Size and concentration-dependent effects of polyethylene microplastics on soil chemistry in a microcosm study.

The continuous use of plastics is expected to increase microplastic (MP) contamination in soils, raising concerns about impacts on soil ecosystems and crop productivity. This work investigated the effects of different sizes and concentrations of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) on soil properties in a controlled microcosm experiment. Microplastics of three sizes (300-600, 600-2000, and 2000-5000 µm) were tested at three concentrations (0.

The Fungus Among Us: Innovations and Applications of Mycelium-Based Composites.

Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) are an emerging category of cost-effective and environmentally sustainable materials that are attracting significant research and commercial interest across various industries, including construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and biomedicine. These materials harness the natural growth of fungi as a low-energy bio-fabrication method, converting abundant agricultural by-products and waste into sustainable alternatives to energy-intensive synthetic construction materials. Their affordability and eco-friendly characteristics make them attractive for both research and commercialisation.

Quantification of microplastics in agricultural soils by total organic carbon -solid sample combustion analysis.

Accurate quantification of microplastics (MPs) in soils is a significant challenge due to the complex nature of the organo-mineral matrix. Fine mineral particles and organic matter often interfere with the efficiency of extraction, identification and quantification of MPs from soils. Here, an optimized MP extraction and quantification method is proposed, using total organic carbon analyser-solid sample combustion unit (TOC-SSM) analysis.

A low-cost, antimicrobial aloe-alginate hydrogel film containing Australian First Nations remedy 'lemon myrtle oil' () - Potential for incorporation into wound dressings.

Chronic wounds pose a global public health challenge, particularly in remote settings where access to specialised wound care and dressings can be limited and cost-prohibitive. First Nations communities in Australia are at a significantly higher risk for developing chronic wounds and this risk further increases for people living in remote regions. There is an urgent need to develop inexpensive but effective wound dressings to improve wound outcomes.

The mitigating effect of street trees, urban flora, and the suburban environment on seasonal peak UV indices: A case study from Brisbane, Australia.

Tree shade, particularly shade that obscures direct sunlight near peak periods of midday solar exposure can have a pronounced effect on potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation, and in turn, strongly influence the maximum daily UV index (UVI). In this study, the seasonal influence of tree shade on the UVI is evaluated from 210 hemispherical sky view images collected alongside public walkways and footpaths from 10 residential Brisbane suburbs. The effective sidewalk UV index is calculated underneath planted tree canopies, adjacent residential gardens, buildings and background tree species.

Seven new species associated with Australian terrestrial orchids.

is one of the main fungal genera that form mutualistic associations with species of orchids (Orchidaceae). Here, seven new species associated with various Australian orchid genera are described. These species were originally characterized by multilocus DNA sequence species delimitation analyses (three mtDNA and four nuclear genes) and confirmed as distinct with addition of further isolates and reanalysis of nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.

Australia: A Continent Without Native Powdery Mildews? The First Comprehensive Catalog Indicates Recent Introductions and Multiple Host Range Expansion Events, and Leads to the Re-discovery of as a New Lineage of the Erysiphales.

In contrast to Eurasia and North America, powdery mildews (Ascomycota, Erysiphales) are understudied in Australia. There are over 900 species known globally, with fewer than currently 60 recorded from Australia. Some of the Australian records are doubtful as the identifications were presumptive, being based on host plant-pathogen lists from overseas.

The diversity and antimicrobial activity of Preussia sp. endophytes isolated from Australian dry rainforests.

Limited knowledge currently exists regarding species diversity and antimicrobial activity of endophytic isolates of Preussia within Australia. This report describes endophytic Preussia species that were identified through molecular analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region. Screening for antimicrobial secondary metabolites was determined by testing crude ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extracts derived from fungal mycelia against a panel of ATCC type strains which included Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the opportunist yeast pathogen Candida albicans.

Caelestines A-D, brominated quinolinecarboxylic acids from the Australian ascidian Aplidium caelestis.

Four new brominated natural products, caelestines A-D (1-4), have been isolated from the Australian ascidian Aplidium caelestis. The structures of 1-4 were determined by analysis of their NMR and MS data. This is the first report of brominated quinolinecarboxylic acids from nature.

Further advances in orchid mycorrhizal research.

Orchid mycorrhizas are mutualistic interactions between fungi and members of the Orchidaceae, the world's largest plant family. The majority of the world's orchids are photosynthetic, a small number of species are myco-heterotrophic throughout their lifetime, and recent research indicates a third mode (mixotrophy) whereby green orchids supplement their photosynthetically fixed carbon with carbon derived from their mycorrhizal fungus. Molecular identification studies of orchid-associated fungi indicate a wide range of fungi might be orchid mycobionts, show common fungal taxa across the globe and support the view that some orchids have specific fungal interactions.