- tolerance of the Penicillium olsonii TLL1 strain (POT1; NRRL:68252) and investigated the potential for enhancing plant resilience under Al-rich acidic soil conditions. Our research illustrates the extraordinary tolerance of POT1 to both high Al concentrations and acidic conditions, showcasing its potential to alleviate Al-induced stress in plants. Metabolite analysis revealed that POT1 detoxifies Al through organic acid-dependent chelation mechanisms, significantly reducing Al stress in Arabidopsis and Pak Choi plants. Consequently, plant growth conditions improved, and the Al content in plant tissues decreased. Transcriptome analysis indicated that POT1 treatment downregulates genes associated with Al and oxidative stress such as MATE, ALS3, NIP1--2 and several peroxidases, highlighting its effectiveness in lessening Al-induced damage. Comparative assessments highlight the superior performance of POT1 compared to other Al-tolerant Penicillium species, attributed to its ability to thrive in diverse pH levels and effectively detoxify Al. These findings position POT1 as a promising agent for enhancing crop resilience in Al-compromised acidic soils, offering new avenues for promoting plant health and bolstering food security through increased crop yield and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) acting as a high-cost disposable material in soil Cr(VI) remediation faces significant challenges due to its easily oxidizable nature and biological toxicity. In addressing this issue, the present study undertook the synthesis of a series of modified nZVI and combined the selected material with Cr(VI)-resistant filamentous fungus Penicillium oxalicum SL2 for real-site chromium pollution remediation. Adsorption experiments demonstrated that the inclusion of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of nZVI for Cr(VI) by 19.3% (from 73.25 to 87.4 mg/L), surpassing both biochar (37.42 mg/L) and bentonite modified nZVI (48.03 mg/ L). Characterization results validated the successful synthesis of the nano composite material. Besides, oxidative stress analysis explained the unique detoxification effects of CMC on SL2, acting as a free radical scavenger and isolating layer. In real-sites soil remediation experiments, a low dosage (0.4% w/ w) of nZVI/CMC@SL2 (CMC modified nZVI combined with SL2) exhibited an impressive reduction of over 99.5% in TCLP-Cr(VI) and completely transformed 18% of unstable Cr to stable forms. Notably, nZVI/CMC demonstrated its capability to facilitate SL2 colonization in highly contaminated soil and modulate the microbial community structure, enriching chromium-removing microorganisms. In summary, the synergistic system of nZVI/CMC@SL2 merges as a cost-effective and efficient approach for Cr(VI) reduction, providing meaningful insights for its application in the remediating contaminated site soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional isolation methods often lead to the rediscovery of known natural products. In contrast, genome mining strategies are considered effective for the continual discovery of new natural products. In this study, we discovered a unique prenyltransferase (PT) through genome mining, capable of catalyzing the transfer of a prenyl group to an aromatic nucleus to form C-C or C-O bonds. A pair of new hydroxyphenylacetic acid derivative enantiomers with prenyl units, (±)-peniprenydiol A (1), along with 16 known compounds (2–17), were isolated from a marine fungus, Penicillium sp. W21C371. The separation of 1 using chiral HPLC led to the isolation of the enantiomers 1a and 1b. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D, 2D NMR and HRESIMS. The absolute configurations of the new compounds were determined by a modified Mosher method. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for 1 was deduced, facilitated by PT catalysis. In the in vitro assay, 2 and 3 showed promising inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli β-glucuronidase (EcGUS), with IC50 values of 44.60 ± 0.84 μM and 21.60 ± 0.76 μM, respectively, compared to the positive control, D-saccharic acid 1,4-lactone hydrate (DSL). This study demonstrates the advantages of genome mining in the rational acquisition of new natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Levulinic acid (LA) is a multifunctional compound that is relevant to the economy of bio‐based chemical products. Citrus sinensis, the Valencia variety, is one of the world's most consumed citrus fruit varieties but suffers significant losses as a result of blue mold infestation. This research evaluated the inhibitory action of unpurified levulinic acid obtained from watermelon residues against the fungus Penicillium italicum, proposing a new use as a fungal inhibitor. RESULTS: LA was evaluated in in vitro tests and inhibited the mycelial growth of the fungus. In in vivo experiments with oranges, fungal proliferation in fruits was investigated by applying a crude mixture containing LA (43 mmol L−1) and formic acid (FA, 28 mmol L−1), and comparing the effects with FA alone and negative control (without inhibitory agent). The weight loss and disease incidence results decreased when LA was used as an inhibitory agent, with no negative impacts on fruit quality being observed. Its inhibitory effect was confirmed by determining the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD), where there was no increase in activities owing to inhibition of the fungus before its proliferation in the fruits. CONCLUSION: This study provides relevant data on the new use of raw LA as an antifungal agent, an effect still unexplored for this compound in recent literature, offering a practical and innovative solution to combat blue mold. