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The bioherbicidal potential of isolated fungi cultivated in microalgal biomass

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Abstract

This study evaluated the bioherbicidal potential of wild fungi grown on microalgal biomass from the digestate treatment of biogas production. Four fungal isolates were used and the extracts were evaluated for the activity of different enzymes and characterized by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The bioherbicidal activity was assessed by application on Cucumis sativus, and the leaf damage was visually estimated. The microorganisms showed potential as agents producing an enzyme pool. The obtained fungal extracts presented different organic compounds, most acids, and when applied to Cucumis sativus, showed high levels of leaf damage (80–100 ± 3.00%, deviation relative to the observed average damage). Therefore, the microbial strains are potential biological control agents of weeds, which, together with the microalgae biomass, offer the appropriate conditions to obtain an enzyme pool of biotechnological relevance and with favorable characteristics to be explored as bioherbicides, addressing aspects within the environmental sustainability.

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The datasets generated for this study are available on request to the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Brazilian Funding Agencies: Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Coordination of the Superior Level Staff Improvement (CAPES), the support of the Bioprocess and Biotechnology for Food Research Center (Biofood), which is funded through the Research Support Foundation of Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS) (FAPERGS-22/2551-0000397-4), Federal University of Fronteira Sul (UFFS) and Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) for the financial support.

Funding

CAPES, CNPq and FAPERGS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Biotechnology and Biosciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil

    Aline Frumi Camargo, Gislaine Fongaro & Helen Treichel

  2. Laboratory of Microbiology and Bioprocesses, Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Erechim, Brazil

    Aline Frumi Camargo, Caroline Dalastra, Thamarys Scapini, Charline Bonatto, Natalia Klanovicz & Helen Treichel

  3. Laboratory of Agroecology, Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Erechim, Brazil

    Alessandro Ulrich & Altemir José Mossi

  4. Department of Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil

    Thamarys Scapini

  5. Research Group in Advanced Oxidation Processes (AdOx), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Natalia Klanovicz

  6. University of Contestado, Concórdia, Brazil

    William Michelon

  7. Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical, and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

    Lindomar Lerin

  8. Laboratory of Yeast Biochemistry, Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Chapecó, Brazil

    Sérgio Luiz Alves Júnior

  9. Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Chapecó, Brazil

    Marco A. Tramontin

  10. Department of Sanitary Defense, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil

    Oderlei Bernardi

  11. Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuwan University, Pulchowk, Lalitpur, Nepal

    Shukra Raj Paudel

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  1. Aline Frumi Camargo
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Contributions

AFC, GF, and HT conceived and designed the study. AFC analyzed the data. AFC and CB drafted the manuscript. CD, AU, TS, CB, NK, WM, and LL helped in the experimental part and carefully revised the manuscript. SLAJ, MAT, and OB helped isolate strains from the intestines of caterpillars. SLAJ, AJM, MAT, OB, SRP, GF, HT critically reviewed and supervised the development of the paper. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Aline Frumi Camargo.

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Camargo, A.F., Dalastra, C., Ulrich, A. et al. The bioherbicidal potential of isolated fungi cultivated in microalgal biomass. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 46, 665–679 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-023-02852-x

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