Article
Microbiology
Aurora Patchett, Jonathan A. Newman
Summary: In this study, the influence of four strains of E. festucae var. lolii on L. perenne growth and root exudate metabolite composition was tested. The NEA2 endophyte strain resulted in the highest plant biomass and the lowest endophyte concentration. A total of 84 metabolites were found to be differentially expressed in at least one of the endophyte treatments compared to uninfected controls.
Article
Plant Sciences
Kim A. Richardson, Anouck C. M. de Bonth, Zac Beechey-Gradwell, Suhas Kadam, Luke J. Cooney, Kelly A. Nelson, Ruth Cookson, Somrutai Winichayakul, Michele Reid, Philip Anderson, Tracey Crowther, Xiuying Zou, Dorothy Maher, Hong Xue, Richard W. Scott, Anne Allan, Richard D. Johnson, Stuart D. Card, Wade J. Mace, Nicholas J. Roberts, Gregory Bryan
Summary: The study investigated the impact of DGAT + CO technology on the grass-endophyte association in perennial ryegrass and found that the expression of this trait did not significantly affect the endophyte-infected and non-infected progeny. It was also observed that while Epichloe-derived alkaloid concentrations were lower in DGAT + CO plants in some instances, they remained within the bioactive range. Further research is needed to determine the optimal genetic backgrounds for the successful integration of DGAT + CO trait with selected endophyte strains.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simone Vassiliadis, Priyanka Reddy, Joanne Hemsworth, German C. Spangenberg, Kathryn M. Guthridge, Simone J. Rochfort
Summary: Perennial ryegrass commonly infected with asexual Epichloe species endophytes produces alkaloids that provide enhanced bioprotection. However, the distribution of alkaloids within the plant and their role in biocontrol of insect pests and diseases are not well understood. This study used LC-MS to measure alkaloid concentrations in different tissues, revealing that concentrations were generally highest in seeds but varied in shoots/roots. Understanding alkaloid distribution may assist in determining resistance to subterranean root-feeding pests.
Article
Soil Science
Zhenjiang Chen, James F. White, Kamran Malik, Hao Chen, Yuanyuan Jin, Xiang Yao, Xuekai Wei, Chunjie Li, Zhibiao Nan
Summary: This study investigated the changes in microbial functional genes, plant nutrients, and soil N2O flux in the rhizosphere soil of ryegrass infected with Epichloe center dot festucae var. lolii. The results showed that the presence of endophytes reduced plant nutrient traits and increased soil nutrient accumulation, as well as altered the microbial environment. The presence of fungal endophytes increased community diversity in certain microbial functional genes and had an impact on N2O fluxes. These changes in plant and soil traits mediated by endophyte infection were closely related to N2O fluxes and the abundance of certain functional genes, such as nifH.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Zhenjiang Chen, Yuanyuan Jin, Xiang Yao, Xuekai Wei, Xiuzhang Li, Chunjie Li, James F. White, Zhibiao Nan
Summary: Epichloe endophytes in litter could influence soil properties and microbial community composition when incorporated into soil.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Debbie Hudson, Wade Mace, Alison Popay, Joanne Jensen, Catherine McKenzie, Catherine Cameron, Richard Johnson
Summary: Epichloe endophytes in New Zealand have shown significant insecticidal benefits in perennial ryegrass, particularly against black beetle, even with the elimination of the toxic ergovaline compound. This study highlights the potential for intermediate ergot alkaloid compounds to provide insecticidal properties without the presence of ergovaline.