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background paecilomyces: and Penicillium are considered as rare opportunistic pathogens in immunocompromised hosts, and pneumonia caused by Paecilomyces and Penicillium is rare. In this study, we present first case of severe pneumonia with pleural effusion caused by co-infection of Paecilomyces variotii (P. variotii) and Penicillium oxalicum (P. oxalicum) in a 66-year-old female with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. Case presentation: A 56-year-old woman patient presented to hospital for nausea, poor appetite, and vomiting for one day. On the second day of admission, blood culture and renal puncture fluid culture grew multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli (imipenem/cilastatin sensitive), and she received combination therapy with imipenem/cilastatin (1 g, every 8 h) and vancomycin (0.5 g, every 12 h). On the fourth day, she developed symptoms of respiratory failure. Pulmonary computed tomography (CT) showed an increase in pneumonia compared to before, with minor pleural effusion on both sides. Two fungi were isolated repeatedly from BALF culture, which were confirmed as P. variotii and P. oxalicum by Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. Her pleural effusion was completely absorbed, pneumonia symptoms have significantly improved and discharged with receiving liposomal amphotericin B treatment for four weeks. Conclusions: It is worth noting that clinicians and laboratory personnel should not simply consider Paecilomyces and Penicillium species as contaminants, especially in immunocompromised patients. Early fungal identification and antifungal drug sensitivity are crucial for clinical drug selection and patient prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the degree of mycological air contamination and determine the taxonomic diversity of airborne fungi residing in the air of 20 different animal facilities in a zoological garden. The concentrations of fungi in the zoological garden were measured using a MAS-100 air sampler. The collected microorganisms were identified using the combination of molecular and morphological methods. The fungal concentration ranged from 50 to 3.65 × 104 CFU/m3 during the whole study. The quantitative analysis of the fungal aerosol showed that the obtained concentration values were lower than the recommended permissible limits (5 × 104 CFU/m3 for fungi). Environmental factors, including temperature and relative humidity, exerted a varying effect on the presence and concentration of isolated fungi. Relative humidity was shown to correlate positively with the concentration of fungal spores in the air of the facilities studied (rho = 0.57, p < 0.0021). In parallel, no significant correlation was established between temperature and total fungal concentration (rho = − 0.1, p < 0.2263). A total of 112 fungal strains belonging to 50 species and 10 genera were isolated. Penicillium was the dominant genera, including 58.9% of total fungal strains, followed by Aspergillus 25.89%, Cladosporium 3.57%, Talaromyces 3.57%, Mucor 1.78%, Schizophyllum 1.78%, Syncephalastrum 0.89%, Alternaria 0.89%, Absidia 0.89%, and Cunninghamella 0.89%. Our preliminary studies provide basic information about the fungal concentrations, as well as their biodiversity in zoological garden. Further studies are needed to generate additional data from long-term sampling in order to increase our understanding of airborne fungal composition in the zoological garden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marine holothurian-derived fungal strain KMM 4401 has been identified as Paragliomastix luzulae using 28S rDNA, ITS regions and the partial TEF1 gene sequences. The metabolite profile of the fungal culture was studied by UPLC-MS technique. The strain KMM 4401 is a source of various virescenoside-type isopimarane glycosides suggested as chemotaxonomic feature for this fungal species. Also Px. luzulae KMM 4401 was proposed as possible source of new bioactive secondary metabolites especially antimicrobials. Moreover, the co-cultures of Px. luzulae KMM 4401 with another marine fungus Penicillium hispanicum KMM 4689 inoculated simultaneously or after two weeks were investigated by same way. It was shown, that P. hispanicum KMM 4689 suppressed the production of most of Px. luzulae KMM 4401 metabolites. On the other hand, the co-cultivation of P. hispanicum KMM 4689 and Px. luzulae KMM 4401 resulted in increasing of production of main deoxyisoaustamide alkaloids of P. hispanicum KMM 4689 on 50–190%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi possess well-developed secondary metabolism pathways that are worthy of in-depth exploration. The One Strain Many Compounds (OSMAC) strategy is a useful method for exploring chemically diverse secondary metabolites. In this study, continued chemical investigations of the marine red algae-derived endophytic fungus Penicillium oxalicum 2021CDF-3 cultured in PDB media yielded six structurally