Remediate and sense: alginate beads empowered by portable electrochemical strips for copper ion removal and detection at environmental sites.

The contamination of environmental sites due to the presence of persistent species represents an important issue to be tackled. In particular, the presence of high levels of metals in soil and surface water is more frequent. One of the metals that sometimes exceeds the permissible limit set by regulatory authorities is copper. For instance, copper-based fungicides are widely used in viticulture. However, copper ions remain in soil and can enter the food chain, posing threats to human health and environmental safety. Although the rapid detection of copper ions using portable sensors is effective in enhancing early warning, it sometimes solves only half of the problem as remediation is not considered. In this paper, we present a novel integrated/portable approach that merges the remediation and sensing of metals by proposing a remediate-and-sense concept. In order to realize this concept, alginate beads were coupled with printed electrochemical strips for on-site copper detection. Within the same architecture, alginate beads were used to remove copper ions from the soil, and printed electrochemical strips were used to evaluate the efficacy of remediation at the point of need. The concept was applied towards soil containing copper ions at the parts per billion level; with few alginate beads and in the absence of additional species, copper ions were quantitatively removed from the matrix; and 3D printing allowed us to combine the printed strips and spheres within a unique tool. The architecture was optimized and the results were compared to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) measurements with a recovery percentage of 90%-110%. It should be noted that this novel portable approach may be applied to other pollutants, opening new possibilities for integrated remediation and sensing.

Inoculation with a microbial consortium increases soil microbial diversity and improves agronomic traits of tomato under water and nitrogen deficiency.

Microbial-based biostimulants, functioning as biotic and abiotic stress protectants and growth enhancers, are becoming increasingly important in agriculture also in the context of climate change. The search for new products that can help reduce chemical inputs under a variety of field conditions is the new challenge. In this study, we tested whether the combination of two microbial growth enhancers with complementary modes of action, Azotobacter chroococcum 76A and Trichoderma afroharzianum T22, could facilitate tomato adaptation to a 30% reduction of optimal water and nitrogen requirements. The microbial inoculum increased tomato yield (+48.5%) under optimal water and nutrient conditions. In addition, the microbial application improved leaf water potential under stress conditions (+9.5%), decreased the overall leaf temperature (-4.6%), and increased shoot fresh weight (+15%), indicating that this consortium could act as a positive regulator of plant water relations under limited water and nitrogen availability. A significant increase in microbial populations in the rhizosphere with applications of A. chroococcum 76A and T. afroharzianum T22 under stress conditions, suggested that these inoculants could enhance soil microbial abundance, including the abundance of native beneficial microorganisms. Sampling time, limited water and nitrogen regimes and microbial inoculations all affected bacterial and fungal populations in the rhizospheric soil. Overall, these results indicated that the selected microbial consortium could function as plant growth enhancer and stress protectant, possibly by triggering adaptation mechanisms via functional changes in the soil microbial diversity and relative abundance.

A soil fungus confers plant resistance against a phytophagous insect by disrupting the symbiotic role of its gut microbiota.

Plants generate energy flows through natural food webs, driven by competition for resources among organisms, which are part of a complex network of multitrophic interactions. Here, we demonstrate that the interaction between tomato plants and a phytophagous insect is driven by a hidden interplay between their respective microbiotas. Tomato plants colonized by the soil fungus Trichoderma afroharzianum, a beneficial microorganism widely used in agriculture as a biocontrol agent, negatively affects the development and survival of the lepidopteran pest Spodoptera littoralis by altering the larval gut microbiota and its nutritional support to the host. Indeed, experiments aimed to restore the functional microbial community in the gut allow a complete rescue. Our results shed light on a novel role played by a soil microorganism in the modulation of plant-insect interaction, setting the stage for a more comprehensive analysis of the impact that biocontrol agents may have on ecological sustainability of agricultural systems.

Current understanding, challenges and perspective on portable systems applied to plant monitoring and precision agriculture.

The devastating effects of global climate change on crop production and exponential population growth pose a major challenge to agricultural yields. To cope with this problem, crop performance monitoring is becoming increasingly necessary. In this scenario, the use of sensors and biosensors capable of detecting changes in plant fitness and predicting the evolution of their morphology and physiology has proven to be a useful strategy to increase crop yields. Flexible sensors and nanomaterials have inspired the emerging fields of wearable and on-plant portable devices that provide continuous and accurate long-term sensing of morphological, physiological, biochemical, and environmental parameters. This review provides an overview of novel plant sensing technologies by discussing wearable and integrated devices proposed for engineering plant and monitoring its morphological traits and physiological processes, as well as plant-environment interactions. For each application scenario, the state-of-the-art sensing solutions are grouped according to the plant organ on which they have been installed highlighting their main technological advantages and features. Finally, future opportunities, challenges and perspectives are discussed. We anticipate that the application of this technology in agriculture will provide more accurate measurements for farmers and plant scientists with the ability to track crop performance in real time. All of this information will be essential to enable rapid optimization of plants development through tailored treatments that improve overall plant health even under stressful conditions, with the ultimate goal of increasing crop productivity in a more sustainable manner.

