DNA barcoding as a new tool for food traceability

Qualified presumption of safety (QPS) was developed to provide a generic safety evaluation for biological agents to support EFSA's Scientific Panels. The taxonomic identity, body of knowledge, safety concerns and antimicrobial resistance are assessed. Safety concerns identified for a taxonomic unit (TU) are where possible to be confirmed at strain or product level, reflected by 'qualifications'. No new information was found that would change the previously recommended QPS TUs and their qualifications. The list of microorganisms notified to EFSA was updated with 54 biological agents, received between April and September 2019; 23 already had QPS status, 14 were excluded from the QPS exercise (7 filamentous fungi, 6 Escherichia coli, Sphingomonas paucimobilis which was already evaluated). Seventeen, corresponding to 16 TUs, were evaluated for possible QPS status, fourteen of these for the first time, and Protaminobacter rubrum, evaluated previously, was excluded because it is not a valid species. Eight TUs are recommended for QPS status. Lactobacillus parafarraginis and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii are recommended to be included in the QPS list. Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius and Paenibacillus illinoisensis can be recommended for the QPS list with the qualification 'for production purposes only' and absence of toxigenic potential. Bacillus velezensis can be recommended for the QPS list with the qualification 'absence of toxigenic potential and the absence of aminoglycoside production ability'. Cupriavidus necator, Aurantiochytrium limacinum and Tetraselmis chuii can be recommended for the QPS list with the qualification 'production purposes only'. Pantoea ananatis is not recommended for the QPS list due to lack of body of knowledge in relation to its pathogenicity potential for plants. Corynebacterium stationis, Hamamotoa singularis, Rhodococcus aetherivorans and Rhodococcus ruber cannot be recommended for the QPS list due to lack of body of knowledge. Kodamaea ohmeri cannot be recommended for the QPS list due to safety concerns.

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2020.5965

Update of the list of QPS-recommended biological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA 13: suitability of taxonomic units notified to EFSA until September 2020.

Oxidative stability of biodiesel: Causes, effects and prevention

Bacillus spp. produce a variety of compounds involved in the biocontrol of plant pathogens and promotion of plant growth, which makes them potential candidates for most agricultural and biotechnological applications. Bacilli exhibit antagonistic activity by excreting extracellular metabolites such as antibiotics, cell wall hydrolases, and siderophores. Additionally, Bacillus spp. improve plant response to pathogen attack by triggering induced systemic resistance (ISR). Besides being the most promising biocontrol agents, Bacillus spp. promote plant growth via nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and phytohormone production. Antagonistic and plant growth-promoting strains of Bacillus spp. might be useful in formulating new preparations. Numerous studies of a wide range of plant species revealed a steady increase in the number of Bacillus spp. identified as potential biocontrol agents and plant growth promoters. Among different mechanisms of action, it remains unclear which individual or combined traits could be used as predictors in the selection of the best strains for crop productivity improvement. Due to numerous factors that influence the successful application of Bacillus spp., it is necessary to understand how different strains function in biological control and plant growth promotion, and distinctly define the factors that contribute to their more efficient use in the field.

/pdf/the-significance-of-bacillus-spp-in-disease-suppression-and-5e3igef4fe.pdf

The Significance of Bacillus spp. in Disease Suppression and Growth Promotion of Field and Vegetable Crops

Pepper mild mottle virus: A plant pathogen with a greater purpose in (waste)water treatment development and public health management.

Tomatoes are parasitized by a number of pathogens, including Fusarium
 oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, causal agent of fusarium wilt. Fresh vegetable
 fruits can be contaminated with various fungi that produce mycotoxins, which
 is an important issue for human health. The objective of this paper was to
 isolate, determine, and identify causal organisms of tomato wilt and fruit
 rot, based on the pathogens morphological and molecular characteristics.
 Samples of diseased plants showing symptoms of tomato wilt were collected
 from different localities in the production region of Vojvodina. Fruits with
 symptoms of fusarium rot were collected from storage and warehouses. The
 isolation and morphological determination of the fungus were performed on PDA
 and Czapek’s nutrient media. Isolates from diseased plants growing in field,
 designated as TFW1-TFW12 and seven isolates from diseased tomato fruits
 (TFM1-TFM7) were chosen for further investigation. For identification of the
 fungal isolates, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was also used. The
 EF1/EF2 primer pair was used for molecular identification of Fusarium sp.
 Nine analyzed samples were found to contain DNA fragments 700 bp in size.

/pdf/fusarium-oxysporum-as-causal-agent-of-tomato-wilt-and-fruit-ag6i8lgegi.pdf

Fusarium oxysporum as Causal Agent of Tomato Wilt and Fruit Rot

Changes occurring in seed during aging are significant as far as seed quality and longevity are concerned and are a consequence of the effects of different storage conditions. The chemical composition of seed with high oil content is related to specific processes occurring in seed during storage. In this trial, sunflower and soybean genotypes developed in Novi Sad were submitted to accelerated aging for three and five days, and natural aging for six and twelve months, under controlled and conventional (non-controlled) conditions. The obtained results showed that preservation of seed viability depended on storage condition and duration, as well as plant species. Accelerated aging test can be used to predict the length of storage life of sunflower and soybean seed. In comparison to sunflower seed, soybean seed is more sensitive to damage and reduced germination during storage.

/pdf/seed-viability-of-oil-crops-depending-on-storage-conditions-3yz5v0sj1z.pdf

Seed viability of oil crops depending on storage conditions

Detection of genetically modified organisms in processed meat products on the Serbian food market

Seed germination is first critical and the most sensitive stage in the life
 cycle of plants compromise the seedlings establishment. Salt and drought
 tolerance testing in initial stages of plant development is of vital
 importance, because the seed with more rapid germination under salt or water
 deficit conditions may be expected to achieve a rapid seedling establishment,
 resulting in higher yields. The aim of this study was to determine whether
 the pea seed germination and seedling growth were inhibited by the salt
 toxicity and osmotic effect during the seedling development, and also
 identification of the sensitive seedling growth parameters in response to
 those stresses. Based on the obtained results, pea has been presented to be
 more tolerant to salt than water stress during germination and early embryo
 growth. Investigated cultivars showed greater susceptibility to both abiotic
 stresses when it comes growth parameters compared to seed germination.

/pdf/comparative-study-of-drought-and-salt-stress-effects-on-qdy91wjsrc.pdf

Zorica Nikolić

Papers

Fusarium oxysporum as Causal Agent of Tomato Wilt and Fruit Rot

Seed viability of oil crops depending on storage conditions

Detection of genetically modified organisms in processed meat products on the Serbian food market

Comparative study of drought and salt stress effects on germination and seedling growth of pea

Legumes seed storage proteins characterization by SDS-PAGE and Lab-on-a-Chip electrophoresis.