Trichoderma harzianum DEMf 1V and Тrichoderma citrinoviride DEMf: TR3 are confirmed biocontrol agents used in this study to estimate the effects of selenium enrichment on their antifungal activity. Se-enriched cultures were prepared by growing on potato-dextrose broth supplemented with 2.5 and 5 mg Se/L added in the form of Na2SeO3. The antifungal activity of Se-enriched and control cultures was estimated by their ability to produce hydrolytic enzymes, which were detected using API ZYM, cellulase and protease tests. The antagonistic potential and impact of volatile compounds were observed in interactions with Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, and Fusarium graminearum. In Se-enriched T. harzianum DEMf 1V, the production of esterase, lipase, and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase was inhibited, while in Se-enriched Т. citrinoviride DEMf: TR3, only lipase production was interrupted. All cultures maintained the ability to produce cellulase and protease. Cultures of T. harzianum DEMf 1V grown with and without Se enrichment exhibited a high inhibition rate against B. cinerea (68–74%) and F. oxysporum (62–70%). The antagonistic activity of Se-enriched T. harzianum DEMf 1V against F. graminearum (65–66%) was higher compared to the control (60%). Se-enriched Т. citrinoviride DEMf: TR3 expressed lower inhibition against B. cinerea and F. graminearum compared to the control. Volatile compounds caused a low level of inhibition, indicating that they are among the antifungal mechanisms employed by the isolates, but not the dominant one. Further research should be directed towards the precise determination of metabolic changes induced by Se enrichment and the implications thereof for Trichoderma's antagonistic activities.

Sewage sludge (SS) is a nutrient-rich byproduct of wastewater treatment that presents both management challenges and valuable potential for agriculture. Direct land application of raw SS is the most cost-effective disposal approach; nonetheless, this method is restricted due to heavy metals, pathogens, and other contaminants. Composting has emerged as a sustainable strategy for stabilizing SS, enhancing its agronomic value, and ensuring compliance with environmental and regulatory standards. This review explores the physicochemical and microbiological properties of SS and the process of turning it into high-quality compost for applications as a soil amendment or nutrient supplement.

Antibiotics are significant microbial compounds that are commonly utilized to treat bacterial illnesses. Their use began in the early twentieth century, and there have been numerous antibiotics created worldwide since then. Antibiotics saved millions of lives and increased plant productivity because of their benefits in human and animal medicine and plant agriculture. However, its broad use has had major environmental repercussions, including buildup in agricultural ecosystems and the food chain, as well as wastewater and sewage sludge. Antibiotics are overused in animal agriculture and the veterinary sector in comparison to human use, and this overuse is linked to antibiotics leaching into the environment via feces and urine, posing a high risk of antibiotic contamination in manure and the transmission of antibiotic-resistant genes. The accumulation of antibiotics resulted in the creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which entered the food chain. The majority of them are human pathogenic bacteria from a variety of genera, including Escherichia, Salmonella, Shigella, Listeria, and Campylobacter. These bacteria have antibiotic resistance genes and can cause serious health issues in humans. Antibiotics, such as tetracyclines, β-lactams, quinolones, macrolides, and sulfonamide, have been found in activated sludge, raw sewage, digested sludge, and treated effluents. Conventional wastewater treatment plants are not equipped to remove them. According to the literature, some bacteria found in agricultural ecosystems, food chains, and effluents may be multidrug resistant, which could have major ramifications for human health. This report summarizes the hazards and implications of antibiotic use and the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in the environment.

Sustainable agricultural production is frequently related with the use of agrochemicals, particularly pesticides, which are effective in combating plant infections and pests. Herbicides, a type of pesticide used to control weeds, can have a variety of effects on the growth of beneficial microbial populations in soil. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the effects of three pesticides on the growth of Rhizobium sp. strains. In this experiment, the growth of three bacterial strains (Rhizobium (Sinorhizobium) meliloti RM1, Rhizobium trifolii RT2, and RT3) was measured in the presence of three herbicides (Lumax 537.5, Agrodimark, and Siran 40 SC), which were added after impregnation of paper discs plated on Muller Hinton Agar. In this experiment, the recommended and doubled doses of each herbicide were employed. Resistance, susceptibility - increased exposure, and susceptibility - standard dosage were assessed following inhibition zone diameter measurement. Our findings demonstrated that the diameter of the inhibitory zone varies with herbicide type, dose, and rhizobial species. The findings revealed that treatments with increasing herbicide concentrations produced a larger inhibition zone diameter. The useof Lumax 537.5 SE led to higher inhibition zone diameter compared with other herbicides. In general, Rhizobium trifolii was more sensitive to Lumax 537.5 SE and Agrodimark than Rhizobium (Sinorhizobium) meliloti. This work may have scientific and applicative relevance for plant farmers, improving their knowledge of soil microbiology and pesticide application.