Trichoderma: a multipurpose, plant-beneficial microorganism for eco-sustainable agriculture.

Trichoderma is a cosmopolitan and opportunistic ascomycete fungal genus including species that are of interest to agriculture as direct biological control agents of phytopathogens. Trichoderma utilizes direct antagonism and competition, particularly in the rhizosphere, where it modulates the composition of and interactions with other microorganisms. In its colonization of plants, on the roots or as an endophyte, Trichoderma has evolved the capacity to communicate with the plant and produce numerous multifaceted benefits to its host. The intricacy of this plant-microorganism association has stimulated a marked interest in research on Trichoderma, ranging from its capacity as a plant growth promoter to its ability to prime local and systemic defence responses against biotic and abiotic stresses and to activate transcriptional memory affecting plant responses to future stresses. This Review discusses the ecophysiology and diversity of Trichoderma and the complexity of its relationships in the agroecosystem, highlighting its potential as a direct and indirect biological control agent, biostimulant and biofertilizer, which are useful multipurpose properties for agricultural applications. We also highlight how the present legislative framework might accommodate the demonstrated evidence of Trichoderma proficiency as a plant-beneficial microorganism contributing towards eco-sustainable agriculture.

A Rapid Procedure for the Simultaneous Determination of Eugenol, Linalool and Fatty Acid Composition in Basil Leaves.

Eugenol and linalool are often the most abundant volatile compounds found in basil (Ocimum basilicum L., Lamiaceae) leaves, and they are interesting for the aroma they provide and for their numerous beneficial bioactivities. Their determination is thus needed for several purposes. In the present study, to avoid the previous isolation of essential oil, the direct solvent extraction is proposed coupled with a transmethylation to convert acyl lipids into fatty acids methyl esters (FAMEs), thus assessing the possible simultaneous analysis of eugenol and linalool with FAMEs by gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The method has been validated and applied to ten basil leaves samples in which eugenol and linalool were found in mean concentrations of 2.80 ± 0.15 and 1.01 ± 0.04 g kg-1 (dry weight), respectively. FAMEs composition was dominated by linolenic acid (52.1-56.1%) followed by palmitic acid (19.3-22.4%) and linoleic acid (9.6-11.3%). The ratio of n6-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)/n3-PUFAs was in the range of 0.17-0.20 in the investigated samples. The proposed method exploits a rapid procedure requiring 40 min, making use of a small amount of solvent and allowing the simultaneous determination of molecules contributing to assess the quality of this worldwide appreciated herb.

Eucalyptus cinerea and E. nicholii by-Products as Source of Bioactive Compounds for Agricultural Applications.

The cultivation of different species of Eucalyptus has recently expanded in Liguria (Italy) due to the growing demand of the North European floricultural market. Eucalyptus tree branches are cut and selected for their quality, resulting in large amounts of waste biomass to be disposed of. The aim of our study was to evaluate the phytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of essential oils (EOs) from pruning wastes of E. cinerea (EC) and E. nicholii (EN), for potential applications in agriculture. Phytochemical analyses showed eucalyptol (1,8-cineole) as the major component in both EOs, but the EO yield of EN was higher than that of EC, in agreement with a significantly higher oil gland density on EN leaves. EOs from both species showed phytotoxicity on both weeds tested, but no significant inhibition on horticultural crop seed germination, except for Raphanus sativus. The EO from EC showed the strongest antibacterial activity, while the EO from EN showed the strongest antifungal activity. Concluding, EOs from Eucalyptus pruning may be used as possible alternatives to synthetic herbicides and pesticides, acting as antimicrobial and antifungal agents, thus representing a safe strategy for crop management programs.

Trichoderma Enzymes for Degradation of Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A.

