Evaluation of microalgae’s (Chlorella sp. and Synechocystis sp.) pollutant removal property: Pig effluent as a live stock discharge.

The ability of microalgae to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater has been used in recent years as an alternative treatment for discharges from livestock slurry, which generate a negative environmental impact on vulnerable ecosystems. With this background and the feasibility of using microalgae, we have evaluated the effect of Chlorella sp. and Synechocystis sp., in removing contaminants from the pig manure collected from El Prado ESPE. Slurry samples were collected, filtered and autoclaved, and the supernatant was further diluted to three different concentrations of 40%, 60% and 80%. The microalgal growth and pollutants removal property was evaluated up to 15 days in batch culture. The cell density was determined by counting in a Neubauer hemocytometer, and the pollutants removal was analyzed by standard colorimetric methods. The microalgae Chlorella sp. showed a maximum cell growth of 1.70 ± 0.09 x107 cells/mL at 60% effluent concentration on day 6. While Synechocystis sp. showed a maximum growth of 1.04 ± 0.05 x107 cells/mL, at 60% concentration on day 9. On the other hand, there exists a competition when microalgae used as a consortium. The cell growth of Chlorella sp. was higher at all concentrations compared to Synechocystis sp.. Overall, efficiency of pollutant removal were between 40% and 90%, which demonstrate the feasibility of using microalgae in tertiary swine wastewater treatment.

Effect of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Azospirillum on growth and nutrition of banana plantlets during acclimatization phase.

The effect of the co-inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Azospirillum on micro-propagated banana seedlings development during their adaptation phase was determined. At the time of transplanting, banana seedlings were inoculated with an indigenous mycorrhizal inoculum containing 10 spores/g at four doses: 0, 50, 100 and 200 g. Seventy days after fungal inoculation, 20 ml of Azospirillum in four concentrations (0, 106, 107 and 108 CFU/ml) were applied. Finally, after 98 days from the start of the experiment a second dose (40 ml) of Azospirillum in the concentrations mentioned above was inoculated. Plants were harvested 5 months after transplanting and the growth and nutritional parameters were evaluated. The analysis of the data showed that banana plants co-inoculated with 200 g of AMF and 1.5E8 CFU/ml of Azospirillum presented greater development, an increase of 7 times in height, 4 times in perimeter, 16 times in leaf area, 12 times in aerial biomass, and 8 times in root biomass relative to control plants. The results achieved were due to synergism between fungus-bacteria when inoculated at higher doses, with lower doses stimulating growth is minimal. The co-inoculation in high doses demonstrates adequate support and cooperative effect between HMA and Azospirillum crops. In addition, co-inoculation promotes optimal nutritional status because microorganisms allowed plants achieve greater absorption of phosphorus and nitrogen relative to those treated with single inoculation and the control.

Use of Cellulase enzyme obtained from Monilia (Moniliophthora roreri) for treatment of solid waste of Cob, Rice husks and Cocoa shell.

Ecuador generates lots of lingo cellulosic organic waste from cocoa, rice and corn agribusiness, and these products are rich in cellulose and can be used in fermentation processes by enzyme producing yeasts. In this study, the phytopathogenic fungus Moniliophthora roreri was isolated, characterized and the kinetics of production of cellulose was studied using rice husks, cocoa shell and cob as a growth inducer substance for a period of 20 days. The carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was used as specific substrate to evaluate the kinetic parameters of the enzyme at different concentration of 0.5%, 1% and 1.5%; to evaluate the Vmax, Km, specific activity, Kcat we worked with the Michaelis-Menten and Line weaver-Burk linearization and the crude enzyme was purified with ammonium sulfate. The enzyme production was increased on 10th, 15th and 20th day in rice husk, cocoa shell and cob, respectively. There was also an increased enzyme activity and the kinetic parameters obtained from rice husk. The purification is a step to increase the specific activity of the enzyme in each of the extracts is under study.

Effect of Azospirillum spp. and Azotobacter spp. on the growth and yield of strawberry (Fragaria vesca) in hydroponic system under different nitrogen levels.

It is well established fact that bacterial species promotes plant growth. This growth enhancing activity was believed to be through different mechanisms such as synthesis of phytohormones, nitrogen-fixing, and biological control. For this reason, in this present investigation we have isolated and identified Azotobacter spp. and Azospirillum spp. through macromorphologically and micromorphologically in order to assess its effect on growth and yield of strawberry (Fragaria vesca) an Albion variety in hydroponic system. The inoculation and co-inoculation of bacterial culture was performed in combination with three nitrogen levels (50, 100 and 150 ppm), growth parameters such as plant height, root length, fresh and dry weight of root and aerial parts, leaf area, chlorophyll content, nutrient content, solid soluble, caliber, yield/plant. It is observed that in T8 (co-inoculation in100 ppm N) group showed significantly increase in plant height (18.57cm), chlorophyll content (48.57 Soil Plant Analysis Development-SPAD), fresh root weight (25.82g) and dry root weight (5.93g), while in treatment group T5 (Azotobacter spp. 100ppm of Nitrogen) and T6 (Azotobacter spp. 150ppm of Nitrogen) showed significant increase in root length, leaf area, dry and fresh weights of aerial parts. The N content of leaf for all treatments was in the ranges of 2.42 - 2.83 % that is suitable for cultivation. Similarly, the treatment group T5 and T6 showed increase in yield per plant and soluble solids content. So, Azotobacter and Nitrogen treatment has growth related benefits in strawberries under hydroponic system.

Identification and characterization of Lactobacillus bacterial genera most prevalent used to improve silage digestibility of important forage species for livestock sector.

The objective of this study is to isolate and characterize lactic acid bacteria and their effect as a microbial inoculants in silage digestibility of Lolium perenne –Trifolium pratense (Rye grass - Red clover) (RG-RC), Avena sativa – Vicia sativa (Oat-Vetch) (O-V) and Corn Stover Zea mays (Corn) (C). The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from three mixtures were identified at 40 day of evolution of micro silages. Morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular techniques were used to characterize the isolates lactic acid bacteria. The following species were identified from the mixture namely Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis and Pediococcus acidilactici. 54 micro silages with each feed material were produced, 27 micro silos were inoculated with bacteria’s and the rest was used as a control. The nutritional value of protein, ether extract (EE), ash, energy, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) at 20, 30 and 40 days of ensilage was compared. The percentage of each in vitro digestibility of treatments performed on day 40 was obtained that corresponded best A-V and RG-TR inoculated with bacteria as they were 35% and 41% more digestible than the control treatments appropriate, concluding that the inoculation of lactic acid bacteria facilitated improved digestibility of silage obtaining good nutritional quality, with optimal values. These results will enable future research on the relationship between LAB species and silage fermentation quality. Use of lactic acid bacteria is recommended as an additive to improve the nutritional quality of food animals as alternative in times of scarcity of fodder or as a supplement to improve the nutritional status of livestock herd.