Integrated pathogen management incorporates biological control and ecological services of plant growth-promoting bacteria as base components. The biocontrol activity of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens D5 ARV toward Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium graminearum, Botrytis cinerea, and Macrophomina sp. was estimated through a confrontation test, and the potential of volatile and non-volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The results of the confrontation test showed 60, 46, 37, and 33% of F. oxysporum, F. graminearum, B. cinerea, and Macrophomina sp. growth inhibition, while VOCs effects reached 30%, 47%, 53%, and 0% growth inhibition, respectively. A collection of non-volatile metabolites was made at a stationary phase; afterward, they were sterilized by filtration or autoclaving. Autoclaving caused a significant loss of non-volatile metabolite antifungal activity. GC-MS analysis of VOCs detected the presence of compounds with antifungal and antimicrobial properties such as pentadecanoic acid, and hexanedioic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester. The multiple antifungal mechanisms revealed in this study are part of the B. amyloliquefaciens D5 ARV arsenal and make it a potentially powerful biocontrol agent against selected phytopathogens.

Hydrogen sulfide is a highly toxic gas that causes many economic losses in aquaculture ponds. The application of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) to remove hydrogen sulfide is an eco-friendly approach. This study aimed to isolate and identify the most efficient SOBs from the sediment of warm-water fish farms. Enrichment and isolation were performed in three different culture media (Starkey, Postgate, and H-3) based on both mineral and organic carbon. Overall, 27 isolates (14 autotrophic and 13 heterotrophic isolates) were purified based on colony and cell morphology differences. Initial screening was performed based on pH decrease. For final screening, the isolates were assessed based on their efficacy in thiosulfate oxidation and the sulfate production on Starkey liquid medium. Among isolated strains, 3 strains of Iran 2 (FH-13), Iran 3 (FH-21), and Iran 1 (FH-14) that belonged to Thiobacillus thioparus species (identified by 16s rRNA) showed the highest ability in thiosulfate oxidation (413.21, 1362.50, and 4188.03 mg/L for 14 days) and the highest sulfate production (3350, 2075, and 1600 mg/L). In the final phase, the performance of these strains under aquarium conditions showed that Iran 1 and Iran 2 had the highest ability in sulfur oxidation. In conclusion, Iran 1 and 2 strains can be used as effective SOB to remove hydrogen sulfide in fish farms. It is very important to evaluate strains in an appropriate strategy using a combination of different criteria to ensure optimal performance of SOB in farm conditions.

Microbial degradation, compared with many other degradation processes, is the most important pathway for the depletion of triazine herbicides in soil. The aim of this study was to determine the growth potential of Pseudomonas sp. CY in the presence of atrazine and additional carbon (sodium citrate) and nitrogen (ammonium-nitrate) sources. The experiment was performed with five treatments: i) 100 mg/L atrazine (control); ii) One hundred mg/L atrazine + sodium citrate (0.3 %, w/v); iii) One hundred mg/L atrazine + sodium citrate (0.3 %, w/v) + ammonium nitrate (0.6 %, w/v); iv) Atrazine (300 mg/L) + sodium citrate (0.3 %, w/v) and v) Atrazine (500 mg/L) + sodium citrate (0.3 %, w/v). The bacterial count was determined after incubation (7 days at 30°C) using the agar plate method, while atrazine degradation was determined by measuring the optical density at 221 nm. Pseudomonas sp. CY can partially utilize atrazine as the sole source of carbon and energy. The highest values of the bacterial count were determined at the highest initial atrazine concentrations; however, bacterial growth was not detected in these treatments. A significant impact of citrate on bacterial growth and atrazine degradation was observed, while the addition of nitrate decreased the atrazine degradation rate. This study confirmed that Pseudomonas sp. CY can be used as a prominent candidate for the remediation of atrazine-affected environments.