diverse indole derivatives, including two new prenylated indole alkaloids asperinamide B (1) and peniochroloid B (5), as well as four related derivatives (compounds 2-4 and 6). The chemical structures of these compounds, including the absolute configurations of 1 and 5, were determined by extensive analyses of HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, and TDDFT-ECD calculations. Compound 1 was found to possess an unusual 3-pyrrolidone dimethylbenzopyran fused to the bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane moiety, which was rare in previously reported prenylated indole alkaloids. In vitro cytotoxic experiments against four human tumor cell lines (HeLa, HepG2, FADU, and A549) indicated that 1 strongly inhibited the FADU cell line, with an IC50 value of 0.43 ± 0.03 µM. This study suggested that the new prenylated indole alkaloid 1 is a potential lead compound for anti-FADU drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a new troglobitic species of terrestrial isopod present in the High Atlas of Morocco belonging to the family Olibrinidae and the Castellanethes genus is described. The new species is differentiated from the rest of the genus by its strong dorsal tubercles on the cephalon and pereion, the antennula with three petaliform aesthetascs, the antennal flagellum with seven or eight articles, the molar penicillium of the mandibles with two branches and the endopod of the first pleopod of the male with fifteen large scales at the end. To facilitate the identification of the species of the genus, a key is included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penicillium spp. occupy many diverse biological niches that include plant pathogens, opportunistic human pathogens, saprophytes, indoor air contaminants, and those selected specifically for industrial applications to produce secondary metabolites and lifesaving antibiotics. Recent phylogenetic studies have established Penicillium fuscoglaucum as a synonym for Penicillium commune, which is an indoor air contaminant and toxin producer and can infect apple fruit during storage. During routine culturing on selective media in the lab, we obtained an isolate of P. fuscoglaucum Pf_T2 and sequenced its genome. The Pf_T2 genome is far superior to available genomic resources for the species. Our assembly exhibits a length of 35.1 Mb, a BUSCO score of 97.9% complete, and consists of five scaffolds/contigs representing the four expected chromosomes. It was determined that the Pf_T2 genome was colinear with a type specimen P. fuscoglaucum and contained a lineage-specific, intact cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) gene cluster. For comparison, a highly virulent postharvest apple pathogen, P. expansum strain TDL 12.1, was included and showed a similar growth pattern in culture to our Pf_T2 isolate but was far more aggressive in apple fruit than P. fuscoglaucum. The genome of Pf_T2 serves as a major improvement over existing resources, has superior annotation, and can inform forthcoming omics-based work and functional genetic studies to probe secondary metabolite production and disparities in aggressiveness during apple fruit decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new polyketide derivatives, penirubenones A and B (1 and 2), and two naturally rare amino-bis-tetrahydrofuran derivatives, penirubenamides A and B (3 and 4), together with nine known compounds (5–13) were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Penicillium rubens BTBU20213035. The structures were identified by HRESIMS and 1D and 2D NMR analyses, and their absolute configurations were determined by a comparison of experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy and 13C NMR data. We found that 6 exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, with an MIC value of 3.125 μg/mL, and 1 and 2 showed synergistic antifungal activity against Candida albicans at 12.5 and 50 μg/mL with 0.0625 μg/mL rapamycin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penicillium italicum, a major postharvest pathogen, causes blue mold rot in citrus fruits through the deployment of various virulence factors. Recent studies highlight the role of the epigenetic reader, SntB, in modulating the pathogenicity of phytopathogenic fungi. Our research revealed that the deletion of the SntB gene in P. italicum led to significant phenotypic alterations, including delayed mycelial growth, reduced spore production, and decreased utilization of sucrose. Additionally, the mutant strain exhibited increased sensitivity to pH fluctuations and elevated iron and calcium ion stress, culminating in reduced virulence on Gannan Novel oranges. Ultrastructural analyses disclosed notable disruptions in cell membrane integrity, disorganization within the cellular matrix, and signs of autophagy. Transcriptomic data further indicated a pronounced upregulation of hydrolytic enzymes, oxidoreductases, and transport proteins, suggesting a heightened energy demand. The observed phenomena were consistent with a carbon starvation response potentially triggering apoptotic pathways, including iron-dependent cell death. These findings collectively underscored the pivotal role of SntB in maintaining the pathogenic traits of P. italicum, proposing that targeting PiSntB could offer a new avenue for controlling citrus fungal infections and