Article
Microbiology
Yonathan Lukito, Kate Lee, Nazanin Noorifar, Kimberly A. Green, David J. Winter, Arvina Ram, Tracy K. Hale, Tetsuya Chujo, Murray P. Cox, Linda J. Johnson, Barry Scott
Summary: Recent studies have identified key genes that control the symbiotic interaction between Epichloe festucae and Lolium perenne, as well as specific E. festucae genes that control host infection. Deletion of these genes leads to severe defects in colony growth and hyphal development, resulting in complete loss of ability to infect the host plant. Transcriptome analysis identified fungal candidate genes differentially regulated in mutants compared to wild type, highlighting the importance of these genes in host infection.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Ximena Cibils-Stewart, Wade J. Mace, Alison J. Popay, Fernando A. Lattanzi, Susan (Sue) E. Hartley, Casey R. Hall, Jeff R. Powell, Scott N. Johnson
Summary: Grasses have developed various mechanisms to resist herbivory, including accumulating silicon and associating with Epichloe-endophytes. The interaction between silicon and endophytes plays a crucial role in antiherbivore defenses in grasses.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Juanjuan Fu, Shentong Zhang, Huina Jiang, Xinfei Zhang, Hao Gao, Peizhi Yang, Tianming Hu
Summary: This study reveals that melatonin enhances cold and drought tolerance in perennial ryegrass by activating antioxidant systems and reducing H2O2 accumulation. The expression of brassinosteroids biosynthesis and signaling-related genes is regulated by melatonin. The interplay between melatonin, H2O2, and brassinosteroid signaling plays a crucial role in melatonin-induced cold/drought tolerance in perennial ryegrass.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Yuanyuan Jin, Xuekai Wei, James F. White, Taixiang Chen, Xiuzhang Li, Zhenjiang Chen, Chunjie Li
Summary: Litter decomposition is affected by the presence of Epichloe endophytes in grass plants. This study found that incorporating leaf litter containing Epichloe endophytes into soil changed the microbial environment and increased the organic carbon and nitrogen content. The presence of the endophyte had a larger impact on soil bacteria compared to fungi.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Dominic Vogel, Paul Hills, John P. Moore
Summary: Priming agents, such as synthetic strigolactones, induce resistance in plants against pathogens by priming redox-associated compounds to produce an antioxidant protective response. These priming agents have the potential to alter the ROS homeostasis of pathogens, resulting in morphological and physiological changes that reduce virulence in both tobacco and grapevine plants.
Article
Plant Sciences
Guohui Yu, Zheni Xie, Wei Chen, Bin Xu, Bingru Huang
Summary: This study found that down-regulating the chlorophyll catabolic gene NOL or applying sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC) can suppress heat-induced leaf senescence, increase chlorophyll content, reduce electrolyte leakage, enhance antioxidant capacity, and protect leaves from oxidative damage caused by heat.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Arif Hasan Khan Robin, Louis John Irving, Jim Crush, Hans Schnyder, Fernando Alfredo Lattanzi, Cory Matthew
Summary: Grasses exhibit segmental morphology with limited data available on root development. Results show four stages of root development in Lolium perenne cv. Aberdart with a proposed mechanism for seasonal shift in substrate supply. The study provides insight for modeling grass root turnover patterns for nutrient efficient or stress tolerant ryegrass swards.
Review
Plant Sciences
Samuel Minguillon, Manuel A. Matamoros, Deqiang Duanmu, Manuel Becana
Summary: This article discusses the roles of reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur species, as well as antioxidants, in the metabolic regulation and signaling of legume nodules. The article also raises several key questions, such as the need for new methodologies to detect and quantify these reactive molecules, the regulation of redox-active proteins, and the potential crosstalk between reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur species in nodules.
Review
Plant Sciences
Manuel A. Matamoros, Manuel Becana
Summary: Legumes can reduce the demand for nitrogen fertilizers and contribute to sustainable agriculture by fixing nitrogen in symbiotic root nodules. However, global changes may increase exposure to abiotic stresses and negatively impact crop production. The complex regulation of whole plant physiology and nitrogen fixation in legumes under abiotic stress involves redox-based protein post-translational modifications, which play critical roles in plant acclimation and stress tolerance.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
D. Rapp, C. M. Ross, P. Maclean, V. M. Cave, G. Brightwell
Summary: This study evaluated the presence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in dairy farm environments, highlighting cow feces, freshly contaminated environments, birds, and flies as common routes of transmission. Phylogenetic analysis of whole genome sequences revealed the presence of multiple clonal strains spreading within the farm, indicating various potential transmission routes.
Review
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
John R. Caradus, Stuart D. Card, Sarah C. Finch, David E. Hume, Linda J. Johnson, Wade J. Mace, Alison J. Popay
Summary: When identifying endophytes for use in pastures in New Zealand, there are two strategies that have been used, either to exclude certain alkaloids or to retain some expression in order to enhance natural defenses. Balancing these strategies is important to ensure a persistent pasture with low toxicity.
NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Nara Regina Brandao Consolo, Alessandra Fernandes Rosa, Luis Carlos Garibaldi Simon Barbosa, Paul Haydon Maclean, Angel Higuera-Padilla, Luiz Alberto Colnago, Evaldo Antonio Lencioni Titto
Summary: This preliminary study aimed to evaluate meat quality properties, muscle metabolite profile, and metabolic pathways associated with dark cutting meat in Angus x Nellore crossbreed cattle. The results showed that dark cutting meat exhibited distinct meat quality attributes and concentrations of post-mortem glycolytic metabolites compared to normal meat, and appeared to be correlated with mitochondrial activity. Pathway analysis indicated that differentiation between dark cutting and normal meat was linked to energetic pathways such as starch and sucrose metabolism, amino sugar, nucleotide sugar metabolism, and glycolysis or gluconeogenesis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sandeep K. Gupta, Qing Deng, Tanushree B. Gupta, Paul Maclean, Joerg Jores, Axel Heiser, D. Neil Wedlock
Summary: Two rapid, specific, and sensitive assays were developed for the detection of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae infection, showing high specificity and efficiency. The RPA-LFD assay demonstrated a higher positive rate when using clinical samples, suggesting its potential as a point-of-care test without the need for DNA extraction.