Food spoilage is phenomenon associated with occurence of the microorganisms in agricultural products. Due to the ability of several microorganisms to colonize plant material, agrochemicals were proposed to suppress bacterial growth. However, overuse of agrochemicals has detrimental impact on environmental quality. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the potential of aqueous extracts of garlic (Allium sativum L.), wild garlic (Allium ursinum L.), and chives (Allium schoenoprasum L.) to suppress the growth of Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli. The antimicrobial activity of these plant extracts was determined using the disc diffusion method. Mueller-Hinton agar was inoculated with bacterial inoculum; six filter paper disks, impregnated with 15 μl aqueous extract (1, 2 and 4%), were placed on each agar surface. The Petri dishes were incubated at 37 °C for 24 hours. The diameter of the zone of inhibition was measured and expressed in millimeters (mm). Almost all aqueous extracts showed a negligible effect on the growth of E. coli and E. faecalis. Significant suppression of bacterial growth compared with other treatments was observed with the aqueous extract of wild garlic at a concentration of 4%. This research confirms the potential of wild garlic extract in suppression of potential pathogens.

Plant essential oils have antimicrobial properties that are widely used in food preservation and aromatherapy and also have various medicinal uses. The way essential oil will affect the microorganisms widely depends on the type of microorganism and the type of oil used. Gram-positive bacteria are more sensitive to essential oil antimicrobial traits than gram-negative bacteria. Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) essential oil has a wide range of antimicrobial applications; this oil is recommended for potential health benefits because of its antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to examine the antibacterial potential of the ragweed essential oils against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Salmonella spp. The antimicrobial effect of the oil was examined using a diffusion method test. Before the experiment, the inhibition zone of bacterial growth was determined using the antibiotic gentamicin. The results of the study confirmed the antimicrobial effect of ragweed oil on the growth of Salmonella spp. and Bacillus subtilis growth, while this oil had negligible effect on Escherichia coli growth. Moderate susceptibility of Salmonella spp. and Bacillus subtilis and resistance of E. coli was observed after ragweed treatment compared to the standard inhibition zone values proposed by EUCAST. This research confirms the potential application of ragweed essential oil in the inhibition of Salmonella spp. and Bacillus subtilis growth.

Plant essential oils have antimicrobial properties that are widely used in food preservation and aromatherapy and also have various medicinal uses. The way essential oil will affect the microorganisms widely depends on the type of microorganism and the type of oil used. Gram-positive bacteria are more sensitive to essential oil antimicrobial traits than gram-negative bacteria. Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) essential oil has a wide range of antimicrobial applications; this oil is recommended for potential health benefits because of its antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to examine the antibacterial potential of the ragweed essential oils against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Salmonella spp. The antimicrobial effect of the oil was examined using a diffusion method test. Before the experiment, the inhibition zone of bacterial growth was determined using the antibiotic gentamicin. The results of the study confirmed the antimicrobial effect of ragweed oil on the growth of Salmonella spp. and Bacillus subtilis growth, while this oil had negligible effect on Escherichia coli growth. Moderate susceptibility of Salmonella spp. and Bacillus subtilis and resistance of E. coli was observed after ragweed treatment compared to the standard inhibition zone values proposed by EUCAST. This research confirms the potential application of ragweed essential oil in the inhibition of Salmonella spp. and Bacillus subtilis growth.

Microorganisms in the soil have a very important role because they participate in numerous processes.Intensive and/or inadequate use of the soil leads to disturbance of the plant -microbial interactions, a decline in productivity, and degradation.The abundance and microbiological activity of a certain ecosystem are considered indicators of soil fertility.In this paper, surface (0-20 cm) and subsurface (20-40 cm) samples of grassland, agricultural soil, forest soil and coal-mine-affected soil at the Banovići municipality (Tuzla Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina) taken in October 2021 and April 2022 were used for chemical and microbiological characterization.Chemical analyses were performed using the standard methodology, while the microbial count was determined using the agar plate method.Enzyme production was expressed through dehydrogenase activity.The lowest pH value was recorded in forest soil, while the highest in the grassland.In all samples, microbial abundance decreased with increasing soil depth.The lowest microbial activity was observed in coal mine-affected soil.The highest value of the total number of bacteria and ammonifiers was recorded in forest soil.Oligonitrophiles were most abundant in agricultural soil, while the number of actinomycetes was highest in grassland.Dehydrogenase activity was highest in forest and agricultural soil.In most of samples, microbial abundance was higher in spring, while dehydrogenase activity was higher in autumn.This research confirms the impact of land use on microbial abundance as parameter of soil quality.

