Molasses

ObjectivesThis study was conducted to isolate, screening and purification of cellulase from bacteria present in sugar industry waste (molasses) and characterization by morphological and biochemical analysis.ResultsBased on experiments, three bacterial strains produced clear transparent zone into carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) agar plate were identified as cellulase producing bacteria. Different culture parameters such as pH, temperature, incubation period, substrate concentration and carbon sources were optimized for enzyme production. According to the morphological and biochemical tests, the isolated strains were identified as Paenibacillus sp., Bacillus sp. and Aeromonas sp. The first strain Paenibacillus sp. showed high potentiality for maximum cellulase production (0.9 µmol ml-1 min-1) at pH 7.0 after 24 h of incubation at 40 °C in a medium containing 1.0% CMC. Then Paenibacillus sp. was selected for enzyme purification by ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose and CM-cellulose column chromatography, respectively. In last step of purification, specific activity, recovery and purification fold were 2655 U/mg, 35.7% and 9.7, respectively. The molecular weight of the purified cellulase was found to be 67 kDa by SDS-PAGE, had an optimal pH and temperature at 7.0 and 40 °C. According to substrate specificity, the purified cellulase had high specificity on CMC substrate which indicated it to be an endo-β-1,4-glucanase.

BackgroundMost odour baits for haematophagous arthropods contain carbon dioxide (CO2). The CO2 is sourced artificially from the fermentation of refined sugar (sucrose), dry ice, pressurized gas cylinders or propane. These sources of CO2 are neither cost-effective nor sustainable for use in remote areas of sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, molasses was evaluated as a potential substrate for producing CO2 used as bait for malaria mosquitoes.MethodsThe attraction of laboratory-reared and wild Anopheles gambiae complex mosquitoes to CO2 generated from yeast-fermentation of molasses was assessed under semi-field and field conditions in western Kenya. In the field, responses of wild Anopheles funestus were also assessed. Attraction of the mosquitoes to a synthetic mosquito attractant, Mbita blend (comprising ammonia, L-lactic acid, tetradecanoic acid and 3-methyl-1-butanol) when augmented with CO2 generated from yeast fermentation of either molasses or sucrose was also investigated.ResultsIn semi-field, the release rate of CO2 and proportion of An. gambiae mosquitoes attracted increased in tandem with an increase in the quantity of yeast-fermented molasses up to an optimal ratio of molasses and dry yeast. More An. gambiae mosquitoes were attracted to a combination of the Mbita blend plus CO2 produced from fermenting molasses than the Mbita blend plus CO2 from yeast-fermented sucrose. In the field, significantly more female An. gambiae sensu lato mosquitoes were attracted to the Mbita blend augmented with CO2 produced by fermenting 500 g of molasses compared to 250 g of sucrose or 250 g of molasses. Similarly, significantly more An. funestus, Culex and other anopheline mosquito species were attracted to the Mbita blend augmented with CO2 produced from fermenting molasses than the Mbita blend with CO2 produced from sucrose. Augmenting the Mbita blend with CO2 produced from molasses was associated with high catches of blood-fed An. gambiae s.l. and An. funestus mosquitoes.ConclusionMolasses is a suitable ingredient for the replacement of sucrose as a substrate for the production of CO2 for sampling of African malaria vectors and other mosquito species. The finding of blood-fed malaria vectors in traps baited with the Mbita blend and CO2 derived from molasses provides a unique opportunity for the study of host-vector interactions.

The potential of three indigenous bacterial strains (Lactobacillus delbrueckii N2, Lactobacillus cellobiosus TM1, and Lactobacillus plantarum G88) for the production of biosurfactants using sugar cane molasses or glycerol as substrates was investigated through emulsifying, surface tension, and antimicrobial activities. The different biosurfactants produced with molasses as substrate exhibited high surface tension reduction from 72 mN/m to values ranged from 47.50 ± 1.78 to 41.90 ± 0.79 mN/m and high emulsification index ranging from 49.89 ± 5.28 to 81.00 ± 1.14%. Whatever the Lactobacillus strain or the substrate used, the biosurfactants produced showed antimicrobial activities against Candida albicans LV1, some pathogenic and/or spoilage Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The yields of biosurfactants with molasses (2.43 ± 0.09 to 3.03 ± 0.09 g/L) or glycerol (2.32 ± 0.19 to 2.82 ± 0.05 g/L) were significantly (p Lactobacillus strains as low-cost substrates to increase their biosurfactants production.

BackgroundCrimson Seedless is a globally important table grape cultivar valued for its color, marketability, and nutritional quality. However, enhancing berry coloration and biochemical quality remains a major challenge, especially under fluctuating environmental conditions. In this context, the individual application of nanoparticles or molasses as natural organic stimulants may offer an effective. This study hypothesizes that foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and molasses, either individually or in combination, would increase yield, berry coloration, and antioxidant-related biochemical parameters compared with those of the untreated control. The experiment included eight treatments applied to five grapevines per treatment via a randomized complete block design (RCBD) over two consecutive seasons (2023-2024), and the effects of ZnO NPs at 10, 50, and 100 mg L- 1, applied alone or in combination with molasses at 1.5 cm³ L- 1, on productivity, cluster traits, anthocyanin accumulation, and antioxidant-related enzymes were evaluated.ResultsIn terms of productivity, cluster quality, and berry coloration, the treatment with ZnO NPs plus molasses followed closely by ZnO NPs alone surpassed the nontreated vines. The 10 mg L- 1 ZnO NPs + molasses treatment was superior for most of the studied parameters. For example, the total yield increased by approximately 8.9-11.4%, the total soluble solid (TSS) content increased by 48.4-43.8%, the firmness increased by 8.1-12.0%, and the acidity decreased by 16.3-15.4% compared with those of the control treatment in both seasons. Additionally, the same treatment resulted in the greatest increase in anthocyanin content (104.3-73.4%) and PAL activity (48.4-58.1%) compared with those of the control in both seasons.ConclusionThe application of 10 mg L-1 ZnO NPs + 1.5 cm3 L-1 molasses once at the veraison stage increased the grape yield, color, and biochemical quality. While a single-stage application was effective, further studies could explore multistage applications or alternative timings to optimize the results.