The contamination of agricultural products with mycotoxins causes risks to animal and human health and severe economic losses. Mycotoxicoses can be reduced by preventing fungal infection using chemical and biological approaches. The chemical strategies can release toxic molecules; therefore, strategies for biological control are being evaluated, such as using nontoxic fungi and their metabolites. This work evaluated the effect of exoenzymes produced by the beneficial fungus Trichoderma afroharzianum strain T22 in degrading Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and Ochratoxin A (OTA). The ability of Trichoderma to produce hydrolases was stimulated by using different inducing substrates. The highest AFB1 and OTA degradation activity was obtained using a medium containing lyophilized mushrooms and crude fiber. The T. afroharzianum T22's ability to reduce mycotoxins may be attributed to peroxidase enzymes. This study showed that T.afroharzianum strain T22 or its peroxidase supplementation could represent a sustainable strategy for the degradation of AFB1 and OTA in feed and food products.

Seed Treatments with Microorganisms Can Have a Biostimulant Effect by Influencing Germination and Seedling Growth of Crops.

Seed quality is an important aspect of the modern cultivation strategies since uniform germination and high seedling vigor contribute to successful establishment and crop performance. To enhance germination, beneficial microbes belonging to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Trichoderma spp., rhizobia and other bacteria can be applied to seeds before sowing via coating or priming treatments. Their presence establishes early relationships with plants, leading to biostimulant effects such as plant-growth enhancement, increased nutrient uptake, and improved plant resilience to abiotic stress. This review aims to highlight the most significant results obtained for wheat, maize, rice, soybean, canola, sunflower, tomato, and other horticultural species. Beneficial microorganism treatments increased plant germination, seedling vigor, and biomass, as well as overcoming seed-related limitations (such as abiotic stress), both during and after emergence. The results are generally positive, but variable, so more scientific information needs to be acquired for different crops and cultivation techniques, with considerations to different beneficial microbes (species and strains) and under variable climate conditions to understand the effects of seed treatments.

Bioformulations with Beneficial Microbial Consortia, a Bioactive Compound and Plant Biopolymers Modulate Sweet Basil Productivity, Photosynthetic Activity and Metabolites.

Increasing attention is being given to the development of innovative formulations to substitute the use of synthetic chemicals to improve agricultural production and resource use efficiency. Alternatives can include biological products containing beneficial microorganisms and bioactive metabolites able to inhibit plant pathogens, induce systemic resistance and promote plant growth. The efficacy of such bioformulations can be increased by the addition of polymers as adjuvants or carriers. Trichoderma afroharzianum T22, Azotobacter chroococcum 76A and 6-pentyl-α-pyrone (6PP; a Trichoderma secondary metabolite) were administrated singularly or in a consortium, with or without a carboxymethyl cellulose-based biopolymer (BP), and tested on sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) grown in a protected greenhouse. The effect of the treatments on basil yield, photosynthetic activity and secondary metabolites production was assessed. Photosynthetic efficiency was augmented by the applications of the bioformulations. The applications to the rhizosphere with BP + 6PP and BP + T22 + 76A increased the total fresh weight of basil by 26.3% and 23.6%, respectively. Untargeted LC-MS qTOF analysis demonstrated that the plant metabolome was significantly modified by the treatments. Quantification of the profiles for the major phenolic acids indicated that the treatment with the T22 + 76A consortium increased rosmarinic acid content by 110%. The use of innovative bioformulations containing microbes, their metabolites and a biopolymer was found to modulate the cultivation of fresh basil by improving yield and quality, thus providing the opportunity to develop farming systems with minimal impact on the environmental footprint from the agricultural production process.

The Application of Trichoderma Strains or Metabolites Alters the Olive Leaf Metabolome and the Expression of Defense-Related Genes.

Biocontrol fungal strains of the genus Trichoderma can antagonize numerous plant pathogens and promote plant growth using different mechanisms of action, including the production of secondary metabolites (SMs). In this work we analyzed the effects of repeated applications of selected Trichoderma strains or SMs on young olive trees on the stimulation of plant growth and on the development of olive leaf spot disease caused by Fusicladium oleagineum. In addition, metabolomic analyses and gene expression profiles of olive leaves were carried out by LC-MS Q-TOF and real-time RT-PCR, respectively. A total of 104 phenolic compounds were detected from olive leave extracts and 20 were putatively identified. Targeted and untargeted approaches revealed significant differences in both the number and type of phenolic compounds accumulated in olive leaves after Trichoderma applications, as compared to water-treated plants. Different secoiridoids were less abundant in treated plants than in controls, while the accumulation of flavonoids (including luteolin and apigenin derivatives) increased following the application of specific Trichoderma strain. The induction of defense-related genes, and of genes involved in the synthesis of the secoiridoid oleuropein, was also analyzed and revealed a significant variation of gene expression according to the strain or metabolite applied.