The aim of this research was to prepare aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the seed and leaf of the wild chestnut known as Ohrid diamond and to determine the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. In general, ethanolic extracts showed higher antioxidant potential compared with the aqueous extracts. Moreover, ethanolic seed extracts had better results in all of the antioxidant tests compared with the ethanolic extracts from the leaves. The ethanolic seed extract was characterized by a statistically significant (p < 0.05) lower IC50 value for the ability to capture DPPH radicals (0.63 mg/ml) compared with all other tested extracts. Furthermore, the extracts showed statistically significantly (p < 0.05) higher antimicrobial activity against five tested bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus(ATCC25923), Listeria monocytogenes(ATCC19115), Escherichia coli(ATCC11230), Shigella sonnei(ATCC29930), Pseudomonas aeruginosa(ATCC35554)) compared to tetracycline and chloramphenicol. Given the good biological activity that was established, this research can serve as a novel starting point to contribute to greater utilization of this plant in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries, and the obtained extracts could substitute for the numerous synthetic additives that are regularly used in these industries.

The aim of this research was to determine the antibacterial potential ofaqueous and ethanolic extract of wild mushroom species: Agaricus macrosporus and Russulavesca. Extracts from R.vesca were characterized with higher values for total carbohydrates and total proteins. Both aqueous extracts had higher antibacterial activity compared to ethanolic extracts. Aqueous extract from R.vesca showed higher antibacterial activity against B. cereus (13.6mm), E.faecalis (12.1 mm), E. coli(16.7 mm) and P.aeruginosa (10.5 mm) compared to gentamicin or neomycin. This study represents a novel starting point for future researchin which mushroom extracts can be used in various industry fields.

A large number of soil microorganisms arc characterized as plant growth promoting, but there seems to be a lack of comprehensive knowledge regarding plant growth promoting soil yeasts. The aim of the experiment was to analyse the properties of three yeast species: Schwanniomyces occidentalis BK0302D, Cyberlindnera saturnus CK2404I and Candida tropicalis 2TD2912B, important for plant growth (ammonium sulphate transformation, phosphorus, potassium and zinc dissolution), and to evaluate the effect of yeast on the growth of common wheat and white mustard seedlings after seeds' inoculation. Common wheat and white mustard seeds were inoculated with the selected yeasts. The final measurements showed that the highest amount of nitrate (10.40 mu g mL(-1) NO3-) was produced by C. saturnus CK24041, while S. occidentalis BK0302D solubilized the largest amount of phosphorus (63.70 mu g mL(-1) P). All three strains are marked as potassium and zinc solubilizers with both acid and alkaline phosphatase activity. This is the first report on S. occidentalis and C. tropicalis ability to solubilize insoluble potassium and zinc, and C. saturnus ability to solubilize insoluble phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Also, C. tropicalis 2TD2912B exhibited high antagonistic activity (66% growth inhibition) toward Botrytis cinerea. In vivo trial was conducted in a low-nutrient substrate, and S. occidentalis BK0302D was found to have the most considerable influence on common wheat biomass production (34% increase). White mustard inoculation with C. saturnus CK24041 resulted in a 4-fold higher biomass production, while S. occidentalis BK0302D induced a 2-fold increase. The presented results confirmed the multi-functional plant growth promoting characteristics of the tested yeasts and their potential for broad application from conventional agriculture on low-nutrient soils to revegetation of disturbed substrates.

Agricultural production has benefited a lot from herbicides; however, the use of herbicides caused many environmental problems. Herbicide application can affect the biodiversity of an ecosystem by killing non-target organisms. Microorganisms in the soil are important factors for plant growth; they represent the biological factor of soil fertility. Herbicides can have a beneficial effect on the development of some microorganisms and a negative on others, leading to depletion of microbial diversity in soil. The objective of this work is to determine microbial activity in the soil and to isolate herbicide-resistant bacteria after the use of the "Stomp" herbicide. Agar plate method was used for the determination of microbial prevalence in the soil. The results showed an increase in the total number of bacteria, ammonifiers, fungi, and actinomycetes. Nine isolates, mostly Gram-positive spore-forming rods, showed an ability to grow in the mineral salt medium with different concentrations of "Stomp" herbicide. Isolates G1/1 and G1/2, showed high level of tolerance at the initial pendimethalin concentration of 25 mg/l. Those isolates have the potential to be used to decontaminate herbicide affected ecosystems.