subsequent fruit decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms in the rhizosphere, particularly arbuscular mycorrhiza, have a broad symbiotic relationship with their host plants. One of the major fungi isolated from the rhizosphere of Peucedanum praeruptorum is Penicillium restrictum. The relationship between the metabolites of P. restrictum and the root exudates of P. praeruptorum is being investigated. The accumulation of metabolites in the mycelium and fermentation broth of P. restrictum was analysed over different fermentation periods. Non‐targeted metabolomics was used to compare the differences in intracellular and extracellular metabolites over six periods. There were significant differences in the content and types of mycelial metabolites during the incubation. Marmesin, an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of coumarins, was found in the highest amount on the fourth day of incubation. The differential metabolites were screened to obtain 799 intracellular and 468 extracellular differential metabolites. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis showed that the highly enriched extracellular metabolic pathways were alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis. In addition, the enrichment analysis associated with intracellular and extracellular ATP‐binding cassette transporter proteins revealed that some ATP‐binding cassette transporters may be involved in the transportation of certain amino acids and carbohydrates. Our results provide some theoretical basis for the regulatory mechanisms between the rhizosphere and the host plant and pave the way for the heterologous production of furanocoumarin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal infections were observed on the coffee plant, this study aims to determine the types of fungi causing this pollution and the possibility of producing mycotoxins or not. so we make this study to isolate and identify the contaminating fungi that find in three types of Arabica coffee plants, which are common in the city of Jazan in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, namely (Khawlani, Luqmati and Harari) by using the dilution method on Potato Dextrose Agar media (PDA). The results showed that some coffee samples were contaminated with fungi, which belong to 5 fungal genera, most of which belong to the Ascomycetes fungi. The species Aspergillus niger had the highest percentage of appearance in the coffee samples, followed by Aspergillus flavus and then Penicillium sp. The ammonia detection results showed that most Aspergillus flavus and A. ochrous isolates produced mycotoxins, while all isolates of Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp. do not produce aflatoxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endophytic fungal biodiversity of unique plants like Peperomia argyreia (Miq.) É. Morren (Piperaceae) has antimicrobial properties and can be employed for infection treatment. Fungal isolates were obtained from appropriately treated plant tissues cultured in solid media, characterized by morphology, and identified by molecular biology using ITS and NL primers. The antimicrobial properties of fungal extracts were analyzed by combining microdilution and bioautographic assays complemented with metabolic profiling by automated thin-layer chromatography and 1H NMR techniques. Thirty-one filamentous fungi were isolated and characterized by ITS and/or D1/D2 region amplification of rDNA, identified as Thermothielavioides, Trichoderma, Cyphellophora, Cladosporium, Arcopilus, Plectosphaerella; Chaetomium, Sporothrix, Alboefibula, and Penicillium. Thermothielavioides spp. inhibited Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923; moreover, Penicillium westlingii P4 showed inhibitory activity on Ascochyta rabiei AR2. The bioactivity-guided fractionation of the EtOAc extract (MIC = 62.5 μg/mL) of P. westlingii P4 allowed the purification of citrinin as the main inhibitory compound (MIC = 62.5 μg/mL). Peperomia argyreia harbors a rich and diverse endophytic community able to produce bioactive molecules. Citrinin, with a minor influence of volatile compounds biosynthesized by P. westlingii P4, was responsible for the inhibition of A. rabiei AR2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gorgonzola is an Italian "erborinato" blue cheese from cow's milk, bearing blue-green "parsley-like" spots due to the spread of Penicillium roqueforti mycelium. Due to its pH, water activity, and high nutrient content, as well as the environmental conditions required for its maturation, Gorgonzola constitutes an optimal ecological niche supporting the growth of both yeasts and filamentous fungi. Therefore, exploring the abundant mycobiota present in this peculiar habitat is of great interest regarding the search for new probiotic strains. The present investigation aimed to characterize the Gorgonzola mycobiota using both phenotypic (macroscopic and microscopic morphological analyses) and genotypic (DNA barcoding) analyses to find possible putative probiotic strains to be used in veterinary medicine in feed supplements. Among the different isolated filamentous fungi (Mucor and Penicillium) and yeasts (Yarrowia, Debaryomyces, Saccharomyces, and Sporobolomyces), we selected a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii. We tested its adaptation to thermal stress and