Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shirin M. Usmani, Linn Voss, Ina Stephan, Thomas Huebert, Erhard Kemnitz
Summary: The decay protection of wood using low-water soluble metal fluorides was evaluated. The study found that nano metal fluorides were more effective in preventing fungal decay than stand-alone metal fluorides. Metal fluorides were present in treated wood, both unleached and leached. The combination of MgF2 and CaF2 reduced the mass losses of wood to below 3%. These findings suggest that nano metal fluorides can provide full protection to wood in outdoor environments.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jiyun Qi, Lu Jia, Yanjun Liang, Bei Luo, Rurong Zhao, Chen Zhang, Jialong Wen, Yonghui Zhou, Mizi Fan, Yan Xia
Summary: This study investigated the biodegradation abilities of different fungi on Dendrocalamus sinicus and studied the changes in chemical characteristics of the bamboo. The results showed that white-rot fungi T. versicolor selectively degraded the bamboo, while brown-rot fungi G. trabeum and R. placenta mainly attacked it during the middle stage. These findings have important implications for the bioconversion of Dendrocalamus sinicus.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Priyanka Matin, Md Rezaur Rahman, Durul Huda, Muhammad Khusairy Bin Bakri, Jamal Uddin, Yuriy Yurkin, Andrey Burkov, Kuok King Kuok, Mohammed Mahbubul Matin
Summary: Carbohydrate-based fatty acid esters (CFA esters) are non-toxic and environmentally friendly compounds that are used as antimicrobials and synthetic intermediates. They have applications in various industries, including food, surfactant, and pharmaceutical. In this study, different CFA esters were synthesized from methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside and tested for their decay resistance properties against white-rot and brown-rot fungi. The results showed that most of these CFA esters protected the wood from fungal attack and reduced deterioration.
Article
Forestry
Alejandro Lucia, Monica Murace, Gaston Sartor, Gabriel Keil, Ricardo Camera, Ramon G. Rubio, Eduardo Guzman
Summary: The study found that eugenol in water nanoemulsions can serve as a promising alternative formulation for protecting wood against xylophagous fungi. Results showed that the retention of tebuconazole in wood was high and the antifungal protection was found to be long-term and stable.
Article
Microbiology
J. D. Castano, N. Munoz-Munoz, Y. M. Kim, J. Liu, L. Yang, J. S. Schilling
Summary: Despite the ecological and economic importance of wood-degrading fungi, little is known about the array of metabolites that fungi produce during wood decomposition. This study provides an in-depth insight into the wood decomposition process by analyzing and comparing the changes of >100 compounds produced by fungi with metabolic distinct nutritional modes (white and brown rot fungi) at different decay stages.
Article
Soil Science
Jessica L. Sarauer, Mark D. Coleman
Summary: Biochar is an environmental soil application tool that can be used in forest soils to mitigate climate change and sequester carbon. This study investigated the effects of biochar amendment to soil in three managed forest sites in the western USA. The results showed that biochar did not have a detrimental effect on soil microbial community composition in the northwestern USA forests.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yongjie Ding, Kristen N. Wyckoff, Qiang He, Xuejuan Cao, Baoshan Huang
Summary: This study evaluates the potential of using microbial biodegradation to degrade waste asphalt shingle binder and reduce the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Huimin Zhang, Yahua Jiang, Yu Liu, Quan Li
Summary: Four types of bamboo materials were tested for decay resistance against four types of wood rot fungi. The dark color bamboo scrimber showed the best decay resistance, while moso bamboo had the worst decay resistance. Moso bamboo and natural color bamboo scrimber exhibited significant color changes and decreased brightness after fungal infection.
WOOD MATERIAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Paula Andrea Bautista-Zamudio, Maria Alejandra Florez-Restrepo, Xiomara Lopez-Legarda, Leidy Carolina Monroy-Giraldo, Freimar Segura-Sanchez
Summary: Plastic pollution has become one of the most severe environmental issues in recent centuries due to its excessive usage and increasing production, surpassing the capacity for natural degradation. Inadequate disposal, ineffective waste collection methods, and lack of appropriate measures contribute to the escalating problem, resulting in the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment and negative impacts on ecosystems and wildlife. Exploring alternative approaches, such as the utilization of white-rot fungi and their ligninolytic enzymes, shows promise in effectively reducing waste and mitigating environmental consequences.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Anna Civzele, Linda Mezule
Summary: Tertiary wastewater treatment with microalgae using bio-flocculation instead of mechanical harvesting has shown high efficiency and wide applicability, which is crucial for enhancing technological competitiveness. In initial experiments, harvesting microalgae from wastewater resulted in removal efficiencies of 73-93% within 24 hours and up to 95% within 48 hours. The cost-effective and environmentally sustainable bio-flocculation technology has significant importance in reducing operating costs.