The Union Is Strength: The Synergic Action of Long Fatty Acids and a Bacteriophage against Xanthomonas campestris Biofilm.

Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris is known as the causative agent of black rot disease, which attacks mainly crucifers, severely lowering their global productivity. One of the main virulence factors of this pathogen is its capability to penetrate and form biofilm structures in the xylem vessels. The discovery of novel approaches to crop disease management is urgent and a possible treatment could be aimed at the eradication of biofilm, although anti-biofilm approaches in agricultural microbiology are still rare. Considering the multifactorial nature of biofilm, an effective approach against Xanthomonas campestris implies the use of a multi-targeted or combinatorial strategy. In this paper, an anti-biofilm strategy based on the use of fatty acids and the bacteriophage (Xccφ1)-hydroxyapatite complex was optimized against Xanthomonas campestris mature biofilm. The synergic action of these elements was demonstrated and the efficient removal of Xanthomonas campestris mature biofilm was also proven in a flow cell system, making the proposed approach an effective solution to enhance plant survival in Xanthomonas campestris infections. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the efficacy of the proposed treatment were explored.

Application of Trichoderma harzianum, 6-pentyl-α-pyrone and Plant Biopolymer Formulations Modulate Plant Metabolism and Fruit Quality of Plum Tomatoes.

Many Trichoderma are successfully used to improve agriculture productivity due to their capacity for biocontrol and to stimulate plant growth and tolerance to abiotic stress. This research elucidates the effect of applications with Trichoderma harzianum strain T22 (T22), or biopolymer (BP) alone or in combination (BP + T22 or BP + 6-pentyl-α-pyrone (6PP); a Trichoderma secondary metabolite) on the crop performance, nutritional and functional quality of greenhouse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar Pixel). T22 elicited significant increases in total yield (+40.1%) compared to untreated tomato. The content of lycopene, an important antioxidant compound in tomatoes, significantly increased upon treatment with T22 (+ 49%), BP + T22 (+ 40%) and BP + 6PP (+ 52%) compared to the control. T22 treatments significantly increased the content of asparagine (+37%), GABA (+87%) and MEA (+102%) over the control; whereas BP alone strongly increased GABA (+105%) and MEA (+85%). The synthesis of these compounds implies that tomato plants are able to reuse the photorespiratory amino acids and ammonium for producing useful metabolites and reduce the pressure of photorespiration on plant metabolism, thus optimizing photosynthesis and growth. Finally, these metabolites exert many beneficial effects for human health, thus enhancing the premium quality of plum tomatoes.

Plant Dynamic Metabolic Response to Bacteriophage Treatment After Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris Infection.

Periodic epidemics of black rot disease occur worldwide causing substantial yield losses. Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) represents one of the most common bacteria able to cause the above disease in cruciferous plants such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Arabidopsis thaliana. In agriculture, several strategies are being developed to contain the Xanthomonas infection. The use of bacteriophages could represent a valid and efficient approach to overcome this widespread phenomenon. Several studies have highlighted the potential usefulness of implementing phage therapy to control plant diseases as well as Xcc infection. In the present study, we characterized the effect of a lytic phage on the plant Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes infected with Xcc and, for the first time, the correlated plant metabolic response. The results highlighted the potential benefits of bacteriophages: reduction of bacterium proliferation, alteration of the biofilm structure and/or modulation of the plant metabolism and defense response.

Heterologous Expression of PKPI and Pin1 Proteinase Inhibitors Enhances Plant Fitness and Broad-Spectrum Resistance to Biotic Threats.

Kunitz-type (PKPI) and Potato type I (Pin1) protease inhibitors (PIs) are two families of serine proteinase inhibitors often associated to plant storage organs and with well known insecticidal and nematicidal activities. Noteworthy, their ability to limit fungal and bacterial pathogenesis in vivo or to influence plant physiology has not been investigated in detail. To this aim, we generated a set of PVX-based viral constructs to transiently and heterologously express two potato PKPI (PKI1, PKI2) and three potato Pin1 (PPI3A2, PPI3B2, PPI2C4) genes in Nicotiana benthamiana plants, a widely used model for plant-pathogen interaction studies. Interestingly, transgenic plants expressing most of the tested PIs showed to be highly resistant against two economically important necrotrophic fungal pathogens, Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata. Unexpectedly, overexpression of the PKI2 Kunitz-type or of the PPI2C4 and PPI3A2 Potato type I inhibitor genes also lead to a dramatic reduction in the propagation and symptom development produced by the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. We further found that localized expression of PPI2C4 and PKI2 in N. benthamiana leaves caused an increase in cell expansion and proliferation which lead to tissue hypertrophy and trichome accumulation. In line with this, the systemic expression of these proteins resulted in plants with enhanced shoot and root biomass. Collectively, our results indicate that PKPI and Pin1 PIs might represent valuable tools to simultaneously increase plant fitness and broad-spectrum resistance toward phytopathogens.