In the past several decades, due to the increased population, the planet has faced immense problems with waste management. The need for recycling and upcycling is increasing. It has become imperative to extract maximum value from discarded products. There are nearly one billion smokers on the planet. Tobacco butts are toxic, and they pollute the environment. In this paper, the research objective was the bio-augmentation of waste in the context of composting tobacco and vegetable waste mixtures, and the determination of nicotine degradation rate depending on the composting conditions. Low-grade Virginia tobacco leaves that were discarded from further processing were used as base material. The experiment was conducted in triplicate. To each sample, bacteria from the species Brevibacillus were added, and then, samples were composted under different conditions (controlled, semi-controlled and non-controlled). Two more samples were formed as the control group, one without bacteria and one with only tobacco waste. The research was conducted over the period of one month with monitoring of the process parameters. The tobacco waste had a baseline nicotine level of 17,363 mg/kg. In all samples containing nicotine-degrading bacteria, the level of nicotine dropped below 10 mg/kg. There was a direct positive relationship between the rate of nicotine degradation, temperature and moisture content in the samples, as well as environmental temperature and relative humidity. The content of macro- and micronutrients makes the compost appropriate for organic fertilization in agricultural production.

In this research, the yield and qualitative parameters of tomato cultivar Hector F1 grown in various fertilization and plant protection treatments in two successive growth seasons were investigated. Estimation of fertilization and protection impact on the properties of tomato fruits was carried out using a two-factor ANOVA test, whilst correlation between individual parameters was conducted using a heatmap. Tomato yield was significantly lower in the control compared to the fertilized and chemically/biologically protected tomato, whilst significant differences in yield were not observed between the fertilized and protected treatments. The mean total soluble solids and fruit acids were most pronounced in the treatment with chemical fertilizers and biological protection, whilst the highest vitamin C content was observed in the control. The highest K and Cu content was observed in the organically fertilized and biologically protected tomato. A clustergram showed a positive correlation between the three groups of parameters: i). nitrates, vitamin C and total N; ii). fruit acids, total soluble solids and Cu; and iii). other parameters. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the combined effects of fertilizers and plant protection products on tomatoes grown in conventional and organic systems.

The improvement of wastewater treatment techniques is of crucial importance for effluent quality, but it also results in an increased amount of waste sludge. Dehydrated sludge contains organic matter and nutrients, and therefore it can be used in agriculture and bioremediation, but it is considered a potential source of environmental pollution. As the sludge analyzed in the research does not contain impermissible levels of organic and inorganic pollutants, the aim of the research was to examine microbiological, particularly sanitary, aspects and potential for its further use. Microbial diversity was determined by the standard serial dilution technique and selective media, and sanitary quality indicators (total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp.) were determined by the MPN method. The abundance of fungi, actinomycetes, and bacteria (ammonifiers, spore-forming bacteria and Pseudomonas spp.) indicate possibilities for further use of the sludge. The chemical analysis included the following parameters: total nitrogen (N), phosphorus in the form of P2O5 (available P), organic carbon (C), C/N ratio, pH, and water content. The chemical composition indicates the potential of sewage sludge to be used as a soil fertilizer, but its C/N ratio is not adequate to enable successful conversion to biosolids by the composting process. The obtained results indicate a significant level of microbiological contamination, which was most pronounced in the centre of the stabilized sludge pile. The research showed the necessity to conduct further studies on the microbial diversity and sanitary aspects of sewage sludge for proper waste sludge management.

New advances in the food industry are directed towards exploiting natural resources.Nowadays, essential oils and their antimicrobial activities are the subject of many researches.Their possible use as natural food additives is particularly prominent.This study analyzed the influence of ginger and rosemary oil on the growth of pure bacterial culture using the disk diffusion method.Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp.were used as test organisms for antimicrobial susceptibility testing.The results showed that both types of oil inhibit bacterial growth, although inhibition rate varies between different bacterial species.It certainly depends on the type of plant used for oil extraction.Study has shown that ginger and rosemary oil can potentially be used in treating diseases caused by these bacteria.