Tomato Solanum lycopersicum L. is an important crop in Kenya. Arthropod pests are major constraints to its production and farmers rely heavily on synthetic chemicals for control, which increases costs leads pollution of the environment. The objective this study was evaluate effectiveness native Kenyan fungi managing thrips as alternative pesticides. In vitro studies were conducted against Frank...

The role of a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) TmkA in inducing systemic resistance in cucumber against the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. lacrymans was investigated by using tmkA loss-of-function mutants of Trichoderma virens. In an assay where Trichoderma spores were germinated in proximity to cucumber roots, the mutants were able to colonize the plant roots as effectively...

It is essential that major carbohydrate polymers in the lignocellulosic biomass are converted into fermentable sugars for the economical production of energy. Xylan, the major component of hemicelluloses, is the second most naturally abundant carbohydrate polymer comprising 20-40% of the total biomass. Endoxylanase (EXN) hydrolyzes xylan into mixtures of xylooligosaccharides. The objective of t...

Twenty-eight potential biocontrol organisms were tested for efficacy against Rhizoctonia solani on potato in a series of greenhouse trials. Organisms tested consisted of field isolates of Paenibacillus polymyxa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Penicillium sp., Trichoderma sp., and Rhizoctonia zeae; known biocontrol isolates including Laetisaria arvalis, Verticillium biguttatum, Cladorrhinum foecundiss...

This study was carried out to determine the optimal parameters for the production of biomass of trichoderma virens UKMP-1M, a fungus isolated from oil-polluted wastewater. The isolate showed maximum growth at day six after incubation in Mineral Salt Medium (MSM) in the presence of 3% (v/v) heavy Khefji Sour crude oil. Although it grew at pH between 5.0 and 7.0, it grew best at pH 5.5. t. virens...

The production of lytic enzymes in Trichoderma is considered determinant in its parasitic response against fungal species. A mitogen-activated protein kinase encoding gene, tvk1, from Trichoderma virens was cloned, and its role during the mycoparasitism, conidiation, and biocontrol was examined in tvk1 null mutants. These mutants showed a clear increase in the level of the expression of mycopar...

In vivo and in vitro biotransformation of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pyrene was investigated in the marine polychaete Nereis virens. Assays were designed to characterize phase I and II enzymes isolated from gut tissue. High-pressure liquid chromatography measurement of 1-hydroxypyrene, pyrene-1-glucuronide, pyrene-1-sulfate, and pyrene-1-glucoside appeared to be a sensitive metho...

The soilborne filamentous fungus Trichoderma virens is a biocontrol agent with a well-known ability to produce antibiotics, parasitize pathogenic fungi, and induce systemic resistance in plants. Even though a plant-mediated response has been confirmed as a component of bioprotection by Trichoderma spp., the molecular mechanisms involved remain largely unknown. Here, we report the identification...