Article
Mycology
Shun Liu, Yuan-Yuan Chen, Yi-Fei Sun, Xiao-Lan He, Chang-Ge Song, Jing Si, Dong-Mei Liu, Genevieve Gates, Bao-Kai Cui
Summary: Brown-rot fungi are important for forest ecosystems as they degrade wood cellulose and hemicellulose, and contribute to nutrient cycling. Recent studies have shown that the ability to produce brown rot has evolved independently multiple times. This study focuses on the classification and phylogenetic relationships of brown-rot fungi within the Polyporales, based on DNA sequences from various loci. The study proposes new families, genera, species, and combinations, and provides illustrations and descriptions for the new species.
Article
Crystallography
Dmitry Yu. Vlasov, Marina S. Zelenskaya, Alina R. Izatulina, Svetlana Yu. Janson, Olga V. Frank-Kamenetskaya
Summary: We discovered oxalates formed by brown rot fungi on stone in natural conditions and proposed a model for their formation, confirming the association between metal oxalates in mines and adits and the activity of these fungi. We synthesized biofilm oxalate minerals and oxalates of toxic heavy metals under the action of four species of brown rot fungi on different mineral substrates. Compared to the soil fungus Aspergillus niger, the metabolic activity of brown rot fungi plays a greater role in oxalate crystallization. The potential use of brown rot fungi in environmentally friendly biotechnologies is justified.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jiyun Qi, Xiaoyuan Zhang, Yonghui Zhou, Chen Zhang, Jialong Wen, Shuduan Deng, Bei Luo, Mizi Fan, Yan Xia
Summary: This study investigated the bioconversion processes of Pinus yunnanensis using white and brown rot fungi treatment. The results showed that both fungi achieved decomposition and conversion of biomass through enzyme generation and action within the wood. White rot fungus caused uniform bioconversion of wood main components, while brown rot fungi caused different conversion due to their own bioconversion pathway. Both white and brown rot fungal pretreatments increased wood cell porosity and accessibility. The research outcomes provide insights into the enzymatic process, role of fungal selectivity, and the potential application of fungal pretreatment in future biorefineries and biochemical productions.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Marcelina Jureczko, Wioletta Przystas, Tomasz Krawczyk, Weronika Gonciarz, Karolina Rudnicka
Summary: The study evaluated the removal efficacy of five white-rot fungi on anticancer drugs, showing that some fungi can efficiently remove the drugs in a short period, which is associated with the production of laccase.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Mycology
Meng Zhou, Chao-Ge Wang, Ying-Da Wu, Shun Liu, Yuan Yuan
Summary: Brown-rot fungi selectively degrade cellulose and hemicellulose from wood. Two new brown-rot species from southern China are nested within Fomitopsis and Oligoporus clades and are strongly supported in the phylogenetic tree. The species Fomitopsis bambusae and Oligoporus podocarpi have distinct characteristics and are illustrated in the study.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Bangjun Liu, Rafael Spiekermann, Cunliang Zhao, Wilhelm Puettmann, Yuzhuang Sun, Andre Jasper, Dieter Uhl
Summary: This study investigates the charcoal remains and bulk lignites from the late Pliocene Jinsuo Basin in Yunnan, China, to understand the changes in wildfire regime in relation to palaeoenvironment, palaeoclimate, and paleobotany. The findings suggest that different types of wildfires occurred in the area, with a predominance of low-temperature surface fires. The occurrence and distribution of wildfires were influenced by changes in plant community and depositional environment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Haytham El Atfy, Salah Y. El Beialy, Mohamed K. Zobaa, Asmaa A. Taha, Dieter Uhl
Summary: The palynological investigation of the Oligocene Dabaa Formation in the Abu El Gharadig Basin in Egypt suggests an early Oligocene age for the formation, with evidence of different depositional environments in the lower and upper parts of the studied section. The Oligocene period marked significant changes in vegetation, leading to the development of modern plant associations like temperate deciduous forests.
Article
Plant Sciences
Dieter Uhl, Rafael Spiekermann, Michael Wuttke, Markus J. Poschmann, Andre Jasper
Summary: Macro-charcoal from late Eocene-late Oligocene deposits in the Neuwied Basin, Germany, provide evidence for paleo-wildfires occurring in three different time slices. The charcoal fragments have been compared to extinct conifer species and taxodioid Cupressaceae, indicating possible vegetation sources. This study confirms the presence of wildfires as a disturbance source in terrestrial ecosystems during the late Eocene to late Oligocene periods.
REVIEW OF PALAEOBOTANY AND PALYNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Haytham El Atfy, Saleh S. Aba Alkhayl, Dieter Uhl
Summary: Late Triassic plant macro-remains are rare in the equatorial belt of North Gondwana. The discovery of identifiable plant macro-remains from the Minjur Formation in Arabian Peninsula suggests similarities with the palynoflora of Iran.