Article
Mycology
Mercedes Rocafort, Saadiah Arshed, Debbie Hudson, Jaspreet Singh Sidhu, Joanna K. Bowen, Kim M. Plummer, Rosie E. Bradshaw, Richard D. Johnson, Linda J. Johnson, Carl H. Mesarich
Summary: This study demonstrates the successful application of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system in the apple scab fungus, Venturia inaequalis. It provides a strong starting point for studying the gene function of this fungus. The study also introduces a high-resolution melting curve protocol for the rapid detection of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-edited mutants, offering high sensitivity and low cost.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lilia C. Carvalhais, Paul G. Dennis, Amrit Poudel, Henry W. G. Birt, Shamsul A. Bhuiyan, Stuart D. Card, Priya A. Joyce
Summary: Culture-independent survey techniques are essential for assessing plant microbiomes. Preservation of samples is crucial for accurate results, with DESS being identified as a versatile and cost-effective option for maintaining DNA integrity.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Faith P. Palevich, Nikola Palevich, Paul H. Maclean, Eric Altermann, John Mills, Gale Brightwell
Summary: This report presents the generation and annotation of the draft genome sequence of Clostridium bowmanii DSM 14206(T) isolated from Lake Fryxell, Antarctica.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2022)
Letter
Plant Sciences
Daniel A. Bastias, Pedro E. Gundel, Richard D. Johnson, Ernesto Gianoli
Article
Microbiology
Sereyboth Soth, Travis R. Glare, John G. Hampton, Stuart D. Card, Jenny J. Brookes
Summary: This study evaluated multiple Beauveria isolates for the control of diamondback moth and found that certain isolates were highly effective in killing the larvae. The research also determined that low-virulent Beauveria isolates showed better control of the pest compared to mixtures containing high-virulent isolates.
Article
Microbiology
Tanushree B. Gupta, Alexis N. Risson, Gale Brightwell, Paul Maclean, Ruy Jauregui
Summary: This study reports the draft genome sequence of a new Thermoactinomyces vulgaris strain, AGRTWHS02, with strong proteolytic activity, which was isolated from a sheep dairy farm environment in New Zealand.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Daniel A. Bastias, Emma R. Applegate, Linda J. Johnson, Stuart D. Card
Summary: This study assessed the impact of bacterial relationships on plant performance in mutualistic and antagonistic fungal associations. It found that the performance gain provided by bacteria may be influenced by the functional traits of the symbiont, the type of bacterial protection against antagonistic fungi, and the presence of biotic or abiotic stresses.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. Ajmal Khan, Axel Heiser, Paul H. Maclean, Shane R. Leath, Katherine A. Lowe, Adrian J. Molenaar
Summary: Feeding higher amounts of unpasteurized whole milk to heifer calves can improve preweaning growth and antibody responses, without negative effects on postweaning growth under grazing conditions. It also leads to an increase in potential milk making tissue in the mammary glands.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Qianhe Liu, Linda J. Johnson, Emma R. Applegate, Karoline Arfmann, Ruy Jauregui, Anna Larking, Wade J. Mace, Paul Maclean, Thomas Walker, Richard D. Johnson
Summary: Genotyping by sequencing revealed the genetic variation within Sarocladium zeae fungi isolated from different Zea germplasm. A novel PCR assay was developed to identify pyrrocidine-producing S.zeae strains. Furthermore, the study of endophytic transmission of S.zeae in maize seedlings improved our understanding of its transmission modes in maize tissues.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ludmila M. Bubica Bustos, Andrea C. Ueno, Fernando Biganzoli, Stuart D. Card, Wade J. Mace, Maria A. Martinez-Ghersa, Pedro E. Gundel
Summary: This study investigates the impact of herbivory on the resistance of offspring plants. The results suggest that herbivory does not increase alkaloid concentration in seeds, but it does have an effect on alkaloid concentration and resistance level in progeny plants. Symbiotic plants show higher resistance to herbivores compared to non-symbiotic plants. The enhanced resistance may result from an inherited mechanism of epigenetic regulation.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sereyboth Soth, Travis R. Glare, John G. Hampton, Stuart D. Card, Jenny J. Brookes, Josefina O. Narciso
Summary: This study investigated the variability of the efficacy of Beauveria-based biopesticides under different environmental conditions and found that insect diet and fungal toxins influenced the susceptibility of insects to the biopesticides.