its stability in feed matrices. The overall results highlight that the selected strain is stable for three months and can be considered as a possible candidate for use as a probiotic in veterinary feed supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A personal selection of 32 recent papers is presented covering various aspects of current developments in bioorganic chemistry and novel natural products, such as penihemeroterpenoid A from Penicillium herquei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ash dieback, caused by the fungal pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (Helotiales, Ascomycota), is threatening the existence of the European ash, Fraxineus excelsior. During our search for biological control agents for this devastating disease, endophytic fungi were isolated from healthy plant tissues and co-cultivated with H. fraxineus to assess their antagonistic potential. Among the strains screened, Penicillium cf. manginii DSM 104493 most strongly inhibited the pathogen. Initially, DSM 104493 showed promise in planta as a biocontrol agent. Inoculation of DSM 104493 into axenically cultured ash seedlings greatly decreased the development of disease symptoms in seedlings infected with H. fraxineus. The fungus was thus cultivated on a larger scale in order to obtain sufficient material to identify active metabolites that accounted for the antibiosis observed in dual culture. We isolated PF1140 (1) and identified it as the main active compound in the course of a bioassay-guided isolation strategy. Furthermore, its derivative 2, the mycotoxin citreoviridin (3), three tetramic acids of the vancouverone type (4-6), and penidiamide (7) were isolated by preparative chromatography. The structures were elucidated mainly by NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), of which compounds 2 and 6 represent novel natural products. Of the compounds tested, not only PF1140 (1) strongly inhibited H. fraxineus in an agar diffusion assay but also showed phytotoxic effects in a leaf puncture assay. Unfortunately, both the latent virulent attributes of DSM 104493 observed subsequent to these experiments in planta and the production of mycotoxins exclude strain Penicillium cf. manginii DSM 104493 from further development as a safe biocontrol agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patulin is a mycotoxin produced by several species of Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp., and Byssochlamys sp. on apples and pears. Most studies have been focused on Penicillium expansum , a common postharvest pathogen, but little is known about the characteristics of Penicillium paneum. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of temperature, pH, and relative humidity (RH) on the growth of P. paneum OM1, which was isolated from pears, and its patulin production. The fungal strain showed the highest growth rate at 25 °C and pH 4.5 on pear puree agar medium (PPAM) under 97 % RH, while it produced the highest amount of patulin at 20 °C and pH 4.5 on PPAM under 97 % RH. Moreover, RT-qPCR analysis of relative expression levels of 5 patulin biosynthetic genes (patA , patE , patK , patL, and patN) in P. paneum OM1 exhibited that the expression of the 4 patulin biosynthetic genes except patL was up-regulated in YES medium (patulin conducive), while it was not in PDB medium (patulin non-conducive). Our data demonstrated that the 3 major environmental parameters had significant impact on the growth of P. paneum OM1 and its patulin production. These results could be exploited to prevent patulin contamination by P. paneum OM1 during pear storage • The highest growth of P. paneum OM1 at 25 °C and pH 4.5 under 97 % relative humidity. • The highest patulin production by the fungus at 20 °C and pH 4.5 under 97 % relative humidity. • The expression of patA , patE , patK , and patN was up-regulated in YES medium. • The expression of patA , patE , patK , and patN was not up-regulated in PDB medium. • The expression of patL remained constantly in both YES and PDB media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a fungal species was isolated from rhizospheric soil and identified as Penicillium sp. by ITS sequencing. The Penicillium sp. has been screened for the biosurfactant production, viz., haemolytic activity, oil spreading assay and emulsification index. The biosurfactant from cell-free supernatant was extracted using acid precipitation followed by solvent-solvent extraction. The physiochemical properties of the extracted biosurfactant were analysed using FTIR; the major peaks that show at 1720 cm−1, 1531 cm−1, 1419 cm−1, 1251 cm−1 and 1010 cm−1 correspond to aliphatic chains, sugars and ester carbonyl groups. The fatty acids present in the extracted biosurfactant were analysed using GCMS, in which a molecular mass of 256 and 284 m/z showed the presence of n-hexadecenoic acid and octadecanoic acid respectively which indicate the presence of rhamnolipid, which is a major biosurfactant. The biosurfactant extracted from Penicllium sp. demonstrated antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In future perspectives, the biosurfactant extracted from the isolated species holds great potential as a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent and could be utilized in various healthcare applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]