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Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology

Exploring The Potential Of Endophytes And Medicinal Plants As Sources Of Antimicrobials To Control Citrus Greening, Jessica Dominguez Jul 2019

Exploring The Potential Of Endophytes And Medicinal Plants As Sources Of Antimicrobials To Control Citrus Greening, Jessica Dominguez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Citrus greening is an economically disastrous bacterial disease that infects all species of citrus, and currently has no cure. It is caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), an unculturable phloem-limited bacteria vectored by the sap-sucking insect Diaphorina citri. Citrus greening has spread to every citrus-producing county in Florida; thus, there is a crucial need to develop environmentally safe treatments to reduce or eliminate CLas. It was hypothesized that endophytic microorganisms isolated from survivor citrus trees would show antagonistic activity against CLas; also, that plant extracts with known antimicrobial properties could suppress CLas. Oregano, thyme and turmeric extracts in the …


Inoculating Rhizobium And Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi On Snap Bean Under Salinity Stress To Study Plant Growth And Glomalin Production Effects, Claudia Lyl Garcia Jun 2019

Inoculating Rhizobium And Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi On Snap Bean Under Salinity Stress To Study Plant Growth And Glomalin Production Effects, Claudia Lyl Garcia

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Groundwater salinization from saltwater intrusion threatens Southeastern Florida’s commercially important snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production because of the crop’s low salt-tolerance threshold. The present study was carried out to determine if co-inoculating salt-stressed snap beans with beneficial microbial symbionts (i.e., Rhizobium and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) can mitigate growth reductions. Additionally, the study also assessed whether co-inoculation had an effect on the production of glomalin, a protein secreted by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that improves soil aggregation. Snap beans were inoculated (-AMF/-Rhizobium, +AMF/-Rhizobium, +AMF/+Rhizobium) and irrigated with varying salinity levels (0.6, 1.0, 2.0 dS …


Comparison Of Synthetic Versus Organic Herbicides/Insecticides On Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi In Abelmoschus Esculentus, Ariel Freidenreich Jun 2016

Comparison Of Synthetic Versus Organic Herbicides/Insecticides On Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi In Abelmoschus Esculentus, Ariel Freidenreich

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in improving the growth of a vast majority of plants. Past researchers have discovered that agricultural practices have a significant negative effect on the diversity of AMF. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are reported to enhance plant nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, and soil aggregate formation which are key aspects of productive low-input farming. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of four pesticides on the ability of AMF to colonize the roots of okra plants (Abelmoschus esculentus). The pesticides being tested include two synthetic chemicals (glyphosate and carbaryl) and …