• Mycobiology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.210-217
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• 2001

Seventy-three species and five varieties belonging to 36 genera were collected from leaf surfaces of banana plants on glucose and cellulose-Czapek's agar at $28^{\circ}C$. The results obtained from leaf surfaces(phyllosphere and phylloplane) were basically similar on the two types of media and the most common fungi were Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Cochliobolus, Curvularia, Gibberella, Memnoniella, Mycosphaerella, Setosphaeria and Stachybotrys. The monthly counts of these fungi were irregularly fluctuated giving maxima at various months. Chaetomium globosum was in the top of fungi in producing both exo- and endo-$\beta$-l,4-glucanases among the 34 tested isolates obtained from leaves(phylloplane) on cellulose-Czapek's agar. Maximum production of these enzymes by C. globosum was 6 and 8 days after incubation at $25^{\circ}C$ with culture medium containing wheat bran as a carbon source and peptone as a nitrogen source and initially adjusted to pH 6.

• Mycobiology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.198-204
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• 2001

Analysis of leaf exudates of Vicia faba using paper chromatography to identify individual amino acids and sugars qualitatively was investigated. The results revealed that the number of identified amino acids detected in the leaf exudates of the susceptible plants was more than those of resistant plants. The results also showed an increase in the number of amino acids exuded by infected leaves, but no marked difference in sugars of infected and non infected plants. Lithium chloride application led to decrease in amino acid and sugar contents. The number of amino acids and sugars was also decreased with leaf age. Botrytis fabae and the selected fungal species(Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger) were used to show the effect of individual amino acid and sugar on their spore germination. It was observed that all amino acids stimulated the fungal spore germination except serine which inhibited its spore germination. In case of A. alternata, spore germination was stimulated by all amino acids except serine, alanine, glutamic acid, arginine and methionine which caused the inhibition. In case of F. oxysporum, aspartic and glutamic acids inhibited spore germination but the other amino acids stimulated its spore germination. Aspartic acid and phenyl alanine inhibited the spore germination of A. niger. All the identified sugars(galactose, glucose, fructose and rhamnose) stimulated spore germination of all tested fungi.

• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.93-106
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• 2015

Alternaria species are common saprophytes or pathogens of a wide range of plants pre- and post-harvest. This review considers the relative importance of Alternaria species, their ecology, competitiveness, production of mycotoxins and the prevalence of the predominant mycotoxins in different food products. The available toxicity data on these toxins and the potential future impacts of Alternaria species and their toxicity in food products pre- and post-harvest are discussed. The growth of Alternaria species is influenced by interacting abiotic factors, especially water activity ($a_w$), temperature and pH. The boundary conditions which allow growth and toxin production have been identified in relation to different matrices including cereal grain, sorghum, cottonseed, tomato, and soya beans. The competitiveness of Alternaria species is related to their water stress tolerance, hydrolytic enzyme production and ability to produce mycotoxins. The relationship between A. tenuissima and other phyllosphere fungi has been examined and the relative competitiveness determined using both an Index of Dominance ($I_D$) and the Niche Overlap Index (NOI) based on carbon-utilisation patterns. The toxicology of some of the Alternaria mycotoxins have been studied; however, some data are still lacking. The isolation of Alternaria toxins in different food products including processed products is reviewed. The future implications of Alternaria colonization/infection and the role of their mycotoxins in food production chains pre- and post-harvest are discussed.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.247-251
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• 2004

We developed a polyclonal antibody (PAh) based- ELISA system to accurately and rapidly monitor inocula on plant surface before onset of anthracnose. Titer of mouse antisera against conidia of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was determined by using indirect ELISA. It was high enough to be detectable up to ${\times}$ 12,800 dilutions. Absorbance readings exceeded (1.5even at a 10$^{-5}$ dilution. Sensitivity of PAb was precise enough to detect spore concentration as low as 50 conidia/well by indirect ELISA. PAb1 and PAb2 proved to be very sensitive and highly specific to the target pathogen, C. gloeosporioides, apparently discriminating other unrelated pathogens, or epiphytes. Absorbance values for original isolate exceeded 1.0, but no reaction was detected with other isolates, except three other anthracnose fungi: C. gloeosporioides (pepper strain), Glomerella cingulata (apple strain) and C. lagenarium. Our data suggest that PAb1 and PAb2 bind with the protein epitope that partially contains residues of amino acid, arginine, and Iysine. This kit fulfills the require-ments for detecting inoculums before infection and during onset of anthracnose on sweet persimmon.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2019

Saline soils comprise more than half a billion hectares worldwide. Thus, they warrant attention for their efficient, economical, and environmentally acceptable management. Halophytes are being progressively utilized for human benefits. The halophyte microbiome contributes significantly to plant performance and can provide information regarding complex ecological processes involved in the osmoregulation of halophytes. Microbial communities associated with the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and endosphere of halophytes play an important role in plant health and productivity. Members of the plant microbiome belonging to domains Archaea, Bacteria, and kingdom Fungi are involved in the osmoregulation of halophytes. Halophilic microorganisms principally use compatible solutes, such as glycine, betaine, proline, trehalose, ectoine, and glutamic acid, to survive under salinity stress conditions. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) enhance plant growth and help to elucidate tolerance to salinity. Detailed studies of the metabolic pathways of plants have shown that plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria contribute to plant tolerance by affecting the signaling network of plants. Phytohormones (indole-3-acetic acid and cytokinin), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase biosynthesis, exopolysaccharides, halocins, and volatile organic compounds function as signaling molecules for plants to elicit salinity stress. This review focuses on the functions of plant microbiome and on understanding how the microorganisms affect halophyte health and growth.