Antibiofilm Activity of a Trichoderma Metabolite against Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, Alone and in Association with a Phage.

Biofilm protects bacteria against the host's immune system and adverse environmental conditions. Several studies highlight the efficacy of lytic phages in the prevention and eradication of bacterial biofilms. In this study, the lytic activity of Xccφ1 (Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris-specific phage) was evaluated in combination with 6-pentyl-α-pyrone (a secondary metabolite produced by Trichoderma atroviride P1) and the mineral hydroxyapatite. Then, the antibiofilm activity of this interaction, called a φHA6PP complex, was investigated using confocal laser microscopy under static and dynamic conditions. Additionally, the mechanism used by the complex to modulate the genes (rpf, gumB, clp and manA) involved in the biofilm formation and stability was also studied. Our results demonstrated that Xccφ1, alone or in combination with 6PP and HA, interfered with the gene pathways involved in the formation of biofilm. This approach can be used as a model for other biofilm-producing bacteria.

Chlamyphilone, a Novel Pochonia chlamydosporia Metabolite with Insecticidal Activity.

Metabolites from a collection of selected fungal isolates have been screened for insecticidal activity against the aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum. Crude organic extracts of culture filtrates from six fungal isolates (Paecilomyces lilacinus, Pochonia chlamydosporia, Penicillium griseofulvum, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Talaromyces pinophilus) caused mortality of aphids within 72 h after treatment. In this work, bioassay-guided fractionation has been used to characterize the main bioactive metabolites accumulated in fungal extracts. Leucinostatins A, B and D represent the bioactive compounds produced by P. lilacinus. From P. griseofulvum and B. bassiana extracts, griseofulvin and beauvericin have been isolated, respectively; 3-O-Methylfunicone and a mixture of destruxins have been found in the active fractions of T. pinophilum and M. anisopliae, respectively. A novel azaphilone compound, we named chlamyphilone, with significant insecticidal activity, has been isolated from the culture filtrate of P. chlamydosporia. Its structure has been determined using extensive spectroscopic methods and chemical derivatization.

Application of Trichoderma Strains and Metabolites Enhances Soybean Productivity and Nutrient Content.

Trichoderma fungi are effectively marketed worldwide as biocontrol agents and plant biostimulants on numerous crops due to their demonstrated effects in direct antagonism against fungal pathogens and plant growth promotion. Here, we examined the effects of single and combined applications of Trichoderma strains and their bioactive metabolites (BAMs) harzianic acid (HA), 6-pentyl-α-pyrone (6PP), and hydrophobin1 (HYTLO1) on the growth, yield, and nutrient uptake of soybean plants. Significant promotion of plant growth (up to 39%), as well as an increase in mineral content, was achieved with BAMs, used alone or combined with T. harzianum. Interestingly, the treatments also increased the level of fatty acids (oleic, linolenic, 11-eicosenoic, and stearic). This work demonstrates the usefulness of natural compound and microbe combinations to enhance oilseed productivity, and reports for the first time the ability of Trichoderma and/or its BAMs to increase the lipid content in harvested seeds.

Inhibitory effect of trichodermanone C, a sorbicillinoid produced by Trichoderma citrinoviride associated to the green alga Cladophora sp., on nitrite production in LPS-stimulated macrophages.

From the green alga Cladophora sp. collected in Italy, the marine fungal strain A12 of Trichoderma citrinoviride was isolated, identified and characterized. LC-MS qTOF analysis was applied to perform a metabolic profile of the fungal culture. Chromatographic techniques and spectroscopic methods were used to isolate and characterize the major secondary metabolites produced by this strain in liquid culture. In particular, four known sorbicillinoids (trichodermanone C, spirosorbicillinol A, vertinolide and sorbicillin) were purified and identified, together with 2-phenylethanol and tyrosol. Moreover, metabolomic analysis allowed to detect small amounts of trichodimerol, rezishanone A, 2',3'-dihydrosorbicillin and bisvertinol. For the first time a significant inhibitory effect on nitrite levels has been shown for trichodermanone C in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated J774A.1 macrophages.