Application of Chitosan-Based Hydrogel Obtained from Insects in Pine Planting.

Agrogels, a hydrogel applied in the soil that collects water during irrigation or rainfall and distributes moisture to plant roots during drought, are a solution to water shortage concerns. Extending the release of low molecular weight chemicals has the potential to minimise mineral fertiliser losses as well as water and soil pollution. Thus, the aim of the research is to obtain chitosan from insect chitin, to synthesize a hydrogel based on chitosan with included mineral and organic fertilisers, and to report on experiments with agrogels in the field. In this study, chitosan was obtained from the adult beetles Zophobas morio. IR spectroscopy was used to examine chitosan. The existence of absorption lines typical of primary amines was demonstrated. In one step, a technique for the manufacture of chitosan-based hydrogels containing embedded mineral fertilisers was established. Hydrogel has a swelling coefficient of 60 g/g. Agrogels were evaluated while planting spruce seedlings on "Semei Ormany" LLP experimental locations. The survival rate of seedlings was found to be 40% higher in the experimental group than in the control group.

Examination of Lactic Acid Bacteria to Secretion of Bacteriocins.

INTRODUCTION: Bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have the potential to cover a very broad field of applications, including the food industry and the medical sector. In the food industry, bacteriocinogenic LAB strains can be used as starter cultures, co-cultures, and bioprotective cultures, which would be used to improve food quality and safety. In the medical sector, bacteriocins of probiotic LAB might play a role in interactions, which take place in human gastrointestinal tract, and contribute to gut health. The aim of this study was the examine the effect of LAB antimicrobial activity. METHODS: LAB were isolated from different commercial and home made products, such as kazy and sour cream. To screen for bacteriocin producing LAB, we used an agar diffusion bioassay, described in a previous study by Dr. Yang, with three modifications in cell-free supernatant (CFS). First we had a clear supernatant, second we adjusted the CFS to pH 6.0 to eliminate acids antimicrobial effects, and third the CFS pH 6.0 was treated with catalase to exclude the action of H2O2 and confirm action of bacteriocin-like substances. Pathogenic S.marcescens, E. coli, S.aureus cultures were used as indicators. RESULTS: Screening of 95 strains of LAB through deferred antagonism to six indicator cultures showed that all of the selected strains had a high value of antibacterial activity. However, CFS of only 50 strains retained their antimicrobial activity, and 10 of them lost this activity in the second modification of CFS with pH 6.0 to test culture S.marcescens, which confirmed the acidic nature of antimicrobial activity of CFS. Lb.rhamnosus (P-1), Lb.fermentum (N-6), and Lc.lactis (7M) lost antibacterial activity in the presence of the catalase. All modifications of CFS of three strains: Lb.pentosus (16al), Lb.pentosus (P-2), and Pediococcusacidilactici (8) retained inhibitory activity to E.coli and S. aureus. Supernatants of only Lactococcusgarvieae (10a) and Pediococcusacidilactici (25) extracted from homemade meat food kazy (Karaganda) and sour cream (Astana), respectively retained antibacterial activity to all three indicator cultures. CONCLUSION: The antibacterial activity (pH 6.0, added catalase) of Lactococcusgarvieae (10a) and Pediococcusacidilactici (25) to S. marcescens, E. coli, and S.aureus indicates these strains as promising strains for further use in the preparation of bacteriocins.