Article
Plant Sciences
Haytham El Atfy, Khum N. Paudayal, Dieter Uhl
Summary: This study analyzed the palynomorphs from the late Paleocene maar deposits of Menat, France, using the single grain technique. The results showed diverse lineages of palynomorphs, including algae, spores, and pollen. Among the 45 different types of palynomorphs analyzed, angiosperms were the most diverse group. Although these palynomorphs represent only a small and non-representative selection of the palynoflora of Menat maar lake, the data and interpretations provided in this study could contribute to our understanding of the paleoflora and paleoenvironments of this important locality and fossil archive.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Anumeha Shukla, Andre Jasper, Dieter Uhl, Runcie P. Mathews, Vikram P. Singh, Kajal Chandra, Rimpy Chetia, Samiksha Shukla, R. C. Mehrotra
Summary: Charcoal, a common byproduct of wildfire, is found abundantly in sedimentary rocks from various environments. Analyzing paleofloras and related paleoecological conditions is crucial for understanding historical environmental and paleoclimatic events. This study examines woody charcoal from the early Paleogene sediments in Rajasthan, India, revealing the earliest evidence of paleo-wildfires in the region. Additionally, petrographic composition analysis suggests repeated occurrences of paleofire during deposition.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rafael Spiekermann, Andre Jasper, Marion K. Bamford, Dieter Uhl
Summary: This study investigates the morphology of leaf cushions and their variation in shape in the monotypic Azaniadendron fertile Rayner. It presents evidence for the presence of a ligule, resolving a dilemma about this structure in lycopsids from the Permian Glossopteris flora. The assumption that the taxon produced true cones is questioned based on new data on its fertile axes.
REVIEW OF PALAEOBOTANY AND PALYNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geology
Haytham El Atfy, Clement Coiffard, Dieter Uhl, Rafael Spiekermann, Essam M. Khoriby, Heba Aleraky, Ahmed Mohamed
Summary: The Cenomanian Bahariya Formation in Egypt, known for its diverse plant macrofossil content, is being investigated and reinterpreted in terms of climate and paleobiogeography. A new fossil assemblage from the Naqb as Sallam section in the Western Desert of Egypt provides insights into the overbank facies and is dominated by angiosperm leaves. The occurrence of charcoal suggests the presence of wildfires as common disturbances in terrestrial ecosystems during the deposition of the Bahariya Formation.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Haytham El Atfy, Mahmoud Kora, Ali Soliman, Ahmed A. Kassem, Somia Said, Amro Aboulsaoud, Heba El-Desouky, Benjamin Bomfleur
Summary: Integrated palynological and palynofacies investigation reveals the depositional framework of the Matulla Formation in Sinai and the Gulf of Suez. The formation's three members differ in palynofacies contents, with the lower member dominated by Pediastrum, the middle member dominated by phytoclasts, and the upper member dominated by AOM. The subdivision is significant as it correlates with previous lithostratigraphic units and has implications for hydrocarbon exploration.
JOURNAL OF AFRICAN EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ali Soliman, Haytham El Atfy
Summary: This article summarizes the development of Egyptian palynology in three main phases. Prior to 1979, the application of palynology was limited, with only a few publications. From 1980 to 2000, palynology played a significant role in petroleum exploration. Since 2000, there has been notable progress in palynological research, leading to international collaborations and expanded applications.
Article
Zoology
Panagiotis Kampouridis, Josephina Hartung, Felix J. Augustin, Haytham El Atfy, Gabriel S. Ferreira
Summary: This study used micro-computed tomography (mu CT) to analyze the dental morphology of Qarunavus meyeri and investigate its relationship with other ptolemaiidans. The results confirmed that Q. meyeri is a distinct species and belongs to the family Ptolemaiidae. It exhibits unique dental traits and a late dental eruption sequence, supporting the hypothesis of Ptolemaiida belonging to Afrotheria.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Clement Coiffard, Haytham El Atfy, Johan Renaudie, Robert Bussert, Dieter Uhl
Summary: This study investigates whether Campanian assemblages from northeastern Africa can represent fossil tropical rainforest (TRF) vegetation. By comparing leaf physiognomy, species richness, and taxonomic composition with other forest assemblages, the researchers conclude that TRFs similar to modern ones existed 80 million years ago in northeastern Africa. The apparent conflict between the fossil record and phylogenetic evidence is attributed to the lack of published tropical floras for the Cretaceous.
Article
Geology
H. El Atfy, M. Kora, R. Spiekermann, A. Jasper, D. Uhl
Summary: This study provides new evidence for wildfires during the deposition of the Malha Formation in the Lower Cretaceous period in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. Despite growing evidence for wildfires during the Cretaceous, the available database for pre-Aptian wildfires is still limited globally.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Srikanta Murthy, Dieter Uhl, Andre Jasper, O. S. Sarate, Deveshwar P. Mishra
Summary: Macroscopic fossil charcoal fragments recovered from the Astona-Kothurna coal block in the Wardha valley coalfield provide further evidence for the widespread occurrence of wildfires during the Early Permian in India and the entire Gondwana continent.
JOURNAL OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF INDIA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gisele Sana Rebelato, Andre Jasper, Andrea Pozzebon-Silva, Julia Siqueira Carniere, Alpana Singh, Shivanna Mahesh, Bhagwan D. Singh, Marlon de Castro Vasconcelos, Dieter Uhl
Summary: This study reports the evidence of palaeo-wildfires in the Lower Cretaceous strata of the Saurashtra Basin in Northwest India. Macro-charcoal analysis classified into three morphotypes associated with gymnosperms provides detailed insights into the presence of palaeo-wildfires.
